the individual piece part drawings, collects and displays data, and develops a bill of materials. To
accurately bid a project, these drawings, the bill of materials, and the resulting cost analysis must
not be in error. Speed and accuracy are essential. The following program was developed to aid a
steel bridge fabricator in this process. They now bid on projects with greater speed and
confidence. Why? Because they are bidding based on the actual drawings they will use for
fabrication!
The programming automates the entire task. A dialog box prompts the user for the dimensions and
details necessary to draw the bridge. From this information the program generates a plan view, an
elevation view, all individual piece part drawings, notes, dimensions and a bill of materials (see
pictures 1 and 2 below). In addition the program creates a database holding the information
needed to produce a spreadsheet showing material costs, bridge weight, related labor costs and
overall cost to manufacture (see picture 3 below). This process used to take an experienced
drafter a day or more to complete. The job now takes approximately 10 minutes.
provided by the user (see below).
C) Dimensions and notes are automatically inserted.
D) Appropriate areas of the title block are automatically completed.
E) Information is compiled and saved re: materials and costs.
