Triform: Application of 3D Design in the Basic Template Drawing of a Cold Rolling Mill
Utilizing Triforma for 3D Design of Line Foundation Template Drawings
He Daohong
HE Daohong
Baosteel Engineering Technology Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai 201900
Baosteel Engineering & Technology Group Co., Ltd., Shanghai, China
Abstract: This article details the features of the 3D software Triforma and highlights its application in the 3D design of the basic template drawing for a cold rolling pickling unit. Using the 3D design of a basic template for a particular acid rolling unit as a case study, the article summarizes the workflow of Triforma, including 3D modeling of the basic template, process-oriented structural data acquisition, profile extraction, and material report statistics.
Keywords: Triforma, basic template drawing, 3D modeling, drafting
This essay explores the characteristics of 3D software and emphasizes its application in the civil foundation design of a cold rolling continuous pickling line. It summarizes the Triforma 3D design workflow applied to the civil foundation of a cold rolling continuous pickling line at MeiShan Steel, covering 3D civil foundation modeling, process-supplied 3D data integration with structural design, section plane drawing extraction, and material report calculations.
Keywords: Triforma, civil foundation, 3D modeling, section plane drawing extraction
1. Preface
With the advancement of comprehensive 3D project design, engineering technology companies have deepened 3D factory design. Simple 3D modeling of unit foundations no longer meets the demands of overall factory design. The basic template drawing is a foundational layout diagram created by the primary discipline, based on the plant space provided by the owner. It considers the direction of process lines, pipelines, wiring, and the spatial layout of mechanical equipment, serving as essential data for collaborative professional accounting.
Traditionally, in 2D design, the basic template drawing is returned to the main discipline after detailed collaboration, paving the way for equipment installation and pipeline and cable tray layout. The main advantage of 3D design lies in real-time collaborative referencing across disciplines. By adopting 3D design for the basic template, the structural team can directly modify the 3D model following structural calculations, while the fluid discipline can use it as a basis for three-dimensional pipeline layout, initiating detailed pipeline design earlier. This improves collaboration efficiency and accelerates project progress.
Building upon previous 3D process section designs, this study explores the use of Triforma software for 3D modeling of the unit foundation template in an acid rolling mill project. The article shares experiences with Triforma in designing a basic template diagram for this project, providing a reference for industry peers.
2. Introduction to Triforma 3D Software
MicroStation Triforma is a 3D solid modeling software that integrates all relevant building information — geometric data, attributes, and material properties — into a single 3D model. It can automatically generate structural construction drawings (plans, elevations, sections, perspectives) and material reports (including material usage, specifications, and cost estimates) directly from the 3D model. Furthermore, Triforma supports bidirectional data linking between the 3D model and associated reports, minimizing redundant drawing work caused by design changes.
The “Tri” in Triforma represents three core functions:
• Modeling – Creation of detailed 3D models containing geometric, attribute, and material information;
• Presentation – Generation of vertical/horizontal sectional drawings and 3D visualizations;
• Reporting – Automated material statistics and reporting.
Triforma’s data interoperability allows multiple designers to simultaneously work on different parts of the same engineering model. Its powerful collaboration features enable disciplines to reference each other’s models and build their own professional models without redundant efforts. The use of references reduces data duplication and keeps individual file sizes manageable. Additionally, MicroStation’s design history feature allows easy tracking, reviewing, recovery, and querying of design changes within the 3D model files[1].
Moreover, Triforma supports the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard — an internationally recognized format for product data exchange in construction. This enables models created in Triforma to carry detailed attributes such as materials, sections, and volumes for each building element. The output IFC files can be used in IFC-compliant structural analysis software like STAADPro for further structural design and analysis[2].
3. Triforma Application in Basic Template Drawings
During the preliminary design phase, the basic template drawing must represent the unit foundation outline — including civil foundations, steel structures, railings, stairs, walls, slabs, beams, columns, doors, windows, and other factory components. In the detailed design phase, the template must also depict mechanical equipment base plates, equipment load capacities, bolt hole dimensions and configurations, embedded pipeline parts, equipment embedment locations, and mechanical and electrical pipe layouts.
Triforma’s application to unit template drawings can be divided into three key areas: 3D modeling, model presentation, and material report statistics.
3.1 Triforma 3D Modeling
Triforma constructs 3D models with rich information attributes using three primary elements: Forms, Parts (Components), and Compound Cells.
3.1.1 Forms: Concept, Classification, and Application
In Triforma, a Form is a crucial 3D object representing building elements such as floors, walls, beams, columns, roofs, and other structures. Forms are classified by type into linear, curved, freeform, slab, and intelligent entities. They can be placed directly or constructed from linear or surface elements based on planes. Boolean operations can be performed on Forms, and modifications can be made through their construction elements, enabling quick design changes. Additionally, Forms allow automatic annotation of dimensions based on predefined size types when extracting sectional views.
