UK - Precast Concrete Floor Design Plugin/Software

[Anonymous]

Hi All,

First time posting so apologies if I've come to the wrong place!

I work for a precast flooring manufacturer in the UK, designing hollowcore slab and beam & block floors for commercial and residential properties. We currently use a version of a program called FloorCAD from 2009 and suffice to say that it is a painful experience due to crashing, on average, every 2-3 minutes. The program allows us to insert single beams wherever we say, or fill a 'bay' with beams (and blocks) based on the outline that we set. This workflow suits the design process as the layout of the beams will be affected by various different factors including any openings and drainage penetrating through the floor.

I have been asked to look into alternatives for the plugin we are using as it's been deemed time to update and this is where I'm drawing a blank. There is a newer version of FloorCAD available however due to various issues the company have decided to outsource development to different freelance people and as such it doesn't seem like a very polished product.  One of the other options I've come across are FloorOffice (we are using this for hollowcore slab design at the moment) however they are not putting much time into the development of beam and block design and currently it does not do what we need in manually putting beams wherever we want. I have also discovered that Revit may be able to do what we need but I have no experience with the program - the initial idea was to find an AutoCAD or Rhino 3D based plugin.

If anyone can help me or point me in the direction of a piece of software/plugin that sounds like it's right for me please let me know! If anyone wants any more information please just ask.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I see that you are visiting as a new member to the AutoCAD forum. Welcome to the Autodesk Community!

 If you want to focus on add-in type applications, there are a variety available in the Autodesk App Store.

Quite honestly though, I would consider Revit first as it will likely have much greater functionality.  Why don't you download a Trial version to see if it meets your needs or is overkill.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if my post solves your issue or answers your question.

[john.vellek]

Hi @Anonymous,

I am checking back to see if my post helped you with your problem or question. Please mark my post as the solution if it resolved the issue or give me a bit more detail on this issue so we can continue to work towards getting this solved.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if a post or posts solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous]

Hi John,

I'm afraid that there are no apps in the app store that fulfill our requirements and having looked at Revit I'm not sure that it's the right solution due to initial purchase costs and then having to train our designers in how to use it. I appreciate that Revit and AutoCAD are within the same family of programs but I can already hear the complaints about how different they are!

I suppose the main point of my post was to see if anyone knew of 3rd party plugins which help in the design of beam and block floor in the UK.

Kind regards,

Liam