Bottom Line: VBO Piping Pro V2.1.7 is a competent “sketch‑level” piping tool. It will save time over manual extrusion, but don’t expect engineering‑grade features. If you need BOMs or isometrics, look elsewhere. For quick 3D visuals on a budget, it’s acceptable.
VBO Piping Pro V2.1.7 is a powerful Trimble SketchUp extension designed to automate the creation of complex piping systems from simple edge geometry. It significantly reduces the manual work required for MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing) modeling by automatically adding fittings at vertices and converting lines into 3D pipes. Key Features
Batch Pipe Creation: Instantly convert all inside edges of selected groups or components into pipes.
Automatic Fittings: Automatically places elbows, tees, and other fittings at vertices based on your path.
2D/3D Toggle: Quickly switch between detailed 3D models and simplified 2D representations by toggling specific layers.
Dynamic Modifiers: A dedicated tool for rotating, replacing, or redrawing fittings and adding reducing bushes.
BOM Generation: Can generate a Bill of Materials for pipes and fittings when used with the VBO_Schedule Plugin. Workflow & Usage
Build Pipes Branch: Select a non-nested group of lines. Use the tool to set pipe size and fitting type; the plugin will then generate the full system.
Edit Source: Double-click a branch to edit the original lines/vertices. The pipe geometry updates automatically upon exiting the edit mode.
Color & Naming: Assign custom names and colors to specific branches for better project organization. Technical Requirements VBO Piping | SketchUp Extension Warehouse Vbo Piping Pro V2.1.7 Sketchup Plugin
VBO Piping Pro is a KCDA-developed MEP extension for Trimble SketchUp that automates 3D pipe modeling from edges, featuring automatic fitting placement, BOM generation, and live updates. The plugin supports pipe sizing, branch modification, and 2D/3D toggling, with version 3 supporting SketchUp 2019 and newer on Windows and macOS. For more details, visit SketchUp Extension Warehouse. VBO Piping | SketchUp Extension Warehouse
To generate a report using the VBO Piping Pro V2.1.7 SketchUp plugin, you typically need to use it in conjunction with the VBO Schedule plugin. While the Piping Pro plugin handles the creation of 3D pipes and fittings, the actual data extraction (Bill of Materials) is managed by the scheduling tool. Steps to Generate a Report
Model Preparation: Ensure your piping is correctly built using the "Build Pipes Branch" command so that the components are tagged with the necessary metadata (size, material, and type). Use VBO Schedule: Open the VBO Schedule Plugin. Select the "PIPING" preset from the schedule options.
This will automatically scan your model for VBO Piping components and list them in a table. Export the Data:
Once the schedule is generated, you can export it as a CSV file.
Open this CSV in Excel or Google Sheets to finalize your Bill of Materials (BOM) or quantity take-off. Key Features of the Report
Automatic Quantities: Provides automated reports of work quantities, including pipe lengths and fitting counts.
Component Metadata: Captures details like pipe diameter and material types based on the "Collections" used during modeling (e.g., PVC, Metal, PPR).
2D/3D Integration: Reports are based on the 3D geometry but can be synchronized with 2D schematic views if needed. Troubleshooting & Tips Bottom Line: VBO Piping Pro V2
Missing Data: If a pipe doesn't appear in the report, use the "Branches modifier" to ensure it is properly named and colored, as this often forces the metadata to update.
Glitchy Behavior: If the "Fittings Edit" tool stops recognizing pipes, save your work and restart SketchUp to refresh the plugin's cache.
Alternative Method: For a more manual approach, you can use the native SketchUp File > Generate Report tool, but you will need to manually filter for attributes specific to VBO Piping components. If you'd like, I can help you with:
Finding a tutorial video for a specific version of VBO Piping.
Instructions on how to install or update your VBO Schedule plugin.
Understanding how to edit the CSV output for a professional project submittal. Generate Report (cvs download) - Pro - SketchUp Community
The developers behind Vbo have listened to community feedback. Here is what specifically ships with V2.1.7:
Summary
Key features
Usability
Accuracy & Modeling Quality
Productivity & Workflow
Documentation & Support
Pros
Cons
Best for
Recommendation
If you want, I can provide a short step-by-step example workflow showing how to create a sloped sanitary run with fittings and generate a BOM in VBO Piping Pro V2.1.7. VBO Piping Pro V2
Open the plugin’s main dialog (Extensions > Vbo Piping > Project Settings). Define: