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#1 Michael Hand

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 06:23 AM

Since StruCalc is now Vitrus I am not certain I want to use them. The demo does not have the same feel as strucalc and I am not a fan of forcing a lease on most things, with the exception of softplan plus, for a number of reasons

I am curious what others use that can perform the same as what strucalc was, use of flitch plates , varius spans, loads and point loads


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#2 Philip Frank

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 07:21 AM

https://www.beamchek.com/

 I've been using this for over 15 years.


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#3 Harlon Suttle

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 07:54 AM

I concur....Beamcheck is what I use for prelim analysis.....anything out of the norm is sent to a Structural Engineer....

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#4 Michael Hand

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 08:20 AM

does beam check use steel, handle point loads and calculate for deflection, shear, moment with typ beams, rafters, ridges, etc and also footings?



#5 David Zawadzki

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 08:54 AM

What is the difference between Beamcheck for $149 and Forte Web from Weyerhouser or BC Calc from Boise Cascade for $0?

 

https://www.weyerhae...forte-software/

 

https://www.bc.com/m...-calc-software/

 

Can we get this for SoftPlan?

 

OPEN FILE EXCHANGE Send members to Forte for analysis from your software

We provide the Forte File Format Utility to software developers looking to enhance their software so it exports floor, wall, and roof members to the Forte application for analysis. This allows your customers to skip remodeling spans, supports, and loads in Forte and instead send these calculations to Forte with all the necessary information pre-populated.

Learn more about this interactive guide for software developers wanting to transfer information into Forte files from their own software applications.

 

Does anyone export to Javelin for their strucural analysis?  How does that work for you?


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#6 Dennis Hilborn

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 09:03 AM

Are you guys licensed for struct?  I'm not and in Texas if I specify anything that is not spelled out in the building code I can be popped by the TDLR for practicing engineering.  I can't even call myself "Architectural" draftsman, designer or anything using any form of the "A" word or stand the chance to be fined $1500 per sheet.



#7 Gary McKeon

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 09:26 AM

The Weyerhauser and BC software is only good for their products. Sometimes that's OK and sometimes not. They also do not take into everything into account. StruCalc is still going to be good to use for a while- quite a while actually but I totally agree Michael- it does not feel or work in the same way. Don't like it either myself.

 

Dennis, in some areas of the country it is allowed to use these types of programs to size different things such as headers, beams, columns and footings. A lot of these items are considered to be "prescriptive" and so fall within the building codes and an engineer is not required- for gravity loads mostly. Other areas of the country you can't do anything. In my case I primarily do the calculations to know that a certain size or type of beam will work with what I am trying to achieve. I do a lot of "eccentric" loading so I really do have to know what will work. Once I know what I can do then the plans go to an engineer and he does all the paperwork and calc's and signs them. So basically I do the preliminary and he does the final (and takes the liability). Works good for me!


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#8 Steve and Carla Farnam

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 11:43 AM

Dennis, We use Strucalc for our own information when designing a building. We want a close idea on the framing member sizing

so our designs work with floor heights, stair headroom if a supporting member crosses a stairway etc. We will defer to a structural engineer

when needed for plan submittal in a zoned area otherwise we leave all structural aspects up to the builder ,which is noted on our plans.

We do not call out any engineering by us.


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#9 Michael Hand

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 11:59 AM

so far I have seen no actual strucalc comparison. As for farming to an engineer... well, my firm certifies our plans and have to calculate our loads as a result. We don't do span charts and avoid "free" for various reasons. Seems that there are lack of options for this.

Worth a shot though



#10 Gary McKeon

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 02:32 PM

That was the beauty of StruCalc- it really filled a need. Beamcheck is good as far as it goes. I'm not aware of another legitimate option to StruCalc. Bummer



#11 Steven Wohlgemuth

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 05:15 PM

I have looked for Strucalc But Its gone! Just the new subscription version available!



#12 Gary McKeon

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Posted 12 March 2019 - 07:20 PM

I have looked for Strucalc But Its gone! Just the new subscription version available!

