Showing posts with label Advance Steel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advance Steel. Show all posts

Wednesday, 18 April 2018

Advance Steel: Mapping Section Names to User Defined Names

Often it is required to map section names to user defined names. A user may specifically want a South African Universal Column to be mapped to a specific item number. An example of this would be that UC203x203x52 has a company part number of J7.



Advance Steel has the ability to set up a mapping for specific objects allowing users to either use different names for these object altogether or have default data attached to these object automatically.

Please follow the link below to view a detailed instructional video on how to set up mapping for Advance Steel Section names.

Mapping Objects Names in Advance Steel



Wednesday, 5 April 2017

Advance Steel 2018 Price Reduction

Advance Steel 2018 pricing has been reduced by up to 35% and will now incorporate a complete license of AutoCAD Commercial. 



With the inclusion of AutoCAD as part of the Advance Steel 2018 Bundle, this means that customers will not have to purchase an AutoCAD Commercial license separately. 

Please contact sales@chempute.com for more information.

Advance Steel 2018 will be available on April 1 st, 2017 in the accounts.autodesk.com portal.



Monday, 1 August 2016

Turning Weld Symbols off in Advance Steel Drawing Styles

Using the Advance Steel Drawing Style Manager, Drawing Styles can be customized so that details are generated to the User's company standards. In certain scenarios, it may be required that Weld Symbols are suppressed on detail drawings. An example of a drawing type that would not usually require Weld Symbols would be on a 3D View.


As there are many scenarios where Weld Symbols can either be turned off or on, Advance Steel can control the display of these symbols in each View in each Drawing Style. This means that a Front View may have Weld Symbols Suppressed while the Section or Side View may have Weld Symbols displayed in the same detail.

For detailed instructions on how to suppress Weld Symbols in different Views in different Drawing Styles, please follow the link below.


Should you require any further information regarding this please contact nmichel@chempute.com



Tuesday, 31 May 2016

Advance Steel 2017 Released

Autodesk has recently released the latest 2017 version of Advance Steel, their flagship Structural Modelling and Detailing solution, based on AutoCAD. Customers that are current with Subscription/Maintenance can access this latest version from their Autodesk Account.



Some of the new features include updated modelling and connection tools, enhancements to Documentation Bill of Material Templates and improved integration with other solutions.

For more information, see the link below.

Whats New in Advance Steel Premium 2017

Should you require any further information, please contact nmichel@chempute.com



Monday, 9 May 2016

Advance Steel Technical Checking Tolerances

Along with a Clash Check utility, Advance Steel Premium has an additional model validation tool that allows users to check if Bolts/Holes are too close to an objects edge or too close to each other. This assists the User in avoiding Tearout Stress later on site.


These minimum and maximum distances can often be slightly different from country to country and can even very from project to project as well. Advance Steel allows Users to completely control the tolerances for Technical Checking, ensuring that this utility validates the model as per a User's company preference.

The following tolerances can be configured for the Technical Checking utility:

  • Edge Distances in X Orientation.
  • Edge Distances in Y Orientation.
  • Maximum Edge Distance for Holes.
  • Maximum Intermediate Distance for Holes.
  • Minimum Edge Distance Factor for Holes.
  • Minimum Intermediate Distance Factor for Holes.
  • Maximum Edge Distance for Holes.
  • Minimum Edge Distance Factor for Holes.

Please follow the link below to download a PDF Tutorial on how to configure these tolerances in Management Tools


Should you require any further information please contact nmichel@chempute.com



Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Creating Prefix Configuration Profiles in Advance Steel Premium

Advance Steel Premium allows Users to create different Prefix Assignment Profiles for the User's different customer requirements.



This means that Users can ensure that Prefix Configuration Standards for their customers can be quickly applied without having to reconfigure the entire Prefix Configuration with every new project.

Prefix Assignment Profiles can easily be created and switched between, just before the numbering process takes place.



Please follow the link below to download a PDF Tutorial on how to create Prefix Configuration Profiles in Advance Steel Premium.

