Features History - CADWorx - Help

CADWorx Structure

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English
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CADWorx
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Structure
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CADWorx Version
20.2
CADWorx Structure Version
4.2

Features added or updated with CADWorx Structure 2020 R1

Version 2020 R1 (4.1)

  • CADWorx Structure is now compatible with AutoCAD 2021.

  • CADWorx Structure is now compatible with BricsCAD 20.2.

  • Advanced properties are now available for straight, cylindrical, and spherical stairs. For more information, see Stair advanced properties.

  • Advanced properties are now available for ladders. For more information, see Advanced Properties Ladder.

  • Advanced properties are now available for handrails. For more information, see Advanced Properties Handrail.

Features added or updated with CADWorx Structure 2020

Version 2020 (4.0)

  • Property changes made by administrators in the SPRJ file using CADWorx Structure Editor can be propagated to components in the drawing using the new SPRJCONVERT command. For more information, see Convert From SPRJ.

  • CADWorx Structure is now compatible with BricsCAD v20 and AutoCAD 2020.

  • You can now edit custom members in the Structure PRJ. For more information, see CADWorx Structure Editor User Guide.

  • Custom members based on sketches can be imported from legacy CADWorx Steel. For more information, see Parametric Section Definition Dialog Box.

  • For Single Line Steel drawings, the designer can cut back member sections manually so that they can define their paper space drawing per each layout. For more information, see Modify.

  • Dimension to secondary and tertiary members. For more information, see Modify.

  • You can now trim bracing members to accurately reflect real world applications. For more information, see Trim.

  • Connections, including base plates, gusset plates, and end plates have been consolidated into the new Connections Palette. For more information, see Connections.

  • Designers can now model clip angles in CADWorx Structure to properly depict this structural connection type. For more information, see Connections.

  • CADWorx Structure now supports using shear plate connections. For more information, see Shear Plate Connections.

  • Splice connections are available for both flange and web faces. For more information, see Splice Connections.

  • CADWorx Structure allows you to place base plate stiffeners using the connections palette. For more information, see Base Plate Connections.

  • Anchor bolts can now be placed in the model on base plates and CADWorx Structure includes the associated content for J-bolts, L-bolts, and straight anchors. For more information, see Anchor Bolt.

  • Coping can be changed from one type to another. For more information, see Cope.

  • Designers can now control line weight at the layer level in the Layer Manager under Setup. For more information, see Layer Manager

  • CADWorx Structure now supports multiple views in a single paper space layout. For more information, see Modify.

  • Single Line Steel now supports using AutoCAD Viewports to define the scope of the paper space view. For more information, see Modify.

  • CADWorx Help and User Guides have moved online.

  • Weight and Center of Gravity calculations now support new equipment objects. For more information, see Weight and Center of Gravity.

  • CADWorx Structure now uses Smart License for product authentication and licensing.

  • The AISC layer has been renamed to Structure to better align with international markets.

  • Plates can now be saved as templates. For more information, see Plates.

  • Implemented weight and center of gravity calculation, and bill of material functions shared between CADWorx Plant, Structure, and Equipment. For more information, see Weight and Center of Gravity or Bill of Material Panel.

Features added or updated with CADWorx Structure 2019

Software Enhancements

Version 2019 (3.0)

  • Primary structure members can be exported to CAESAR II using an .str file in order to more efficiently share information between the 3D CAD Model and the pipe stress analysis tools. For more information, see Export.

  • End Plate connections can be placed on the ends of beams or columns (end caps) to more effectively represent these structural connections. For more information, see End Plate.

  • CADWorx Structure now supports database integration and synchronization with support of SQL, Oracle, and MS Access databases to help in reporting and 3D model modifications. For more information, see Tools Panel, Structure Setup Dialog Box, Live Database, and Sync DB.

  • New horizontal bracing configurations allow users to quickly place connected bracing members with offsets in the horizontal plane. For more information, see Bracing and Place horizontal bracing.

