How to Split Solids in BricsCAD BIM

Quick answer: BIMSPLIT either automatically splits a segmented solid into separate solids, or splits a solid using a selection of cutting faces you choose manually.

Splitting a Solid Automatically

Make sure SELECTIONPREVIEW is set to 2 or 3, the same value range covered on this hub’s selection methods page.

Using the Command line, menu, or ribbon:

1. Click BimSplit on the Model tab of the ribbon, choose Split from the BIM menu, or type BIMSPLIT and press Enter. You’re prompted to select a solid for auto-splitting, or cutting faces for manual splitting.
2. Place the cursor over a face of the solid; it highlights.
3. Without moving the mouse, press Tab until the entire solid highlights, then click. You’re prompted again for a solid or cutting faces.
4. Right-click; the selected solid splits, and the number of resulting parts reports in the Command window.

Using the Quad: make sure Select Faces is switched off under SELECTIONMODES first.

1. Place the cursor over a face of the solid.
2. Once the whole solid highlights, choose Split from the BIM command group of the Quad; the solid splits, with the number of parts reported in the Command window.

Splitting a Solid Using Cutting Faces

Make sure SELECTIONPREVIEW is set to 2 or 3.

Using the Command line, menu, or ribbon:

1. Click BimSplit on the Model tab of the ribbon, choose Split from the BIM menu, or type BIMSPLIT and press Enter. You’re prompted to select a solid for auto-splitting, or cutting faces for manual splitting.
2. Place the cursor over a face (press Tab for an obscured one); once it highlights, click to select it as a cutting face. You’re prompted again for a solid or cutting faces.
3. Optionally repeat to select more cutting faces.
4. Right-click to stop selecting; the solid splits along the selected cutting planes, with the number of parts reported in the Command window.

Using the Quad: make sure Select Faces is switched on under SELECTIONMODES first, the opposite of the requirement for auto-splitting above.

Worth flagging: the source’s own numbered procedure for this specific method is genuinely broken, its steps reference each other out of sequence in a way that doesn’t form a coherent list. Based on the pattern used throughout the rest of this page, the intended workflow appears to be:

1. Hover over a face you want to use as a cutting plane; once it highlights, it’s added to the selection.
2. Repeat to select any additional cutting faces you need.
3. Once you’ve selected every cutting face you want, choose Split from the BIM command group of the Quad; the solid splits along those planes, with the number of resulting parts reported in the Command window.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between auto-splitting and splitting by cutting faces? Auto-splitting separates an already-segmented solid into its individual parts automatically. Splitting by cutting faces instead lets you choose specific faces yourself to define where the cuts happen.

Does the Select Faces setting need to be on or off for splitting via the Quad? It depends on the method: off for auto-splitting, on for manually selecting cutting faces.

Where do I see how many parts a split produced? The Command window reports the number of resulting parts after the split completes.

What value does SELECTIONPREVIEW need to be set to for BIMSPLIT to work? 2 or 3.