Using Different Prefix Assignment Configuration Profiles for Different Clients FAQ.pdf

Should you have an further queries please contact nmichel@chempute.com


Monday, 13 July 2015

Advance Steel Default Sections

Following last week's post on Configuring Preferred Sizes, another useful tip to increase productivity while modelling with Advance Steel Premium is to configure Default Sections.

Advance Steel allows Users to choose the default section that is selected when a section is drawn for the first time.


This is useful for Advance Steel User's that always begin a project with the same section types and sizes.

For detailed instructions on how to configure Default Sections for all Section Types, please follow the link below.

Configuring Advance Steel Default Sections

Should you have any further queries, please contact nmichel@chempute.com



Monday, 6 July 2015

Advance Steel Preferred Sizes

Modelling with Advance Steel a very logical and easy process however there are ways of making this process even faster and easier for Users. 

Users have the option on configuring their favorite or most used Section Classes, Sizes, Materials, Coating, Model Roles, etc. so that these are at the top of the selection lists for quick selection.


Users will still have access to the entire International Catalogue if need be, however configuring Preferred Sizes will increase productivity during the modelling process of the project by making it easier to locate the required sections as opposed to navigating through a long list of components.

For detailed instructions on how to configure Preferred Sizes using Advance Steel Management Tools, please follow the link below.

Configuring Advance Steel Preferred Sizes

Should you have any further queries, please contact nmichel@chempute.com





Friday, 19 June 2015

Advance Steel 2016 released.

Advance Steel Premium version 2016 was released during April this year. A large amount of development has gone into this new version with a host of new features and functionality.



Overall summary:
  • AutoCAD 2016 compliancy
  • Countryfication for US & AUS/NZ
  • User interface
  • Modelling improvements
  • Scalability & Performance
  • Welds
  • Numbering
  • Detailing improvements
  • Exchange formats

Local content (Australia / New Zealand - English AUS):
  • Updated global defaults
  • New flat sections and mapping
  • Drawing styles regrouped by categories

New ready-to-use templates for:
  • Shop drawings
  • General arrangement drawings
  • New connection library defaults

Local content (United States - English US):
  • Updated defaults
  • New AISC & CISC sections
  • Improved & new BOM templates
  • Drawing styles regrouped by categories
  • New general arrangement drawing presentations
  • Better dimensions & labels

Enhanced User Interface:
  • New icon standard
  • Corresponding to Autodesk standard
  • User Interface & tool palette
  • Connection vault
  • Ready-to-use templates
  • Looks like tool palette
  • Split in three categories
  • Drawing styles
  • Drawing process
  • BOM templates
  • Magnetism to connect palettes
  • Double click to open & close palettes

Scalability & Performance:
  • New work area concept
  • Display selected elements
  • User-defined work area
  • Outside objects displayed with lower LOD
  • Default for small elements

Model views display enhanced performances:
  • New modelling tools
  • Continuous beam creation
  • Beam creation continuous command
  • Column creation continuous command
  • Multi-edit modification once Esc
  • New continuous beam command
  • Start point of second segment equals end point from previous segment

Model review workflow:
  • New Approval status
  • New object property for assemblies
  • Also available for automatic connections
  • Status associated to colours
  • Customizable approval status

New modelling tools:
  • Galvanizing information
  • Three new drop down lists
  • Available on assembly level

Fabrication data:
  • New fabrication information
  • Information available for drawings
  • Extended to exchange through the API

New modelling tools:
  • New model check dialog
  • Audit & technical checking results in a notification dialog
  • Fix all or selected issues option
  • Search for checking results
  • Better detection of issues on plates and folded plates

Enhanced modelling tools:
  • Search filter improvements
  • Assign colour to search result
  • Multiple selection for drop down lists
  • New object properties are available
  • Enhanced model view at grid line
  • Customizable custom connection library path
  • Multi-edit modification for shear studs
  • Hole settings (automatic connections) can be accessed

Enhanced steel connections:
  • Moment connection new options:
  • Stiffener gap
  • Stiffener weld preparation
  • Stiffener chamfer contour
  • Web doubler weld preparation

Versatile Numbering  & CNC data enhancements:
  • New numbering options
  • Flexible format definition
  • Additional tokens available
  • Preliminary number token
  • Available for NC-file name
  • Can be used for scribing