  • Spiral stair templates now support placement around a spherical tank, allowing treads, handrail, toe plates, and landings to be placed (or modified) as a unit. For more information, see Stair, Insert a spherical stair on a vessel, and Insert a spherical stair by points.

  • Enhanced Bill of Material to allow you to create, modify, and transfer templates for bill of materials and use them across multiple CADWorx products. You can also edit the sort order for multiple product use and apply filtering to obtain BOM for only the items you wish to see. For more information, see Bill of Material Panel, BOM Setup, BOM Template, Bill of Material Template Creation and Modification, BOM Transfer, BOM Sort Order / Accumulation Dialog Box, Add or remove properties from BOM, Change the BOM sorting and accumulation, and BOM Sort Order / Accumulation Dialog Box.

  • Legacy CADWorx Steel components can now be converted to modern CADWorx Structure elements so that historical models can be reused and modified. The conversion process works on handrails, ladders, stairs, and plates as well as steel members. For more information, see Legacy Convert and Convert a legacy Steel model to Structure objects.

  • Pile Foundation templates have been added to give users pattern placing tools to create these commonly used foundations systems for poor soil conditions. Designers can place the pile cap and piles as a unit using this command. For more information, see Foundations, Place a pile system by points, and Place a pile system by selecting objects.

  • Enhanced clash detection which is now called Clash Management. You can now place soft clashes with several place by options, as well as associate the soft clash with an object. Enhanced and moved the clash settings from the Structure Setup to the Clash Management palette. Enhanced the clash settings to include ignoring different clash types and soft clashes. For more information, see Clash Management, Clash Settings Dialog Box, New Area Volume Definition Dialog Box, and Filter.

  • Unlike object types can now have similar properties edited as a group, making major modifications like material edits very efficient. For more information, see Global Edit.

  • Placing columns by length is even more useful now that you can quickly select a grid and have the columns placed at the grid intersections. For more information, see Shapes and Insert columns at grid intersections by length.

  • Enhanced the ladder assembly templates by adding input for Bottom Mounting Clips and Wall Supports. For more information, see Ladder.

  • To support major modifications to skid or building dimensions, designers can now select multiple plates, members, grating, etc and use the stretch command to make modifications to the size or length of those objects. Many projects have platforms, skids, and walking surfaces that change size throughout the design process. This feature will enable the user to quickly make many modifications to multiple object types using the stretch command.

  • Modification workflows have been supplemented with the addition of square grips on grating, decking, foundations, stairs, and grid lines. For more information, see Grating Grip Modifications, Decking Grip Modifications, Foundation Grip Modification, Stair Grip Modifications, and Grid Line Grip Modifications.

  • Designers will be able to cut a member at an angle that is defined by a three point plane to allow the designer to trim a member in any configuration.

  • Administrators can now write a script that will install CADWorx Structure with various parameters to help with setup of the program. This is very similar to the CADWorx Plant implementation of silent install and will run on both AutoCAD and BricsCAD setups.

  • Added X, Y, and Z to the Vertical, Horizontal, and Elevation names in the Column Grid selection to allow for better grid definition. For more information, see Column Grid.

  • Designers are able to display the length of objects in Architectural Units (fractions) on the BOM, tool tips and palette length fields. The CAD system’s unit settings (including precision) are reflected in the CADWorx outputs.

Version 2019 (3.0) Service Pack 1

This user's guide has the following changes for this release.

  • CADWorx Structure is now compatible with BricsCAD 19.1.11 and newer.

Features added or updated with CADWorx Structure 2018 SP1

Software Enhancements

Features added or updated with CADWorx Structure 2018

Software Enhancements

  • You can insert tapered and haunched members, which minimizes steel, and lowers cost, weight, and space. The software includes tapered and haunched members in bill of materials, and weight and center of gravity reports. For more information, see Tapered/Haunch.

  • Updated the Shapes palette to include options for circular and rectangular concrete members. For more information, see Shapes.

