CASE STUDY

WHAT IS THE ADVANTAGE OF USING THE STEEL DETAILER?

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

Quadro Design is an experienced design company who have been using SolidWorks for 17 years and have developed libraries and processes that they believe are as effective as you can get ...
This was until TSD arrived.

WHY A CASE STUDY?

The most common question is: What advantage does The Steel Detailer give over using stand alone SolidWorks?

Even some people inside Quadro Design, the producers of The Steel Detailer didn’t quite believe that there was an advantage. They thought that it just improved the steel detailing processes.

The belief was due to some projects taking longer than usual using TSD, but there was no real comparison, just a guess.

So we needed to change the thought process in our own company and better understand the benefits of using The Steel Detailer.

WHAT IS THE CASE STUDY?

We needed to compare the difference on modelling and creating the deliverable drawings on a project using SolidWorks with The Steel Detailer and without The Steel Detailer.

The process to do this is quite simple and is as follows:

  • Quadro Design to choose the fastest two people in the office to take on the case study. One person, Michael Crawford for the Steel Detailer side and Jonathon Brolsma for the SolidWorks side.
  • A project was established with a time frame of 4 hrs.
  • Two computer screens captured by a camcorder.
  • Each 15 minutes, a snap shot image of the model as it progressed from both screens.
  • A PDF snapshot was also to be created at each 15 minute interval.
  • Each person was to complete as much of the work required in the 4 hour time frame.
  • Each person before the event is to supply an estimated process to complete the project.

HOW WAS THE CASE STUDY COMPLETED

wpf11951ba_06The Scene

The two SolidWorks users where placed in a separate uninterruptible environment with two computers side by side. Both has the same specced laptop computers. Two screens linked to each computer were positioned in front of a camcorder to record the 4 hours.

The Project

An existing project was given to each. The existing project was a screening station for a mine site that required a feed to the top of the screen from a conveyor through a chute. Refer Image.

The project comprised of the existing model and the concept model to the rear of it. Jonathan modelled the screening station and already had a good idea of the existing models intent.

Jack de Blank modelled the concept model which comprised of the stair, platform and a basic chute at the rear of the existing screening station. This was to be used as an example only.

Prior to Commencement

Each person created a process of completion and submitted it prior to commencement of the study.

You can view them here:

THE RESULTS

Each 15 minutes a snapshot was taken. The following images show the snapshots at one hour intervals.

Start

start

After one hour

tsd-1-hour

After two hours

tsd-2-hour

After three hours

tsd-3-hour

At four hours

tsd-4-hour

CONCLUSION

It became very obvious that The Steel Detailer model had progressed way in front of the Standard SolidWorks modelling processes from the start.

A further 15 minutes was added to the 4 hours to tidy up and finalise the drawings.

The assessment of work completed is as follows:

swSolidWorks

The basic frame, columns, floor beams where completed along with cleats for bracing, columns and beams as shown in the image to the right. There was only one drawing submitted as shown to the right.

sdThe Steel Detailer

The frame was almost completed. Stairs where added, major bracing, columns, floor beams including cleats, grating, handrailing. An estimation of 80% more modelling had been added to the project than the SolidWorks Model.

The big advantage was the 109 drawings behind the process that The Steel Detailer did.

There was in the following list of drawings submitted

FINAL STATEMENT

p01Quadro Design concluded that The Steel Detailer was at least five times faster and efficient than using SolidWorks alone. It was evident in the 80% more modelling of the project and the additional 108 drawings that TSD had created way before the SolidWorks user had even begin to think about.

COMPLETION

The final completion of the Project was completed by Michael Crawford using The Steel Detailer. It took a further 12 hours to complete the project. A final 150+ drawings including General Arrangement Drawings, Holding Down Bolt Drawings, Purlin and Girt Drawings.

 

The Completed Project took 16 hours in total to produce the deliverables. Now ask yourself, why would you continue using the standard processes when The Steel Detailer is available to increase your processes by five times?

Drawings completed:


p03p02