This section provides an overview of the steps involved with creating a part.
When you create a pipe network part, you define the features of the part and how they are associated with one another. Each pipe network part represents a unique part family. You should analyze the pipe or structure catalog hierarchy to determine the best place to add part families. It is also important to notice the relationships between the different part sizes you want to create. The features you define in the model determine the flexibility you have to create multiple part sizes. You should look at the entire part you want to create, decide how to break it down into simple shapes, and determine the relationships to establish between the different shapes.
Creating a part with Part Builder involves performing the following tasks in the order they are presented below:
- Specify the part configuration.
You work in the parametric building environment to create single pipe network parts. While you are working in this environment, only one part can exist in a drawing. The individual drawings are associated with a part catalog to build a library of parts. You specify the type and subtype of the part to establish basic part behavior. For more information, see Part Configuration.
- Create a 2D or 3D model of the part.
During this phase of the process, you create models of 2D pipe parts, or 3D structure parts, and use them to dynamically generate 2D views of the part. You build your part from features that are combined to define the part. The model is defined according to the size, shape, and position of its features. You can restrict how the features of the parts fit together. To better conceptualize the size and shape of the part model, you define dimensions, constraints, and modifiers that determine how your part is built. For more information, see Part Modeling, Dimensions, Constraints, and Modifiers.
- Generate a preview image and define the insertion position of the part.
Once you have finalized the model, you generate a preview image for the part by taking a snapshot of the model. You also specify the placement position that you use to place the part in your drawing. For more information, see Generating a Preview Image of a Part and Defining the Part Insertion Position of a Part.
- Validate and save the part.
Once you have finalized the model, you must validate and save the part. Validation checks the model and detects any errors that make the part invalid. You must correct all errors in order to successfully save the part and add it to a drawing. For more information, see Validating, Previewing, and Saving a Parametric Fitting.