Importing IFC Files from Tekla

[DeanD]

Large project on the horizon. Files will be exported from Tekla to an IFC format for importing into SolidWorks. Initial import tests have generated graphics only files and are of no use.
Looking for advice on how to leverage the IFC file type and generate useful and usable part and assembly files as needed.

[zxys001]

Hello Dean,

I have not worked with IFC on a project but have for personal use and imho, it's a hairball and how it creates sub assy's is insane. but..
2022 has better management of the data for filtering/sharing.
Hopefully someone can chime in ... otherwise, I'd scan the web... there are some resources which are getting better with other methods or scripts/filters? Good luck!

(2022):

[DeanD]

Appreciate the comments, and certainly agree with the "hairball" analogy. Working in '22 now and I can't say I am impressed at all with how SolidWorks attempts to handle IFC files. Quite disappointed really.
I had combed the internet and consulted my local VAR, with no success or solutions from either, of how to manipulate this file type in SolidWorks before posing the query here.
Still have the wild hope there may be a more immediate solution available rather than waiting for software enhancements a few releases away.

[SPerman]

I would place the blame on Tekla, not DSS. It appears they don't export their data in a format that is usable by any other software.

[DeanD]

Not being able to work with imported IFC files significantly impacts a mid-nine figure $$ multi-year project in quite a negative manner.
Greatly appreciate the comments and insight and taking time out of your day to respond.

[Frederick_Law]

Ask tekla user to export to STP:
https://support.tekla.com/article/expor ... -converter

[JuTu]

First thing I had on my mind is how the exporting software handles the data to be exported.

I'm not familiar with Tekla or so much so with IFC, but by default SolidWorks tries to solidify all the geometry it is capable. SW prefers solids.

To check how any geometry has been imported, you could also try some viewer software. But I understand that this may not be an option in every case.

For STEP format there is NIST Step File Analyzer - https://www.nist.gov/services-resources ... and-viewer

For IFC format there is ODA Open IFC Viewer - https://openifcviewer.com/

These are (to me) not-so-suspicious-looking free viewers I have used, but there is others. IMO, it is not a bad habit to check your own exports whether they have been exported succesfully.

[josh]

Not being able to work with imported IFC files significantly impacts a mid-nine figure $$ multi-year project in quite a negative manner.
Greatly appreciate the comments and insight and taking time out of your day to respond.

As has been sort of mentioned before... It depends a lot on how the IFC files are made. If the IFC files are garbage to start with, it's not really your/SW fault if you can't work with them. SW can export IFC files as well. Sounds like some investigation is in order. There are a lot of setting options on import and export in SW. I've exported some SW files to IFC in the past and then re-imported them, and they came in just fine. It may be that some export settings in Tekla can be changed to produce better IFC files. However, if Tekla or any other software purposely exports basically useless IFC files, there's not much anyone can do about it on the receiving end.

[DeanD]

Received some good insight from all that was kind enough to respond here. Boils down to no real solution that we can feel confident in using repeatedly.

[picturedrawerGSS]

I can see this is a necro-post, but tossing in a few thoughts.
as was said, tekla can export STEP. But depending on "something" on the tekla side, it can be garbage.
Tekla can export NC1, not much better BUT, Sigma Tube has a DSTV SW-Add-on that can open those. Prepare for heartache if anything is a formed part.
Try a Steel Vendor. Having customers from all walks of drafting, they usually have a lot of overlap and might do the conversion for a small fee (and a "use at your own risk")

[DeanD]

Hoping the new year might have brought new options for dealing with Tekla files. Any of the veteran users hear have new insight into a possibility of being successful with importing and possible conversions?

[josh]

Nothing has changed that I’m aware of. If Tekla is not exporting useful data, there’s still nothing SW can do about it. The issue is with Tekla, not SW. As I mentioned previously, I have exported SW files to IFC and then re-imported back to SW. They come in as solids. There appear to be options for changing how Tekla exports IFCs. Have these been investigated?

https://support.tekla.com/doc/tekla-str ... g_into_ifc

There do exist methods within SW to convert graphics mesh bodies into solids, but I believe they are extremely inefficient.

Are you really stuck with IFCs? Absolute worst case, can you buy a license of Tekla and then export for yourself, either using the correct options for IFC or exporting to some other format like STEP? This may be significantly more efficient anyway, since you would possibly be able to edit the Tekla files before export to strip out any extraneous or excessive detail. If this really is a multi-million, multi-year contract, it seems like this extra effort would be worth it.

[DeanD]

Ran through the combinations of trying to leveraging the 3DInterconnect, standard import and even back and forth with graphical bodies. Have had no results that produced any usable 3D geometry at all.
Yes, at the moment really stuck with just IFC's. Unclear if anything like a step will even be available to us. May have to leverage outside resources for this venture. Even pinged Trimble-Tekla for some insight and only crickets from them.
Ran out of my 3.5 decades of bag-of-tricks to make anything at all work.

Certainly appreciate your feedback and insights here Josh.

[josh]

The IFC file is like a grocery sack. You can put a lot of different stuff in that sack. Opening the IFC file in SolidWorks is like opening the grocery sack in your kitchen. If that sack is full of Ramen noodles, no matter how you try to cook them up you ain't getting a T-bone steak.

Whoever is exporting from Tekla to IFC is the grocer that fills the sack. If he puts ramen in the sack, you get ramen. As far as I can tell, the grocer has the ability to put a T-bone in the sack. If you can get the grocer to put the T-bone in the sack, you'll have steak tonight! If the grocery is closed and has gone out of business, I guess you're stuck with ramen...

[DeanD]

The IFC file is like a grocery sack. You can put a lot of different stuff in that sack. Opening the IFC file in SolidWorks is like opening the grocery sack in your kitchen. If that sack is full of Ramen noodles, no matter how you try to cook them up you ain't getting a T-bone steak.

Whoever is exporting from Tekla to IFC is the grocer that fills the sack. If he puts ramen in the sack, you get ramen. As far as I can tell, the grocer has the ability to put a T-bone in the sack. If you can get the grocer to put the T-bone in the sack, you'll have steak tonight! If the grocery is closed and has gone out of business, I guess you're stuck with ramen...

Ramen, great analogy. And somebody stomped all over the package before handing it off.