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BIM Content Environment - Inventor

The document summarizes the BIM Content environment add-in for Autodesk Inventor. It authors and publishes models so they can be used in AutoCAD and Revit. It publishes 2D and 3D data as a Revit family file, IFC file, or Autodesk Exchange file. The general workflow involves simplifying models, authoring connectors, and publishing the simplified model and connectors to one of the target file formats.

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phil-revell
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112 views2 pages

BIM Content Environment - Inventor

The document summarizes the BIM Content environment add-in for Autodesk Inventor. It authors and publishes models so they can be used in AutoCAD and Revit. It publishes 2D and 3D data as a Revit family file, IFC file, or Autodesk Exchange file. The general workflow involves simplifying models, authoring connectors, and publishing the simplified model and connectors to one of the target file formats.

Uploaded by

phil-revell
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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About the BIM Content

Environment
Products and versions covered

By:
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Mar 25 2019In-Product View

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Author and publish models so you can use them with AutoCAD and Revit.

What's New: 2018

The BIM Content environment authors (defines) and publishes (exports) IPTs so that you can use them
with AutoCAD and Revit. These applications are purpose-built building design and construction systems
for documenting Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) information.

BIM Content publishes 2D and 3D IPT design data:


 As Revit geometry (simple solid) to a Revit Family (.RFA)
 As an Industry Foundation Classes (.IFC) file. Inventor provides IFC2x3 output.
 As an Autodesk Exchange File (.ADSK)

Multiple Autodesk products can consume an Autodesk Exchange File. BIM Content provides models with
their metadata to a variety of Architectural, Engineering, & Construction (AEC) applications.

Autodesk products, such as AutoCAD and Revit, contain different tools for consuming data. BIM Content
is an Autodesk Inventor add-in that uses Autodesk Inventor's geometric modeling commands to define
models that can be used in other Autodesk products. BIM Content has commands for defining connectors,
simplifying and recognize model geometry/data, and exporting data to either a .RFA, .IFC, or .ADSK file.
Important: If Revit is a desired outcome it is necessary to utilize the Feature Recognition tools to convert
the various types of geometry created in Inventor to match those that are available in the Revit software.

Note: We recommend that you simplify models before exporting data to either a .RFA, .IFC, or
.ADSK file. It allows the protection of intellectual property by only supplying the data required by
the AEC application. It also eases file sharing by creating smaller file sizes.

The general workflow for BIM Content consists of three main components:

Simplify
The process of reducing the complexity of a model by removing components or unnecessary
features. Use the Simplified Assemblies command to create envelopes and combine components.
Use Shrinkwrap, Shrinkwrap substitute, Level of Detail representations, and other techniques to
simplify a part or assembly before authoring or publishing. Since building engineers need only the
details that are relevant to their design, often only the basic 3D shape and connection features are
important. When you export a component, it is good practice to keep the .RFA, .IFC, and .ADSK
file size as small as possible by simplifying the assembly.
Author
The process of defining connector objects that indicate how and where things connect. Connector
objects are used in MEP applications to define associations between equipment, such as a heat
exchanger, and building systems, such as HVAC. Each of the five types of connectors: cable,
conduit, duct, electrical, and pipe has a command to create, edit, and delete them.
Connectors do not indicate flow direction. Flow direction is defined independently inside of the
connector element. Typically the point away from the host component. Use Direction to reverse
the connector direction.

You add connectors by defining their position, orientation, shape, and size. You then select the
connection type before applying the connector to the model to use in AutoCAD MEP or Revit
MEP. As you add connectors, they appear in the BIM Content browser.

Publish
The process of verifying and exporting Inventor data to an .ADSK, .IFC, or a .RFA file. The
exported file contains geometry, 2D views, connectors, parameters, and other properties. The
receiving application imports the application's supported data.
Use Shrinkwrap or Level of Detail representations to simplify the data before exporting to an .ADSK,
.IFC, or a .RFA file. If the design consists of a single part, you can simplify by placing the part in an empty
assembly file, then use Shrinkwrap Substitute with the assembly file.

A User Defined Coordinate System (UCS) can be selected in the Export Building Components command.
Any UCS defined in the part or assembly is available in Export Building Components command. To
facilitate it, the UCS command is available in the BIM Content tab. Many architectural applications
consider the positive Z direction to be up toward the ceiling where mechanical applications often consider
positive Z to be out. It is important to define the proper UCS so that the model imports in the appropriate
orientation.

Both Revit MEP and AutoCAD MEP can import ADSK files and the associated data. The application
imports only the data that is supported. Data that is not supported is ignored in the file. It is important to
remember that if an .ADSK file is utilized it will be unable to be fully modified in the AEC application.
For this reason, it is important to follow the workflow outlined below to achieve either an .ADSK, .IFC, or
a .RFA file.

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