Enhanced weld symbols:
  • Additional weld properties
  • Configurable in a DWG file
  • Colour definition from file
  • Line & text styles from file
  • Flexible combinations

New detailing functionality:
  • Labels in dimension lines
  • Definition per dimension line
  • Different placing options
  • Huge set of available tokens
  • Manual editing possible
  • Overwrite dimension
  • Dimension prefix or suffix

Enhanced dimension functionality:
  • Single dimension line command
  • Vertical and horizontal in one command
  • Works like the AutoCAD dimension line command

New detailing functionality:
  • BOM on general arrangement drawings
  • Can be included in prototype
  • Can be added manually afterwards
  • Based on new filtering mechanism

BOM per detail:
  • Get a BOM per detail on a drawing
  • New detailing functionality
  • New BOM filters
  • Based on search filter
  • Saved filters can be reused
  • Multiple selection on drop down lists e.g. model roles

Drawings review workflow:
  • New Approval status
  • Available in the Document Manager for:
  • Shop drawings
  • General arrangement drawings
  • Status associated to colours
  • Customizable approval status

Enhanced detailing functionality:
  • Use Document Manager to rename drawings
  • Get tick removed from running dimensions
  • Better automatic slope triangle placement
  • Display AutoCAD® entities in camera views
  • Treat standalone plates and beams differently in processes
  • Anchors can be labelled manually
  • Grid dimensioning enhancements:
  • Dimensions placed between the grid line extensions
  • Reference dimension to grid lines is split per grid line

Improved exchange formats:
  • Advance Steel 2016 Extension for Autodesk Revit
  • File extension renamed
  • F1 – Help available
  • Compliant only with Revit 2016
  • Revit 2016 interoperability

Column transfer enhancements:
  • Correct orientation
  • Improved slanted column transfer
  • New mapping system (sections & materials)
  • Plate import/export and synchronization
  • Synchronization dialog enhancements:
  • Position & offsets changes now
  • Beam & column rotations

See the link below for videos of the new features and functionality


Please Contact nmichel@chempute.com for additional information or details.





Monday, 19 January 2015

Autodesk Discontinues Subscription Upgrade Options

As of the 23rd of January 2015, Autodesk are Discontinuing Subscription Upgrade options. This means that upgrading an older version Autodesk Software Solution, will be removed from the Pricelist and will no longer be available to existing customers. As a result should your Autodesk Software Subscription expire and the need to upgrade to the latest version arise, instead of being able to upgrade for a lower price, an entirely new license will need to be purchased.

Advance Steel & Advance Concrete Subscription Upgrade Promotions
To assist customers in upgrading their Advance Steel & Advance Concrete Subscriptions, a limited Special Offer is available for upgrading these Subscriptions. A Legacy (Older) Version of Advance Steel and Advance Concrete can be upgraded to the latest version for 50% of the new license price. 

An “Advance Steel with Advance CAD Bundle” or an “Advance Steel without AutoCAD Bundle” can also be upgraded to an “Advance Steel with AutoCAD Bundle” at 50% of the usual upgrade price. Please note for both these options a further 12 months Autodesk Subscription will be included in the price. 

These Special Offers are limited until the 23rd January 2015.

Should you wish to receive a formal quotation regarding this, please contact nmichel@chempute.com



Monday, 8 December 2014

Graitec Releases PowerPack Extension for Advance Steel

The Graitec PowerPack 2015 is a powerful extension to Autodesk Advance Steel 2015 designed to boost the End User’s capability, productivity and efficiency. The Graitec PowerPack 2015 builds on the strength of the market leading Autodesk Advance Steel by introducing a set of unique tools, templates and connections intentionally designed to enhance and speed up project delivery.

All existing Advance Steel Users that are current with Maintenance already have a license of the Power Pack. All that is required is to download and install from the Graitec Advantage Website. This will load an additional ribbon to the Advance Steel Workspace.



Additional features include:

Castellated Beams.



Lifting Holes/Lugs.



Staggered Holes / Bolts / Anchors.