 

No. It's not gone. Just changed. A different company bought them out and is changing it to their liking. The "older" versions are no longer available that I know of.  http://www.strucalc.com/

 

I think you might be stuck adapting to their new interface Michael Hand. Might not be as bad as feared but I also hear you regarding the subscription based model. Not liking that either.



#13 Joseph Smith

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Posted 14 March 2019 - 09:29 AM

I have looked for Strucalc But Its gone! Just the new subscription version available!

 

I still have it and kept a final copy of normal StruCalc which i believe is 10.0.1.6.  Its unlocked so i can continue use my license indefinitely and reinstall as needed...I Wont be upgrading to that Vitrus crap they have now....way overpriced.  Its just an amazing piece of software, and versatile...can create custom beams if i know the design values.  It was perfect graphically and structurally, very unfortunate they sold out.


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#14 Steve and Carla Farnam

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Posted 14 March 2019 - 10:47 AM

Like Joseph we have used Strucalc for quite some time and have V10.0.1.6 installed and will be able to continue.

Just reaffirm this with Strucalc Tech Support per email shown.

 

 

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#15 Joseph Smith

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Posted 14 March 2019 - 01:29 PM

Like Joseph we have used Strucalc for quite some time and have V10.0.1.6 installed and will be able to continue.

Just reaffirm this with Strucalc Tech Support per email shown.

 

Keep your install file.  I have a feeling we'll be using it for a long time.


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#16 Steve and Carla Farnam

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Posted 14 March 2019 - 04:15 PM

Will do Joseph, we have all the Strucalc installations back to V8 in a holding pattern!



#17 Gary McKeon

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Posted 14 March 2019 - 10:20 PM

Will do Joseph, we have all the Strucalc installations back to V8 in a holding pattern!

 

I still have version 6 if you need it.  B)



#18 Brian Berzinskis

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Posted 22 March 2019 - 01:25 PM

We used to use BeamChek exclusively. We have since switched over to Forte for sizing of all TrusJoist products. I have been in communication on multiple occasions with both SoftPlan and TrusJoist about the Javelin Exchange File export that is currently in SoftPlan 2018. I could never seem to get it to work with exporting the beam design information from SoftPlan regarding spans into Forte. Because populating the list with the information is the most time consuming part of the job for us. I have never come to any resolve getting the file over from SoftPlan to either Forte which is their free software or Javelin which is their paid software. So for the time being I had given up. Also I have been in touch with TrusJoist and they are considering adding at least flitch beams into their software as they are typically made with microllams around the steel. But that is still yet to come. I would love to discuss what people are using and if there are any structural design solutions that take into consideration the 3d modeling that we are creating in SoftPlan for tracing loads from the roof down to the footings. Because right now with Forte I am doing all the inputting and linking of loads manually. It would be nice to see something that could use the modeled information and bring it to the structural design side.

 

As a side note we size all of the structure in our residential projects and would rarely need a structural engineer involved unless it is a commercial project. So in New Jersey as an architect we are allowed to do all of that.


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#19 Kevin Rabenaldt

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Posted 22 March 2019 - 01:50 PM

So much depends on the city (same state).  One city requires a structural engineer on everything even when the code book covers the application.  Another city requires us to spec all beams and provide a complete framing plan including where the joist require hangers or nailed connections, but do not require a structural engineer.  If they think a beam or joist is over spanned, they reject the plan and just say it does not meet span requirements but they won't tell you what size to spec.



#20 Joseph Smith

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Posted 23 March 2019 - 12:40 PM

Forte is great........however is specific to TrusJoist product line and limited lumber species.  Don't believe it'll do:  treated lumbers, steel beam designs, rafters, column design, footings, hip/valley beams, lateral wall design and best of all....custom beams with editable design values (create your own beams/joists to match, GP, Weyerhaeuser, Rosburg and others if necessary.

 

StruCalc was the 'cats ass' in a beam design platform for the residential design industry......really sucks they sold out to Vitruvius for an overpriced monthly fee.


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