  • You can create and insert custom sections in your 3D model. For more information, see Shapes, Parametric Section Definition Dialog Box, and Create a custom section.

  • Insert walls in your 3D model. For more information, see Walls.

  • Insert footings in your 3D model. For more information, see Foundations.

  • You can insert spiral stairs around a vessel or a central post with the Cylindrical option in the Stair palette. For more information, see Stair.

  • You can set different members for the type of hoop contained on the ladder cage for the top, intermediate, and bottom hoop with the Type Hoop setting. For more information, see Ladder.

  • You can create deliverable drawings with the Create Drawings option. After creation of drawings, you can Modify, view the Drawing List, and update settings. For more information, see Drawings Panel.

  • Enhanced the Selection Filters CIS2 Import ICON option to limit model space selections in your 3D model. You can limit walls, footings, custom data, and slabs. For more information, see Tools Panel and Selection Filter.

  • Add concrete slabs to your model. Slabs can automatically include metal decking and thickened edges for more efficient modeling. For more information, see Slab.

  • The footing, wall, slab, and concrete member features include the following:

  • Export and import solids in CIS/2 for rebar detailing. For more information, see Export, and Import.

  • Report on the bill of materials, and the Weight and Center of Gravity calculations. For more information, see BOM Setup and Weight and Center of Gravity.

  • Added more Process Industry Practice (PIP) standard options for handrails. You can now select the Angle Connection type for the Railing Connection when placing a handrail, and define the Bracket Length and the Length Above Member. For more information, see Handrail.

  • Created a new palette called Area Objects and moved Grating, Decking, and Plates from the Assemblies palette into this palette. Added Slabs and Walls for insertion. For more information, see Area Objects.

  • Added the clash detection palette that allows you to identify and fix clashes between intersecting objects. You can also identify and outline soft clash volumes. For more information, see Clash Management.

  • Added Clash Detection settings and Drawing Template settings to the Structure Setup. For more information, see Structure Setup Dialog Box, Clash Settings Dialog Box, and Drawing Templates.

  • You can import a CIS/2 data file (.stp) into your 3D model for change management. For more information, see Import.

  • Updated structure members to visually show custom data in the model space. For more information, see Shapes.

  • Added the Apply Change Data rule in the Rules tab of the Structure Setup. The Apply Change Data rule provides the option to edit without updating components. For more information, see Rules.

  • You can have the custom data listed in the tool tips, and member annotations. For more information, see Tool Tips, and Member Annotations.

  • Added an Elevations option to the column grid. Added elevations make it easier to place columns between floors using Pick Points. For more information, see Column Grid.

  • Added the Ungroup command to break assemblies into individual members. For more information, see Ungroup.

  • Updated Weight and Center of Gravity to include external referenced (XREF) objects.

  • You can adjust the table properties for a bill of material with the CAD table properties.

  • Enhanced the view box to define views based on specific drawing selections. You can select a view for Plan, Elevation, Details, and Pick Points. For more information, see View Box and View Box Definition Dialog Box.

  • Enhanced the palettes. The software now remembers previously entered information in the CADWorx Structure palettes when you close and then reopen a palette.

  • You can view read-only component properties of legacy steel. For more information, see Legacy Steel Component Edit Dialog Box.

Features add or updated with CADWorx Structure 2017 R1

Software Enhancements

  • You can limit model space selections in your drawing using the new Selection Filters CIS2 Import ICON option. For more information, see Tools Panel and Selection Filter.

  • You can add openings in structural members. The Open Open Decking Grating command on the Model panel now works to open all objects in CADWorx Structure with the exception of handrails. To open handrails, you must continue to use the Open Open Handrail option under Handrail in the Modify panel. For more information, see Open.

  • You can export to CIS/2 file format for detailing and analysis. For more information, see Tools Panel and Export.

