This page is also available in Dutch: BIM & architectuur.
BIM and architecture are not my core field. I mention them here because in practice they often turn up next to mechanical engineering work, and because the same open-source base and the same kernel questions come back.
Why it is here anyway
- You work as a structural engineer or supplier with IFC models from third parties
- Your mechanical design has to be exchanged with a BIM environment
- You want to know which open-source options there are next to the commercial packages
Tools I follow
| Tool | What it is, and what it is for |
|---|---|
| BlenderBIM | An authoring platform: native IFC and a complete BIM workflow inside Blender. |
| IfcOpenShell | An IFC toolkit: a Python/C++ library for geometry extraction and validation. |
| FreeCAD (Arch/BIM) | Parametric BIM: IFC import and export and parametric objects, on the same kernel as my mechanical work. |
| LibreCAD | 2D drawing: DWG/DXF, lightweight and cross-platform. |
Honestly
Looking for a real BIM or architecture specialist? Then I am not the right person. If your question sits where mechanical engineering and BIM meet, for example exchanging mechanical models with a construction environment, I am happy to think along.