Monday, 11 August 2014

Batch Plot with Advance Steel 2015

Advance Steel excels in generating automatic, fully dimensioned, completely labelled detail drawings from a 3D Steel Structure Model. 


However, now that a User has mastered the ability of generating a substantial amount of details at the click of the button, plotting these individually, almost seems like a step backwards. Lucky for Advance Steel Users, the Document Manager has a utility dedicated to plotting multiple details to a desired plotter or format automatically. This utility is known as the "Add to Batch Plot" command.


While not many are aware of this functionality, it is still very easy to use and will save all Users a huge amount of time if incorporated into their workflows.

Please follow the link below to download instructions on how to Batch Plot from the Advance Steel Document Manager.


Should you have any further queries, please contact nmichel@chempute.com


Monday, 7 July 2014

Advance Steel 2015 Release

Advance Steel 2015 has recently been released. This new version has been re-branded in line with the Autodesk's acquisition of the technology in October last year. The new version also uses the Autodesk licensing system. 

Users current with maintenance will receive their serial numbers directly from Autodesk. Software is available as a download from subscription center or alternatively physical media can be requested also from the Autodesk Subscription Center.

Support for 32 bit operating systems has also been retired with this release.

A number of new enhancements are available in the latest 2015 version of Advance Steel. Please find a few of these enhancements below.

  • Updated Ribbons.



  • Multiple Model Views can be activated simultaneously. 

  • Updated Management Tools.



  • Compatible with AutoCAD 2015 - 2013.




For more information please follow the link below to view the "What is New" PDF.




Monday, 16 June 2014

Reviewing Advance Steel Models with Autodesk Design review

Advance Steel Users and their customers can collaborate intelligent design information by exporting Advance Steel Models to an external Design Web Format (*.dwf) review file. Autodesk Design Review for Windows and the AutoCAD 360 Mobile Applications for Mobile Phones and Tablets, are free downloads that are available from the Autodesk website and can be used to view model object intelligence, review and markup Advance Steel Models using this Design Web Format (*.dwf) file.





Once models have been reviewed, all Markups can be saved back into the Design Web Format (*.dwf) file and sent back to the Designer or Detailer, who can then use this information to modify the Advance Steel Model.

For detailed instructions on this simplified process please download the PDF using the link below.


for more information please contact nmichel@chempute.com



Tuesday, 11 February 2014

Advance Steel - Special Upgrade Offer on Legacy Versions

Graitec and Autodesk are currently running an upgrade promotion on Legacy (Older) Versions of Advance Steel. Existing Users may take advantage of this special offer and upgrade their Legacy Versions of Advance Steel  to the latest 2014 version, from as far back as Advance Steel 5.1.

Should you require further information or pricing options please contact nmichel@chempute.com


Monday, 9 December 2013

Advance Steel 2014 Service Pack 1

Graitec recently released Service Pack 1 (SP1) for Advance Steel 2014.    

If you are running Advance Steel 2014, it would be advised to install the Advance Steel 2014 Service Pack 1.

Users current with their Maintenance Contract can download this Service Pack from the Graitec Advantage Website website, by following the link below. 

Graitec Advantage

Please contact nmichel@chempute.com for further information.


Monday, 7 October 2013

Advance Steel 2014 Release

Advance Steel 2014 was recently released hosting an entirely new set of features, to ensure that productivity when Modelling and Detailing, is always improved when using Advance Steel. 

A brief description of some of these new features that are being shipped with Advance Steel 2014 are listed below.


New Views and Visual Style Access Utility

This allows users to change Views and Visual Styles while modelling, without having to switch back to the "View" ribbon.




Tool Palettes can be Customized

Tool Palette Icons can now be removed and added to allow Users to customize their very own Tool Palettes with favorite Advance Steel tools.



Tool Palette Theme Settings
Tool Palettes themes can now be configured and customized. Background colors, Icon Sizes, Item Opacity and more can now be customized to meet Use Preference.



Clash Check Palette
Clash Checking results are now listed on the Clash Check Palette, with added tools to assist with Searching for Clashes, Zooming to Clashes, Removing Clash Markings, etc. Clashes are removed from the Clash Check Palette when resolved.


