Learn How to Create and Modify Complex Subassemblies with Subassembly Composer
Subassembly Composer for AutoCAD Civil 3D Tutorial PDF: A Comprehensive Guide
If you are a civil engineer or a designer who works with AutoCAD Civil 3D, you may have encountered the need to create or modify complex subassemblies for your corridor models. Subassemblies are the building blocks of corridors that define the cross-sectional geometry and behavior of the corridor. AutoCAD Civil 3D comes with a library of predefined subassemblies that you can use for various purposes, such as roads, railways, bridges, tunnels, etc. However, sometimes you may need to create your own custom subassemblies that meet your specific design requirements and standards.
subassembly composer autocad civil 3d tutorial pdf
That's where the Subassembly Composer comes in. The Subassembly Composer is a powerful and user-friendly tool that allows you to create and edit subassemblies without any programming knowledge. You can use it to define the geometry, logic, and parameters of your subassemblies using a visual interface and a flowchart. You can then import your subassemblies into AutoCAD Civil 3D and use them in your corridor models.
In this tutorial, we will show you how to use the Subassembly Composer for AutoCAD Civil 3D to create and modify subassemblies. We will cover the following topics:
What is the Subassembly Composer and why use it?
How to install and launch the Subassembly Composer?
What are the main components and features of the Subassembly Composer?
How to create a subassembly project and specify its settings and parameters?
How to add and edit geometry elements, such as points, links, shapes, curves, etc.?
How to add and edit logic elements, such as targets, variables, expressions, functions, etc.?
How to preview and test your subassembly geometry and behavior?
How to save and export your subassembly as a PKT file?
How to import and use your subassembly in AutoCAD Civil 3D?
By the end of this tutorial, you will be able to create your own custom subassemblies using the Subassembly Composer and use them in your corridor models in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Let's get started!
How to Install and Launch the Subassembly Composer?
The Subassembly Composer is a tool that is included in the installation of AutoCAD Civil 3D. To install and launch the Subassembly Composer, you need to follow these steps:
Run the AutoCAD Civil 3D installer and select the Subassembly Composer option from the list of components.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation process.
After the installation is finished, you can launch the Subassembly Composer from the Windows Start menu or from the AutoCAD Civil 3D ribbon.
To launch the Subassembly Composer from the Windows Start menu, go to All Programs > Autodesk > Autodesk Subassembly Composer 2023 and click on Autodesk Subassembly Composer 2023.
To launch the Subassembly Composer from the AutoCAD Civil 3D ribbon, go to the Home tab > Create Design panel > Subassembly Composer icon.
What are the Main Components and Features of the Subassembly Composer?
The Subassembly Composer has a user-friendly interface that consists of four main panels: the Toolbox, the Flowchart, the Preview, and the Properties. Each panel has a specific function and role in creating and modifying subassemblies. Here is a brief overview of each panel:
The Toolbox
The Toolbox contains all the elements that you can use to define your subassembly geometry and logic. The Toolbox is divided into three categories: Geometry, Advanced Geometry, and Auxiliary. Each category has a set of elements that you can drag and drop onto the Flowchart. Some of the elements are:
Point: An individual point from which a link can be drawn.
Link: A line between two points.
Shape: Three or more links connected and closed.
Intersection Point: A point of intersection between two links or imaginary lines.
Curve: A curved link between two points.
Surface Link: A link that follows the specified surface between two points.
Fillet Arc: A curved link that connects two links with a specified radius.
Auxiliary Point: A point that does not show up in the final result but can be used as a basis for other elements.
The Flowchart
The Flowchart shows you the order and structure of your subassembly elements. The Flowchart is where you add, edit, and organize your elements using a visual interface. You can also add logic elements, such as targets, variables, expressions, functions, etc., to control how your subassembly behaves with different conditions and values. The Flowchart has a toolbar that allows you to zoom, pan, align, group, copy, paste, delete, undo, redo, and save your subassembly elements.
The Preview
The Preview shows you a graphical representation of your subassembly geometry. The Preview updates automatically as you add or modify your elements in the Flowchart. You can also use the Preview to test how your subassembly behaves with different target values and conditions. You can change the view mode, zoom level, background color, grid size, and display options in the Preview.
The Properties
The Properties shows you all the properties and parameters of each element that you select in the Flowchart or in the Preview. The Properties allows you to modify the properties and parameters of your elements using various input fields, such as text boxes, drop-down lists, check boxes, etc. You can also create new parameters or delete existing ones in the Properties.
How to Create a Subassembly Project and Specify its Settings and Parameters?
To create a subassembly project and specify its settings and parameters, you need to follow these steps:
Launch the Subassembly Composer from the Windows Start menu or from the AutoCAD Civil 3D ribbon.
