Inserting 3D models created with Blender in BIM projects

Can Blender interact with BIM software for architecture? With Edificius you can insert and edit 3D Models created with Blender by means of a seamless software integration process

Blender is one of the most popular open source solid modelling software solutions for its great freedom of use and its large community of independent programmers.

Widely appreciated by media professionals and artists, Blender is designed to create 3D models, animations and high quality videos, while a real-time 3D engine allows users to create interactive 3D content for freelance and professional productions.

Thanks to the full support and integration of Blender in the latest release of Edificius, it is now possible to enrich  architectural BIM design projects with other objects modeled with Blender as well as being able to take advantage of its advanced texture mapping tools.

Custom 3D Model with Blender

You can therefore create an object with Blender using an Edificius BIM entity or 3D Model as a reference.

First thing to do is select the objects to use as a reference for modeling in Blender. The integration process is launched by clicking on the SketchUp or Blender integration button in 3D View. At this stage, the user can choose the preferred modelling environment. In this case, we'll select the second option, Blender.

With Blender now running, you can start to build up your own 3D Model by starting with the modeling of the same. When finished, the object is saved and Blender is closed. The Edificius software will immediately recognize the new modeled object and update it in both the BIM project and the project BIM library under the 3D Model category. As with any other custom object, it can then be used in other parts of the project too.

Editing a custom object with Blender

This time, we'll select the 3D Model to edit and select the parts of the model to use as a reference for editing.

Again, with the Blender integration correctly up and running, you start to modify the 3D Model directly by creating the appropriate shapes and forms and by assigning materials. Once this phase is completed, changes are then saved and Blender can then be closed.

Edificius then allows you to choose whether to update only the selected object or all 3D Models of the same type already present in the project. When editing a previously created model, these changes are also extended to the project BIM library too. This means you can use the updated 3D Model as often as you need it.

Editing a 3D Model from the Project BIM Library with Blender

This is the third editing method. In the Edificius Project - BIM Objects Library, simply select the 3D Model to edit.

With Blender in integration mode, its basically the same process throughout. Edit the model and then save. Once Blender is closed, the model is sent back to the Project BIM library ready for use in your BIM model.

Click here to download Edificius, the architectural BIM design software