How to Use BIM Linear Solids in BricsCAD BIM

Quick answer: The Linear Solid tool creates structural members or flow segments, useful for a variety of structural member profiles or MEP elements. This confirms and expands the BIM Profiles panel briefly mentioned on this hub’s BIM workspace page.

Creating a Linear Solid

Make sure the Quad is active first.

1. Hover over the Model tab in the Quad and select Linear Solid, or run BIMLINEARSOLID directly. You’re prompted for a start point, or to choose Follow, Rectangular, Circular, Library, select in Model, or adJust profile (Follow and Last point only appear if a linear entity already exists in the drawing).
2. Select a start point. You’re prompted for the next point, or to choose Angle, Length, Undo, Quarter turn, Rotate, choose other Profile, or adJust profile.
3. Move the cursor to draw the beam or column.
4. Click to specify the endpoint, or type a distance value in the dynamic dimension field.
5. Press Enter to accept it.

The BIM Profiles Panel

Access it by clicking the I-beam icon on the right side of the screen, or if it’s not displayed, right-click the Tool panel, choose Panels, then tick BIM Profiles. You can also type BIMPROFILES directly.

The panel includes a domain filter (Generic, Structural Concrete, Structural Steel, HVAC, Piping, or Electrical, only domains containing profiles are selectable), a country standards filter, and a name search box. Its menu icon opens a context menu, including Open profile dialog, which opens the Profiles dialog directly.

Using the BIM Profiles Panel to Draw

1. Drag a profile from the panel into the model space; this works the same way as the LINE command.
2. Click in the model space, or use the dynamic dimension fields, to define the starting point and following points.
3. Press Enter to end the command.

Worth knowing: BricsCAD doesn’t automatically generate connections between segments when the chosen profiles are structural steel.

Applying a Profile to an Existing Line or Solid

BIMAPPLYPROFILE changes the profile of linear entities and linear solids, recognizing clippings and openings, useful for columns, railings, beams, pipes, ducts, and more.

Using the command directly:

1. Select the line or solid and launch BIMAPPLYPROFILE.
2. Press Enter; the Profiles dialog opens.
3. Choose a profile and click Select in the bottom-right corner.
4. Press Enter to apply it.

Using the BIM Profiles panel:

1. Open the BIM Profiles panel.
2. Select the entities you want to apply a profile to.
3. Search for the profile you want.
4. Drag it onto one of the selected entities; it applies to all of them.

Applying a profile to a solid replaces the solid entirely. Applying it to a line doesn’t replace the line, instead adding a profile whose axis matches the line, so you can delete the now-unneeded line afterward.

Controlling Axis Eccentricity

BIMADDECCENTRICITY controls a linear solid’s axis position relative to its profile.

1. Select an existing linear solid or profile.
2. Launch BIMADDECCENTRICITY (Command line, the Quad’s Model tab, or the Structural/MEP ribbon tab); the eccentricity widget appears.
3. Click one of its nine locations, then right-click to confirm, or type a location code directly: TR (Top Right), TM (Top Middle), TL (Top Left), MR (Middle Right), C (Center, resets the axis to the default location), ML (Middle Left), BR (Bottom Right), BM (Bottom Middle), or BL (Bottom Left).
4. Press Enter to accept.

Recalculating an Axis

BIMRECALCULATEAXIS repositions a linear building element’s axis back to its centerline.

1. Select the linear building element.
2. Launch BIMRECALCULATEAXIS.
3. Press Enter; the axis moves back to its default, centerline position.

Display Axes and Snapping

DISPLAYAXES shows or hides the axes of linear solids. On, axes display as a thick red line, and you can only snap to the axis endpoint as a starting point for adding more solids or profiles. Off, no axis displays, and you can snap to any point ticked in the ESNAP context menu instead.

BIMOSMODE Snapping Detail

1. Type BIMOSMODE at the Command line or in the Settings dialog; you’re prompted for a new value from 0 to 3.
2. Choose: 0 turns on all snapping; 1 turns off all snapping to solids except the solid’s own axis; 2 turns off all snapping to BIM Grid axes except axis intersections; 3 combines both, turning off snapping to BIM Grid axes except intersections, and to solids except their axis.
3. Press Enter.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I apply a profile to a solid versus a line? Applying to a solid replaces it entirely. Applying to a line doesn’t replace it, instead adding a new profile whose axis matches the line, which you can then delete.

Why aren’t my structural steel segments connecting automatically? BricsCAD doesn’t auto-generate connections between structural steel profile segments specifically.

How do I reset a linear solid’s axis back to its default centered position? Either use BIMRECALCULATEAXIS to reposition it to the centerline, or use the Center (C) option of BIMADDECCENTRICITY.

Why can I only snap to a linear solid’s axis endpoint and nothing else? Check DISPLAYAXES. With it on, axes display and only their endpoints are snappable; turn it off to snap to other points ticked in ESNAP instead.