What do I need?

Let me start by saying that I am a steel fabricator/designer, I work at a small company (less than half a dozen employees). But we do higher end custom work...mostly out of steel, sometimes aluminum, wood, plastic, or glass.

I have access to Autocad v. 2014 but is it actually the software I should be using? And if so, what addon(s) might I need to efficiently draw out plans for my job?

I'm hoping for something that will either already have steel types saved in it, or that I can create and save a model of what the steel is. By this I mean: round or square, tube or rod, 1/16th or 1/8th wall thickness 1"x1" or 1"x2". I'd actually like to be able to create a rendering and actively take measurements from the drawing (measurements of everything, not just the values I've directly entered).

I'm computer savvy so I'm capable of figuring out more advanced settings or addons (given time and if necessary).

Please and Thank you.

Here are some options:

• Tekla Structures
  
• Revit
  
• AutoCAD Structural Detailing (AutoCAD-based)
  
• AutoCAD Architecture (AutoCAD-based, has a structural catalog but is a "general" catalog)
  

I'd say those programs are the most powerful and popular for structural design in the AEC industry. AutoCAD can most certainly accomplish what you're after, but since AutoCAD is a "general" computer aided design/drafting application it's not "specific" to structural, per se. So with plain jane AutoCAD you'd have to build the content yourself, from scratch.

Tekla is the mega-platform and is very robust. Revit is the "new wave" of CAD design in the AEC industry with it's parametric prowess. AutoCAD Structural Detailing is AutoCAD "on steroids" with a structural add-on package. Take your pick, check out some free trials and see what's best for you.

FYI: Revit gives you a 30 day trial like all the rest, but after 30 days you still can use it 100% - it only locks out saving and printing, so "testing" the platform is still 100% capable.

Hope this helps!

- Tannar

vladmir: Can you post an example of your work? I have a feeling you don't design steel framed buildings.

I recommend that you have your VAR do some demonstrations of various solutions.

This image is from Autodesk Inventor.

You can add any profiles that don't already exist in the library.

A custom AutoCAD solution might start here

http://home.pct.edu/~jmather/content/CAD238/AutoCAD%202007%20Tutorial%208.pdf

After re-reading the O.P.'s post, I think JD's recommendation for Inventor might be a better fit, as mine is for the AEC industries and not the manufacturer's industries. Good call JD.

I would also go with Inventor or Solidworks for what you have described so far.

If you feel better staying with AutoCAD, there are add-ons and LISP to expand its abilities. I currently use Al's Steel Mill for steel shapes, previously where I did work more along your lines the company purchased an add-on called SteelPlus from Soft Draft http://www.softdraft.com/.

I've used steel plus and it works well but it really depends on how much you need. It sounds like you may need very little and I would suggest simply drawing them. You would need to learn a little more about AutoCAD but it is not difficult. Something like Inventor seems to be overkill for what sounds like a small shop. Learn how to draw with plines and extrude for 3d models that you can easily render with the materials provided. Spend a little time learning to use 3d and I think you will be very pleased and satisfied. Using 3rd party software for small bars and wood and such there is no real package for that. Good luck.

Thank you everyone for your responses and input, sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you on my own question, things have been hectic lately. Remark is correct, I should have been more specific in describing what I do. We don't erect structures or really do any large scale work like that. We do custom orders for furniture pieces, artwork, and miscellaneous specific-purpose pieces. It's really hard to explain accurately due to the diversity. I can take some pictures and post them later if it helps.

Better late than never.

Yes, I didn't get the feeling you were erecting 100 story office buildings in downtown Vladivostok. Revit, in my opinion, would be overkill.

Revit, in my opinion, would be overkill.

Better late than never.

 

Yes, I didn't get the feeling you were erecting 100 story office buildings in downtown Vladivostok. Revit, in my opinion, would be overkill.

Do you have any recommendations?

Recommendations? Not at the moment.

Have you created anything using AutoCAD yet? If so can you post an image?