A Workflow for Weld Numbering and Welding Deliverables

Welding deliverables are an important part of all AutoCAD Plant 3D piping projects.
By design, weld Connectors are inserted automatically for butt, socket, and tap welds.  Therefore, they can be uniquely identified and used for planning and inspection.  Ultimately, weld information is delivered in Excel workbook and AutoCAD drawing formats that project teams can use.

For AutoCAD Plant 3D projects, BUBBLEWorx, ISOWorx, and MTOWorx work together to support many workflows—from automatically assigning weld numbers to populating isometric and orthographic layout drawings and exporting welding reports. 

Start with BUBBLEWorx: Number and Identify Every Weld

BUBBLEWorx provides a dedicated workflow for managing weld identification in AutoCAD Plant 3D.

The process starts by establishing the starting weld number. BUBBLEWorx can then automatically number weld connectors throughout the piping model, giving each weld a unique identifier.

Weld-numbering strategies can be based on route properties such as Line Number or Pipe Spec, or on any other available property. This gives project teams the flexibility to organize weld numbers to match their project standards and documentation requirements.

Once weld numbers have been assigned, BUBBLEWorx can automatically or manually insert identification marks, commonly called weld bubbles, into orthographic drawings. Companion weld tables are inserted to display weld attributes.

A weld table can include information such as:

Weld number
Weld size
Weld type
Mating Part 1
Mating Part 2

The connected or mating-part columns are unique to the Worx Plugins.

The AutoCAD PLANT 3D piping isometric styles can be set to use the default Weld Numbers, so that isometric and Orthographic drawing deliverables display identical weld numbering values.

Keep Weld Documentation Synchronized

One of the major advantages of the BUBBLEWorx workflow is synchronization.

Piping models change constantly during the design process. Components are added, removed, relocated, or replaced, and those changes can affect welds and their documentation.

BUBBLEWorx synchronization automatically updates the weld bubbles and weld tables to reflect modeling changes. This reduces manual cleanup and helps keep the drawing documentation aligned with the current Plant 3D model.

The result is a more reliable connection between the 3D piping model and its welding documentation.

Extract Weld to Excel Reports with MTOWorx

Once weld information has been established in the Plant 3D model, MTOWorx provides tools to turn it into project-ready reports.

MTOWorx can export weld joint reports that include mating-part descriptions, providing downstream project teams with useful information beyond a simple weld number and type.

Two MTOWorx settings pages control the weld-related reporting workflow.

Weld Settings

The Weld Settings page controls the key parameters used to identify and include welds in MTOWorx output.

This is where users configure settings related to:

Weld bubbling
Weld inclusion
Weld prefixes

These settings allow MTOWorx to be configured around the project’s weld identification and reporting requirements.

Weld Table Settings

The Weld Table Settings page controls how weld information is presented in tables and reports.

Users can configure:

Units
Property headers
Column headers
Column-header display names

This provides control over the information that appears in the resulting weld tables and exported reports, helping organizations match their established project standards.

Use a Data Grid to Capture All Welds

MTOWorx provides up to 40 available grids that can be configured for project reporting. A particularly useful approach is to configure one of these grids specifically for welds by including the Program Code column.

MTOWorx assigns the Program Code value 173 to all weld types. By filtering the grid for Program Code 173, users can capture all and only the welds in the project.

That same filtered grid can then be used to produce related Excel reports.

This approach provides a straightforward and repeatable way to create a weld-joint report without manually identifying individual weld components.

Connected Parts: Information That Matters Beyond Design

One unique feature of MTOWorx is the ability to include columns for Connected Part 1 and Connected Part 2.

This information can be extremely valuable to people who work with the piping model after design is complete.

A weld report can therefore answer a fundamental question: What two components are being joined by this weld?

That information can help support a range of project activities, including:

Project planning — understand the scope and components involved in welding work.

Material staging — identify the parts that need to be available for a particular joint.

Welding — provide welders with a clear description of the components being joined.

Inspection — give inspectors a useful reference for identifying and verifying completed welds.

Fabrication — connect the weld record back to the actual piping components represented in the model.

The value is in the connection between the weld and the parts it joins. Rather than treating a weld as an isolated record, BUBBLEWorx and MTOWorx preserve the relationship between the weld, the piping components, and the project documentation.

A Connected Workflow from Model to Report

Together, BUBBLEWorx and MTOWorx create a practical workflow for managing welding information throughout an AutoCAD Plant 3D project.

1. Establish the Weld Numbering Strategy

BUBBLEWorx sets the starting weld number and automatically numbers weld connectors according to project requirements.

2. Identify Welds in the Model

Weld bubbles can be inserted automatically or manually, providing clear visual identification of weld locations.

3. Build the Weld Table

BUBBLEWorx creates weld tables containing weld size, type, and the two mating parts.

4. Synchronize with Model Changes

As the piping model evolves, BUBBLEWorx updates weld bubbles and weld tables to keep the documentation current.

5. Configure MTOWorx Reporting

MTOWorx Weld Settings and Weld Table Settings define how weld information is included, labeled, and presented.

6. Filter for Welds

Using Program Code 173 provides a reliable way to include all weld types—and only welds—in a configured MTOWorx Data Grid.

7. Export the Weld Report

MTOWorx exports the resulting weld information to Excel, including connected-part descriptions when configured.

8. Export Piping Isometric Drawings

ISOWorx presents all welds per the isometric drawing and provides provisions for managing the drawing and associated workbook data.

From Weld Number to Actionable Project Information

Welding data is most useful when it remains connected to the model and can be easily delivered to the people who need it.

BUBBLEWorx handles the model-side workflow: numbering welds, identifying them in drawings, documenting their properties, and maintaining synchronization as the model changes.

MTOWorx handles the reporting workflow: configuring weld data, filtering welds, organizing the information into Data Grids, and exporting reports that can include the descriptions of both connected parts.

Together, BUBBLEWorx and MTOWorx turn AutoCAD Plant 3D weld information into a coordinated deliverable that supports the entire project—from design and documentation through planning, staging, welding, fabrication, and inspection.

For projects where accurate weld identification and connected-part information matter, the combination offers a practical way to derive more value from the welding data already in the Plant 3D model.