iintelligence from model

[JENKAT]

I would like to know how to go from 2d to 3d on a structural drawing, and be able to get beam sizes and lengths. The boss would like to be able to get a report on the amount of all the diffenet sizes and lengths. We using Autocad2013 with no add on.

[ReMark]

I think you'd be better off upgrading to something like AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite instead of trying to do it in plain AutoCAD. The feature your boss is looking for is included...

 

Material Takeoff

Material Takeoff is a Revit tool that helps calculate detailed material quantities and track material quantities in cost estimates. The parametric change engine helps support more accurate material takeoffs.

 

Remember that your company needs to be using the right tool for the job.

[JD Mather]

You might be able to do this in vanilla AutoCAD with skeletal modeling techniques using Blocks with Attributes.

Use the skeleton blocks (simple lines) to sweep the 3D solids.

 

This tutorial explains beginning Skeletal Modeling Techniques.

It does not explain Blocks with Attributes and Extracting Attributes.

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

[BIGAL]

Some other ideas.

 

If your structural plans are line diagrams then using layers you could use data extraction to make a list of all layers, disadvantage is every beam type would need to be a individual layer.

 

The other way is to use dynamic blocks again though a block for each shape.

 

Another is a line can have extended data which contains the beam properties.

 

My way would be to use a front end draw beam and simply lable beam with text on another layer "250UB25x6.34".

 

Check out I think Prosteel ? Maybe some of the other steel detailing add ons available.