Clip angle connections, gusset plates, and complete bolt sets, OH MY!

When it comes to the specialized world of steel design and fabrication, having the right CAD steelwork solution at your disposal can make all the difference. For SOLIDWORKS users, two powerful options stand out: SolidSteel parametric, developed by Klietsch, and SOLIDWORKS Weldments. While both are designed to streamline the design process for steel structures, each has its own strengths and ideal use cases. In this blog, we’ll dive deep into the features, capabilities, and benefits of both SolidSteel and Weldments to help you determine which tool is the best fit for your projects.

 

Overview of SOLIDWORKS Weldments

Weldments is a widely used tool within the SOLIDWORKS environment, specifically tailored for designing welded structures. It simplifies the creation of complex structures by providing libraries of standard structural members, easy-to-use trimming tools, and built-in functionality for adding welds.

 

Key Features

• Structural Member Library: Predefined profiles for beams, pipes, tubes, and more, which can be easily inserted into your design.
• Weld Beads and Weld Gaps: Automatically add weld beads and define weld gaps between parts, making it easy to visualize and document welding operations.
• Trim/Extend Tools: Quickly trim or extend structural members to create clean intersections and joints.
• Cut Lists: Automatically generated lists of cut lengths and material quantities, which are crucial for fabrication.
• Gusset and End Cap Creation: Simplifies the addition of gussets and end caps to reinforce structural designs.

 

Overview of SolidSteel Parametric by Klietsch

SolidSteel is an advanced steel design solution that integrates seamlessly with SOLIDWORKS, offering a more specialized set of tools for steel construction. It is ideal for designers who require a high level of precision and automation in creating complex steel structures, especially in industries such as construction, plant engineering, and mechanical engineering. With its parametric capabilities, SolidSteel allows for efficient and accurate structural steel design, including a preview function for placing profiles, making it a valuable tool for any project, including classic steelwork, plant design, and mechanical engineering. Additionally, not only is there a SolidSteel compatible with SOLIDWORKS, but it is also compatible with Autodesk Inventor and several other popular CAD systems, providing even more options for designers and engineers, including those who prefer to use a native inventor software. SolidSteel also offers essential manufacturing information, such as NC data in DSTV Format, for seamless communication with manufacturing machines through its NC data module, making it a comprehensive solution for all stages of the design and manufacturing process.

 

Key Features

• Parametric Design: Fully parametric modeling ensures that any changes made to the design are automatically reflected across all associated components.
• Advanced Connection Management: Predefined connections for bolts, screws, and welds allow for quick and accurate assembly of steel components.
• Automated Assembly Creation: Automatically generates detailed assemblies from the 3D model, complete with accurate BOMs (Bill of Materials).
• Advanced Steel Profiles: A comprehensive library of steel profiles, including custom profiles, ensures that you have the exact components needed for any project.
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Integration: Direct integration with SOLIDWORKS Simulation enables stress analysis on steel structures within the same environment.
• Detailed Manufacturing Drawings: Automatically generates detailed 2D drawings with all necessary views, dimensions, and annotations for manufacturing.
• -PDM & PLM Integration: Ensures seamless collaboration and data management throughout the design process, streamlining workflows and enhancing teamwork efficiency.

 

Detailed Comparison: SolidSteel Parametric vs. SOLIDWORKS Weldments for CAD

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s compare the two tools across several key areas:

 

1. Ease of Use

SOLIDWORKS Weldments: Weldments is highly intuitive, particularly for users already familiar with SOLIDWORKS. Its interface is straightforward, and the tool is integrated directly into the core SOLIDWORKS experience.

SolidSteel parametric: While user-friendly, it is more complex due to its advanced features. However, this complexity is balanced by the level of automation it offers, making it easier to manage large and intricate steel projects.

Winner: SOLIDWORKS Weldments (for simplicity) and SolidSteel parametric (for managing complexity).

 

2. Design Flexibility

SOLIDWORKS Weldments: Offers a solid range of design tools for creating and modifying welded structures. However, it is somewhat limited when it comes to handling entire assemblies and parametric changes.

SolidSteel parametric: Shines in its ability to handle complex designs and parametric changes. The tool’s advanced connection management and automation features allow for greater flexibility in design and modification.

Winner: SolidSteel parametric

3. Automation and Efficiency

SOLIDWORKS Weldments: Efficient for basic to moderately complex designs. The automatic generation of cut lists and weld beads saves time, but there is a need for manual adjustments when dealing with intricate designs.

SolidSteel parametric: Designed for maximum efficiency, especially in large projects. The tool automates much of the assembly creation process and adjusts all related components automatically when changes are made.

Winner: SolidSteel parametric

4. Industry Application

SOLIDWORKS Weldments: Best suited for small to medium-scale projects in industries like architecture, furniture design, and general construction. It is ideal for users who need to create structural frameworks and simple welded assemblies.

SolidSteel parametric: Tailored for large-scale projects in industries such as plant engineering, mechanical engineering, and construction. It excels in environments where precise and complex steel structures are required.

Winner: SolidSteel parametric (for large-scale projects) and SOLIDWORKS Weldments (for small to medium-scale projects).

5. Integration with Other Tools

SOLIDWORKS Weldments: Integrates smoothly with the wider SOLIDWORKS ecosystem, including PDM (Product Data Management) and Simulation, but has limited built-in FEA capabilities.

SolidSteel parametric: Also integrates well with your familiar CAD user interface and includes built-in FEA capabilities, making it easier to perform stress analysis and other simulations without leaving the platform.

Winner: SolidSteel parametric

6. Cost

SOLIDWORKS Weldments: Comes as a standard feature within the software package, making it more accessible to users with a SOLIDWORKS license.

SolidSteel parametric: Requires a separate license, which can be a significant investment, particularly for smaller companies. However, the cost is justified by the enhanced features and efficiency gains.

Winner: SOLIDWORKS Weldments (for cost-conscious users).

When to Choose SOLIDWORKS Weldments

Weldments is the go-to choice for CAD designers working on small to medium-scale projects that require standard welded structures. It’s perfect for industries where the focus is on speed and simplicity, without the need for advanced capabilities. If you’re working on a project that involves basic framework design, such as creating furniture, simple construction projects, or general fabrication, Weldments provides all the tools you need to get the job done efficiently.

 

When to Choose SolidSteel Parametric

With over 500 different connections available from libraries like DAST and tools such as the Assembly Manager, SolidSteel excels in handling complex assemblies, entire process chains, and parametric designs. It also integrates seamlessly with FEA tools for stress analysis, making it the superior choice for projects requiring intelligent connection selection.

 

What industries can benefit the most from using SolidSteel parametric?

Industries such as plant engineering, mechanical engineering, and construction benefit greatly from its advanced features and automation. With its powerful modeling capabilities, SolidSteel parametric enables the precise and efficient design of steel structures, making it especially valuable for projects where accuracy and customization are essential.