Civil 3D Parts Builder Tutorial

This Part Builder tutorial by TrulyCindy3D is phenomenal.
After doing many tutorials I have to agree that Cindy's is by far the most informative.


http://www.trulycyndy3d.com/2010/10/part-builder-i-define.html


This is an in-depth and detailed step by step parts builder tutorial.

Because no matter how many pipe network parts you make.. There will always that one.....

Assign elevations to contours from an esri shape-file

Assigning contour lines from ESRI ArcGIS polylines with object data.

http://www.thecadmasters.com/wordpress/index.php/2011/03/16/assign-elevations-to-contours-from-an-esri-shape-file/

This link describes in very easy steps how to create a query to give elevations to polylines with object data but with an elevation of zero.

possible solution to stop 'UPGRADING COGO POINTS' in Civil 3D

I use Civil 3d 2015 at work. I am not an admin user, nor a power user in Windows 7. I use a Synology NAS (Network attached storage) server for project files and I always get this when working with old surveys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGU8xEAXnkU

I found a solution by installing this hotfix from Autodesk which addresses network degradation on Civil 3D versions 2014,15,16,17

https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/autocad-civil-3d/troubleshooting/caas/sfdcarticles/sfdcarticles/Civil-3D-Performance-degradation.html

by Autodesk's Louisa Holland. See her post in this article.
http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/autocad-civil-3d-forum/performance-enhancement-tool/m-p/6540457#M311166

Civil 3D boost in performance.

    This simple boost in performance using Civil 3D 2015 & 2016 can help you finish your job quicker. The command CLEANSCREENON can save you plenty of time when trying to label or select certain Civil 3D objects when you are working in repetitive tasks.
    Let's say you have finished a pipe and pressure network and need to project certain parts into the profile and label some structures with different labels. Between picking a structure(s) you notice a delay before every command. This is a time when Civil 3D is using a lot of resources(RAM and writing/reading to disk) . In order to clear some of those resources to speed up your work you can use the command CLEANSCREENON. To revert this command type CLEANSCREENOFF.
Additionally, also run RIBBONCLOSE and to revert it just type RIBBON.


System variables to boost performance.
First, Use SYSVDLG to change the system variables. I'd also recommend creating a script to change these layouts to enhance performance. And to save the workspace settings and profile to further cement these changes.

Disable FILETABPREVIEW = 0
PURGE, remove all 'Regapps' (styles) not being used. Purge All.
If you are only doing 2D work (Top view) then turn off these two settings.
NAVBAR OFF
NAVVCUBE OFF
VISUALSTYLES
Edit 'Display resolution>Arc/circle smoothing to 100 (or lower if  you wish) I used 20
LINESMOOTHING OFF (this will make AutoCAD vectors look like Release 10.)

Sketchpad

Sketchpad CAD software by Ivan Sutherland circa 1963

Computer aided drafting (CAD) being demonstrated in 1963 using Sketchpad.

Additional wikipedia link.

Typical nomenclature of dimensions of a precast concrete structure

Typical dimensions and nomenclature of a precast concrete structure.

These terms are used by the software/shop creating the precast storm structures. The Adjustment area can be compromised of a rectangular top or cone with brick to trim the structure to be flat against the top elevation at grade (Rim Elev.)

Shrinkwrap command

How do I make multiple tree canopies into one boundary?

Hidden In Civil 3d is an amazing command called 'shrinkwrap' 

 It allows you select multiple shapes and create an outer boundary of them. It is a bit simpler than the 'boundary' command. It works quite simply like shrinkwrapping objects.

  If you have multiple trees in surveys, you might have multiple criss-crossing tree canopies. 

Some surveyors use points to create tree canopies which are dependent from the tree trunk size. So it expands according to the trunk size leaving all of these bubbles (tree canopies). In order to clean up a survey. you can isolate the tree canopies from a copy , or export of the tree points in the original survey. Then use the 'shrinkwrap' command (command alias = lineworkshrinkwrap) , select the canopies, and put the newly created boundary in a different layer. Once you have created all of them you can isolate the newly created tree canopies and save them under a different file name. Now you can attach the file as an x-ref to substitute the survey point tree canopies and clean up your survey. 

Civil 3D - Layer Filter Properties dialog box cannot be found-MENU outside of display AREA

Civil 3D

Layer Filter Properties dialog [Annotative scale] box cannot be found.

    This can occur if a window is displaying outside the display boundaries. To move the window you will need to press Alt+Space+M
Then use the arrow keys to move the window into the display area. You might have to guess the direction where the window is located or in this case. I knew the window was located to the right, because I had 3 display monitors and had to downsize to only two dipslays. The missing display area was the former monitor on the right.

On a sidenote: to lock your menus you can type the system variable LOCKUI=8,
 LOCKUI=0 unlocks them all.


The 'object annotative scale box '  cannot be found. Where did it go?