Steel Check Palette

Steel Construction Technical Checking results are now listed on the Steel Check Palette and as with the Clash Check Palette are also removed from this Palette once resolved.


Connection Vault Palette
The Advance Steel Intelligent Connection Vault is now a live Palette which can be kept open while modelling, allowing Users to add connections to their models without the interruption of opening a separate Connection Vault dialogue. Commonly used connections can also be added to a Favorites tab, giving Users quick access to their preferred connections.



Building Generator Palette
Macros (Wizards) such as the Portal Frames Macro, Bracing Macro, Purlins Macro, etc can now be accessed from the Building Generator Palette.


Weld Preparation (Bevel Cuts) for Beams

The Weld Preparation commands can now be used on the all beam corners to create Bevel Cuts for beams.


Edge Features Display Type for Beams

A new Exact with Edge Features display type has been added for beams, allowing Users to display exact corner finishes on beams.


Improved Taper Beam Macro

The Tapered beam Macro has been improved to include options such as Segments for defining more complex Tapered Beam types.


For a more detailed look into the new features of Advance Steel 2014, please follow the link below.

http://www.graitec.info/Common/Downloads/Documentation/AS2014_Whats_New_EN.pdf


Should you have any further queries regarding this, please contact nmichel@chempute.com



Friday, 7 June 2013

Advance Steel Drawing Process Suites

In Advance Steel Drawing Styles can easily be grouped into Drawing Processes by using the Drawing Process Manager. This enables Users to run multiple Drawing Styles at the same time while also having control and allowing for the automation of Drawing Names, Template (Prototype) Size, Scales and Number of Items to be placed on each Sheet.

Advance Steel has also allowed these Drawing Processes to be grouped into a Drawing Process Suite that will enable a User to run different Drawing Process simultaneously. All the rules of the Drawing Processes are still followed however this allows the User to generate all Single Part and Assembly drawings for the entire model, in the click of a button. 



Once Drawing Processes have been set up, grouping them into a Drawing Process Suite is a simple task that will save all Advance Steel Users a substantial amount of time.

Please follow the link below to download a PDF instructing Users on how to set up a Drawing Process Suite in Advance Steel 2013.

How to Use Multiple Drawing Processes Simultaneously FAQ.pdf

Should you have any queries regarding this please contact nmichel@chempute.com

Tuesday, 30 April 2013

Custom Connections in Advance Steel 2013

Experienced and new Advance Steel Users, are aware of the raw power and intuition of Advance Steel's extensive Intelligent Connection Vault. In the past, unique Connection types that were unavailable in the Intelligent Connection Vault, had to be modeled manually. Remodeling these manual connection types could be a very time consuming and tedious task.

Graitec have made Modeling that much faster, by making the need to manually repeat modelling of these unique Connections, obsolete. The new Custom Connection feature, added to Advance Steel 2013, allows Users to save their User Defined Connections to a new Custom Connection Vault. This User Defined Connection can then be reused on similar connection scenarios automatically. Automated Macros will even update when used on Connection Points with different Section sizes.


Chempute Software have created a tutorial on how to create and utilize User Defined Connections using the Custom Connection Vault. Please follow the link below to view this tutorial.

How to Create and Use Custom or User Defined Connections FAQ.pdf

Should you require any further information please contact nmichel@chempute.com



Wednesday, 17 April 2013

How to Add Example Pictures to the Quick Documents Menu

In Advance Steel, the Quick Documents menu is an easy way to identify and distinguish Drawing Styles and Material List (BOM) Templates. Coupled with descriptions, the Advance Steel, Quick Documents menu previews a Drawing Style and BOM Template when selected, giving the User a clear indication of what the Details will look like, once generated.


The Quick Documents menu can be customized to filter only the Drawing Styles, Drawing Processes and BOM Templates that the User requires.  Custom Example or Preview Pictures can also be assigned to User Drawing Styles and BOM Templates in the Quick Documents menu.

To download instructions on how to assign Custom Example or Preview Pictures, to User Defined Drawing Styles and BOM Templates, please download the Step-by-Step PDF Document by following the link below.


Should you have any further queries or require any further information regarding this, please contact nmichel@chempute.com