The PV Elite Inventor plugin is an add-in for Autodesk Inventor developed by Hexagon Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (formerly Intergraph) to bridge the gap between engineering analysis and 3D CAD modeling. Core Functionality and Purpose
The plugin allows users to import pressure vessel and heat exchanger models directly from PV Elite into Autodesk Inventor. Its primary goal is to eliminate the need for manual re-modeling, enabling engineers to leverage Inventor’s advanced solid modeling and automated drawing capabilities for vessels already analyzed for safety and code compliance in PV Elite. Key Features
Model Importing: Imports PV Elite files (such as .pvtp or .pvdb) directly into the Inventor workspace, maintaining the geometric data of shells, heads, and nozzles.
Automated Drawing Creation: Once the 3D model is imported, users can quickly generate general arrangement (GA) and projection drawings, including side, top, and isometric views. pv elite inventor plugin
Bill of Materials (BOM): Automatically populates parts lists and BOM tables by pulling data from the PV Elite model, which can be further customized with Inventor properties like flange class.
Component Inspection: Allows for the inspection of individual component properties and the ability to toggle specific model layers on or off for better visualization. Integration and Compatibility
Software Pairing: The plugin was notably optimized for Autodesk Inventor Professional 2017 and files from PV Elite 2017 SP1 or later. The PV Elite Inventor plugin is an add-in
Ribbon Interface: Once installed, the plugin adds a "PV Elite Data Import" ribbon to the Inventor interface for easy access to import tools.
Workflow Efficiency: By connecting analysis with CAD, the plugin helps reduce drafting time and human error associated with manual data entry between different software platforms.
These videos demonstrate how the PV Elite plugin integrates with Autodesk Inventor to streamline vessel modeling and drawing creation: PV Elite Inventor Plugin - PV Elite 2017 14K views · 8 years ago YouTube · CAD/CAM SOLUTION Pressure Vessel Drawings with PV Elite and Inventor 13K views · 8 years ago YouTube · CAD Corner maintaining the geometric data of shells
Here’s a new feature concept for the PV Elite + Inventor plugin (assuming it integrates pressure vessel design with Autodesk Inventor):
The typical workflow utilizing the plugin follows a linear path from design to analysis:
The PV Elite Inventor plugin streamlines pressure vessel design by maintaining a single source of truth between analytical and drafting environments. Adoption is recommended for engineering firms with frequent design iterations. Future enhancements could include cloud-based collaboration and automated drawing annotation.
Engineers report reducing the data entry time per vessel from 2-3 hours to under 15 minutes. There is no need to re-type shell lengths, head depths, or nozzle locations. "What you draw is what you analyze."