# Structural Steel Detailing

**URL:** <https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/structural-steel-detailing/31224>\
**Category:** Modeling Questions\
**Created:** [April 10, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/structural-steel-detailing/31224 "2024-04-10T17:06:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![DylanB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@DylanB](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/DylanB)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 5:06pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/structural-steel-detailing/31224/1 "2024-04-10T17:06:19Z")

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Hi,

New to the community. I have come from Sketch Up and Fusion.

Really love the GUI and the flow and feel of Shapr and I am excited for my new CAD journey.

I have a small one man metal fabrication business. I draw and fabricate structural steel and other items like stairs and balustrades for houses in Australia.

I am after some advice on a work flow that I should work towards in Shapr.

See below my current job.

[Sketch up model of current job](https://app.sketchup.com/share/tc/northAmerica/y-7GOfPNjvE?stoken=JiFDCb6l-Y0mNnRrjCFk0LTw2ng1fVZo72WLuTcKKHsnNMLNAyPzgBzjXW2qr8XG&source=web)

As you can see I draw a lot of repetitive elements but they do change a little bit here and there. Every job is different but the steel profiles are always similar.

Should I create a “3D library” of steel beams and columns and pull them in to shapr?

Am I best drawing everything from scratch on each job?

My workflow at the minute is to import a DXF plan from the architect and build a model on top of that.

I also need to export the base plates and cleat faces for laser cutting, what is the best way to go about this, do I make a copy of each one and creat a drawing and export the dxf?

I have seen some people on the forums talk about projecting a sketch. In fusion you can right click on a sketch export it pretty easily.

Would love to hear from some one doing similar work, or exporting to laser cutting to get steel cut and folded etc.

Cheers

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**Author:** ![HarrisonDavies](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex002/user_avatar/discourse.shapr3d.com/harrisondavies/32/24464_2.png) [@HarrisonDavies](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/HarrisonDavies)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2024, 8:46pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/structural-steel-detailing/31224/2 "2024-04-10T20:46:53Z")

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Hi Dylan, welcome to the fold. I’m new too and am hoping to be able to export sketches at some point. I have created a number of elements and reuse them over and over, particularly door knobs. I’ve never had a problem with this, but other than that, my advice is limited.

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**Author:** ![DylanB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@DylanB](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/u/DylanB)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2024, 4:13pm UTC](https://discourse.shapr3d.com/t/structural-steel-detailing/31224/3 "2024-04-11T16:13:41Z")

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Nice to meet you Harrison. I’ll keep learning the software, sounds promising.

Cheers