7 replies to this topic

[Kevin Rabenaldt]

I have been asked if I can provide drawings in BIM format.  The project involves a company that installs the piping for the air driven tubes for banks.  They usually provide a sketch on their layout by hand on the architect's drawing for the contractor.  The company I would draw for provides their own installation of the air driven tubes and related equipment.  A bigger bank's contractor is wanting the tube layouts in BIM format.  I am having them clearly define their needs, but does a dwg output from SoftPlan be useable to them?  I understand BIM may include the manufacturer's data but I don't think they need that but they are checking.  This is their first encounter in having to provide digital drawing data.  If I can supply their needs I would have a good number of jobs in upcoming projects with their bank client as they do all their installations.

 

Anyone do something similar?

[Harlon Suttle]

If you are a Plus subscriber, export the 3d softplan file in a Sketchup format and the BIM program should be able to import same...

[Kevin Rabenaldt]

Yes I am a SP Plus subscriber.  Never thought of that method.  Thanks.

[Edward Shannon]

I'm following this discussion.  BIM = Building information Modelling.  I consider Softplan to be a BIM program as it is 3-dimensional and parametric.  However, on the street, BIM may mean "Revit," which is the most widely used BIM program.  I am guessing your request is for your SoftPlan files to be able to export into a Revit format.    I don't know if this can be done?  If anyone has had any success with this, I would love to know as I get asked for this a lot.  Per Harlon's response, Can Revit import data from Sketchup?  

[Mark Petri]

Not certain how well the export/import of SKP files into Revit works, but this company has created a converter for the other direction...

 

https://www.rvt2skp.com/

 

I don't have Revit, so cannot test to see how well it converts to a SketchUp file. I am curious how well it works though.

[Kevin Rabenaldt]

My inquiry was from a request to provide 3d drawings of the pneumatic control tubes used at banks in drive thru banking.  The company that installs the product and in the past provided the needed detail on the architectual drawings with hand drawn schematics.  A particular bank is requiring that the tubes and related equipment be shown on the architect's drawings.  Today, especially commercial, they want 3d drawings as well.  I decided I would need an outside program, probably software used in designing piping systems, to supply what they need.  SoftPlan  does not having the drawing tools needed for this type of drawing.   I would not want to develop any type of workarounds to accomplish this.  I advised them to work directly with the architectural firm to provide their needs.

[Mark Petri]

Makes sense unfortunately. I have used railings to show some round ducts and other elements, but it is certainly a work-around.

[Tom Rogers]

 

Sorry for being late to the party.  I created this for a roof rain catching system for the Hyatt in Atlanta.  I created it from using 3D models of PVC pipe and adjusted them accordingly.