I’m not 100% sure this is the right topic but…I am wondering about exporting 3D pipe to IFC from TBC. Is that possible? I want to bring it into Propeller so that others can view the structures and pipe along with existing and proposed conditions in a cloud setting. Has anybody had success with that?
Tbc will output pipe networks as Landxml
They are not perfect but may work.
You will need to use a different product to convert Landxml to IFC
You can kind of use Trimble Connect to read the landxml and convert to TRB and read that back into TBC - that creates BIM objevts that can be exported to IFC from TBC.
It is not a perfect workflow - depends on what is in your source data.
Alan
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Sketch-up is the way to go here for solid/IFC. I can extrude solid pipe forms along pipe alignments in short order. IFC export to Stratus. #winning
*edit: there is more to the workflow, obviously…you will need the pipe inverts from tbc exported as a skb to sketchup, export from sketchup as ifc, back to tbc for placement, then export as ifc from tbc to status. I hate Trimble sometimes 
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for those of you not using Sketch-up, it is by far the cheapest, most usable solid work program on the market. The point cloud module is also first rate. Product is owned by Trimble
That sounds like more hassle than what it’s really worth honestly. I was just hoping there was an easy way to just export what I already created when I modeled the pipe and structures. I’m not all that interested in having to learn sketchup to do it.
welcome to the trimble logic - an hour of training and you will know everything there is to know to create solids. wasnt my first choice ether but it works and works famous. Ultimately, how important is the information to be relayed and is the time dump worth it.
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If you are just wanting the pipe alone, without the structures, you could use Multi Offset Line to create the pipe surfaces and export those out. I would imagine that would get you what you need. Would be a lot more work for the structures if you are needing those.
If that would work for you, the link below will take you to a video showing how to create the templates you would need for the pipe surfaces.
https://community.myrockpile.com/t/plotting-utility-pipes-in-cross-sections-and-profiles/2723
If you have a Pipe Network created and need that, Alan’s answer is the way to go.
or spend an hour, learn the program(Sketchup), and create solids all day. It is really a hole in the product (TBC) and has been a complaint for some time. there shouldn’t be work-arounds for what are paid modules in TBC.
Our workflow is similar to Nate’s. We build our 3d objects using SketchUp and/or Tekla Structures using the 3d lines from TBC. After creating the 3d objects, we export to IFC and drop the file into Propeller.
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Nate, you can skip the “back to tbc for placement” step if you use the “Trimble SiteVision AR Exporter” extension in Sketchup. It works really well for placing models. You assign a Northing/Easting/Elevation of the origin point and then you can export an IFC that will be in the correct coordinates. You can also pick US survey ft and International ft so you don’t have to worry about a shift.
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this is an excellent tip!! much appreciated!
Ok. So there appear to be several of you doing this. I obviously haven’t completed this Network in TBC yet as I am just adding the structures, but once I get the structures and pipes in, what’s the rest of the process? I loosely follow some of it but not having been a sketchup user before except very briefly, I just want to make sure I’m getting it right. It looks like several of y’all have good processes and that’s awesome. Is it possible you could export for sitevision AR to Connect or Sketchup and then just export it back as an IFC?
Thanks for your help!
Create the necessary line work to create the pipe network including elevating line work and export from the CAD tab as a .skp. You will need to know how to use the offset and the follow me tools in Sketch-up. Both are very easy to use. the hardest part of this is locking the axis for your circle. Create the circle at the face of the line to Pipe i.d., offset the circle to pipe o.d, delete center most surface so you have a hole, and use the follow me tool to extrude the pipe shape for the length of the line.
Once all of the pipe networks are created, export the data as a 3D export…i will let Cole speak to the AR export for Sitevision. The export should go out as a trimbim. trimbim to TBC and place from 0,0,0 to actual. Export as IFC from TBC to Stratus. Here is the kicker. you CAN get ifc’s to show in all of your cross-sectional cuts in Stratus. kinda nifty.
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I am admittedly being a little stubborn because I am not wanting to rebuild something I have already built while also learning a new software, but…here is my storm network. I tried the method @alan.sharp suggested by exporting it as an XML to Connect and converting it to a TRB and bringing it back into TBC. Unfortunately when it gets back to TBC it is telling me that no BIM objects were created. Maybe I am doing something wrong in the steps he suggested? @nate_doyle I will eventually break down and try your way, I guess, but it is EXTREMELY Trimble coded to not be able to just export the already created objects.
I get and I get it! 
To each his own workflow. I don’t build everything in SuP, just important stuff. I create the minimal needs in tbc and then do whatever solid work I need so it’s not double the energy. Each program has its own strength and is frustratingly specific to its strength. Drafting on the point cloud in SuP is dreamy but surfacing is not as nice.
When you import the TRB did you drag and drop or use import command i am not sure if Import command gives other options than the drag and drop.
This is a known shortfall of TBC Utilities to be able to generate a 3D BIM output compatible file because the BIM systems dont support LandXML a standard that has been around way longer than IFC, while I agree that TBC should be able to create an IFC output of the utility networks in the same way the BIM systems should also be able to read a LandXML.
We have this on our list of things to do in our Utilities workflows and I hope to have something this year.
Alan
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I did drag and drop. I will try the import command.
Hi Nate,
I’m interested in this conversation for sure.
What version/plan of Sketchup are you using? Go, Pro or studio?
i have studio for the point cloud but any version is sufficient for solid modeling. if you get it now the whole package is under $800. slight price increase in July i believe pushes it just over $800. $400 a year/seat for pro…pretty reasonable. Tools are stupid simple to use.
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I attempted to bring IFC into propeller and I was met with an upload failed. Does it matter if its dxf or dwg 3D? Also, does it matter if its a component or does it need be exploded? Thanks