<?xml encoding=”UTF-8″>By David Wolfe (Contributor)
Get start with Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 of this series.
Python Script Nozzles in AutoCAD Plant 3D
This article will look at creating a nozzle to use in the nozzles catalog which AutoCAD Plant 3D equipment loads when putting nozzles on equipment.
The full sample is available at this link. The script should look like this:
<span># Embedded file name: varmainpipesubcpp_f_f_.pyc</span>
<span>from</span> <span>aqa.math</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.flangesub.cpfwo</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.pipesub.cpp_util</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.primitiv</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.var_basic</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.custom</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>@activate</span>(Group<span>=</span><span>"StraightNozzle,Nozzle"</span>, TooltipShort<span>=</span><span>"Long Weld Neck"</span>, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Long Weld Neck"</span>, LengthUnit<span>=</span><span>"in"</span>, Ports<span>=</span><span>"2"</span>)
<span>@group</span>(<span>"MainDimensions"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(D10<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipShort<span>=</span><span>"Nominal Outside Diameter"</span>,TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Nominal Outside Diameter"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(L1<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipShort<span>=</span><span>"Overall Length."</span>, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Overall Length"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(L2<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipShort<span>=</span><span>"Hub Length"</span>, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Length of flange with weld neck."</span>)
<span>@param</span>(OF<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Length between connection points."</span>)
<span>@param</span>(B1<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Flange Thickness"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(D12<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Flange OD Width"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(D13<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"OD of Weld neck"</span>)
<span>def</span> <span>nozflange</span>(s, D10 <span>=</span> <span>4.5</span>, L1 <span>=</span> <span>9</span>, L2 <span>=</span> <span>3</span>, B1 <span>=</span> <span>0.94</span>, D12 <span>=</span> <span>9</span>, D13 <span>=</span> <span>5.31</span>, OF <span>=</span> <span>-1.0</span>,<span>**</span>kw):
xH1 <span>=</span> D12 <span>+</span> OF <span>*</span> <span>2.0</span>
<span>if</span> D12 <span><</span> xH1:
D12 <span>=</span> xH1
W1 <span>=</span> D12
DI <span>=</span> <span>.25</span>
DO <span>=</span> <span>.25</span>
<span>#create the nozzle extension</span>
<span>if</span> L1 <span>></span> <span>0</span>:
oTH <span>=</span> CYLINDER(s, R<span>=</span>D10 <span>/</span> <span>2.0</span>, H<span>=</span>L1, O<span>=</span>D10 <span>-</span> (DO <span>/</span> <span>2.0</span>))<span>.</span>rotateY(<span>90.0</span>)
<span>else</span>:
oTH <span>=</span> <span>None</span>
L1 <span>=</span> <span>-</span>L1
oF1 <span>=</span> CPFWO(s, L<span>=</span>L2, B<span>=</span>B1, D1<span>=</span>D12, D2<span>=</span>D10, D3<span>=</span>D13, W<span>=</span>W1, OF<span>=</span>OF)
<span>if</span> oTH:
oTH<span>.</span>uniteWith(oF1)
oF1<span>.</span>erase()
<span>if</span> W1 <span><=</span> D12:
WA1 <span>=</span> <span>0.0</span>
<span>else</span>:
WA1 <span>=</span> <span>90.0</span>
<span>#set port points</span>
s<span>.</span>setPoint((<span>0.0</span>, <span>0.0</span>, <span>0.0</span>), (<span>-1.0</span>, <span>0.0</span>, <span>0.0</span>), WA1, <span>0.0</span>, L2)
s<span>.</span>setPoint((L1, <span>0.0</span>, <span>0.0</span>), (<span>1.0</span>, <span>0.0</span>, <span>0.0</span>), <span>0</span>, <span>0.0</span>, L2)
<span>return</span>Metadata
First we have the includes, this script the includes section is particular important because we are using some of the stock flange scripts (flangesub, pipesub).
<span># Embedded file name: varmainpipesubcpp_f_f_.pyc</span>
<span>from</span> <span>aqa.math</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.flangesub.cpfwo</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.pipesub.cpp_util</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.primitiv</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.var_basic</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>
<span>from</span> <span>varmain.custom</span> <span>import</span> <span>*</span>Second is the section declaring our tooltips and parameters. One the first line here, because we want the script listed under the StraightNozzle and Nozzle categories, we include both.
<span>@activate</span>(Group<span>=</span><span>"StraightNozzle,Nozzle"</span>, TooltipShort<span>=</span><span>"Long Weld Neck"</span>, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Long Weld Neck"</span>, LengthUnit<span>=</span><span>"in"</span>, Ports<span>=</span><span>"2"</span>)
<span>@group</span>(<span>"MainDimensions"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(D10<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipShort<span>=</span><span>"Nominal Outside Diameter"</span>,TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Nominal Outside Diameter"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(L1<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipShort<span>=</span><span>"Overall Length."</span>, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Overall Length"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(L2<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipShort<span>=</span><span>"Hub Length"</span>, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Length of flange with weld neck."</span>)
<span>@param</span>(OF<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Length between connection points."</span>)
<span>@param</span>(B1<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Flange Thickness"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(D12<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"Flange OD Width"</span>)
<span>@param</span>(D13<span>=</span>LENGTH, TooltipLong<span>=</span><span>"OD of Weld neck"</span>)
StraightNozzles
Nozzle class shown by clicking advanced shape options and selecting nozzle.
Testing
To test the script, I made a tool palette icon with this in the macro portion:
^C^CPLANTREGISTERCUSTOMSCRIPTS;^C^C(command “arx” “l” “Pnp3dacpadapter”);(testacpscript “nozflange”);
Once the script is tested, we need to be able to test it in a catalog. For Plant 3D, all of the nozzles are read from a shared content folder path. You can find the path by running the spec editor as administrator, and then going to Tools > Modify Shared Content folder.
The default path is C:AutoCAD Plant 3D 2016 Content.
The default path for the nozzle catalog is “C:AutoCAD Plant 3D 2016 ContentCPak CommonNOZZLE Catalog.acat”
To open the nozzle catalog, switch to the Catalogs tab, and go to open, and then browse to it. Once in the catalog you can click create new component and select your script. Fill in some sample data and save your catalog component and the catalog. Note that for flanged nozzles, your end type and pressure class must be set.
In a project drawing, create a piece of equipment, and then pick your nozzle.
You can change the nozzle orientation in the Change location tab.
Note that if you want the user to override the nozzle length, you should use the L parameter in your script. In this case (using L1), for a long weld neck, the catalog data will drive the length, and the user won’t be able to change it.
Deployment
Because you can’t directly modify the nozzle catalog on a user’s computer without overwriting it, you should deploy a folder (eg CPak Custom Nozzles) with your nozzle catalog. The user then will be responsible to add the nozzles. Another option would be to deploy two catalogs, one with the stock nozzles + your custom nozzles, and one with just your custom nozzles. You could write an installer that lets the user pick which of the two installs they want. In either case, you should use a property like Design Pressure Factor to include unique information so that they can quickly filter to locate your nozzles.
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