How to Connect Solids in BricsCAD BIM

Quick answer: Walls, profiles, and plies are all native 3D solids, so any 3D Solids Editing command works on them, plus dedicated BIM Connect commands for connecting them in specific ways: LCONNECT (L-connections, bisector or parallel), TCONNECT (T-connections), BIMSTRUCTURALCONNECT (structural profiles like beams and columns), and BIMFLOWCONNECT (flow segments like pipes or HVAC ducts).

Creating L-Connections

1. Make sure SELECTIONMODES is set to 0.
2. Type LConnect at the Command line, or select it from the Quad.
3. Select two solids or faces to connect.
4. They connect, defaulting to L-bisector. With HOTKEYASSISTANT on, the same widget covered on this hub’s grip editing page appears; hold Ctrl to cycle through connection types, and you’re prompted to select a base solid or Switch, type A to accept the current connection or S to switch types. The 3D model updates dynamically as you cycle.

L-connections also work between non-vertical solids, like roof slabs.

Creating T-Connections

This connects a solid’s minor faces to other solids’ major faces, regardless of orientation.

1. Make sure Select Faces is enabled under SELECTIONMODES.
2. Type TCONNECT at the Command line, or select it from the Quad.
3. Hover over the minor face of the first solid where it needs to connect (Tab for obscured faces), and click once it highlights.
4. Optionally repeat to select more faces, then press Enter. SELECTALIGNEDFACES, in the Quad’s Select command group and confirming the same command from this hub’s BIM entity selection page, selects every coplanar face in the model at once.
5. You’re prompted to select entities to connect to, choose Connect to nearest, or Disconnect.
6. Either press Enter to connect to the nearest face(s), or select one or more faces (Tab for obscured, right-click to stop selecting).

A shortcut for the whole thing: hover the minor face and choose Connect with Nearest directly from the Model command group of the Quad.

Creating T-Connections Ply by Ply

With Show Composition on, you can Push/Pull an individual ply within a clipped BimSection to control how compositions connect between two building elements (see this hub’s BIM ply editing coverage for more depth).

1. Hover over the face of the ply you want to connect (Tab for obscured faces).
2. Once it highlights, choose Push/Pull from the Quad.
3. Specify the point the ply should reach, by moving the cursor or typing a distance.
4. Right-click or press Enter to confirm; the first solid’s ply connects to the second’s, and gets subtracted from it.
5. Optionally use BIMPROPAGATEPLANAR to apply the same connection to similar locations throughout the model.

Setting the Distance Between Parallel Solids

1. Select the solid whose position should stay fixed.
2. Select the solid that will move; the current nearest distance between them displays.
3. Type a new value in the distance field and press Enter.

Creating a Copy of a Solid

A parallel copy:

1. Make sure Select Faces is enabled under SELECTIONMODES.
2. Hover over a face of the solid to copy.
3. Once it highlights, choose BimCopy from the Model command group; a dynamic copy displays, with a ruler showing the current distance.
4. Type a value in the dynamic entry field and press Enter.

A partial copy:

1. Make sure Enable boundary detection is on under SELECTIONMODES.
2. Highlight the part of the boundary you want to copy.
3. Once it highlights, choose BimCopy from the BIM command group; a dynamic partial copy displays, with a ruler showing the current distance.
4. Type a value in the dynamic entry field and press Enter.

Disconnecting Two Connected Solids

Disconnecting separates two solids physically and removes all end clippings at the connection, letting you direct model them again.

1. Type LCONNECT at the Command line.
2. Select the two solids; the connection is made automatically.
3. Hold Ctrl until the disconnect icon highlights.
4. Press Enter.

Use Propagate to disconnect similar nodes throughout the model.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between LCONNECT and TCONNECT? LCONNECT creates an L-connection (bisector or parallel) between two solids. TCONNECT instead connects a solid’s minor faces to another solid’s major faces, regardless of their orientation.

Can I connect compositions ply by ply rather than as whole solids? Yes, with Show Composition on, Push/Pull an individual ply within a clipped BimSection to control that connection specifically.

How do I quickly disconnect two solids that were previously connected? Run LCONNECT, select the two solids, hold Ctrl until the disconnect icon highlights, then press Enter.

What’s the difference between the parallel and partial copy methods? A parallel copy duplicates the whole solid using Select Faces mode. A partial copy instead duplicates only a boundary-defined portion of it, using boundary detection mode.