New mvparts: Intellipaks

Rooftop Packaged Units

Models:
Trane Intellipak SAHF (Cooling Only)
Trane Intellipak SEHF (Electric Heat)
Trane Intellipak SXHF (Extended Casing)

Attached Properties:

• Mark
• Manufacturer
• Model
• Nominal Tons
• Efficiency (EER)
• IPLV
• Heating kW
• Power
• MCA
• MOCP
• Supply Fan HP
• Exhaust Fan HP
• Fan FLAs
• Weight
• Duct Configuration
• Filter Size
• Complete With
• Options / Accessories

For more information about these units, or to request a different mvpart, visit http://www.geniusoftllc.com/

New mvparts: Trane RTUs

Rooftop Packaged Units

Models: Trane 4YCC & Trane 2YCC

Attached Properties:

• Mark
• Manufacturer
• Model
• Nominal Tons
• Efficiency (SEER/EER)
• Heating MBH
• Heating AFUE
• Power
• MCA
• MOCP
• Weight
• Duct Configuration
• Filter Size
• Complete With
• Options / Accessories

For more information about these units, or to request a different mvpart, visit http://www.geniusoftllc.com/

Making mvparts "pretty"

Unfortunately, when you create mvparts in AutoCAD, there aren't a lot of options when it comes to lineweights, linetypes, colors, or plotting settings. Once the mvparts is created and inserted into a drawing, all the entities of that mvpart are the same.

In order to have mvparts include entities that are thinner, thicker, a different color, or that do not plot, we have to take some steps...

I have found that this is best accomplished after the mvpart has been completely created. To create an mvpart, you can follow the steps outlined here: http://www.geniusoftllc.com/mvparts/create.asp

Assuming the mvpart is already created, starting from a blank AutoCAD screen...

1. Open the mvpart .dwg file. For example, C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Autodesk\ACD-MEP 2009\enu\Aecb Catalogs\US Imperial\MvParts\Mechanical\Roof Mounted AC Units\Gas Fired.dwg

2. At the command prompt, type "BEDIT", select one of the "Symbol" blocks and click "OK" (for example, the 10 Ton unit) - the reason we edit the Symbol block is because it allows different lineweights, colors, etc.



3. Edit the block as needed to add clearance lines, hidden, lightweight lines, non-plot text, etc., save the changes and close the block editor.

4. Save and Close the Gas Fired.dwg drawing.

5. Regenerate the mvpart Catalog (command: )

6. Ensure that your display settings will show the Symbol block - to see how to do this, visit http://www.geniusoftllc.com/mvparts/videos/display.asp

7. Insert the Gas Fired mvpart and verify that the "pretty" entities are showing up.

New mvparts: Price VAV Boxes

VAV Boxes (Air Terminal Devices)

Model: Price FDC

Attached Properties:

• Mark
• Manufacturer
• Model
• Type
• Unit Size
• Inlet Size
• Heating Inlet Temperature
• Power
• Complete With
• Options / Accessories
• CFM Range

For more information about these units, or to request a different mvpart, visit http://www.geniusoftllc.com/

New mvparts: Air Devices

Air Devices: Air Concepts, Krueger, Price, Titus

Models:

• Air Concepts SPD & SPDV (Saturn Plaque Diffuser)
  
• Krueger 1400 (Square Cone Diffuser)
• Krueger 6200 (Curved Vane Diffuser)
• Krueger EG15 (Egg Crate Grille)
• Krueger S80 & S585 (Louvered Grille)
  
• Price PDC (Curved Vane Diffuser)
• Price SCD (Square Cone Diffuser)
• Price 530 (Louvered Grille)
• Price 81, 80 & 82 (Egg Crate Grille)
  
• Titus PCS (Curved Vane Diffuser)
• Titus TBD-30 (Plenum Slot Diffuser)
• Titus TMS (Square Cone Diffuser)
• Titus CT-480 (Linear Bar Grille)
• Titus 23RL & 3RL (Louvered Grille)
• Titus 50F (Egg Crate Grille)
• Titus T-700 (Door Grille)

Attached Properties:

• Mark
• Service
• Manufacturer
• Model
• Neck Size
• OBD
• Frame Style
• Neck Style
• Device Style
• Complete With
• CFM Range

For more information about these units, or to request a different mvpart, visit http://www.geniusoftllc.com/

Power in Properties

It's the little things that get to us...

