The Job Import Tool option lets you accept inputs from other applications, such as RemoteEntry, ERP, external comma-delimited spreadsheet files, and third-party CAD drawings, to produce a job of items ready and configured for manufacturing.
Attributes such as Specification, Material and Quantities can be sent to the conversion tool from these external systems. Connectors, seams, and airturns can also be allocated if they differ from the automatic assignment of the active specification; for example, DW144 and or SMACNA.
The CAMduct application comprises of libraries of ductwork pattern templates that can be customized and organised by the manufacturer into Windows folders. Each pattern template has a Pattern No. which defines the shape of the pattern. A list of required dimensions and options can be entered to determine overall developments.
Patterns can be configured with preset dimensions or attributes ready for the import file to automatically assign the unique values that are required, such as Width, Depth, Length, Specification, Materials etc.
The patterns can be placed into a folder structure, as long as the top-level folder attribute is set to "JCM Conversion".
Some manufacturers may prefer to have customer-specific folders, as the patterns may require different attributes on the items or have various costing details assigned.
Right click on the highest level folder where the patterns are all contained, and select Properties for the folder. As shown in the example below for the Common Parts folder, the primary system should have the JCM Conversion type assigned before importing.
ASCII File Breakdown
Each dimension of an item can be processed along with Specification, Material, Pattern options etc. The specification will determine Gauge, Standard Straight length, Connectors, Seams, Supports, Stiffening requirements etc which can be setup on the primary system ready for the import file.
See the "Job Details Defined" section below for a job Information breakdown of the ASCII file. The "Item Details Defined" section below includes more information about item details.
Dimensions are specified from the source, whether this is from a CAD package, an external spreadsheet file import, or ERP system.
Job Details Defined
Key* = When allocated, denotes the field as a requirement.
JOB_START * JOBHEADER_START * JOB_NAME (type = FILENAME) If not supplied, the Job Name will be UNTITLEDXXX where XXX is the first available number that creates a job that does not already exist in the current project area.
JOB_REFERENCE (type = TEXT) A reference name for the job.
JOB_DATE (JOB_DATE, type = TEXT) Note that the software does NOT check that this is a valid date entry. COMPANYADDRESS_START (type = TEXT) Enter address is applicable.
COMPANYADDRESS_ENDCUSTOMERADDRESS_START (type = TEXT) Enter address is applicable.
CUSTOMERADDRESS_ENDPROJECTAREA_START (type = FILENAME) A list of folders that form the path to the folder in which the job will be created. The root folder is the default Project Area set up on the primary system. For example, if this section contained the entries CUSTOMERA FLOOR2 ROOM3 and the Job Name was set to F2-R3 with the default Project Area on the primary System being C:\MAP-Software\Shared\Projects , then the job would be saved as C:\Autodesk\Shared\Projects\CUSTOMERA\FLOOR2\ROOM3\F2-R3.MAJ If this information is not supplied the job will be saved in the default Project Area.
PROJECTAREA_END .ARCHIVE (option = {YES/NO}) Should the database on the primary system be saved with this job?
The default is set to NO. FIELD1 (type = TEXT) Additional job information can be inserted using this field.
FIELD2 (type = TEXT) Additional job information can be inserted using this field.
PROCESS (type = TEXT) Process Name of process to be started automatically once job loaded. Only used if job is auto-loaded as batching option JOBHEADER_END* ITEM_START*<ITEM Details to be inserted at this point (See "Item Details Defined" below.) > ITEM_END* JOB_END*
Item Details Defined
Key: *= When allocated, denotes the field as a requirement.
ITEM_START*
ITEMHEADER_START* Group Option Start Only one of the following group options should be present in any item. The ITEMFILE method or PATTERN_CID are recommended for both speed and flexibility. The behavior of this option is not defined if more than one of these group options is present in a single item.
PATTERN_NUMBER (type = INTEGER) A unique number determined by the software to identify a particular base fitting. This method cannot be used to select fittings which have been created by copying and editing base fittings, though it can be used if the base fitting has only been edited. The fitting template file must be in the default fittings folder. The behavior of this option is not defined if the default folder contains more than one fitting with the same pattern number.
PATTERN_CID (type = INTEGER) A user defined number which identifies a particular fitting. The fitting template file must be in the default fittings folder. The behavior of this option is not defined if the default folder contains more than one fitting with the same pattern CID.
PATTERN_ALIAS (type = TEXT) A user defined text string which identifies a particular fitting. The fitting template file must be in the default fittings folder. The behavior of this option is not defined if the default folder contains more than one fitting with the same pattern alias.
ITEMFILE (type = FILE) The full path and filename to the required fitting template (.ITM) file. (Path + Filename).
PATTERN_REF (type = TEXT) A user defined text string which gives the full path and filename to a fitting template through the use of a lookup table. Group Option End.
PRODUCT_NAME (type = TEXT) Required for Product Lists. The Product Description for a Product List. Required to specify which entry in a product list is used.
ITEM_NUMBER* (type = TEXT) The name that will be given to this item in the job.
SPEC (type = TEXT) The name of the specification that will be used for this item. This must match a specification name on the primary system that is valid for this particular fitting. (Specs can be found in the Pattern Database
Specifications). If not supplied the specification for the fitting will be set to None.
