Autocad Plant 3d Iso Symbol Skey Hot!

Mastering ISO Symbol SKEYs in AutoCAD Plant 3D: The Backbone of Intelligent Isometrics

If you have ever opened an isometric drawing in AutoCAD Plant 3D and wondered, “How does the software know to draw a gate valve as two triangles and a ball valve as a circle?” — the answer is a small but powerful text string called the SKEY.

The Symbol Key (SKEY) is the invisible link between your 3D model’s specification and the 2D representation on an isometric drawing. Misunderstand the SKEY, and your isometrics will look chaotic. Master it, and you gain complete control over your project’s deliverables.

In this post, we’ll break down what SKEYs are, how they work, and how to customize them for your plant design projects. autocad plant 3d iso symbol skey

Part 3: Common SKEY Values and Naming Conventions

Unfortunately, SKEYs are not completely universal, but AutoPLANT and Plant 3D share a common heritage. Here is a table of the most common SKEYs you will encounter in a standard Plant 3D project.

| SKEY | Component Type | Typical 2D Symbol | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | GV | Gate Valve | Diamonds | | BV | Ball Valve | Solid Circle | | CV | Check Valve (Swing) | Circle with a line or hinge | | GL | Globe Valve | Butterfly shape | | DV | Diaphragm Valve | Double line | | FL | Flange (WN/SO) | Two short vertical ticks | | EL | Elbow 90° | Quarter circle arc | | TR | Tee (Reducing/Equal) | T-shaped branch | | RC | Reducer (Concentric) | Converging lines | | RE | Reducer (Eccentric) | Eccentric converging lines | | SG | Strainer (Y-type) | Diagonal line with circle | | TG | Thermometer | Circle with T | | PG | Pressure Gauge | Circle with P | Mastering ISO Symbol SKEYs in AutoCAD Plant 3D:

1. What is an SKey?

SKey stands for Symbol Key. It is a unique alphanumeric code assigned to a specific 3D component (like a valve, elbow, or gasket) in the plant 3D model.

• Purpose: The SKey acts as a "lookup value" or a bridge. It tells the isometric generation engine, "When you encounter this 3D part, look for the 2D symbol associated with this code."
• Example: A standard Gate Valve might have an SKey of GATE. A 90-degree elbow might have an SKey of EL90.

3. Key Components of the Feature

Step 5: Assign the New SKEY to a Part

Go back to your Spec Editor or Project Setup. Find your Magnetic Flow Meter part. Change its SKEY property to MAG. Regenerate the ISO. Purpose: The SKey acts as a "lookup value" or a bridge

2. Standalone / Instrument Components (Transmitters, Gauges)

These symbols tap off the main line but do not break it. They typically have a "leader" line.

• Requirement: The block should have a SP (Saddle Point) or anchor at the pipe wall, and the instrument body floats above or below the line.