ProSteel 3D: Getting Ahead in Structural Steel Fabrication and Detailing
ProSteel 3D is an application used for structural steel fabrication and detailing, and is closely integrated with AutoCAD.
What sets ProSteel 3D apart from other similar software is that with its integration with AutoCAD, you can use AutoCAD's Object ARX interface allowing you to edit and manipulate objects using AutoCAD commands, work with a whole range of sizes from the very small to the very complex.
ProSteel 3D is also user friendly. The software developers behind it has made sure that its interface makes your work easier by allowing you to use toolbar buttons, pop-up menus or trays. Also, these menus also allow you to preview the changes while mousing over the various options in the menu you have open.
It is also an open system that allows you to set steel standards of your choice. All details are stored in a database which anybody can edit and add to. In fact, a user can use Excel or dBase to add new sizes and custom shapes!
What you get is the added flexibility and more productivity and efficiency. It also allows you to easily complete typical construction applications like aluminium and shelving, structural steel, plant, steel building, equipment and heavy machinery and marine applications.
More than that, ProSteel 3D uses all the standard AutoCAD features and adds its own suite of functionalities like utilizing sheet metals and steel shapes anywhere in the model; automatic placement of wall and roof elements to optimized surfaces; user defined connections or DSTV/AISC standards dictate plate, web angle connections; allowing the user to create ribs by measure, complete or half and even diagonal ribs; capability to render 2D details with full object selection control and view depth, constructionlines depth definition! The functionalities are just too numerous to enumerate!
Further, ProSteel 3D may also be used with other third party software related to architecture, petrochemical and process engineering, air conditioning and plant construction, among others. ProSteel 3D has an open architecture that allows its users to combine it with other software!
Lastly, ProSteel 3D also has different interfaces that suits the users' needs, some of which are unique to steel fabrication and construction like parts-list PPS, building components, statistics and others.
Anybody familiar with AutoCAD will find ProSteel 3D easy to learn and use, because it uses AutoCAD commands especially in editing and modifying different objects. In short, there is only a little learning curve and you save on additional training time and costs, and makes your team become more efficient and productive quickly.
A Closer Look at AutoCAD Detailing
Autodesk Inc.'s AutoCAD is a computer aided drafting and design software that allows its users to create 2D and 3D designs. AutoCAD detailing is one of the most prevalent forms of detailing due to AutoCAD's ease of use, high level of customizability, realistic rendering, 3D navigation, flexibility and other features. What is more, AutoCAD has been in existence for more than 27 years, so it is bound to have a lot more users who could operate and use it.
As such, most architects, steel fabricators, and engineers have relied on AutoCAD detailing to do their own jobs. AutoCAD detailing helps them by providing accurate estimates and a work plan. In short, these drawings help in saving costs by enabling its readers to order in bulk; in saving time and labor by allowing them to order in advance and in the right lengths and specifications.
Comprehensive AutoCAD detailing can help steel fabricators produce steel projects efficiently. At its best, AutoCAD detailing can combine engineer analysis and specifications with the architect's design. These shop drawings will help you in getting complicated designs simplified and according to specifications. At its best, AutoCAD detailing can combine engineer analysis and specifications with the architect's design. These shop drawings will help you in getting complicated designs simplified and according to specifications.
Additionally, AutoCAD detailing can be rendered in 2D or 3D, helping you visualize your projects as well as helping you sell it to third parties and investors. AutoCAD allows you to integrate other software applications like ProSteel 3D to expand its capabilities and functionalities.
AutoCAD detailing, however, is best left to experts with years of experience in the field. This is the only way to ensure accurate detailing drawings. The good news is, there are a lot of companies that provide AutoCAD detailing to choose from, but choose the best and most affordable one for your needs. Choose a company that is willing to work with you on your projects, ironing out the specifications and has the ability to create clear details. Also choose one that is responsive, as well as competent in converting your original hand drafted or scanned designs into AutoCAD format. More importantly, choose a company that has access to the latest AutoCAD version to complete your job according to your time requirements.
Whether as an augmentation to your existing staff, or outsourced work, AutoCAD detailing is a process you should not forego.
What Is Structural Steel Detailing?
Structural steel detailing creates detailed drawings for steel erectors and fabricators, including drawings, plans, estimates, reports and other necessary documents for the erection and manufacture of steel members. Structural steel detailing touches on a variety of steel members including, but not limited to steel beams, columns, trusses, braces, handrails, joists, metal decking and even stairs.
As such structural steel detailing is vital in a cross section of construction and manufacturing industries like building construction, naval and marine (shipbuilding), plants and other structures. In fact anything that is large enough to require structural steel needs structural steel detailing. Further, structural steel detailing takes together the inputs of engineers, architects, contractors and fabricators. While detailers are not responsible for the design or the integrity of steel members, architects and structural engineers will have to review and approve any structural steel detailing work before its release.
Structural steel detailing usually deals with two types of drawings, erection and shop drawings. Steel detailing touching on erection drawings help show the steel erector the proper way and place to place fabricated steel members, and includes detailed information and requirements on all processes involved like bolting, putting in wedge anchors or welding.
Structural steel detailing dealing with shop drawings, on the other hand, are used to determine the requirements for manufacturing each steel member and are mainly used by steel fabricators to manufacture these members. It shows member specifications, materials required, sizes, dimensions and other information needed.
Structural steel detailing, therefore, must be done with utmost care and should comply with the standards and protocols set by various organizations like the American Institute of Steel Construction.
Structural steel detailing is more often than not done using computers, specifically using computer aided design or computer aided drafting software and applications like AutoCAD. Nowadays, these drawings are usually also extended into 3D modeling by using the same.
Structural steel detailing is a difficult and vital process. One should have skills in drafting, logic, geometry, trigonometry, reasoning, communication and visualization to be able to pull this off successfully, accurately and in a timely manner. On top of that general engineering knowledge and a working knowledge on steel fabrication would be needed in the long run. In the United States, most detailers are self taught, or have undergone a general certification program geared towards CAD operations. Few, if any, colleges offer degree programs in structural steel detailing. As such, it is difficult to maintain a cost-effective staff that can handle detailing work 24/7. However, there are a lot of companies that offer structural steel detailing services that are both reliable and inexpensive.