Advance Steel - Standard Parts

As steel detailers we detail the steelwork for fabricators to make. But as detailers we do tend to detail the same parts, again and again. In some case we even detail the same assemblies from project to project. Don't you ever ask your self why?

Given the fact I live by the expression of...."I want to work Smarter not Harder", the big question is WHY do we keep doing this????

Is it because we have no option but to? No!

Is it because the technology won't let you? No!

Its generally because "its the way we have always done it". But why not challenge the process to find a better way.

Giving you the ability to do more with less......

But to do this we need to change the way we execute in project. We need to allow technology to assist us and make life easier.

Lets have a look at some examples of this, Shear Plates, Stiffeners. (we detail these all the time)

These items are the same from project to project but come in 2 or 3 variations of thicknesses. So why do we detail these again and again?

Ok, lets look at shear plates and how I can set them up to not be detailed in every project.... potentially save me money.

(Lets face it in Steel Detailing "time is money", especially in a fixed sum/cost projects)

These shear plates are the same shape and pattern with the same hole layout with only the plate thickness that changes (maybe the hole diameter too, but lets keep it simple for now), however we tend to detail them again again and again.

With Advance Steel in the following folder, I have created a dwg with my "Standard" shear plates. These plates are the ones I don't want to detail in the future as I detail them all the time.

C:\ProgramData\Autodesk\Advance Steel 2021\AUS\Shared\StandardPartTemplate

As you can see when I open the dwg there are 4 groups of plates. In each configuration (holes being the same diameter) its only the plate thickness that is the variation. The configuration in the dwg could consist of thickness and hole diameter configurations. The options are limitless, for this example I am keeping it simile.

With a nice neat numbering system for those standard part data of the parts looks a little like this.

Then with some multi part detailing with in Advance Steel, you can come up with some "Standard" drawings that you use for every project so that you will never have to detail those part again.

I personally have done this, believe it or not, back in the late 90s and of course seeing more people doing this today.

The only thing you need to make sure you do, is tick the box for that dwg in that folder, in the numbering dialog box under Standard Part Template Tab.

Take note this works for Single Parts and Assemblies.

Lets see this in action......