BmInsert – Bricsys Support and Help Center

Inserts sheet metal form features, and mechanical and BIM components.
Inserts an RFA* file as a BIM component in the current drawing.

The source drawing of the component is not affected. A virtual component is created, which represents the drawing in the assembly.

* RFA import is a work-in-progress.
Some general guidelines about the RFA import functionality are:

RFA files older than 2011 are not supported.
Files from 2011 to 2014 can be imported, but due to a major format change from 2014 to 2015, there is a possibility of issues with nested families.
Files from 2015 to 2019 are imported correctly. Currently, you can import; extrusions, blends, revolutions, and sweeps.
Only the geometry of the family is imported without parameters or properties.

Access the Command

BIM Workspace

Insert BIM Component

menu bar: BIM| Insert BIM Component
toolbar:

Bim | Insert BIM Component
BIM Windows | Insert BIM Component

ribbon:

Home | Create | Insert BIM Component
Modeling | Building elements | Insert BIM Component

Mechanical Workspace

Insert Component

Insert Form Feature

Smart Insert

menu bar:

Assembly | Insert Component
Sheet Metal | Insert Form Feature

toolbar:

Assembly | Insert Component
Sheet Metal | Insert Form Feature

ribbon:

Home | Assembly | Insert Component
Assembly | Modify | Insert Component
Sheet Metal | Modify | Insert Form Feature

: bminsert

BIM Workspace

A File dialog box displays.
The default folders for BIM components sit in the following subfolder of the BricsCAD installation folder: ...\UserDataCache\Support\en_US\Bim\Components.

Select a component to insert.
Double click or click the Open button.
The parameters of the selected component display in the Properties panel.
Optional: edit the parameters.

Prompts you in the command bar:

Select insertion point or [Edit inserted entity/Rotate component/set Base point/Name/insertion Type/Flip/mUltiple/Change target 3d solids] <0, 0, 0>: (Specify the insertion point or choose an option.)

Move the cursor over a solid; the face under the cursor highlights: The UCS aligns dynamically with the selected face. If the edge by which the cursor enters the solid is horizontal or vertical, the X-axis of the UCS is horizontal otherwise, the X-axis is aligned with the edge, the Z-axis is perpendicular to the face of the solid. Specify point to insert.

Hit the Ctrl-key to switch between Select insertion point and Edit inserted entity mode.

Select insertion point

Allows to specify the insertion point.

From the middle of each edge of the placement rectangle, dynamic dimensions display to the nearest parallel edge on the face of the solid.
Press the TAB key to cycle the distance fields.
Type a value then press the TAB key, to lock the field and jumpt to the next field. Once locked, the field turns red.
Only one of two parallel dimensions can be locked. If a dimension value is entered and the other, parallel dimension was already locked, it will be unlocked.
Press Enter or click to insert the selected component.

Locked field
Current field
Unlocked field
Unlocked field

Edit inserted entity

Allows to specify the width and height of the placement rectangle of the component.

This option is only available if the W (width) and/or H (height) parameters are defined in the component source drawing.

Prompts you: Edit [Height/Width/Done] <Height>:

Two dynamic dimension fields display the current width and height of the placement rectangle.

Type a value in the current dynamic dimension field, then press the TAB key to switch to the other field.

Press the Ctrl-key to switch to Select Insertion Point mode.

Mechanical Workspace

Displays a dialog box:

Select a mechanical component drawing, then double click or press the Open button.

The parameters of the selected component display in the Properties panel.

Optionally, edit the parameters.

The component is attached to the cursor with its origin point.

Dynamic dimensions display X and Y coordinates to the origin of the current coordinate system.

Prompts you in the command bar:

Select insertion point or [Edit inserted entity/SMART insert/Rotate component/set Base point/Name/insertion Type/Flip/mUltiple/Change target 3d solids] <0, 0, 0>: (Specify the insertion point or choose an option.)

Command Options

Option	Description
Edit inserted entity	Allows to edit the parameters of the selected insert. Prompts you: Enter the parameter name or press ENTER to finish: Press F2 to open the Prompt History window. Type the name of a parameter. Prompts you: Enter expression < 30.00 >: - Type a value, then press Enter. Prompts you: Enter the parameter name or press ENTER to finish: - Type the name of a parameter or press Enter. The insert is updated. Parameters can also be edited in the Properties panel:
Smart insert	Allows to automatically connect a Piping standard part to an existing Piping standard part by creating a proper set of 3D constraints between them and by copying expressions for the parameters of existing inserted part to the new part. Prompts you: Select entity to insert to or [switch Back/Rotate component/Flip/mUltiple/selection options (?)]: - Hover over a Piping standard part to automatically connect te new part with it: You can hover over directly inserted Piping standard part as well as nested ones (contained in subassemblies). The part being inserted is resized automatically by copying the values of its parameters from the part under the cursor. Click to insert the part. The command automatically creates a set of 3D constraints between them. You can combine the Smart insert mode with the Flip, Multiple, and Rotate options. Press the Ctrl-key to switch between the regular, Edit, and Smart insert modes:
Rotate component	Allows to define the rotation angle of the component. Prompts you: Specify rotation angle of the insert: - Enter the rotation angle.
set Base point	Allows to specify a different base point to insert the component. Prompts you: New base point <0,0,0>: - Specify a new base point. The new base point is attached to the cursor.
Name	Allows to define the insert name of the component. Prompts you: Component insert name <DefaultName>: - Type the insert name for the component.
insertion type	Allows to specify the insertion type: Local or External Prompts you: Specify component type [Local/External] <External>: - Choose an option.
Flip	Inserts the selected insert in the opposite face of the parent solid.
Multiple	Allows to insert multiple copies of the same component or create an array. Prompts you: Select insertion point or [Edit inserted entity/Rotate/Base point/Name/Insertion Type/Flip/Array]: Optionally, choose an option, then do one of the following: Select multiple insertion points. Press Enter to stop inserting more copies. Array - creates an associative array of components. Prompts you: Specify base point for the array: - Specify a point. Enter columns spacing or set [Direction]: - Specify a distance or choose Direction. Enter the distance between rows or set [Single row/Rectangular/Direction]: - Specify a distance or choose an option. Select an end point for creating the array: - Move the cursor to dynamically define the extents of the array, then click a point. Accept resulting array or edit [Base point/Columns/Rows] <Accept>: - Press Enter to accept the array or choose an option.
Change target 3d solids	Allows to choose solids to which the component-based feature will be applied. Prompts you: Select target 3D solids or [cleaR/Select all affected 3d solids] <Select all affected 3d solids>: - Select target solids, choose an option, or press Enter. Clear: No solids will be affected by the component being inserted. Select all affected 3d solids: - All solids intersecting or touching solids in the BC_SUBTRACT and BC_UNITE layers of the component will be affected.