SysQue plusses and minuses
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We use Trimble SysQue for drawing piping at a fabricable level, place hangers, and create point files. Their comprehensive library of content allows us to use a wide range of materials, connection methods, and hanger types. With BIM becoming more and more prevalent as a requirement for construction projects and the required LOD is higher and higher Trimble SysQue has been one of the tools that we have been using to achieve that.
Pros
- The amount of content in their database library
- The ability to change materials after piping has already been drawn with minimal rework
- Hanger placement and point creation
Cons
- The parameters for content is inconsistent from one fitting to another. As cloud spooling and automated cutters become more and more prevalent this becomes a problem to feed the right information to a fabrication shop or cutter and causes delays in production.
- Trimble SysQue draws with generic fittings/pipe and then converts it to the selected system. The processing time for those fittings can be quite long sometimes.
- Thread-o-lets do not work correctly a good portion of the time. When detailing a mechanical room this is a huge problem.
Likelihood to Recommend
For drawing plumbing where you are usually not needing any kind of taps it does really well. Once you become familiar with it, you can draw underground really quickly. Their water closet carrier families are great! Being able to draw a restroom skid with such a high level of detail is a definite plus. Also, being able to create point files easily since their hangers, floor drains, and cleanouts have the points embedded in them. For a small BIM department I think Trimble SysQue is a good option. They manage the database and you can send a request in for more content if it is needed. For larger BIM departments or people that are doing cloud spooling with Stratus or MSuite it becomes more problematic especially on the mechanical side with needing to use taps and the functionality of them being less than stellar. Larger BIM departments are usually able to have a person manage their database internally and that helps keep the content parameters consistent. Most MEP Fabrication content that I have used does very well with taps and the piping is able to be run quickly and does not need to be processed.