In the 3D design of the acid rolling mill unit’s template, linear forms were used for concrete walls; slab-shaped forms for beams, columns, equipment foundations, secondary grout layers, and embedded parts; and freeform shapes for equipment foundations with polygonal bases. Using Forms is particularly effective for embedded parts, which are typically buried in concrete. To model embedded parts, the concrete solid is first cut to accommodate the embedment, then the embedded part is drawn. Modifying the plane elements used for perforations allows easy copying, moving, and stretching of the cut solids, simplifying the drawing and modification process.
image1. Detailed partial view of the foundation template constructed with Forms in the inlet section of the acid rolling mill unit
3.1.2 Components: Concept and Application
Components (or Parts) serve as the link between 3D models and engineering drawing representations, specification files, and material reports. Using Triforma’s Dataset Explorer tool, components can be defined as individual items (Parts) or grouped into families (Families) based on project requirements. Each component’s full attribute set can be configured, including geometric properties, 2D drawing attributes for sectional views, rendering properties, formulas for material statistics, and automated dimension annotation formats.
For example, Triforma typically categorizes building elements into families such as doors, windows, stairs, steel structures, walls, ceilings, etc. Further subdivision—like walls by thickness (100mm, 200mm, 250mm)—allows tailored component families and parts to suit project needs. From a company perspective, careful pre-definition of component families and components is crucial, as these configurations are reused across projects. In the MeiShan project, two specific components—maijian and ground wall—were added to the wall family. Future designs should customize more comprehensive component types to meet civil engineering requirements.
3.1.3 Modular Units: Concept and Application
Compound Cells combine 3D solid models, 2D plan symbols, perforation machines, and origins into modular components stored in a central parts library, accessible by all project designers. A key advantage is that when placed on a wall, their position is linked to the wall’s geometry—if the perforation machine moves, the wall automatically adjusts to close the original opening. In 3D views, only the solid shape is visible; in sectional views, only the 2D symbols appear, speeding up extraction of cross-sectional drawings.
Modular units are either parameterized or non-parameterized. Parameterized units—such as stairs, roof trusses, doors, and windows—allow post-placement modification by adjusting parameters. Non-parameterized units require replacing the unit to modify. Modular units can be placed as shared units, which greatly reduce file size by sharing memory, and can be updated simultaneously.
During the basic template design, parameterized units like stairs and railings were used to represent the craft discipline’s intent. Triforma’s built-in parameterized compound unit tools facilitate easy parameter adjustments of already placed units, enhancing convenience.
image2. Detailed partial view of railing and staircase compound units in the outlet section of the acid rolling mill
3.2 Using the Drawing Manager
One of the greatest advantages of 3D software is automatic, efficient extraction of plans, elevations, and sectional views based on predefined parameters. Triforma includes a Drawing Extract Manager tool that controls profile generation through two parameter sets: component definitions in the Dataset Explorer and profile settings in the Drawing Extract Manager.
The Drawing Manager allows importing or creating drawing definition files. Multiple drawing types can be predefined to enable batch extraction, facilitating production of numerous sectional views. Triforma supports extraction of plan, elevation, and axial views directly, as well as saving the 3D model from any viewpoint. Sectional extraction can be done via two-point, face, or full-plane methods, capturing core sections or perspectives before and after cuts.
Sectional views are generated by defining 2D sectional lines and automatic dimension annotations within the dataset browser. Extracted sections or views can be saved in various formats or linked directly to the main 3D model file. Sectional, front, and rear perspective views can be exported in different file types for convenient further processing by designers.
image3. Sectional drawing extracted from the foundation template of the acid rolling mill’s inlet section
3.3 Material Report Statistics
Traditional 2D basic template design often requires extensive time and is prone to errors when estimating overall material needs post-design. Triforma offers a dedicated material statistics tool that automatically calculates material quantities from 3D models.
Material report accuracy in Triforma depends on two factors: proper component (Part) definitions in the dataset browser, and correct parameter settings in the quantity estimation tool (Quantify) and report layout files. The software identifies the component from which each modeled element is created, determines its material assignment, applies the relevant statistical formula, and outputs the results. Hence, precise component definitions, material assignments, and formula settings are essential for accurate material statistics.
In the acid rolling mill project’s basic template design, foundation exterior walls were set to 500 mm thickness and base plates to 800 mm. Walls, beams, columns, and slabs were grouped as a single component for material counting. The calculated concrete consumption was 1.4 × 10^4 m³, closely matching estimates from traditional 2D designs.
4. Summary
Triforma 3D software has demonstrated excellent results in designing the basic template for a cold rolling acid mill project. Based on the 3D template, the fluid discipline engaged in detailed 3D pipeline design between hydraulic, pneumatic, and acid washing sections even before the structural discipline finalized its detailed design. During this process, continuous foundation modifications were reflected in real time for structural engineers, optimizing their designs, reducing pipeline-foundation conflicts, and accelerating project delivery.
A key technical consideration is ensuring that the 3D basic template models created by the process discipline are reusable by the structural discipline. Harmonizing terminology and establishing a comprehensive set of modeling element and component customization rules, along with reasonable layer settings, will facilitate automatic extraction of sectional drawings and material statistics using 3D software in future projects. Moreover, the 3D foundation model handover between process and structural disciplines should balance ease of model exchange with clarity regarding design detail levels.
5. References
1. Triforma User Help Documents, Bentley Institute, 2005;
2. Deng Xueyuan, Zhang Zhiyong, Liu Xila, “Automatic Generation of Building Structure Models Based on IFC Standards,” Journal, 2007 (40): 6-12.
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