Ancillaries

In the Autodesk Fabrication products, ancillary items, such as flange materials, channel, corners, bolts, and gaskets, can be created and stored in the database for items to use and quantify automatically at takeoff. Ancillary items can be added items so that you can add more accurate costing, manufacturing, and installation time information. However, it is important to understand that In the Autodesk Fabrication products ancillaries have no graphical representation in the model. In other words, they do not display in the model. The costs and times for ancillary items are set up in the Ancillary section of the database, under Fittings.

Click Database Fittings Ancillaries to access these settings.

The principle is the same for other costed ancillaries, such as air turns and supports. The advantage of using this method is that a price list can be used more than once. This is more convenient when setting up similar items; for example, a ductmate connector and a ductmate stiffener. Both of these items can use the same corners, profiles and bolts, so the same price/time lists can be assigned to each.

Ancillary Creation

The following pre-requisites should be considered before introducing a new ancillary into the database:

1. Ancillary type: Which ancillary type best suits the ancillary? The ancillary may not be available for selection when applying to the component. For example, creating a Fixing, and then attempting to apply it to the Clips section of the Connector database would not be possible. You would need to create the ancillary in the Clips section of the Ancillary database for it to be listed.
2. Costing method: Another pre-requisite is to know how the ancillary will be costed. Will it be costed Per Quantity or Per Meter? On creation, values need to be entered in the per meter section if it is a length-based ancillary (for example, gasket tapes, flange lengths) or per quantity for single units, such as fixings or clips. The alternative to entering a value on the ancillary itself is to enter a code, and then link to a price list for the cost. The cost can then be controlled from the price list, whether it is priced per meter or per quantity.

Use the icon to create a new table entry, ensuring the type of ancillary has been selected first. Information on each field available for entry is listed below:

Description: A descriptive name for the ancillary. This can be letters or numbers.

Product ID: Lets you specify a supplier's product code or catalog number, typically used for referencing a price from a price list. The price list must contain this code and have a valid price assigned.

Cost £ /(Qty): A value entered which is the cost of the ancillary (per quantity). If using a price list, this field will be the price list name used that the product code exists inside. (Must have a product code and price in the price list set to "each").

Cost £ /(m): A value entered which is the cost of the ancillary (per meter). If using a price list, this field will be the price list name used that the product code exists inside. (Must have a product code and price in the price list set to "per m").

Note: The Cost £ /(Qty) and Cost £ /(m) can be used together. When values are entered into both fields, the cost is calculated as follows: (Qty of Ancillary Item x Cost £ /(Qty)) + (Total length of Item x Cost £ /m).

Weight (kg)/Qty: The weight of each ancillary item, in kilograms.

Weight (kg)/(m): The weight of 1 meter of the ancillary item, in kilograms.

Note: The Weight (kg)/Qty and Weight (kg)/(m) can be used together. When values are entered into both fields the weight is calculated as follows: (Qty of Ancillary Item x Weight (kg)/Qty) + (Total length of Item x Weight (kg)/(m)).

F Time (mins)/Qty: The time required to manufacture one of the described ancillary items, in minutes.

F Time (mins)/(m): The time, in minutes, required to manufacture one meter of the described ancillary item.

Note: The F Time (mins)/Qty and F Time (mins)/(m) can be used together. When values are entered into both fields, the time is calculated as follows: (Qty of Ancillary Item x F Time (mins)/Qty) + (Total length of Item x F Time (mins)/(m)).

E Time (mins)/Qty: The time required to install/erect one of the described ancillary items, in minutes.

E Time (mins)/(m): The time, in minutes, required to install/erect one meter of the described ancillary item.

Note: The E Time (mins)/Qty and E Time (mins)/(m) can be used together. When values are entered into both fields, the time is calculated as follows: (Qty of Ancillary Item x E Time (mins)/Qty) + (Total length of Item x E Time (mins)/m)).

Once the ancillary has been created, select Apply and OK to add the entries to the database. The Ancillary is now ready to be included into an Ancillary Kit or applied to the individual component (connector, seam, support, stiffener etc.)

Accessing the Database, and then clicking the Costing tab of the component allows selection of the ancillary.

For more information, see Item Ancillaries and Creating Ancillaries.