Using TwinMotion

Note: This feature is only available for BricsCAD® on Windows.

Twinmotion offers real-time, immersive 3D architectural visualization using the power of Unreal Engine from Epic Games. All your BricsCAD® model data are exported using the Unreal Engine file type (*.udatasmith) in the EXPORT command or synchronized with the DATASMITHSYNC command.

To use Twinmotion with BricsCAD® you need to:

  • Install the Epic Games Launcher.
  • Download and install Twinmotion.
  • Export your model to a UDATASMITH file and import this file to Twinmotion, or create a direct link between BricsCAD® and Twinmotion.

Installing Twinmotion

From the Twinmotion Help pages:

  1. Go to https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/twinmotion.
  2. Click Get Started Now.

    If you do not have an Epic Games account yet, click Sign up, then fill in all required information and click Create Account.

  3. Click LOG IN NOW.
  4. Once you are logged in, click Download the Epic Games Launcher.
  5. Once the Epic Games Launcher is downloaded, make sure to click the Unreal Engine tab on the left side.

    You will now see the Twinmotion tab in the top right.

  6. Click Install to install Twinmotion.
  7. Carefully choose your file location, it is strongly recommended to use the default location.

Exporting your model

  1. Open your model in BricsCAD® BIM.
  2. Launch the DATASMITHEXPORT command.

    The Export drawing to dialog box appears.

    The Save as type is Unreal Engine (*.udatasmith).

  3. Type a name or accept the default name, then click the Save button.

    The exported model can now be imported in Twinmotion.

Note: The Site Location, Project Location, and Survey Location, as well as geographical coordinates, can be exported to Datasmith (*.udatasmith via the EXPORT or DATASMITHEXPORT commands). See the related article Using TwinMotion.

Importing your model in Twinmotion

Note: This procedure requires:
  • BricsCAD® V21 or above, with Pro, BIM, Mechanical, or Ultimate license.
  • Twinmotion 2020 or above.
  • Optionally Unreal Engine 4.24 or above.
  1. Launch Twinmotion.
  2. Do one of the following:
    • Click the + Import button.
    • Press Ctrl + I.
  3. Make sure the GEOMETRY tab is selected, then click the Open button.

    On the Import dialog, select a Unreal Engine (*.udatasmith) model file.

  4. Click Options and set the Collapse option to Keep Hierarchy.

    This structures the model the same way as the layers used in BricsCAD®, or choose Collapse by material to merge all elements with same material as one object in Twinmotion.

  5. Click the Import button to import the model.

Creating direct link with Twinmotion

Note: This procedure requires:
  • BricsCAD® V22 or above, with Pro, BIM, Mechanical, or Ultimate license.
  • Twinmotion 2021 or above.
  • Optionally Unreal Engine 4.26 or above.
  1. Install Twinmotion 2021 or above.
    Note: Direct link does not work with Twinmotion 2020.
  2. In BricsCAD®, run DATASMITHCONNECT or click the icon in the View ribbon tab to connect to Twinmotion.
    Note: After establishing a connection to Twinmotion with Direct Link, the model gets synchronized the first time automatically.
  3. In Twinmotion, on the Import panel, click the + Import button.
  4. In the dialog, go to the DIRECT LINK tab.
  5. In the source list, your BricsCAD® model should appear.
  6. Choose Collapse > Keep hierarchy to keep the BricsCAD® hierarchy, or choose Collapse by material to merge all elements with same material as one object in Twinmotion.
  7. Click the Import button to import the model.
  8. Whenever you want to update the model in Twinmotion, run DATASMITHSYNC in BricsCAD®.