The thing is we've heavily invested in MicroStation and have no wish to
downgrade to AutoCAD <g>.
Plus it would cost a fortune to switch now and after the recent shenanigans
with AutoCAD 2000 and 2000i I think we'll stick with Bentley.
I get the impression Autodesk just think of there customers as cash cows,
how have you found dealing with them?
AutoPlant is made by the same people as our Omni-Pipe (Rebis) and the latest
version of Omni is actually AutoPlant for MicroStation, and I've tried it
out but I'm also looking at other products as well. But, as always, money is
the key factor and at the moment we have none, we know that it's time to
make-up our minds about which software we're going to use for the
foreseeable future but we ain't got the cash to do it so for the moment I'm
looking around and trying to get a feel for which product will be the best,
at the right price, and be the best for us.
We've actually got the whole Omni-Series including; Omni-Pipe, Omni-Equip,
Omni-Flow, Omni-Iso & Spec-Gen. But we've ditched them all except Pipe and
Spec-Gen as they're a waste of time especially Equip! We've also got an old
copy of FrameWorks but it requires a DOS machine to run and I still haven't
got around to putting one together so I've no idea if it's any good.
Of the few software packages I've looked at (I've already ruled out the big
boys PDS & PDMS as when I took a look at them they were just too expensive)
PlantSpace Design Series looked the best, and more importantly the software
looks like it will grow along with our company.
We currently use PlantSpace Schematics for our P&ID's and, although I
haven't finished setting it up yet, I very impressed with it so far.
Nathan.
- Original Message from PipingDesign@egroups.com at 26/07/00 17:33
>Hello Nathan
>
>
>If i understand you are working very hard to be produce piping drawings,
>but still happy with your MicroStation; Take time and look around, may be
>found something else more sample. In past and also today, you can found lot
>of piping design programs based on Autocad 14 or 2000.
>
>First try AUTOPLANT 3D (Rebis).
>
>
>In AUTOPLANT 3D you can design very fast 3d piping and then can send to
>Autoiso or
>Isogen to be produce Piping isos.
>
>To be build a real 3d plant you need 2 additional programs from Rebis:
>
>a) Equipment builder -> build 3d process equipment and nozzles.
>
>b) Multi Steel -> Very sample program to be build 3d or 2d steel building
>models.
>
>
>Try it and may be found that Autocad no more nightmare, may be better then
>your
>
>MicroStation.
>
>If you need additional info don't hesitate to contact -> <a href="/group/PipingDesign/post?postID=k7W_EpdIbQ5S-wtMBMrHugfng8F0MEAV6-vAL1bbCOC7Dd30hXSWQa9MFV_2MMco_qatHJZT0A">mbeng@ibm.net</a>
>
>
>ωμεν
>
>
>Menashe
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>At 09:17 26/07/00 +0100, you wrote:
>>We use MicroStation J (v7.1) with PlantSpace Schematics for doing the
>>P&ID's, and MicroStation 95 (v5.5) with Omni-Pipe for 3D pipe routing.
>>Once we've done the pipework in Omni we then export it back on to the
>>network (Omni will only work on files stored locally on the machine) and
>>extract the hidden line files using MicroStation J. The design of everything
>>else (structural, electrical, etc.) is done using MicroStation J in 3D.
>>I've only done 3D on MicroStation (starting back when it was V5) and found
>>it really easy to get started as the 3D side of things seems to be well
>>sorted with excellent viewing commands and a good selection of easy to use
>>3D tools.
>>A few years ago I had a try at doing 3D in AutoCAD (v12) and found it a
>>nightmare, but it may well have improved since then so I can't comment.
>>
>>Omni will work in conjunction with Isogen to produce Isometrics but there
>>are some problems with the linkup to the catalogue that I've yet to address
>>(these are mainly to do with Piping Specials and out-of-spec flanges),
>>although these seem to be caused by a problem with Omni rather than Isogen
>>(namely that the number of characters allowed in a component's part number
>>isn't long enough!). Having said all that though, we do use it as it gets
>>the iso's started but they still require some manual alterations before
>>they're ready to be printed off.
>>
>>I've had a look MicroStation's equivalent of Paperspace ("Drawing
>>Composition") and can see some benefits but I'm not sure if it would be
>>worth the effort. Also anybody we take on would have to learn something new
>>as none of them so far have had experience of working with "Drawing
>>Composition" (including me!).
>>At the moment we create a new design file with the same filename as the
>>drawing and then reference in the border and all the components of the 3D
>>model (the 3D model is broken up into several files for each discipline e.g.
>>piping upper deck, piping lower deck, etc. as this gives us greater
>>flexibility) we then generate a "hidden line file" from the model and
>>reference that in to the drawing too, and then switch off the display of the
>>3D model. So we are left with a design file with the border & hidden line
>>file visible and over these reference files we place the dimensions, notes,
>>etc. everything needed to finish the drawing off.
>>This is how we do all our drawings as these days I tend to do everything in
>>3D, in fact the only 2D drawings I've done for a while have been the
>>schematics!
>>
>>Nathan.
>
>
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Received on Thu Jul 27 04:00:00 2000