Advance Steel

Advance Steel is a CAD software application for 3D modeling and detailing of steel structures in AutoCAD® and automatic creation of fabrication drawings, bill of materials and NC files, developed by GRAITEC.

Features

Advance Steel is integrated into AutoCAD® which serves both as a graphic engine and an object oriented database for Advance Steel. The application supports all basic AutoCAD® concepts and functions (snap points, grip points, copy, etc.).

The Advance Steel information is stored in DWG format.

The application includes AutoLisp (enhancing standard AutoLisp to include Advance Steel commands) and COM (VBA, C++) programming interfaces. This means that users can create their own customized macros for specialist requirements.

Advance Steel imports and exports to the following file formats:
*GTC;
*IFC. 2x3;
*CIS/2;
*SDNF;
*PSS;
*KISS (“Keep it Simple, Steel”) [cite web|url=http://www.fabtrol.com/steelkiss|title=About KISS standard]

The application is compatible with:
*Windows 2000, Windows XP Professional or Windows 32-bit or 64-bit version;
*AutoCAD® 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008;
*ADT 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007;
*AutoCAD® Architecture 2008.

The main functions of Advance Steel concern:
*Creation of 3D model using a library of construction elements (i.e., beams, plates, bolts, welds, etc.)
*Modeling of steel connections.
*Automatic numbering of Single Parts and Assemblies for the entire model.
*Checking the model in order to insure a correctly bu ilt 3D model and accurate bills of materials.
*Automatic creation of lists / bills of materials and NC files.
*Automatic creation of general arrangement and shop drawings, fabrication drawings, and fitting drawings.
*Multi-user or single-user modeling.

Advance Steel provides instruments for modeling complex structures such as straight and spiral stairs, railings, etc. The program creates all necessary documents (including NC files) for the stair fabrication.

pecific features

Parametric steel connections

Advance Steel has a library of more than 300 preset parametric steel connections to connect Advance elements grouped in the following categories: beam end to end joints, base plate joints, general bracing joints, cantilever beam to column joints, plate joints, clip angle joints, pylon joints, tube brace joints, purlin joints, stiffener joints, turnbuckle bracings, etc.

Advance Steel enables automatic creation of steel connections by a single operation.The application allows users to customize the connection objects:
*Set the parameters of the joint;
*Process the connected elements;
*Transfer the parameters to other existing steel connections;
*Update the steel connection;
*Dimension and check joints according to Eurocodes 3 standards and AISC North American standards.

Drawing styles

When creating a 3D-model, dimensioned and labeled 2D general arrangement and shop drawings can be automatically created using drawing styles. The drawings are created in separate DWG files from the model; however they are linked to track changes. Thus, the drawings can be updated after any model modifications.

The application has a variety of drawing styles for the creation of general arrangement drawings, sections, and shop drawings. A drawing style is a group of instructions used to create a detail drawing and defines the elements that are displayed including labeling and dimensioning preferences.

Drawing styles provide the option to automatically create drawings and to modify the layout exactly to user requirements. Drawing styles are used in a similar way to AutoCAD® dimension styles, line styles, etc. The predefined drawing styles are different for each installation and country. Custom drawing styles can also be defined.

Interoperability

Advance Steel integrates GRAITEC's data synchronization technology technology, "GTC" (GRAITEC Transfer Center). This technology offers:
*Import/Export data in standard formats: CIS/2 [cite web|url=http://www.coa.gatech.edu/~aisc/index.php?cat1=1|title=About CIS/2 standard] , SDNF, PSS, IFC 2.x3.
*Multiple Advance Steel users that work simultaneously on the same project and synchronize their models.
*Synchronization in Advance Steel of modifications made by engineers in other GRAITEC software (section changes, addition of structural elements, etc.).

GTC is Graitec’s solution for CAD / Design software interoperability and integration specialized in creating and handling a BIM (Building Information Model).

Release history

References

External links

* [http://www.graitec.com/en/as.asp Advance Steel official page]
* [http://www.cadsglobal.com/iqs/dbitemid.63/sfa.view/advance_steel_customer_projects.html Projects created with Advance Steel]
* [http://www.cadsglobal.com/advance_steel_home.html Advance Steel on Cadsglobal]
* [http://www.adris.co.uk/software/advance_steel.html Advance Steel software]
* [http://www.cadsusa.com/AdvanceSteel.htm Advance Steel on CadsUSA]
* [http://geobaltus.com/en/activities/advanced_cad_technologies_for_steelwork_and_concrete_construction Advance Steel software at the seminar “Advanced CAD Technologies for Steelwork and Concrete Construction”]