So you want to use the new Table Schedule Styles to display information relating to you exhaust fans, and one of the columns is for Motor Power, listing Voltage and Phase. No big deal right? Until you say that you want to show it with a dash...

• 115/1
• 208/3
• 460/3

Well, this is an annoying problem.

When you create a List using Content Builder, and add these Power options to the List, any item in the List that has a "/" in it will not work. This is a problem with AutoCAD, but fear not... there is a work around.

This method of using a Formula Definition can be used in many areas. Anytime AutoCAD is not giving you what you want, give these methods a shot. If it still doesn't work, whine.

Here is a screenshot showing the MoterPower Property of an Exhaust Fan, set to the type of "List":

The first step is to get rid of those "/"s and replace them with a character that AutoCAD will except. For this example, I will use a "-". So our List becomes:

• 115-1
• 208-3
• 460-3

Here is a screen shot showing the Edit List Values dialog box:

As you can see, you can input the "/"s, but once the mvpart is regenerated, it will not work. What we need to do is create a Formula that will Convert the value from a "-" to a "/".

1. Create a new Property Definition (type: Fomula, the one with the lightning and 2+4)
2. Name it "PowerConvert"
3. Use an "if" statement to convert the text:
   If [MotorPower] = "115-1" Then
   RESULT = "115/1"

Here is a screenshot showing the entire formula:

Note that you could add as many power conversions as you need, just by adding more ElseIf lines. After creating this formula, and then saving the Definition, we want to insert one of the Exhaust Fans and create a schedule for it.

Here is a screenshot showing the Exahust Fan being inserted into the drawing, with the Power selected to be 208-3:

In the Schedule Table Style, when adding the Column for the power, instead of adding the Column using the Definition named "MotorPower", we want to use the Formula Definition we just created, called "PowerConvert".

Here is a screenshot showing the final outcome, with the Value correctly display with a "/" instead of a "-":

New mvparts: Mitsubishi VRF

Mitsubishi Variable Refrigerant Units

Models:

• PDFY (Cealing Concealed Fan Coil)
• PLFY (Cealing Cassette Fan Coil)
• PUHY (Y Series Outdoor Unit)
• PURY (R2 Series Outdoor Unit)

Attached Properties:

• Manufacturer
• Model
• Capacity
• Electrical
• Weight

For more information about these units, or to request a different mvpart, visit http://www.geniusoftllc.com/

How To Create mvparts

Want to learn how to create these mvparts yourself? It can be a little tricky and very time consuming, but if you are interesting in giving it a shot, following these instructions will hopefully save you a little time and headache.

Note: These instructions are for AutoCAD MEP 2008-2009 running on Windows XP (though they may apply to other versions of AutoCAD on other operating systems too).

1. Create a 3D Solid model of the part(s)



2. Define a block for the solid model(s) you just created (Tip: name the block(s) with the Manufacturer, Model, and Size of the Part for easy differentiation)



3. Click Menu > CAD Manager > Content Editing > Content Builder (Tip: If you don't have the CAD Manager Pulldown menu, click Menu > Windows > Pulldowns > CAD Manager)
4. Select the "Multi-view Part tab" Part Catalog, browse to the correct location for you part, click on "New Block Part" (Tip: You may want to add a sub-folder to help organize your parts)
5. Fill in the Name and Description of your part, click OK
6. Select the type, Layer Key, and Subtype for your part, click Next
7. Click on the "Add part size" button, select each block you created (Tip: Select the blocks in order of Size)
8. Click on the "Generate Blocks" button, click on the "All Directions" button, click OK, click Next



9. Either select a previously drawn image for your part or generate one from an Isometric view, click Next (Tip: A simple google image search for the part is helpful, resize the part to be 200px by 200px)
10. Right-click on the Part Name and select "Add ___ Connector", specify the Name, Flow Direction, Shape, etc. for the connection, click OK
11. Right-click on the connection(s) you made and select "Edit Placement"



12. Modify the Position (P) and Normal (N) for each connection you made
13. Specify the Size(s) and Connection Type(s) for each connection, click OK, click Next



14. Click on the "Edit Properties" button
15. Click on the "New" button, select "Custom Data 1", specify name of property, click OK
16. Modify the Description, Data Storage, Data Type, Units, and Visibility for each property you create



17. Change to the "Values" Database, modify the values for each property you created that has a "Constant", "List", or "Table" Data Storage
18. Change to the "Calculations" Database, modify the calculations for each property you created that has a "Calculation" Data Storage, click OK, click Finish



19. Insert your new mvpart and verify all is working correctly