To make a metal deck in Advance Steel, use the cladding tools and lay the cladding flat. First run Define Cladding Area (Extended Modeling tab) on the plane of the deck, then run Create Claddings on that area and pick the deck profile in the dialog. You can cut openings with Define Cladding Opening, and the deck sheets show up in your material list after numbering.
How do I define the deck area?
Extended Modeling tab > Define Cladding Area.
- Set your UCS so the XY plane is where the deck goes. The area is drawn on the current XY plane.
- Start Define Cladding Area.
- When it asks whether to select supporting beams, type N.
- Pick R (rectangle) or P (polyline). Rectangle is the usual one.
- For a rectangle, pick the start point and the end point.
Drag the blue grips to change the shape of the area:
What if the deck isn’t a rectangle?
Draw a polyline of the outline first. Then start Define Cladding Area, choose P, and select the polyline.
How do I create the metal deck?
Extended Modeling tab > Structural Elements > Create Claddings:
Both tools are also on the Home tab under Extended Modeling:
- Start Create Claddings.
- Click the cladding area you made.
The deck is created and the dialog opens. Set the profile type, orientation and the rest there.
How do I change the direction of the deck?
In the dialog, go to the Cladding General Properties tab and switch between Horizontal and Vertical:
Deck span direction comes from the structural drawings. Match it to what the engineer shows.
How do I make an opening in the deck?
Home > Extended Modeling > Define Cladding Opening:
It’s also on the Extended Modeling tab under Structural Elements:
- Start Define Cladding Opening.
- Pick R for a rectangle (or P for a polyline, which you have to draw first).
- Select the deck area.
- Pick the start point and end point of the opening.
How does the deck show up in the material list?
Run numbering, and the deck sheets are listed with their part numbers and lengths in the material list:
In this example, the two sheets of 1.6F 22 ga are numbered internal 1 and 2. Each is 5′-9 1/4″ long, so 11′-6 1/2″ in total.
What if the deck doesn’t come out right?
- Deck is on the wrong plane or elevation. The area uses the current XY plane. Set the UCS first, or move the area.
- Deck runs the wrong way. Switch Horizontal/Vertical on the Cladding General Properties tab.
- Polyline option asks for an object. Draw the polyline before you start the tool.
- Deck sheets aren’t in the list. Run numbering first.
If you’re looking at hardware or software upgrades, my toolbox page lists the tools I use and any discounts I know of.
