Structural Steel Design and Detailing in Autodesk Inventor

[Anonymous]

We use Autodesk Inventor (Product Design Suite) to design our products. Our products are pretty big and have to anchored and supported on side with structural steel. We have been designing the layout of our product on Autodesk Inventor but have not been modeling the structual steel in it.

The reason is that Autodesk Inventor did not seem very friendly with steel design and detailing for fabrication at all. However, we definitely would like to model everything (our product and the steel) as a main layout in Autodesk Inventor. From this complete layout, we would like to create fabrication prints for the steel as well. Does autodesk have a package that would help us accomplish what we want to do?

[cbenner]

Hi,

Are you using Frame Generator for your steel work?

Inventor does not have anything specific for Structural layout and detailing, though I think you could do it with FG, and possibly export the drawings to Autocad for detailing?  The other possibility would be to design the products in Inventor, and look into Plant 3D for the structural side.  The product models can be exported to Plant 3d (I'm not familiar with the procedures).  I might suggest posting a similar question  on the Plant 3D forum and get some opinions from users there as to whether it would be a good move for you.

[Anonymous]

I have tried using Frame Generator. It is okay for steel design but still does not help you in steel detailing.

What does FG stand for? Could you make me clear on the capabilities Plant 3D has? I will try posting a question there.

[DarrenP]

autocad structural detailing may also do what you want

http://www.autodesk.com/products/autocad-structural-detailing/overview

your going to have to post your questions about this product in the product forum

http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/AutoCAD-Structural-Detailing/bd-p/346

[dgorsman · Accepted solution]

Plant 3D only has basic layout abilities.  If Inventor doesn't do it for you, Plant 3D certainly won't (it assumes you will be using something else for detailed structural design).  For dedicated structural steel design tools, you will likely be looking at one of the Revit or MEP packages.  Of course, as you get further into tools for dedicated design work, the more difficult it will be to communicate between the different programs.

[jeanchile]

We use IV for all of our steel detailing needs but we're not doing large "stick-framed" structures just platforms, vessels, platework, etc. Most of our steel details are for small structures around our equipment or piping.

I'm out of town and on my phone so I can't elaborate but if you put in the time creating the content and customizations, IV can be an effective tool. It is certainly not the answer for everyone and the connection solutions we have are not as intuitive as other programs but we were tired of using 7 different programs for what we do and found a way to get it down to two. If you do a search for all my posts you'll likely find a bunch of information about the way we do it and what types of work is most efficien for ust.

Good luck!

[jeanchile]

I also forgot to add that although we have been able to make it work, not all of the detail drawings are 100% AISC/NISD compliant, but our fabricators have been flexible in us getting them something that works well for them even if it's not exactly what they are used to.

[Anonymous]

When you say IV what does it mean? Is it "Autodesk IV"? Because I could not find such package online.

[DarrenP]

IV is Inventor

[Anonymous]

It would be incredible useful to have structural detailing build in to frame generator. Please Autodesk, make this feature for the 2015 Inventor upgrade!!!

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:
 Please Autodesk, make this feature for the 2015 Inventor upgrade!!!

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By this time 2015 is probably well into Beta (functionality set and in testing).  If it isn't in there now, you should be posting this to the idea station.

http://beta.autodesk.com

 http://forums.autodesk.com/t5/Inventor-IdeaStation/idb-p/v1232

[Anonymous]

for best Best WorkFlow for steel you got three steps, revit structure>Analyis in Robot Structure Analysis >Autocad Structure Detailing for Advanced Detailing, you ll had best Results

[cadman777]

Jean,

Would you kindly send me links to the customizations you use?
I need to learn how to do this.

My Inventor is 2010Suite.

Thanks ...

[jeanchile]

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@cadman777 wrote:

Jean,

Would you kindly send me links to the customizations you use?

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I would love to send you the links to the stuff we use but there are no links. What I mean is that all of the customizations we have developed for this (iFeatures, iParts, iAssemblies, Custom CC Profiles, iLogic programming, etc.) are all things we have developed ourselves and I am not able to give out. I can certainly point you to some of my replies to others about this that point out the general process, but we've spent 5 years and a whole bunch of money developing what we need and I am forbidden from giving it out. I am happy to help you along the way if you are interested in developing this stuff yourself but the links below should give you some idea of what we have done.

Good Luck!

Overall Process

How to Handle Structural Bracing

Example of One of the Largest Structures We've Done

[doug.steelcraft]

12 years later. Their answer, NO. 
BIM is hard; whatever you use, if you do multiple disciplines you'll be using multiple softwares. 

[CGBenner]

@doug.steelcraft  Hello!

In the 11 years since I first responded to this post (as a customer), I used Frame Generator a lot.  It is very good for industrial machine frames, mezzanines and platforms.... things like that.  It is not great for complete structural steel work, for example a full building design.  You might take a look at Autodesk Advance Steel.  I have not used this, so I do not know if it will do what you need.  This product also has its own forum HERE.  Take a look, and good luck!

[CGBenner]

@doug.steelcraft Hello, do you still need help with this question?