BricsCAD BIM for Steel Structures - any opinions? 1

[vitordv]

Hi there,

Recently some contractors have started demanding BIM. I work with another engineer and we only use CAD currently, however we are looking for a software that we can implement and have a similar practicity to AutoCAD at an acessible price, and we found BricsCAD BIM to apparently fit the bill, however we dont have any experience other than looking at some tutorials and trying them for a feeling, however, we can't be sure if it could be insufficient later on more complicated structures.

We would only need it for basic projects and a LOD of like 300 or 350, mostly to check for interferences and to generate sections and plans efficiently, and maybe refine it later at CAD. Has any of you tried it (bricscad bim)? And if not, do you have any suggestions on a relatively low price, smooth learning curve and practical to use BIM software that works well for steel structures?

 

[dik]

I've been using Bricscad for over a decade... and it's a great program... I don't know how their BIM works... but if like the rest of the program it's probably great.

Rather than think climate change and the corona virus as science, think of it as the wrath of God. Feel any better?

-Dik

 

[phamENG]

Well it falls short on your similar to AutoCAD requirement, but I have Revit LT for the odd BIM project or projects where the architect demands a 3D model for collaboration/coordination. It has most of Revit's functionality (no in place modeling, no add-in 3rd party tools, and the model "sharing" is limited), but it's dirt cheap by comparison.

 

[Celt83]

out of context question but phamENG I was under the impression that Revit LT lacked any of the structural modeling elements - columns, beams, foundations, etc. is that the case and you are making due by drawing detail lines to fill the gaps or are those elements actually available?

My Personal Open Source Structural Applications:

https://github.com/buddyd16/Structural-Engineering

Open Source Structural GitHub Group:

https://github.com/open-struct-engineer

 

[phamENG]

It has all of that. No sloped columns, though, so no joy if you're working with a really artistic architect.

At the end of the day you do get what you pay for. The stuff they cut out is pretty important if you want really detailed models. If you're good with just modeling the basics and drafting the rest, LT can work and save you a healthy chunk of change. I've had a few cases where I've cursed some limitation that would REALLY helpful in a given situation (when I know the full version does it either from experience or a YouTube video), but it's still a reasonable workflow. I have AutoCAD LT and Revit LT for a whopping $540/year as opposed to $3,115 for the full AEC suite.

 

[phamENG]

 

[structuralCADspecialist]

BricsCAD BIM looks to have potential but almost nobody uses it. The videos you'll find on YouTube seem to be created by the developers themselves, not people actually using the program. This makes it very hard to gauge if the program would be useable in one's day-to-day workflow. I want to say it's a winner but it's hard at this point. Making the waters even more murky is the fact that resellers and API developers behave like shills. The later can be annoying because most people are buying BricsCAD to save money, not spend more money than they otherwise would have had they stuck with ACAD. I'm actually on the verge of buying BricsCAD LT. If things work out I might get the BIM upgrade. Therefore it might be worth asking me in the future how the program is.

I'm not a huge fan of Revit but it's the only choice for many. Getting into Revit at this point is kind of tough; you're competing against people who've spent years in the program. Drawing production will be really slow at first. And depending on your workflow, drawing production might continue to be slower no matter what. In my experience, it takes 2 to 4 times longer to create drawings in Revit (although in theory there is additional value created with the 'BIM' model but that's often not the case). The key to making Revit work well is spending TONS of time customizing the program to suit your needs. And I mean TONS of time. The Revit LT suggestion is a solid suggestion. There's also a 'LT Suite' which includes ACAD LT. There's ways to 'mix' Revit and ACAD in order to produce drawings faster than using Revit alone. There's also many ways to get around LT's limitations: For example, modelling a family externally and importing it into the main model. If you're good with shortcuts/workflow, you can actually do that faster than most of the full versions users would be able to (using the model-in-place feature).

Look into AutoCAD Plant 3D and see if that fills your needs.

If I knew specifically what you did and what your clients are actually looking for, I could give a much better recommendation. I'm actually surprised that the contractors are the ones asking for the BIM data. Times are changing I guess?

 

[vitordv]

First of all, thanks for all the responses!

I will check if Revit LT is good for my situation! My only issue is that its not very intuitive for me, but I will revisit it, as it has been something close to 5 years since I last saw a video about it.

I mostly do only the basic project for steel warehouses and industries, and as such while I dont need to do the detailing of every bar to the minimal details, I need to show an accurate drawing and I can make details of certain connections, but that is not my main aim with BIM. I dont mind using ACAD for the connections drawings and for most situations I work with just a BIM drawing to check material list (even if it is without plates and bolts) and for interference check, so something that draws fast and accurate, but it should not be a problem having the connections represented separately.

Hope I managed to make myself clear, as it's still kind of new to me, and I am trying to adapt

 

[phamENG]

I find that, for simple stuff, Revit speeds up my drawings. I'm intuitively a 3D person, so it helps to build it in 3D. And if at least 80% of the structure is going to be modeled (seems feasible in a mill/industrial type structure), most of your sections and plans will be very close to usable once you get the hang of view ranges and clipping depths. And while you have to get over the keyboard shortcuts (or map your own), some of the drafting tools are really helpful.