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Dion Moult
95 lines
3.3 KiB
ReStructuredText
95 lines
3.3 KiB
ReStructuredText
Creating an IFC model
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=====================
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We're going to create a new native IFC model from scratch, starting from a
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single shape, up to a simple building.
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A BIM model is not just a 3D format. This means that you cannot just load any 3D
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model, and press a "Save as IFC" button. In fact, 3D is optional and you
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can have a large IFC model storing work schedules, cost rates, asset registers
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and more, and absolutely no 3D geometry at all.
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However, in these tutorials, we will focus on basic 3D geometry. At a minimum,
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you will need to categorise your 3D elements (such as "Wall", "Column",
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"Window", etc), and give them a location (such as "Level 01" of a building).
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Creating a single object
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------------------------
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Go to :menuselection:`Topbar --> File --> New IFC Project`, and select **New
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Metric (m) Project**. This will begin a blank IFC4 project.
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.. image:: images/create-project.png
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In the :menuselection:`Properties --> Project Overview --> Spatial
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Decomposition` panel, you will see a hierarchy of spaces that has been
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automatically created for you. This hierarchy is known is the **Spatial Tree**.
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.. image:: images/default-spatial-tree.png
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There are many ways to create objects. In practice, you should use an element
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type library, and we will see how to do this later. For now, we will only add a
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single element. In the :menuselection:`3D Viewport --> Add --> Mesh` menu, select
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**Cube**.
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.. image:: images/add-cube.png
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Any Blender object that you want to be part of IFC project must be converted
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into a IFC object by assigning a category. This category is known as the **IFC
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Class**.
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.. seealso::
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Use the `IFC Class search tool
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<https://bonsaibim.org/search-ifc-class.html>`__ to help choose an **IFC
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Class**!
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Select the cube (selected objects are highlighted in orange, careful not to
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select anything else!) and switch to the :menuselection:`Properties --> Object
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Information` tab. Let's pretend our Cube is a column, so select **IfcElement**
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from the **Products** dropdown, **IfcColumn** from the **Class** drop-down, and
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press **Assign IFC Class**.
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.. image:: images/assign-class.png
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.. tip::
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There are no restrictions on which **IFC Class** you can choose regardless of
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the shape of your object. You can have a monkey-shaped wall if you want!
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All IFC objects must also belong inside the **Spatial Tree**. In the
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:menuselection:`Properties --> Object Information --> Spatial Container` panel,
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you will see that your newly created **IfcColumn/Cube** has been automatically
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placed in **IfcBuildingStorey/My Storey**.
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.. image:: images/cube-spatial-tree.png
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Go to :menuselection:`Topbar --> File` and click **Save IFC Project** to save
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your new IFC model on your computer.
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.. image:: images/save-project.png
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Congratulations! You have now created your first IFC model with Bonsai! You can
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open the IFC file in any other program, and you will see something similar to
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the image below. Three simple open source online viewers you can test with are
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`IfcPipeline <https://view.ifcopenshell.org>`__, `ThatOpenEditor
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<https://platform.thatopen.com/app>`__, and `3DViewer
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<https://3dviewer.net/>`__.
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.. image:: images/ifc-pipeline.png
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Placing occurrences of an element type
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--------------------------------------
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TODO
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Changing the locations of elements
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----------------------------------
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TODO
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Modeling a simple building
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--------------------------
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TODO
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