Convert Generic Parts to Fabrication Parts

Use the Design to Fabrication tool to convert a generically connected MEP design intent model to a LOD 400 fabrication model. The Design to Fabrication tool expedites the detailing process by avoiding remodeling every aspect of the design model.

Note: While you can convert a large selection of elements, it is recommended that you start with smaller selection sets to facilitate quicker conversions, ensuring settings provide the desired results.

Video: Convert an MEP Design Model to a Fabrication Model

To convert generic parts to fabrication parts:

1. (Optional) Use the Show Disconnects tool to identify where the design network may not be fully connected, and to help identify where adjustments may be necessary post conversion. For example, air terminals that are connected to the face of a duct will not stay connected, and may require taps or other fittings.
   Note: If you haven't done so already, Specify a Fabrication Configuration and Load Services.
2. In the drawing area, select a run of design-intent parts. Use the mouse or Tab key to select a contiguous selection of elements.
   Note: Supported element categories include ducts, duct fittings, duct accessories, flext duct, air terminals, pipes, pipe fittings, pipe accessories, and flex pipes. The Design to Fabrication command won't be available if the selection includes one or more Analytical Pipe Connections, or other unsupported categories. Use the Filter command to deselect unsupported element categories.
3. Click ModifyFabrication panel (Design to Fabrication).
4. In the Fabrication Parts browser, select the service you intend to use for conversion.

   Only one service may be selected during conversion, so select design elements accordingly before converting. Also, ensure that the service has components for the selected discipline (duct vs. pipe, for example). The service you select maps to a collection of MEP fabrication content from the Autodesk Fabrication products. See Change the Service for Fabrication Parts.

   The order of parts on a palette controls the priority of parts applied in the conversion. Content that is not provided by Autodesk may have a greater rate of failure when using this command.

5. (Optional) Check for parts that have been excluded from autofill tools to ensure the conversion uses the expected components.
6. (Optional) Click Enable Palette and select a Palette from the list.

   The service can contain round, rectangular, and oval ductwork to facilitate more easily converting multi-shape design ductwork networks.

7. If needed, click the Inline Parts tab to map model element instances to new fabrication parts. See Map Inline Model Elements to Fabrication Parts.
8. Click Finish to accept the settings in the Fabrication Parts browser, or click Cancel to discard the settings.
   Note: Design elements, tags, systems, and associated data are not maintained after conversion.
9. It's possible that a conversion will not result in a fully connected network. For example, Revit can't find a combination of parts to resolve the connection type differences for a coupling. Use Quick Connect, Route and Fill, or Trim/Extend to close gaps that were created during the conversion to fabrication parts.

Note:

• Tight layouts without enough room to place the fittings defined in the service may fail to convert. For example, it is quite possible that the Revit family content has a smaller radius on an elbow, or shorter segment on a tee, resulting in the inability to maintain the connected network after conversion. In some cases, it may be beneficial to adjust spacing of components to provide more room for larger components to fit. In some cases, conversion will leave the original design elements in place, indicating that manual placement will be required.
• In order for a sloped system to retain connectivity after conversion, elbow, tee, and other similar fabrication parts may need to have an Angle Tolerance value set to allow some flexure. Not all patterns have the Angle Tolerance property, but for those that do, the setting is located on the item's Options tab. See Content Creation Overview in the Autodesk Fabriction product Help. Additionally, the service must be configured to support angle tolerance. See Configure a New Service in the Autodesk Fabrication product Help.
• Design to Fabrication doesn't support cross fittings, however, back to back taps are expected to convert successfully.
• The following parts are not supported for conversion but remain connected to elements that are converted: Mechanical equipment, flex duct and pipe, air terminals, sprinklers, and plumbing fixtures. The following part types are not supported: electrical containment, back-to-back fittings, and analytical connections. Also note that sloped pipe and duct is not fully supported.
• Fittings with open connectors may not produce desirable results.
• Fabrication part sizes may be defined by their product list, so a given part may not support all sizes available for a similar Revit family. This can happen since many design fittings are overly parametric, allowing for sizes, dimensions, or angles that are not common or supported by the selected service's fittings. Verify that the items in the service support the size(s) of the design parts being converted, and that the items aren't excluded from use in the service template by way of a size range condition. See Edit the Product List in the Autodesk Fabrication product Help for more information on part size definitions. See Configuring Service Templates in the Autodesk Fabrication product Help for more information on service template conditions. Inability to find a matching size may result in the error, "Not all parts were converted. Check the fabrication service definition."