Digital Trends in Steel Fabrication: BIM
The use and capabilities of 3D BIM models evolved rapidly through these 2 decades, 3D models began to include information that could be used to drive fabrication machines in the shop and produce automated drawings and reports. Some structural steel fabricators were quick to realize these early benefits of BIM.
Fabricators have created highly detailed and intelligent 3D BIM models to produce shop drawings, generate reports such as, bills of material and extract CNC data to drive machines in the shop, aiming to eliminate common errors.
Digital fabrication is one such technology developed through the application of BIM and virtual design and construction (VDC) methods in the construction industry.
Digital Fabrication is a process that uses digitized information to facilitate the structural steel fabrication that is intended to be produced by utilizing digital BIM tools. it assists in ensuring that the downstream phase of fabrication has minimum ambiguities and enough information to fabricate with minimal waste.
With a data Rich 3D BIM Model, structural steel fabricators have an opportunity to add even more value to the project by combining the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection and other models with the structural steel model. Building the project virtually makes it easy to identify clashes and find design mistakes and oversights. These problems can be corrected in the model, which is a huge benefit over discovering them on the job site, where correction is always costly in terms of time, money and waste.
Another benefit of using BIM for structural steel fabricators is the integration between the model and steel management system for material and cost management.
As the use of BIM evolves in the structural steel fabrication industry, the need for shop floor drawings will decrease as shops become more CNC-based and as the adoption of robotic welding and fitting automates more work processes. Instead of having people running the fabrication machines on the shop floor, fabricators will rely more on an automated data feed from BIM. Moreover, as people begin to trust the data coming from the model, they will become less dependent on shop drawings. Some fabricators have already eliminated paper drawings from the shop floor. Instead, they rely on CNC data completely or reference digital drawings saved in the PDF format on tablet computers as necessary.
Project management tools allow fabricators to schedule, record (via bar code or RFID) and visualize a project’s progress, such as, which assemblies are on the shop floor and which are already on their way to the job site.
Key benefits of BIM based digital fabrication
- Maximize machine usage with trusted data
- Increase profitability by using your resources efficiently & keep your operations flexible
- Take advantage of innovation and industry development to turn bids around faster without compromising accuracy and secure the most profitable projects
- Better production planning from detailed model data
- Quickly compare costs and run connection optimization to save on materials and labor
- Minimize errors
Based on this advantage, BIM-based digital fabrication technology is a key value addition starting from the procurement phase to the fabrication in the shop and also allows for real time clash detection making the construction phase more efficient by eliminating as many uncertainties as possible before starting erection.
How Qubatic can help
With the power of intelligent steel detailing tools like SDS2, Revit & Tekla Structures at our fingertips, Qubatic can provide you with information rich 3D BIM model along with seamless BIM integrations to enhance your workflows from estimating to fabrication and delivery.
Our Bim based Steel Detailing includes:
- Detailed models with speed and confidence: Qubatic can detail projects with confidence regardless of their size or complexity. Automatic parametric tools offer everything to deliver complete information for fabrication and construction. We are able to utilize pre-configured components created by leading industry suppliers from the Tekla & SDS2 warehouse.
- Create documentation and manage revisions automatically: We generate all required fabrication-ready drawings with a single click, along with automatic revision management, your fabrication and erection drawings are always up-to-date. Flexible reporting means easy generation of bills of materials, schedules and other reports.
- Work faster with fewer errors: Reduce manual steps and eliminate errors with accurate production data that drives workshop CNC machinery. Streamline your work by interfacing with leading software for fabrication management (MIS, MRP) and more for best results.
- Streamline collaboration across teams: Take advantage of collaborative workflows and smooth communication, regardless of team size or location. Models, documentation, and progress can be shared with all project partners.