A line and a section make a member.
For structural and mechanical engineers. Give any object a profile and it becomes a real member, mitred at the corners, hollow where the section is hollow, with endplates that size themselves and rotate with it. Then take it out through STEP, DXF or glTF — or bring someone else’s in.
Members§3
Sections, tapers, and plates that follow.
The profile library carries 35 sections with properties computed from the shape itself — not transcribed from a catalogue, and said so plainly. Custom profiles go in through the profile editor.
- A profile assigned to an object sweeps it into a member, mitred at corners; start and end profiles for tapers; hollow sections read as hollow.
- Profile library of 35 sections with computed properties, a profile editor and custom profiles.
- Endplates: type, auto-sizing, auto-marking, a dialog for plate size, thickness, offset and mark; rotation follows the member, columns included; labels move on their own grips with a leader.
- Endplate bolt holes are not cut, and a tapered member draws solid — the bore is lost between two different sections. coming
- A parametric plate sketch editor behind the endplate dialog: dimensions, hole points, several plates assembled, bolts, and faces selected to cut the members they attach to. coming
Exchange§7
In and out, without a translator in the middle.
STEP comes in with its assembly tree, part names and units, tessellated for viewing. DXF goes both ways. glTF goes out with normals and PBR materials. Everything saves through a real file dialog to a folder you choose.
- STEP (AP203/AP214) import with assembly tree, part names, units and B-rep tessellation.
- DXF R12 export including 3DFACE, and DXF import; glTF 2.0 export with normals and PBR materials; SVG and PNG export.
- An imported STEP mesh is viewable and exportable, not editable as a native solid, and a 28 MB file stops at the 600,000-triangle budget. coming
- Structural analysis in the app — frame statics, member checks to a code, membrane stress off the force-density solve. coming
- Code checks: the governing codes resolved from the project’s jurisdiction, and each check evaluated as data with a published worked example. coming
Honest limits§2, §3
What it will not do, and why.
There is no general boolean or CSG engine. Holes exist only as straight prisms through extrusions, and anything else refuses with a reason rather than approximating — because a half-working CSG is worse than none, and an honest failure keeps the model trustworthy. Drafting happens in plan; angled work planes would mean moving the drawing plane itself, which is an architectural change and has not been made.
- Holes as straight prisms through extrusions; anything else refuses with a reason.
- Angled work planes. coming
- Sketch planes, and faces of solids as sketch planes. coming
- Dimensions linked to the objects they reference, and properties by formula. coming
Send us the file that breaks it.
A real STEP file or a real frame tells us more than any demonstration. Tell us what you work on.