3D Macro Technique: Principle

The macro technique in the 3D mounting layout is largely based on the conventional procedure in Eplan for organizing, generating and using macros.

3D macros are managed in a macro project.
The extended possibilities of the macro navigator can be used for a well-structured display and management of the prepared 3D macros stored in a macro project. The 3D macros contained in a 3D macro project can thus be structured without having to form an auxiliary structure or separation of the macros beforehand.
3D macros can be generated and used with the file extension *.ema or *.ems. The file extension *.ema is recommended.
3D macros are assigned to a part in the parts management. This allows the part to be displayed in a detailed and realistic manner. The content of the graphical macro defines the graphics. If there is no graphic macro for the part, the graphic is implemented as a cuboid by entering the height, width, and depth.

Recommendations for working with 2D and 3D macros

For the sake of optimal performance in your work with Eplan, you should not save 2D and 3D data together in one macro file, but rather in separate macro files. This way you can ensure that 2D users do not have to access the extensive 3D data volume unnecessarily.

We recommend that you store the macro file with the 3D data and the "3D mounting layout" representation type in parts management on the Properties tab in the Graphical macro field (hierarchy level Mounting data). The macro file with the 2D data and the other representation types (multi-line, overview, etc.) should be entered in the Schematic macro field (on the Properties tab in the hierarchy level Data). The files could be distinguished, for example, on the basis of name extensions (e.g., 3D macro ABC.12345_3D.ema and the corresponding 2D macro ABC.12345_2D.ema).

In all actions in the 3D environment for which a part macro is used (e.g., Insert devices), it is the "graphical part macro" that is checked first. If a graphical macro is entered in the Graphical macro field for the part and if this contains the desired "3D mounting layout" representation type, this macro is used. If not, the "technical part macro" defined in the Schematic macro field is used. In the 3D environment, an outline drawing stored in the Graphical macro field is used preferably in contrast to one stored in the Schematic macro field.

3D macros in the layout space

Macro boxes are not used to create 3D macros in a macro project. 3D macros are always contained in a layout space. The macro project contains a separate layout space for each macro. On automatic generation of 3D macros from the macro project a macro is generated from each layout space. A model view of a 3D macro can be placed on a 2D page. You can jump from this view to the corresponding layout space via the popup menu.

3D macros have the following layout space properties:

Macro: Name
Macro: Description
Macro: Variant
Macro: Version
Macro: Source / reference

These properties are defined automatically when you save a macro manually or when it is generated automatically.

Tip:

If you want to assign a prepared layout space to several macros, use the Macro definition tab of the property dialog. Enter the respective name and the description of the macros to be generated in the lines of this tab. During automatic generation the same content (same layout space) is then stored in several macros.

Position and handle of 3D macros

All 3D macros are saved as standard in a horizontal alignment (X/Y alignment). You can change the position of the item subsequently using editing functions. The Handle command can be used for the definition of 3D snap points (command path: Tab Insert > Command group Mounting aids > Handle).

Uniting 3D solids into a 3D macro

A 3D macro (in other words a layout space in a macro project) can contain several individual solids if there were several solids included in the imported source file. Although a geometrical addition of solids is not possible, the Unite command can be used to group all components of the layout space in such a way that the 3D macro is treated like one item when used (for display in the navigator or for selection) (command path: Tab Edit > Command group Graphic > Unite).

Note:

The uniting of 3D solids is not suited to reduce the amount of data in the macro to be generated. If the imported STEP or JT file contains several identical and very detailed components, this may lead to a significant increase in the amount of data after uniting. This directly influences the size of the macro files since macros cannot be compressed due to the system's way of operation.

To reach an acceptable size of the macro file you should thus refrain from uniting imported identical components and generate the macro with the imported single components.

3D assembly macros

In the macro project it is possible to combine several 3D solids that were imported into a layout space from a STEP or JT file into a mechanical assembly (Tab Master data > Command group Macros > Create assembly) in order to generate an assembly macro from them.

For each assembly, the placement area and handle can be defined, as well as the hierarchy of items within the assembly can be specified using drag & drop of the function definitions in the layout space navigator.

Unlike when combining 3D solids into a 3D macro, the assembly macro is not treated as an item, but the individual items of the assembly remain under an assembly node. The assembly node and the items are linked via DT IDs with the assembly created in the parts management. In the process, the assembly node is linked with the assembly part and the items with the subparts (assembly items).

Assemblies with 3D assembly macros have some advantages:

After the assembly has been placed, it is possible to remove individual items from the assembly or to replace individual parts without, for example, falsifying the calculation of the total weight of an assembly enclosure. This is because the total weight is calculated from the parts of all available items of the assembly, including the supplemental parts.
Either only the assembly part or all the subparts contained in the assembly (with or without supplemental parts) can be output as required in reports, such as, for example, parts lists, summarized parts lists or assembly/module overviews, or during the manufacturing data export. To control this behavior, the Break up assemblies and Include supplemental parts check boxes are available in the Settings: Parts dialog of the respective report or in the Settings tab for the manufacturing data export.
Supplemental parts are also linked to the assembly macro via a DT ID so that they are taken into consideration during calculations or during the manufacturing data export, while they are not contained in bills of materials. The properties of the supplemental parts can be used to provide further information, for example on machining or on the material. No user-defined part properties are required anymore.
Assembly enclosures can be placed as a whole and configured with Rittal RiPanel.

Notes:

Assembly macros can only be generated and edited in the macro project for the purpose of creating master data.
Assembly macros can only be generated for mechanical assemblies.
Nested assemblies are not possible.

For further information on creating 3D assembly macros, see the Generate 3D assembly macro from imported 3D solids section.

Placeholder objects in 3D macros

Placeholder objects can be inserted into 3D macros. The definition method and behavior are similar to those of placeholder objects in 2D macros, but the following differences apply:

Instead of properties for pages, properties for a layout space can be selected and provided with variables.
The placeholder object is not displayed as an anchor symbol in the graphic, as it is on a project page, by as an "anchor" icon in the layout space navigator's tree view.