MATERIAL* (type = TEXT) The name of the material that will be used for this item. This must match a material name on the primary system. (Main Database > Materials)
Group Option Start Only one of the following Group Options is required, though both may be present. If both are present the GAUGE entry will be used if the primary system is set to Metric configuration, and the WIRE_GAUGE entry if set to Imperial.
GAUGE (type = DECIMAL) Required Group Option. The thickness of the material that will be used for this item and best used if not determining a specification.
WIRE_GAUGE (type = INTEGER) Required Group Option. The wire gauge equivalent for the thickness of the Material. Group Option End
GAUGE_RANGE (type = DECIMAL) The additional thickness of material that the parts can be cut out using to save Wasted material on nests. Default value is 0
DOUBLEWALL (option = {INSIDE/OUTSIDE/OFF}) Include to specify whether a fitting should be made with two skins. If not supplied, then the data is picked up from the base fitting. If double wall is specified, then Insulation must also be specified, as this defines the thickness between the skins. If Double Wall is set to INSIDE or OUTSIDE, then the following groups are required:
DOUBLEWALL_ENTRY (option ={INSIDE/OUTSIDE}) Required Group Option.Whether the dims specified are the INSIDE or OUTSIDE skin dimensions.
DOUBLEWALL_MATERIAL (type = TEXT) Required Group Option. The material name of the second Skin.
One of the following MUST also be specified:
DOUBLEWALL_GAUGE (type = DECIMAL) The true thickness of the second Skin.
DOUBLEWALL_WIRE_GAUGE (type = INTEGER) The wire gauge of the second Skin.
QUANTITY* (type = INTEGER) The quantity of items to be produced.
INSULATION_MATERIAL (type = TEXT) Optional (Required for DOUBLEWALL ) The name of the Material that will be used for the insulation for this item. This must match a Material name on the primary system. If not supplied the Insulation will be set to None.
INSULATION_GAUGE (type = DECIMAL) Optional (Required for DOUBLEWALL)
INSULATION_SIDE (option = {INSIDE/OUTSIDE}) Optional - NOTE this should not be used for DOUBLEWALL entry.
FACINGS_START (type = TEXT)
FACINGS_END
NOTES (type = TEXT)
ORDER_NUMBER (type = TEXT)
PALLET (type = TEXT)
HOLES (type = INTEGER) Optional - Entry of the number of holes required as a value within this header. Dimensions and Options used for the holes such as Width, Depth and Offset values for the hole should be listed under the DIMS_START field, or as options respective to the pattern in use.
EXTRAFTIME (type = DECIMAL)
EXTRAETIME (type = DECIMAL)
ITEMHEADER_END
DIMS_START (type = DECIMAL) The dimensions that determine the size of the fitting. If the number of dimensions supplied is less than the number required by the fitting template, then the remaining dimensions will be the same as the fitting template. If the number of dimensions supplied is more than the number required by the fitting template, then the extra dimensions will be ignored. The dimensions must be supplied in the correct order, taking into account if the primary system has locked dimensions. These will then be ignored so the next unlocked dimension is used.
DIMGROUP_STARTNot implemented.
DIMGROUP_END
DIMS_END
OPTIONS_START (type =DECIMAL) The options that control various aspects of the fitting. If the number of options supplied is less than the number required by the fitting template then the remaining options will be the same as the fitting template. If the number of options supplied is more than the number required by the fitting template then the extra options will be ignored. The options must be supplied in the correct order taking into account locked Options as per the dimensions example.
OPTIONS_END
CONNS_START ( type =TEXT) The names of the connectors that will be used by the fitting to be listed as shown in the example for "DM-25" Slide on Flange. Both C1 and C2 can be specified. If the pattern supports additional connectors you can list C3, C4 etc The connectors must be supplied in the correct order. These must match with connector names on the primary system (Pattern Database
Connectors Select the Pattern Group from the list).
CONNS_END
CONN_POSITION_START
INSERTION_POINT (type = DECIMAL) Co-ordinates to be specified in the drawing separated by commas.
DIRECTION_VEC (type = DECIMAL) Co-ordinates to be specified in the drawing separated by commas.
WIDTH_VEC (type = DECIMAL) Co-ordinates to be specified in the drawing separated by commas.
CONN_POSITION_END
SEAMS_START (type =TEXT) The names of the seams that will be used by the fittings These must match with seam names on the primary system. The seams must be supplied in the correct order.
SEAMS_ENDIf Double wall is specified then the following options are also required:
DOUBLEWALL_CONNS_START (type =TEXT) The names of the Connectors that will be used by the fitting for the second Skin These must match with Connector names on the primary system The connectors must be supplied in the correct order.
DOUBLEWALL_CONNS_END
DOUBLEWALL_SEAMS_START (type =TEXT) The names of the seams that will be used by the fitting for the second Skin These must match with seam names on the primary system The seams must be supplied in the correct order.
DOUBLEWALL_SEAMS_END
SPLITTERS_START (type =TEXT) The names of the splitters that will be used by the fitting. These must match with splitter names on the primary system. The splitters must be supplied in the correct order if there are multiple sets.
SPLITTERS_END
AIRTURNS_START (type =TEXT) The names of the airturns that will be used by the fitting. These must match with airturn names on the primary system. The airturns must be supplied in the correct order if there are multiple sets.
AIRTURNS_END
CUSTOM_DATA_START (type = TEXT) Identify custom data that is assigned to the item.
CUSTOM_DATA_END
ITEM_END
JOB_END