Introduction and Design Steps

 

PanelsPlus is a stand-alone windows application, and works in conjunction with AutoCAD or any other drafting software. It can be used for lifting design, drafting of shop drawings, and product planning of pre-fabricated and tilt-up concrete panels.

** IN THE PRESS - CONCRETE INTERNATIONAL, September 2007

** IN THE PRESS - ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA, May 2006

The link with AutoCAD is via DXF or DWG files. PanelsPlus does not require AutoCAD to operate, but it is only using DXF and DWG files produced in AutoCAD, and it is exporting DXF file, which will be opened in AutoCAD for further refinement.

 

PanelsPlus software can be use by draftsmen to produce the shop drawings, or it can be used by an engineer for lifting design, or it can be used by a panel factory for quantity estimate and production planning. The most efficient usage is if all parties involved in a panels design and production project share information and communicate using PanelsPlus data files.

Face Lifting

How Does it Work?

Step 1:  Prepare all panels in AutoCAD, and save the file in DXF or DWG format

Step 2:  Import the panels into PanelsPlus software, grouped in walls (elevations). (Once the panels have been imported, the mass centroid, area, volume and weight is automatically calculated for each panel)

Step 3:  Import features and components such as: ferrules, recess areas, cast-in plates etc

Step 4:  Auto-define lifting points and props: face or edge lifters.

Step 5:  Check lifting and wind stresses.

Step 6:  Generate Auto dimensions,

Step 7:  Export to AutoCAD via DXF file (almost final shop drawing with dimensions).

 

3D view

From Start,

 

to End.