Connecting Solids

Since solids, like any other BIM entity, are created as native 3D solids, any of the 3D Solids Editing commands or Direct Modeling commands can be used to modify solids.

The LConnect command () creates an L-connection (bisector or parallel) between two solids.

The TConnect command () creates a T-connection between two solids.

The BimStructuralConnect command () connects structural profile solids such as beams and columns.

The BimFlowConnect command () creates a connection between flow segments, such as pipes or HVAC ducts.

The BimSplit command () splits segmented solids into separated solids and allows to split a solid using a selection of cutting faces.

The Slice command () cuts a 3D solid with a plane into two parts.

The Push/Pull command () modifies the thickness, height or length of a solid.

The BimCopy () command creates a parallel copy of a solid or copies part of a solid, defined by a detected boundary (if the Boundary Detection option of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is checked).

The BimDrag command () moves the solid of elements.

The procedures below use the Quad cursor menu.

Creating L-connections

1. Make sure SELECTIONMODES = 0
   
2. Select the first solid.
   The solid highlights.
3. Hover over the second solid.
   When the solid highlights, choose LConnect in the Model command group of the Quad.
   The selected solids are connected: the default connection type is L-bisector.
   If HKA is ON, the Hotkey Assistant widget displays.
   

   

   You are prompted: Accept connection <Ok>/Next

4. Do one of the following:
5. Press Enter or right-click to accept the default L-bisector connection.
6. Hit the Ctrl key to cycle between L-parallel and L-bisector connections and press Enter or right-click when the desired connection displays.
   The 3D model updates dynamically when cycling the L-connection types.

Note: L-connections can also be created between non-vertical solids such as roof slabs.

Creating T-connections

The below procedure allows to connect minor faces of a solid to the major faces of other solids, regardless what the orientation of the faces is. As a result, you can use TCONNECT command to T-connect solids, for instance, to connect the top or bottom face of a solid to a roof or floor slab or to connect the side faces of a slab to solids.

1. Make sure the Select Faces option of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is selected.
   
2. Move the cursor over the minor face of the first solid at the end that needs to be connected.
   Hit the TAB key to highlight obscured faces.
   Click when the face highlights.
3. Repeat the previous step to select more faces.
   To select the last face, go to the next step.
4. Move the cursor over the face.
   If necessary, hit the TAB key to highlight an obscured face.
   When the face highlights, choose in the Model command group of the Quad.
5. Prompts you: Select entities to connect to <ENTER to connect to nearest>:
6. Optionally: Select the solid(s) to connect to. The selected face is connected to selected face or the nearest face of the selected solid.
7.  Right click or press Enter to accept the connection.

TIP: Hover over the minor face of the solid, then choose Connect with Nearest () in the Model command group of the Quad.

Creating T-connections ply-by-ply

To control the connection of composition plies between two building elements, you can execute Push/Pull on a ply in a clipped BimSection if Show Composition () of the solids is ON.

To create a T-connection ply-by-ply in a section, do the following:

1. Place the cursor over the face of the ply you want to connect. If necessary, repeatedly press the TAB-key to select an obscured face.
2. When the ply face highlights, choose Push/Pull in the Quad.
3. Specify to which point the selected ply should reach by moving the cursor or typing in the distance.
4. Right click or press enter to confirm.
   The ply of the first solid is connected to the ply of the second solid. The connected ply is subtracted from the second solid.

Modifying the thickness of a solid

1. Make sure the Select Faces option of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is selected.
   
2. Move the cursor over the face of a solid
   If necessary, hit the TAB key to highlight an obscured face
3. When the face highlights, choose Push/Pull in the Model command group of the Quad.
4. The selected face of the solid is dragged
   The dynamic dimension field displays the relative displacement of the face (= with respect to its original position)
5. (option) By hitting tab, it is possible to change the face selected as the reference face for the dynamic dimension

Note: When a composition with locked thicknesses (non-variable thickness) is applied to a solid and if the thickness of the solid is not equal to the total amount of the composition thickness, the solid displays with red hatches. Execute the BimUpdateThickness command to re-apply the composition to such solid.

Modifying the height of a wall

Modifying the dimensions of a single wall

1. Make sure the Select Faces option of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is selected.
   
   
2. Move the cursor over the top face of the wall.
   If necessary, hit the TAB key to highlight an obscured face.
3. When the face highlights, choose Push/Pull in the Model command group of the Quad.
   The selected face moves dynamically with the cursor.
   The dynamic dimension fields displays the incremental height.
Do one of the following:
4. Type a value in the dynamic dimension field and press Enter.
5. Hit the TAB key to use another reference face, e.g. the bottom face of the solid, then type a value in the dynamic dimension field.

Modifying the height of multiple walls

Using the SelectAlignedFaces command (Quad > Select: ) it is easy to select the top face of all solids that lie in the same horizontal plane.

1. Make sure the Select Faces option of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is selected.
   
2. Move the cursor over the top face of one of the walls.
   If necessary, hit the TAB key to highlight an obscured face.
3. When the face highlights, choose Select Aligned Faces in the Solid/Face Selection command group in the Quad.
   All faces lying in the plane of the selected face are selected.
4. Now follow the same steps as for a single wall 

Modifying the height ply-by-ply

When the Display Composition property of a solid is set, and the Select Faces option of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is selected, the height or length of the composition plies can be modified separately.

1. Move the cursor over the ply you want to edit and choose Push/Pull in the Model command group of the Quad when the ply highlights.

   

2. Type value in the dynamic distance field.
   
   

3. Press Enter to accept the distance.
   
   

Setting the distance between parallel solids

1. Make sure the Select Faces option of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is selected.
   
   
2. Move the cursor over a face of the solid to be moved.
3. When the face highlights, choose BimDrag in the Model command group of the Quad.
   The dynamic dimension field displays the relative displacement of the solid (= with respect to the original position of the selected face).
4. Repeatedly hit the TAB key until the desired reference face on a parallel solid highlights.
   Press and hold the Shift key while hitting the TAB key to cycle reference faces in reversed order.
   The dynamic entry field displays the distance with respect to the currently highlighted reference face.
5. Type a value in the dynamic entry field, then press Enter.

Creating a parallel copy of a solid

1. Make sure the Select Faces option of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is selected.
   
2. Move the cursor over a major face of the solid to be copied.
3. When the face highlights, choose BimCopy in the Model command group of the Quad.
4. Repeatedly hit the TAB key until the desired reference face on a parallel solid highlights.
   Press and hold the Shift key while hitting the TAB key to cycle reference faces in reversed order.
   The dynamic entry field displays the distance with respect to the currently highlighted reference face.
5. Type a value in the dynamic entry field, then press Enter.

Creating a partial copy of a solid

1. Make sure the Enable boundary detection option of the SELECTIONMODES system variable is selected.
   

2. Highlight the part of the boundary for the part of the solid you want to copy.

3. When the face highlights, choose BimCopy in the BIM command group of the Quad.

4. Repeatedly hit the TAB key until the desired reference face on parallel solid highlights
   Press and hold the Shift key while hitting the TAB key to cycle reference faces in reversed order.
   The dynamic entry field displays the distance with respect to the currently highlighted reference face;
   Type a value in the dynamic entry field, then press Enter.