Checkbot – bulk BIM workflows
We are introducing an application for the management of BIM workflows (importing and synchronizing connections and members). The Checkbot as a structural data hub makes sure that you can work with all of your connections and members, steel or concrete, from your CAD/FEA applications.
IDEA StatiCa Checkbot gives you:
- Complete control over all of your imported connections and members
- Clear list of all imported items including status checked/not-checked
- 3D visualization of imported members and loads
- Conversion table for materials & cross-sections
- Load combinations management
The major advantage of the tool is that it understands not only the geometry of the original structure, but more importantly the loading and internal forces coming from the analysis. Every engineer dealing with transforming the internal forces from one analysis to another understands how tricky it can be to keep all the forces in proper coordinate system. Checkbot app can do that for hundreds of load combinations and for tens of different tools.
The interface
There are three main components of the new Checkbot interface - the list of design items on the left, the 3D scene in the middle, and the properties on the right.
The list of project items contains all of the connections and members to be designed. Each project item can be in several different states. Right after import, there is a cogwheel icon next to it, signifying the need to further define the item before it can be calculated. Once the item has been sufficiently defined (there is at least one load case and one manufacturing operation), the cogwheel icon disappears, and the Project item can be calculated (no icon displayed). After calculation, the item is in the calculated state and results are available (provided the calculation ran without exceptions). The icon of a green tick (passed) or a red cross (failed) is displayed.
What do these icons mean:
- Cogwheel – more inputs needed (geometry, load cases, …)
- Nothing – ready to be calculated
- Green tick – calculated and code-checks passed
- Red cross – calculated but code-checks failed
The 3D scene in the middle shows the 3D Structural Model (SM), which displays the base entities in the model (nodes, beams), design items (connections, members), as well as internal forces (if available).
You can start the Checkbot directly from your CAD/FEA (as you are used to) or it can also be launched as a standalone application, without a live BIM link connection. In this mode, the IOM, SAF or RAM files describing a structural model can be imported.
The Checkbot aims to provide one solution for all BIM links. It is a new generation of BIM management and it replaced popular Code-check manager. It also provides an open solution for anyone who wants to link their application to IDEA StatiCa (via IOM – IDEA Open Model).
Checkbot will enable you to link your Nemetschek (and other supported) application models via the new SAF format (available in SCIA Engineer, Dlubal RFEM/RSTAB, SOFiSTiC, and many others).
Tips for best use of Checkbot
The Checkbot can handle an unlimited number of connections and members. However, it is good to manage the volume of each individual import from an external application. Based on the number of connections/members and load combinations, we recommend importing in batches of up to 100 connections/members in one go. Then review them and export another batch. When importing or synchronizing hundreds of connections/members, please respect that all the data has to be processed in the background and it might take some time.
Import configurators for Checkbot
You can easily manage the import of loads, cross-sections, and other materials. There are two new icons in the Checkbot ribbon.
Load configurator
The Load configurator displays the imported Load cases, Load Groups, Load Combinations and allows for their assignment under Result classes. Result classes are then used to generate Load effects for the project items in the Checkbot project.
The first column lists all the Load cases and Combinations imported from the linked 3rd party application model. The second column shows the Result classes in the Checkbot project. The third column displays the properties of the currently selected entity.
Any Load case or Combination can be assigned under a Result class by dragging it from the first column under the appropriate Result class in the second column. Result classes can be added using the "+" icon and removed on a right-click of a mouse.
A Result class can be assigned to any given Design item using the drop-down menu in the project item properties. After a different Result class is selected, the Load update button can be used to generate Load effects for the project item based on the newly selected Result class. In case the project item has already been calculated, this action will delete the old results.
Editable conversion tables
Every time a cross-section or a material is not recognized during import, a new conversion table allows assigning an item from our material library to be used in place of the unrecognized material. These pairs are then saved for future use and therefore, don't need to be defined again. Of course, the assigned materials can be changed, and this change will then be valid for all future imports.
Moreover, each "imported – assigned" pair has its own properties, showing further details about its origin.
The installation
The Checkbot is automatically installed with the setup of IDEA StatiCa. It also automatically detects and activates the relevant BIM links to applications installed on your PC.
IDEA StatiCa Checkbot is part of every IDEA StatiCa license package, even with the free Basic account.
Best practices
If your third-party software file contains a large number of nodes and load cases, best practice is to import it section by section. This will not affect the final result as Checkbot will then compile the entire project for you.
Supported versions of CAD/FEA
We regularly update the BIM links between IDEA StatiCa and your CAD/FEA applications. In each major release of IDEA StatiCa we support the two most recent major releases of each linked application. The older versions will become obsolete while this happens in the major IDEA releases only (patches will never disconnect older versions). On the other hand, when a new major release of BIM application comes, we will develop/update the link within 2 months – the link will appear in a patch of IDEA StatiCa.
The best way to check the current state of the supported versions is the IDEA StatiCa website:
BIM links: Supported versions of 3rd party applications
The older versions of BIM-linked applications may still be used. Nevertheless, we will not actively support the projects or fix possible bugs.