individual fixtures

Task area Precast Wall

You can use this function to split wall designs created using Design (iWall) into individual elements that are independent of each other, which can then be individually edited manually from the other elements in the original design.

The design of a wall using architectural elements, connections, automatic division into length and height, manual division, façade elements, and so on, offers numerous possibilities to deconstruct an architectural model into precast elements. However, the automated functionality or geometric modelling reaches its limits particularly in the case of special precast elements, such as sandwich walls. Not everything can be done using automated functionality. The required re-calculation of the entire architectural wall and, in some cases, their neighboring walls too, can result in the program taking a long time to respond. In addition, the designed precast elements based on an architectural wall have fewer options with BIM Booster. As an example, you can only synchronize the geometry from the model to the detailed drawing. It is not possible to have geometric modeling in the detailed drawing.

However, the new Individual elements function was created in order to make it more flexible and quicker than before to edit the corresponding elements. Once the design has been divided into individual elements that are independent of each other, the parameters for geometric creation (such as connections, layer adjustments, etc.) no longer exist in these exploded elements The geometry of the precast element is now made into a new basic element for the individual precast element that is now stand-alone.

The geometry of the wall element can be edited using custom modeling (e.g. Modify points, Extrude, Model precast elements, and so on). When in Full Mode, you can use BIM Booster to work fully in both directions.

To divide a precast wall into individual elements that are independent of each other

1. Firstly select the drawing file on which the exploded individual element(s) are to be created as the selected drawing file in the foreground. In all other instances, an error message will be issued and the function will be canceled after you have selected the function and element(s) to be converted.
2. Click Single Element (How).
   

   Activate Design (iWall) in one of the following ways

   • Actionbar:Role Precast Elements Task Precast Wall Task area Precast Wall

   • Menu bar: Create Precast Elements Precast Wall

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following modules:

   Precast Wall

3. Go to the drawing file(s) selected in the background and select single elements, multiple elements or one or multiple placements. You do not need to remove all precast elements of a particular design together. You can, for example, repeat the process later on for an individual precast element.

   Note: For superimposed elements, please note that the label on the drawing file interlocks with the exploded elements and must be moved manually. For these designs, the best solution is for the individual element levels to be placed on separate drawing files.

4. The selected precast elements are removed from the design(s) and converted into a simpler data structure. These simplified, individual walls, which are now independent, are then placed on the selected drawing file in the foreground. Connections, layer adjustments, and so on, no longer exist in the individual, exploded walls that are independent.

   The original wall design(s) on the drawing file(s) selected in the background remain(s) completely unchanged. The corresponding drawing file(s) is/are no longer required for further editing.

   Note: Please note there is currently no way of stopping a precast element from being accidentally exploded multiple times. Please ensure therefore you only select precast elements for which there is no existing exploded element, otherwise there may be multiple congruent elements on top of each other.

   Tip: If you are working with BIM Booster, the detailed drawing files for an exploded design can be re-used for editing purposes if the design is changed. Firstly, use Clear Detailed Drawing File to clear the detailed drawing file from the model drawing file (i.e. the exploded element(s)) and then delete the copied element(s) on the model drawing file. Then amend the original drawing file and use the Individual fixtures function again. You can also use Assign Detailed Drawing File to re-assign and synchronize the old detailed drawing files. This will retain your work in the detailed drawing file and changes will then be made to the model drawing file.