How can CAD benefit the Structural Steel Detailing process carried out in the projects?

How can CAD benefit the Structural Steel Detailing process carried out in the projects?
Share the knowledge

Overview

One of the most crucial aspects of structural engineering is the structural steel detailing process, which acquires a high level of value and is given a lot of importance as it requires precise detail and accuracy. With the detailing process, the drafters need to maintain high precision as any small mistakes could lead to delay in the project accomplishment with loss of time and money wasted on rework.

Structural Detailing Services is a necessity and essential as a part of many construction and manufacturing processes. Examples of this can be erection in ships or various factories, etc. Steel Detailing is an essential step in the process of developing anything which is made out of the steel that includes modern plants, buildings, air dealing units, etc. This is the initial step in the process and requests intensive precision.

Process of Steel Detailing

The process is spread across various steps that bind Steel Detailing in the projects, and the steps are as follows:-

The initial step of the process would be that the structural engineer would draw an idea on a piece of paper and put it in a general way. These drawings contain detail of the mechanical system which the members take for fabrications. The fabricators and the contractors used detailed drawings. The drawings included different plans, estimates, types of drawings, report and tasks.

Steel detailer would produce any two types of drawings such as erection and shop drawings. Steel Shop Drawings would be drawing covering the steel pieces. The steel detailer produces drawings for the erection of steel components in the field of steel members which is known as erection drawings.

Steel engineers or detailers need to provide Structural Shop Drawings Services with precise dimensions for all the steel requirements required for the project. The steel detailer would produce shop drawings and plans for constructing structures and erection of the steel members such as beams, trusses, joints, etc.

In earlier times, steel detailing was done through manual drafting methods. This made the drafters prepare drawings from handheld tools which were time-consuming and took a long span to get precisely detailed drawings.   

How can CAD benefit the Steel Detailing process?

Using CAD Services software can help increase the precision of drawings required in the projects. CAD is beneficial when the procedure requires great importance and indulges in the stress of getting accurate and detailed drawings of the project.

Herewith the prompt use of CAD software, the chances of errors is reduced that results in better designs and work. These projects where CAD is used make it easier for designing, flexibility and better quality deliverables.

Usually, the work of steel detailer is supervised by another detailer to ensure that the designs are to check whether mistakes detected are resolved on time. Changes and corrections are made regularly to steel detail drawings to ensure that the final design must be of the best quality. Changes are made quickly with the help of CAD software. Revit and AutoCAD are two common software used to carry out detailed projects.

The current scenario for the AEC industry is ever-changing environmental issues and concern for a sustainable strategy which is where the CAD software is used than the conventional method. Here, how it worked was to transit 2D drafting to 3D Modeling techniques which provides visualization and insight into the project.

The use of CAD technologies in the steel detailing process has improved the quality, speed and accuracy of completing a project in a given time period. They were able to make exact drawings in a given 3D format which enhances the work to be easy and affordable than manual detailing methods.

AutoCAD has a large number of inbuilt options that allow for a very neat final design. Steel detailing when done with CAD helps to be viewed in 2D and 3D format. It helps the detailer to drive a better platform to check drawings. It can be used for accomplishing large scale projects and complex projects.

Conclusion

CAD software was introduced for the steel detailers to design buildings or structures in a 2D format that helped them make projects more accessible, faster and cost-effective with output that was not achieved before. Manual drafting methods were time-consuming and incurred a cost in the rework of structures if not found precise and well-detailed.

CAD is useful for steel detailers to drive monotonous benefits to form the latest technology that helps them to make drawings with high precision and reduces the chances of rework and saves costs for overall construction.

With the advent of technologies being advanced and simultaneously changing, BIM and other digital technologies can help the detailer acquire much better projects with enhanced features of Revit software that is part of BIM Services. This has not let the detailer from a stop using CAD software but gets advanced with the use of other digital technologies.

  • Dhvani Badheka

    Dhvani is an irreverent writer who has over 4 years of experience under her belt. She is a life-long learner and a quick study which provides her articles a unique insight. She is always reading, researching new materials and trying to expand her knowledge of the AEC industry so that she can create interesting and valuable content.


Share the knowledge
How can CAD benefit the Structural Steel Detailing process carried out in the projects?
Written By:
Dhvani Badheka
Dhvani is an irreverent writer who has over 4 years of experience under her belt. She is a life-long learner and a quick study which provides her articles a unique insight. She is always reading, researching new materials and trying to expand her knowledge of the AEC industry so that she can create interesting and valuable content.