How to create your own tool palettes in Plant 3D

Efficient assembly management in Plant 3D:

Custom tool palettes for storage and reuse

What are the advantages of tool palettes, and why is it worth creating your own? We've summarized the benefits here. 

1. Reusability of Assemblies
You can save frequently used components (e.g., pump groups, skids, valve stations) with all placements, layers, connection, and component properties. This reduces the effort required for re-insertion – copy & paste is a thing of the past. 

2. Planning Speed
Complete assemblies can be placed with one click without having to search for all the individual parts again. This significantly increases the efficiency of daily design work.

3. Standardization & Quality Assurance
You can centrally make checked, approved assemblies available on tool palettes.This minimizes planning errors and ensures that all employees use the same standard.

4. Overview & Organization
Your own tool palettes can be structured thematically or project-related. This creates clarity and allows for better navigation through the catalog jungle.

5. Automation & Combination with Scripts
Combined with Plant 3D scripts (e.g., via Python), you can automatically parameterize assemblies or add metadata when placing them.

Now for the implementation. Have you opened Plant 3D? Let's get started.

1. You have an assembly that you want to use multiple times. Save your drawing and launch the "Block" command from the command bar.

2. Give your assembly a name and click the “Select insertion base point” button and select your insertion point.

3. Click the “OK” button.
   
   

4. Click the “Select Objects” button.
   
   

5. Drag the cursor to make the selection.

6. Right-click to confirm the selection.

7. Right-click on “Tool Palettes”.

8. Select “New Palette” from the menu.

9. Now drag your assembly onto the tool palette.

10. Click once.

11. Right-click.

12. Select “Properties...” from the menu.
    

13. Set the input parameter “Explode” to Yes.

14. Click the “OK” button.

15. You can now reuse your assembly in a file at any time by dragging it from the tool palette into model space.
    
    It's a good idea to create a file that serves as a library. This should always be present in the project. A library that works across projects is also possible. DesignCenter (Command: DesignCenter) can be used for this.