You open an IFC file in a project in Beamcore as a 3D model, without separate software. You can click elements, measure, make a section and hide categories. The model remains unchanged in the process: the viewer is for viewing only. The Beamcore interface is in Dutch, so button and menu names are shown in Dutch with a translation.
Opening an IFC file
- Open the project and go to Documenten (Documents).
- Under Bestanden (Files), click Bekijken (View) next to the IFC file.
- Click Volledig scherm (Full screen) for more space.
Beamcore recognises a model by the extension .ifc. While loading you see how many MB have already been fetched. Rotate, pan and zoom the model with your mouse or with your fingers on a touchscreen.
The buttons at the top
- Selecteren (Select): click an element to see its name and properties.
- Meten (Measure): measure the distance between two points.
- Röntgen (X-ray): makes the whole model transparent, so you can look through it.
- Assen (Axes): shows or hides the orientation axes. They are on by default.
- Reset: clears the selection and all measurements, makes everything visible again and fits the whole model in view.
Selecting an element
In the mode Selecteren, click an element. It lights up and at the bottom the name appears and, if the model contains it, the list Eigenschappen (Properties). Numbers are rounded to whole values. There are four buttons with the element:
- Zoom: brings the element large into view.
- Isoleer (Isolate): hides everything except this element.
- Verberg (Hide): hides only this element.
- Toon alles (Show all): makes all elements visible again.
Measuring
- Click Meten.
- Click two points on the model. The viewer snaps to corner points and edges.
- Read the distance at the dimension line and under Afstand (Distance).
Distances from 1 metre are shown in metres with two decimals, smaller distances in millimetres. You can place several measurements one after the other. With Maten wissen (Clear measurements) you remove them. Measurements are not saved: if you close the viewer, they are gone.
View and search
In the mode Selecteren there is a panel with extra tools at the bottom. Under Aanzicht (View) you choose Boven (Top), Voor (Front), Zij (Side) or Iso (Isometric). If you have selected an element, the view focuses on that element, otherwise on the whole model.
Under Zoeken (Search) you type at least two characters. The viewer searches in the type, the number, the name and the properties of elements and shows a maximum of 40 results. Click a result to select the element and zoom in on it.
Section
- Under Doorsnede (Section), click Uit (Off). The button switches to Aan (On).
- Choose the direction with X, Y or Z.
- Move the cutting plane with the slider.
Click the button again to switch the section off.
Layers
Under Lagen (Layers) there is one checkbox per category of elements in the model, with the number of parts after it. Untick a checkbox to hide that category. The grouping follows the element types from the IFC file.
Limitations
- The viewer uses the 3D rendering of your browser (WebGL). The model is built up on your own device, so a large model takes more loading time and memory.
- A file can be up to 1 GB in size when uploading.
- Annotating is not possible in an IFC model. That is only possible on PDF files.
- If loading fails, you see an error message and the button Opnieuw proberen (Try again). If the file contains no 3D geometry, the viewer reports that as well.