@Cyril @Moult @yorik
TL;DR
A good MEP design, IMHO, is about connections between 3D lines with MEP objects, add properties to MEP objects and lines, do analysis with exported properties data, convert that lines and MEP object to 3D model, do simulations, do diagrams, layouts, documentation, project management, budget, not in that order, and if necessary to do corrections, repeating all steps; 3D modeling is just one step, for this motive a good architecture design software is not necessarily good for MEP, for the same motive I will do not talk about LibreCAD 3, Blender and FreeCAD at least for now. And finally, the goal to reach is obviously to do all processes using IFC BCF formats, since Design until Documentation and everything with Open Source Software, that is my MEP dream.
Suggestion:
For Design, take as an example Circuit Pro - AutoCAD Plug-in, focused for Electrical Plan Design but the same tools work for Mechanical and Piping / Plumbing Plan Design: https://www.youtube.com/c/MustafaAbdelBaset/videos ; optional is Payazed RevCAD AutoCAD plug-in and UsE AutoCAD Plug-ing.
For 3D modeling, take as an example AutoCAD MEP, convert lines to 3D models just take 2 steps
For Diagrams, take as an example AutoCAD Electrical, this program can generate automatic diagrams similar to Excel and Visio
For add properties to MEP objects and lines, take as an example AutoCAD Architecture, Property Set Definitions, and Schedule tables are awesome features.
For Layouts creation, take as an example AutoCAD Architecture and MEP, their Model View feature is very useful and easy to use.
For analysis, I use Excel and LibreOffice Calc for electrical analysis, but the internet says that Etab, MatLab, and Octave are the best here.
For Project Management, take as an example AutoCAD Architecture and MEP, SheetSetManager is very useful.
For budget, I use S10 (Peruvian ERP software), but a better ERP Open Source software focused on BIM is PyERP ,that was based in Odoo with a module called BIM 2.2.
For documentation, LibreOffice, very known, does not need a presentation.
For simulation, every program that accepts IFC is ok, as Dialux, Radiance, etc, for simulations in other programs that do not accept IFC is hard to use.
For corrections, we need an automatic process, is very hard to do the correction without doing everything again, each element affects other elements and all elements affect their environment.
Here one more fast complete review for the best MEP tools with pros and cons:
AutoCAD MEP
pro:
Property Set Definitions can do everything
convert lines to Cable Tray, Ducts, Conduit, Pipes.
support export IFC for lighting analysis
export-import to .xlsx, .csv, .txt without plug-in
synchronize multiple files
bases in AutoCAD Vanilla and AutoCAD Architecture
Multi-View windows for the same element
easy creating of layouts
project navigator is decent
Support BOM tables
Support Elevation and Section views
very good tools for annotations thanks to AutoCAD Architecture
cons:
Development stuck in 2013
Autodesk Electrical Project Database format is encrypted no reason, easily replaceable with use CSV or TXT formats
Autodesk Electrical Project Database is not compatible with AutoCAD Electrical
A lot of not fixes bugs
Their features development stuck in 50% for each specialty
project navigator have bug unsolved since 2013
SheetSetManager can not be renumbering for default
SheetSetManager does not add a field to the total of layouts
Can not plot to DWG
apparently Autodesk is trying to kill AutoCAD
do not support Dynamic blocks
do not support block with Attributes definition
AutoCAD Electrical
pros:
perfect one-line diagram
perfect two-line diagram
perfect tri-line diagram
allow import .xlsx for automatic drawing
good integration with AutoDesk Inventor
support 3D automatic drawing
support a lot of PLC components
cons:
AutoCAD Electrical formats are not compatible with Autodesk Electrical Project Database (ACAMEP)
hard to use
poor documentation
apparently Autodesk is trying to kill AutoCAD
do not support Dynamic blocks
do not support block with Attributes definition
Autodesk Inventor
Pros:
Good integration with AutoCAD Electrical
create panels automatically since AutoCAD Electrical
Semi-Integrations with AutoCAD MEP for Cable Tray Design
useful for animations
Cons:
Hard to use
Circuit Pro - AutoCAD Plug-in
https://www.youtube.com/c/MustafaAbdelBaset/videos
pros:
correct design
easy drawing with lines
the best for design drawing
free trial
if someone wants to create a tool, this plugin is a good reference
export to excel for calculation
support export-import to Dialux
use open source scripts (AutoLISP)
support easy one-line diagram
cons:
errors in the code
merge outdated and updated code
not support for AutoCAD MEP
not 3D drawing support
apparently Autodesk is trying to kill AutoCAD
poor documentation
use encrypted source scripts (VLX)
need more tool
Payazed - AutoCAD Plug-in
pros:
good lighting design
good documentation
free trial
use open source scripts (AutoLISP)
cons:
apparently Autodesk is trying to kill AutoCAD
use own tool but incomplete features
UsE - Elektrotechnisch buro 2H - AutoCAD Plug-in
pros:
intelligent drawing lines tools
automatic wiring
use Attribute Definitions as a master
Cons:
developer does not
not support for AutoCAD MEP
no 3D drawing support
apparently Autodesk is trying to kill AutoCAD
use encrypted source scripts (.dll)
KiCAD
pros:
a better option than Autodesk Eagle
integration with FreeCAD
good documentation
Open Source
cons:
do not support export-import to XLSX, CSV, TXT or similars
unsolved bug
Dialux
Pros:
support import-export IFC
easy usage for analysis
fast presentation creation
Cons:
hard to draw some architecture
Other Software Open-Source and Privative for MEP:
some software is not mentioned because have an incompatible format or poor documentation or their tools are not specialized for MEP.
more tool reviews will be added in the future.
