It’s one thing to model something on your computer. It is yet another thing to fabricate what’s drawn in 3d-land. Given the designs that we seen come through, I doubt very much whether the modern day architect has ever stepped foot in a workshop, or has fabricated anything in their lives.
Consider the below example and see if you can find any issues that should be blaring at you like a fire alarm.
Pop quiz: What’s wrong with this?
What’s wrong with this?
What’s wrong here?
Answer:
I think you might struggle to build it. I don’t think you can curve a PFC125 x 75 with a radius of 125 mm.
Tek1 has developed .dwg based plugins which talk to Tekla to carry out take-off efficiently
Take off is completed in .dwg based Cad systems very similar to modeling in Tekla. For BIM model the model is converted to Tekla
Reports can be taken either from .dwg system or Tekla. Right now reports are being taken out of Tekla. Our next effort is to develop a plugin which will convert the .dwg model into an IFC model.
If anyone is able to help us in this developing the plug int convert .dwg based model to an IFC model we will be very interested.
Take offs needn’t be expensive. If you want accurate reports and a good IFC model you can spin around, you can get it done easily, with some custom software. Now you can get your take-offs done cheaply, and with the quality being just as good.
The DXF format is a CAD data file format developed by Autodesk to allow data interoperability between AutoCAD and other CAD programs.
Issue: One issue we faced when using the polybeam comments feature in Tekla is that if we used the feature to add comments on a DXF file imported into Tekla, then the output drawing will render the proper shape.
See the image below for the plate shape.
This won’t work. This is best modelled as a countour plate.
See the below for the DXF output shape. The bending portion will not appear properly.
DXF – this is output. It won’t work with polybeams.
Solution:
Don’t use poly beam comments in Tekla model to the “L” shape plates.
Instead, use the Contour plate comment to make the “L” shape plate in model.
You don’t need to spend $30,000 p/a on Tekla licenses. You can estimate steel based on IntelliCad based software. Here’s some software I wrote to make this happen:
Tek1 has completed this rather complicated project with support from a brilliant detailing team. The project was complex demanded a very high level of detailing knowledge. We have put our best guys on this job. They have done wonderfully well in completing this project without a hitch. The builder in this instance was Kane Constructions. The fabricator Gonzo engineering.
You may visit our Services page for more information for the type of work we doe
There are big risks involved with working with existing Steel
Things to note.
RL /Height Measurements.
You probably will have to give careful consideration as to what was site measured and what references were used.
Most common errors
Heights measured from Floor to underside of beams. But the floor is sloping
Beam Cols side or centerline used as a reference. But Size and Orientation of beam not confirmes. Both Size and Orientation should be confirmed
The measurement from a wall given. But the wall does not run parallel. By the time the measurement comes to the level we need, measurements are out.
References are taken from something which we cannot reproduce accurately on our drawings.
Site measurements do not add up to the overall. (This is common.) You have to ask which references we should be using and use the same references to set out the members.
Measurement errors could create erection problems. Analyze potential problems and counter for that.
Be extremely careful when the site measure is not from the total station. Most of the errors we see are from site measures taken with handheld lasers and measuring tape.
Points we have to take care of.
Understand site measure clearly.
Understand Rls and setout which can affect our steel, for example beam, and col size, orientation, Sloping floor. Non-parallel beams.
ASK FOR PICTURES. PICTURES WILL TELL A LOT. ASK FOR VIDEOS TODAY CREATING VIDEO ON THE MOBILE PHONE IS EXTREMELY EASY SO ASK FOR IT
Pop-Quiz: What’s wrong with the below connection detail?
Consider the details below. It’s time for a pop-quiz: what issues can you see here?
Structural Engineer’s Drawing: Connection details
Answer:
The structural engineer provided the gusset connections with a 10mm erection clearance (see the snap above). But as a steel detailer we must provide a standard min erection clearance for all the connections. (We shouldn’t follow blinding, but we have to think before using their details.).
We must need to provide 15mm min as erection clearance. (because the weld takes up to 8mm). If we give 10mm clearance then the connection plate will hit the weld. It makes erection issue at site. Erection issues are costly and time consuming: resources will need to be occupied on site. Labour is expensive in Australia – and time is expensive anywhere. These sorts of issues need to be absolutely avoided with good detailing practices.
Please refer to the snap below snap: it shows an example of site issues due to insufficient erection clearance. Also we have attached our sketch shows our standard typ connection details.
You need some clearance for the weld. We have also attached a connection detail.
Bonus Marks
What further issues can you see above?
Answer: The plates are of a non-standard size. This means that the fabricator needs to custom make a plate. That involves extra labour, for something that is entirely unnecessary. Plates need to be custom made only when absolutely required.
Kudos to the engineers and architects on this project. Their support had been brilliant. We have never come across another engineer or architect who had been so prompt in resolving issues on this project. We were able to complete this project very quickly mainly because of the super support i
JHC Canberra
n resolving RFIs from the engineers architect and the builder. The builder is Kane Constructions.