  • You can annotate structural objects for Short Description, Long Description, Part Number, Tag, Material, and Member Size. This allows you to build structures from elevation, plan, or orthographic drawings. For more information, see Annotate Elevation, Annotate Component, Rules, and Member Annotations.

  • You can remove copes and miters using the Cope Cope - Structure and Miter Miter - Structure commands. Active copes and miters are designated by spherical symbols in the model. For more information, see Cope and Miter.

  • You can more efficiently insert gusset plates on bracing. For more information, see Gusset, Insert gussets at the corners of the bracing, and Insert a gusset at the midspan of the bracing.

  • You can turn banding on or off around the grating and the openings in the grating with the Banding Banding Icon command. For more information, see Grating and Banding.

  • You can compute the weight and center of gravity of structure objects in CADWorx Structure. For more information, see Tools Panel and Weight and Center of Gravity.

  • You can remove openings in structural objects. For more information, see Remove Openings.

  • You can show or hide components on a specific layer from the Bill of Material in the BOM Setup BOM Setup Icon Structure. For more information, see BOM Setup.

  • You can independently define cross section member settings for the bottom, top, and intermediate hoops on a caged ladder. For more information, see Ladder.

  • Updated the column grid to include a default first line. You no longer need to add the first line of the vertical and horizontal lines, as the software defaults include this first line. For more information, see Column Grid.

  • You can control the number of decimal places that displays on the bill of material for both Weight and Area measurements with the Weight and Area Precision option in the Tag section of the Bill of Materials section in the Rules. For more information, see Rules.

  • You can now offset the handrail in the horizontal direction so that the handrail faces correctly in the structure. For more information, see Handrail.

  • CADWorx Structure supports BricsCAD.

Features introduced in CADWorx Structure 2017

Project Setup (Settings)

Administrators configure project-wide settings for units of measure, modeling and placement rules, generating reports, and much more to give designers and engineers a consistent modeling environment. For more information, see Setup.

Modeling – Primary Steel

The primary steel modeling tools include the following common industry work flows:

  • Grid modeling for project layout

  • Precision structure member placement

  • Quick modifications to structure members

    • Position editing options display dimensions and allow you to stretch structure members using grip points

    • Member editing options allow you to change cardinal points, reflection options, member sizes, layers, groups, and much more

  • Secondary beam modeling with options for placing by number of beams or defined distances

  • Vertical Bracing including cross, chevron, K, V, and diagonal

    For more information, see Model Panel.

Assemblies – Secondary Steel

Detailed structure work includes adding secondary steel for access control. Whether your project includes industry standards or company proprietary standards, CADWorx Structure allows you to place the following assemblies:

  • Stairs

  • Ladders, including cage ladders

  • Handrails, including the option to miter and open the handrail

  • Grating and Decking, including open and heal commands

    • Detailed visualization

    • Openings, including offsets around interferences

    • Banding

For more information, see Assemblies.

Combined Connections (Structural Plate and Base Plate)

You can quickly attach connection plates and base plates to the primary structural steel using several different placement options, including selecting columns or picking points. Advancements in hole modeling include (including slotted holes) in the 3D view allow you to designate bolt locations for drawings. For more information, see Plates.

Drawing Production

Easily produce basic structural general arrangement drawings such as:

  • View Box

  • Multiple Views

  • Single Line Steel

  • 2D Representation

For more information, see Drawings Panel.

Auto Coping and Mitering

Cope and miter intersecting members of a structure to create realistic models. Place these cuts manually, or use auto coping and auto mitering to apply cuts during initial member placement. Configure project-level settings to specify welded or bolted coping options. For more information, see Rules.

Global Edit

Quickly edit structural objects using multi-edit object selection. You make the needed change once and apply it to all of the modified structural items. For more information, see Component Edit.

Bill of Materials

Create structural bill of materials from selected objects to list the object quantity, description, length, and weight. For more information, see Bill of Material Panel.

Licensing

CADWorx Structure uses SmartPlant License Manager (SPLM) for application licensing.