Custom fabrication from generic REVIT templates
View Patent ↗Systems and methods presented herein provide a plugin to REVIT or a similar program that allows the graphical user interface to convert system components to custom components and vice versa. This can include converting a system conduit pipe to multiple custom conduit pipes with a connector. It can also include converting a system first pipe, bend, and second pipe into a custom kick. The plugin can calculate an imaginary intersection point between first and second pipes in a plane. Using the calculated intersection point, the plugin can calculate actual pipe dimensions needed for fabricating the kick. The dimensions can be displayed within REVIT with a triangle generated to show the otherwise missing dimensions.
1. A system of converting computer-aided design (“CAD”) system components into custom components, including:
a database that stores the custom components;
a processor that executes a CAD application, the processor performing stages comprising:
displaying a graphical user interface (“GUI”) that allows a user to place the system components onto a screen;
running a plugin that determines coordinates related to selected system components in the GUI;
receiving a command from the user that initiates a conversion module of the plugin, wherein the conversion module at least:
determines a length and orientation of a first of the selected system components, wherein the system components include a first pipe, a bend, and a second pipe;
calculates an imaginary intersection point between the first and second pipes, wherein the lengths of the first pipe and second pipe are determined based on the imaginary intersection point; and
identifies a kick as a first custom component based on the length and at least one attribute of the first selected system component, wherein identifying the kick includes comparing a maximum kick length against the lengths of the first pipe and second pipe; and
displaying, within the GUI, the first custom component in place of the selected system components.
2. The system of claim 1 , the stages further comprising:
drawing, by the conversion module, a triangle within the GUI to illustrate the imaginary intersection point of the first and second pipes; and
visually displaying dimensions of the triangle within the GUI.
3. The system of claim 1 , the stages further comprising:
coloring the first custom component differently than the system components in the GUI by applying filters to the system components and the first custom component.
4. The system of claim 1 , the stages further comprising:
generating a bill of materials in a custom dialog that includes the first custom component.
5. The system of claim 1 , the stages further comprising:
determining that the length of the first selected system component exceeds a maximum length of a pipe custom component; and
displaying, in place of the first selected system component, a first pipe as the first custom component, a second pipe as a second custom component, and a connector between the first and second pipes as a third custom component.
6. A method of converting computer-aided design (“CAD”) system components into custom components within a graphical user interface (“GUI”), comprising:
receiving a selection of the system components in the GUI;
executing a plugin that determines coordinates related to the selected system components in the GUI;
receiving a command from a user that initiates a conversion module of the plugin, wherein the conversion module at least:
determines a length and orientation of a first of the selected system components, wherein the system components include a first pipe, a bend, and a second pipe;
calculates an imaginary intersection point between the first and second pipes, wherein the lengths of the first pipe and second pipe are determined based on the imaginary intersection point;
identifies a kick as a first custom component based on the length and at least one attribute of the first selected system component, wherein identifying the kick includes comparing a maximum kick length against the lengths of the first pipe and second pipe; and
displaying, within the GUI, the first custom component in place of the multiple selected system components.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
drawing, by the conversion module, a triangle within the GUI to illustrate the imaginary intersection point of the first and second pipes; and
visually displaying dimensions of the triangle within the GUI.
8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
coloring the first custom component differently than the system components in the GUI by applying filters to the system components and the first custom component.
9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
generating a bill of materials in a custom dialog that includes the first custom component.
10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining that the length of the first selected system component exceeds a maximum length of a pipe custom component; and
displaying, in place of the first selected system component, a first pipe as the first custom component, a second pipe as a second custom component, and a connector between the first and second pipes as a third custom component.
11. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium containing instructions for converting computer-aided design (“CAD”) system components into custom components within a graphical user interface (“GUI”), the instructions causing a processor to execute stages comprising:
displaying the graphical user interface (“GUI”) that allows a user to place the system components onto a screen;
running a plugin that determines coordinates related to selected system components in the GUI;
receiving a command from the user that initiates a conversion module of the plugin, wherein the conversion module at least:
determines a length and orientation of a first of the selected system components, wherein the system components include a first pipe, a bend, and a second pipe;
calculates an imaginary intersection point between the first and second pipes, wherein the lengths of the first pipe and second pipe are determined based on the imaginary intersection point;
identifies a kick as a first custom component based on the length and at least one attribute of the first selected system component, wherein identifying the kick includes comparing a maximum kick length against the lengths of the first pipe and second pipe; and
displaying, within the GUI, the first custom component in place of the selected system components.
12. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11 , the stages further comprising:
drawing, by the conversion module, a triangle within the GUI to illustrate the imaginary intersection point of the first and second pipes; and
visually displaying dimensions of the triangle within the GUI.
13. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11 , the stages further comprising:
coloring the first custom component differently than the system components in the GUI by applying filters to the system components and the first custom component.
14. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium of claim 11 , the stages further comprising:
determining that the length of the first selected system component exceeds a maximum length of a pipe custom component; and
displaying, in place of the first selected system component, a first pipe as the first custom component, a second pipe as a second custom component, and a connector between the first and second pipes as a third custom component.