Click on the New button on the menu bar or press Ctrl+N to create a new subassembly project.
Enter a name for your subassembly project and click on OK.
In the Settings and Parameters panel, enter the subassembly name, description, help file, image file, and target parameters for your subassembly project. The subassembly name must start with a letter and can contain letters, numbers, and underscores. The description, help file, and image file are optional but recommended. The target parameters are the possible targets that your subassembly can use in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
Click on the Create Parameter button to create new input or output parameters for your subassembly project. Input parameters are the values that the user can enter or select in AutoCAD Civil 3D to control the subassembly geometry or behavior. Output parameters are the values that the subassembly can return to AutoCAD Civil 3D for reporting or analysis purposes. You can enter a name, description, type, default value, minimum value, maximum value, and unit for each parameter. You can also delete a parameter by selecting it and pressing the Delete key.
How to Add and Edit Geometry Elements, such as Points, Links, Shapes, Curves, etc.?
To add and edit geometry elements, such as points, links, shapes, curves, etc., you need to follow these steps:
Select a geometry element from the Toolbox and drag and drop it onto the Flowchart. You can also double-click on a geometry element in the Toolbox to add it to the Flowchart.
Select the geometry element in the Flowchart or in the Preview and modify its properties in the Properties panel. You can change the name, code, position, angle, length, radius, slope, offset, elevation, width, height, area type, surface type, layer name, color, linetype, lineweight, etc. of each geometry element. You can also use expressions or functions to define some of the properties.
To connect two geometry elements with a link or a curve, select one of them and drag its connector (the small circle) to another geometry element. A link or a curve will be created automatically between them.
To create a shape from three or more links or curves, select them and right-click on them. Choose Create Shape from the context menu. A shape will be created automatically around them.
To delete a geometry element from the Flowchart or from the Preview, select it and press the Delete key.
How to Add and Edit Logic Elements, such as Targets, Variables, Expressions, Functions, etc.?
To add and edit logic elements, such as targets, variables, expressions, functions, etc., you need to follow these steps:
Select a logic element from the Toolbox and drag and drop it onto the Flowchart. You can also double-click on a logic element in the Toolbox to add it to the Flowchart.
Select the logic element in the Flowchart or in the Preview and modify its properties in the Properties panel. You can change the name, description, type, value, expression, function, condition, etc. of each logic element. You can also use parameters or other logic elements to define some of the properties.
To connect a logic element to a geometry element or another logic element, select one of them and drag its connector (the small circle) to another element. A link will be created automatically between them.
To create a branch or a loop in your subassembly logic, you can use the Decision or the Switch elements. The Decision element allows you to create two branches based on a true/false condition. The Switch element allows you to create multiple branches based on different cases.
To delete a logic element from the Flowchart or from the Preview, select it and press the Delete key.
How to Preview and Test Your Subassembly Geometry and Behavior?
To preview and test your subassembly geometry and behavior, you need to follow these steps:
Click on the Preview button on the menu bar or press F5 to update and display your subassembly geometry in the Preview panel.
Use the view mode, zoom level, background color, grid size, and display options buttons on the Preview toolbar to adjust your view of the subassembly geometry.
Use the target values panel on the right side of the Preview panel to enter or select different values for your target parameters. You can also use the slider bars to change the values dynamically. You will see how your subassembly geometry changes according to your target values.
Use the output values panel on the right side of the Preview panel to see the output values that your subassembly returns for your target values. You can also use the slider bars to change the target values dynamically and see how the output values change accordingly.
Use the simulation mode button on the Preview toolbar to run a simulation of your subassembly behavior with different target values. You can also use the play/pause/stop buttons to control the simulation speed and direction.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to use the Subassembly Composer for AutoCAD Civil 3D to create and modify complex subassemblies. We have covered the main components and features of the Subassembly Composer, such as the Toolbox, the Flowchart, the Preview, and the Properties. We have also explained how to create a subassembly project and specify its settings and parameters, how to add and edit geometry and logic elements, how to preview and test your subassembly geometry and behavior, and how to save and export your subassembly as a PKT file. We have also shown you how to import and use your subassembly in AutoCAD Civil 3D.
The Subassembly Composer is a powerful and user-friendly tool that allows you to customize your subassemblies without any programming knowledge. You can use it to create subassemblies that meet your specific design requirements and standards. You can also reuse your subassemblies in different projects and share them with other users.
We hope this article was helpful for you and answered your questions about the Subassembly Composer for AutoCAD Civil 3D. If you have any feedback or suggestions for us, please let us know in the comments below. Thank you for reading! ca3e7ad8fd