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SolidWorks for structural steel work??

SolidWorks for structural steel work??

SolidWorks for structural steel work??

(OP)
We are a job shop who does a lot of different stuff and I was wondering if anyone has experience using SolidWorks for heavy structural steel projects like ladders, platforms, handrails and the such.

I have a seat of SW08 and would like to implement it company wide but need to make sure it will fit our needs for everything that we do. Any input whatsoever is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

RE: SolidWorks for structural steel work??

Oh, it will definitely work. Not only can you create everything you mentioned, but you can run FEA on them as well. Your best bet, IMO, is to go to http://solidworks.com/pages/successes/success_stories.html and take a look at everything that is created in SolidWorks. If Bucyrus can create the machine shown here, I'm sure that your ladders will be easy.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Certified DriveWorks AE
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
Dell M90, Core2 Duo
4GB RAM
Nvidia 3500M

RE: SolidWorks for structural steel work??

(OP)
Jeff,

Do you know if it can create the bolted connections that would be required for structural steel fabrication. We have a program that runs inside of AutoCad that has all clip and bolted connection drawings. Or is this something that you may have to do a little leg work on to get it started?

RE: SolidWorks for structural steel work??

If you're talking nuts and bolts, look at the whole wizard and smart fasteners. There's also weldment functionality. I'd suggest going through the help files and tutorials. You'll find a slew of info there.

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Certified DriveWorks AE
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
Dell M90, Core2 Duo
4GB RAM
Nvidia 3500M

RE: SolidWorks for structural steel work??

(OP)
Thanks Jeff.

RE: SolidWorks for structural steel work??

I've used SW extensively for structural jobs in factories:  man-ladders & workplatforms, monorail cranes & support structure, machine frames and that sort of stuff.  Never any skyscaper structures, but I suppose that could be done, too.

If you don't know it yet, SW has a library of all the standard steel shapes.  It also has a built-in beam load/deflection calculator.  It's simple to create cut-lists and weldment detail support.

Bolted designs...you can easily add holes and fastener hardware.  But I don't think there is any built-in functionality for determining composite stresses on bolted connections.  There may be a 3rd-Party Add-On for that, but don't know.  At some point, you still need the engineering training to do the calculations.

TygerDawg
Blue Technik LLC
Advanced Robotics & Automation Engineering
www.bluetechnik.com

RE: SolidWorks for structural steel work??

Cool, Rob. Where it's an Italian product, you know it has to be great!

Jeff Mirisola, CSWP
Certified DriveWorks AE
http://designsmarter.typepad.com/jeffs_blog
Dell M90, Core2 Duo
4GB RAM
Nvidia 3500M

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