3.5.3. Regular Bodies for VDI Models

3.5. Modeling guideline for BIM 3.5.3. Regular Bodies for VDI Models
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Modeling for the VDI field should ideally be performed with simple regular bodies^[9], in order to ensure a correct export into the VDI format.

The following describes, with the help of examples, how bodies should be designed, meaning the number of features, feature types, etc.

In general terms: Bodies should be modeled as simple as possible.

Please note: VDI export ONLY supports feature color, NO surface color. It is also essential that in $CADENAS_USER, in the configuration file debug.cfg, in the section [PDESIGNER], there is a key allowFeatureAttribueAll=1. If a debug.cfg does not exist yet, please create the file.

The following features should not arise in VDI models in any case:

Extrusion with inclined angle
Sweep
Rounding (neither directly in the sketch nor with the "Blend" feature)

The simplest bodies are ball, cylinder and box. Modeling with these regular bodies results in an optimal output for VDI. They do not have an occurrence of "TRANS" or "ROTA" in their VDI code.

Ball: Sketch with semicircle -> Rotation with 360 degrees
Box: Sketch with rectangle -> Extrusion
Cylinder: Sketch with circle -> Extrusion

If something cannot be modeled with regular bodies, you can also use bodies which have "ROTA" (rotation) in their VDI code.

Examples with VDI code:

No occurrence of "TRAN" or "ROTA".

Example "Cube"

960;2;1;1Y;1_cube;bmp;Vorschau;
970;1;Cube 100 7;;QUAD;0;-50;-100;1;0;0;0;1;0;100;100;100;
970.02;1;G;QUAD;100;-50;0;-1;0;0;0;1;0;100;100;100;;;;;;;;1;
970.04;1;0.689999997615814;0.689999997615814;0.689999997615814;1;0.34499999880791;
0.34499999880791;0.34499999880791;1;1;1;1;1;20;0.0053906249813735;0.0053906249813735;
0.0053906249813735;1;

Occurrence of "ROTA"

Example "Torus"

970;1;Torus 100-25 7;;QUAD;-12.5;-62.5000000000004;-12.5000000000002;1;0;0;0;1;0;125;
125.000000000001;25.0000000000003;
970.02;1;D;KREI;0;0;0;1;0;0;0;1;0;1;12.5;-50;0;
970.02;2;G;ROTA;50;0;0;1;0;0;0;0;-1;0;1;0;0;12.5;0;360;1;;;1;
970.04;1;0.689999997615814;0.689999997615814;0.689999997615814;1;0.34499999880791;
0.34499999880791;0.34499999880791;1;1;1;1;1;20;0.0053906249813735;0.0053906249813735;
0.0053906249813735;1;

In the following listing, different bodies are subdivided in the categories 1 to 4. Bodies from the categories 1 to 3 may be used. All not mentioned there fall under category 4 and may NOT be used.

Category 1
Bodies of first order (regular bodies): Ball, box, cylinder
(no occurrence of "TRANS" or "ROTA" in VDI code)
- Ball
- Cube
- Cuboid
- Cylinder extruded
- Cylinder rotated
Category 2
Bodies of second order
"Cone Rotated" based on a rotated triangle
(does not belong to the regular bodies of first order, however, also does not have "TRANS" or "ROTA" in VDI code)
- Cone rotated
Category 3
Bodies of third order
Once a bevelled rectangle is rotated, "ROTA" occurs in VDI code. A rotated circle also results in "ROTA" in code (Torus and Torus sector).
- Cone truncated rotated
- Torus
- Torus sector
Category 4
All bodies not mentioned above fall under category 4. They may not be used for VDI-compliant modeling and they do not comply to LOG200/300.
When modelling for the BIM sector the following applies in addition:
- Angles are only allowed in steps of 5° (5°, 10°, 15°...). Only for fittings and pipes or pipe accessories you may disregard this.
- Always model "additively" and with regular bodies (see VDI sheet 1, page 59).
- Blind holes or generally negative bodies should be avoided.
- No bodies, edge lengths or similar smaller than 1,4mm (--> SolidChecker Architecture).

^[9]"Regular bodies" are solids created on the base of very simple sketches such as semicircle, rectangle or circle, for example.

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