IC3D has today introduced the latest version of its steel structural design and management software, IC3D Steel™ for SolidWorks®.
Distributed locally by Australia and New Zealand’s leading SolidWorks partner, Intercad, IC3D Steel 2.0 introduces a raft of features centred on improving project flow and management, and simplifying organisational tasks like notating bolt lists and depicting virtual bolts in a design.
“IC3D Steel was first conceived as a dedicated steel design tool for SolidWorks. We built upon SolidWorks’ parametric modeller and its core Weldments Design function, to build a ‘structural workflow’ application that is perfect for building and detailing with steel. Our aim is to make the design process quicker, simpler and error-free,” says IC3D Software and Consulting Services Manager Mike Gilliland.
“Following extensive feedback from our customers and user groups, we’ve now further refined the software with additional functionality that makes it easier for designers and design teams to manage their projects within a specified workflow, and given them additional tools to simplify organisation within projects.”
In IC3D Steel 2.0, projects are organised individually, all relevant files are associated automatically, and files are stored logically for easy retrieval, backup or archiving. Important project meta-data such a customer’s details, project number and document-numbering scheme can be configured at project setup. IC3D Steel uses this data whenever it creates or updates a document in the project; meaning drawings can be consistently labelled for additional security.
“Other new features address the complexity inherent in steel fabrication projects,” says Gilliland.
“For example, with steel designs generating up to ten times as many bolts, nuts and washers as steel members, the usual performance of SolidWorks can become compromised as assemblies become very large,” he explains.
“IC3D Steel 2.0 features ‘virtual bolts’ in each of its joint details to manage the problem, so work is unaffected no matter how many bolts are used in the design. A new ‘Bolt List’ report generates a complete list of these fasteners for ordering, and this can be broken down into individual joints or summarised for the whole project.”
Gilliland says the new features don’t come at the cost of steepening the learning curve.
“SolidWorks already has the best user interface in the business and IC3D Steel builds on its core functions to effectively shorten the learning curve. Existing features such as the included Steel Tutor and Steel Wheel provide a readily available learning resource and mode switching environment without disrupting the design process.”