Video shows a specific Civil 3D menu displaying outside the view boundaries.

Civil 3D - Drag and drop

IMPORTING STYLES USING DRAG N’ DROP METHOD IN CIVIL 3D AND PIPE NETWORK PARTS LIST IMPORTING.

Importing a style from another drawing using drag n’ drop. Or importing a parts list from another drawing.

DRAWING A recipient.dwg

Drawing A will be the drawing with the donor styles we want to use. Additionally, it will have a parts list for a pipe network to import into drawing B.

DRAWING B – A-STYLES.dwg.

Drawing B will be the owner of the custom style(S) and the recipient will be the recipient.dwg.

With both files open in the CAD session select the drawing B to be active.(THE TOOLSPACE MUST BE SET TO: MASTER VIEW)

Begin by opening the toolspace menu.

On the Toolspace menu go to the tabs and select ‘Settings’ tab. If Settings is not shown make sure this icon is highlighted.

Expand the Drawing B FILE.

Then expand the Pipe Network class and expand the Parts lists.

In order to get the style from Drawing B A-Styles.dwg to Drawing A recipient.dwg.

Drag n’ drop the San parts list into recipient.dwg by selecting the icon highlighted. Any other part of the like the name of the style will prevent you from drag n’ dropping the style. Once selected and while holding the left mouse button the icon will turn into the null icon    ∅

Now drag it into the drawing area of the active drawing(recipient.dwg) and drop it in any blank area of the drawing. The icon will turn into this ( a square with a plus symbol on the lower right)

when you drag it into the active drawing. When you let go of the mouse button it will import the style into the active drawing.

     You can make sure the parts list is imported in by expanding the active drawing, going to Pipe Network heading and expanding it.

The San Parts list has been imported from PIPES_4&5.dwg to A-STYLES.dwg.

Now finish by importing the pipe style PROP SAN and Structure styles for every structure for a Proposed Sanitary network before beginning the next step.

Configuring the Pipe Network parts list in a new drawing before referencing a pipe network.

Make sure your drawing has the correct pipe styles and structure styles (PROP SAN, OR EXIST SAN) already imported before beginning.

With our new parts list we can right-click on its name and select ‘edit’. If the parts list was not referenced from a drawing which contained the original network of the parts list.  AutoCAD will default every single item into ‘Standard’ Style or left blank. However, you can choose the parts and select the icon at the top of the heading.

This will assign the style you wish, in this case PROP SAN (proposed sanitary) to the Ductile Iron Pipes.

Repeat for PVC, HDPE, etc.

Structures will also have to be reassigned the correct style if it did not import correctly.

The same will apply for the heading Rules, Render Material and Pay Items. This allows a custom pipe network style to be brought into a different drawing i.e. a concept or exhibit.

SIMPLE CHRYSLER ELECT CHARGING SYSTEM

Simple elect. wiring diagram for a Chrysler charging system for cars from 1969-1976 with transistorized voltage regulators.
Firing order .1-8-4-3-6-5-7-2 LA SMALL BLOCK
VIN codes

The Image above was scanned from a Koller Dodge catalog in the early nineties.

PREFAB

ENTERPRISES PREFAB SHOP PHOTOS

This is Lee Petty's home, Richard Petty's parents' house, the museum is to the right. 

The museum is no longer located near the prefab shop.It has moved to Randleman, NC. 

This #43 was being prepped for another track. The Daytona #43 was inside a trailer coming back from wind tunnel testing.

Thank you very much for giving me a very personal tour of the prefab shop. It was awesome!!!!

You can see this car had recently been in action, check out the rubber specs on the hood!

Amazing....MSD ignitions neatly in order, i wish I could just pick one up for a souvenir. The parts area of the Petty Enterprises team is a very neat and well stocked NASCAR parts buffet. The different racing teams replenish their supplies here. Most of these parts are the ones that gradually wear down or can be damaged in a race. Everything from electrical parts, steel tubing, pressure hoses, suspension components. 

Photos of the prefab shop at Petty enterprises.

72CHARGER

These are just a few of the pictures of my first MOPAR, a 1972 Charger SE....in very rough shape.

This is right after an accident, the rear subframe was bent in two to three places.


LOL... fancy trunk lock. Functioning gas tank IN the trunk. The original crumpled and crached in a few places.

Use SYSVDLG to change system variables.

SYSVDLG is a menu from express tools dedicated to changing system variables.
This menu gives an explanation of most of the options with system variables.

Create viewports from objects

    Create a view port to enhance (zoom into) a part in your drawing using MVIEW command. choose the O , option for object to make a polyline (any shape polyline) into a small viewport in Paperspace.
Credit goes to Michael Viscetto from Cadalyst.
Full article from CADalyst here
Make any shape into a viewport.

Dear autodesk:

Autodesk, before telling us about a new release with all new features please address old bugs.