Primitives are limited versions of part models that are designed for repeated use in part creation. They represent basic shapes, such as a box or a torus, and commonly used connections on parts, such as a flanged pipe connector or duct connector.
Primitives that represent basic shapes
Primitives that represent part connections
Primitives include the following modeling features:
- work planes
- geometry, constraints, dimensions, and model parameters
- profiles (2D outlines of geometric shapes)
- modifiers (operations that create 3D features from profiles)
Primitives that represent the connections on parts also include defined connections.
Because primitives do not represent complete parts, they do not have a defined part type, size parameters, or autolayout data. A primitive is defined by a DWG file that specifies its limited configuration, and a preview image (BMP file) that facilitates its selection when users are adding primitives to parts. Because primitives are not parts, you cannot add them to catalogs. They are stored in a content folder instead.
AutoCAD MEP 2023 toolset includes primitives for many of the shapes commonly found in parts as well as for the connections that are typically required. Because the primitives include many of the modeling features that you need to build a custom parametric part, you can use them to quickly build a part model and add connections.