BlenderBIM beginners tutorial: my first BIM project
Create beautiful, detailed, and data-rich OpenBIM models using Blender. Here is a new Blender hardsurface modeling tutorial in which I also use snapping to faces to cut into an object perpendicular to a face. Blender CAM drives computer aided machining equipment like mills. You can now export your designs and have them milled in wood, for example! Blender CAM writes: Blender CAM is an open source solution for artistic CAM - Computer aided machining needs. Blender CAM is an extension for the free open-source Blender 3d package. Yes, there is a way to get 3d data from Blender and transform that into BIM files. But, for that, we will need a middleware. Because there is no available way to get 3d data out of Blender in a format compatible with BIM.
If you are reading this and you have not yet got BlenderBIM, take a deep breath, and get BlenderBIM first!
Step 1: Launch Blender
When you first launch Blender, you will see a default scene as shown below. Your screen will be divided into 4 panels. Don't be intimidated! Blender is incredibly powerful, but it's easy to learn!
Step 2: Create a project
All BIM projects require an IFC project. Within that project, you may then optionally have sites, buildings, and storeys. This hierarchy is known as the spatial tree. The spatial tree can then contain smaller elements like walls, doors, and columns.
In the Properties panel, click on the Scene Tab to display scene properties. If you scroll down, you will see a panel called IFC Project. Click on the Create Project button. This will set up an IFC Project for you, along with a simple spatial tree and some user preferences like units and which IFC version you are using.
In the Outliner Panel, you should now see a hierarchical tree of a project, site, building, and building storey.
Step 3: Place our object in the spatial tree
All BIM objects must belong inside the spatial tree. In the Outliner panel, you can drag and drop the Cube inside the IfcBuildingStorey/Ground Floor. Wasn't that simple?
Step 4: Turn your Blender object into a BIM object
Any Blender object that you want to part of your IFC project must be converted into a BIM object by assigning a category. Ensure you have the Cube selected (selected objects are highlighted in bright orange), and nothing else, and scroll down the Properties panel until you see the IFC Class section. Let's call our Cube a column, so select IfcColumn from the drop-down, and press Assign IFC Class.
The Outliner panel will now show that your Cube is an IfcColumn
Step 6: Export the model
Navigate to File -> Export -> Industry Foundation Classes (.ifc).
Navigate to where you want to save your IFC file, give it a name, and press Export .ifc file.
Congratulations! You have now created your first OpenBIM model from Blender! You can open the IFC file in any other program, and you will see something similar to the image below.
We often talk about Blender as an essential tool for project marketing or to develop ideas that will later become an original architectural design. Those designs will require a plan, technical drawings, and more. In today's market, it is hard not to deal with technologies like BIM for project development.
The relation of Blender with BIM files is possible with the use of a file standard called IFC (Industry Foundation Classes). In the past we already wrote about Blender and IFC:
From the article titles, you will realize that we can easily import IFC files to Blender, but cannot create those files with Blender alone. You will need the help of another tool like FreeCAD.
That might change soon.
An architect and software developer called Dion Moult is in the process of developing an Add-on that will allow Blender to create IFC files using the ifcOpenShell.
The Add-on is still in the early stages of development but already shows incredible potential. You can use Blender in more than simple visualization and even have the ability to provide commercial services for companies with a full BIM workflow.
Since it is still in the beginning stages of development, I strongly recommend you to use it for testing purposes only.
Using Blender for architecture
Blender Bomb Reviews
In the meantime, you can take a look at our latest book Blender 2.8 for architecture, where we explain and show several examples of how you can use Blender for architecture.
Using the most up to date version of Blender, you will learn how to:
- Convert CAD files
- Import data to Blender
- Modeling from vector and image references
- Render with Eevee and Cycles
- Setup cameras for architecture
- Use PBR materials
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Visit the details page to learn more about the book contents. You can order it in both digital and paperback formats.
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