Advance Steel has five ways to place grating: Standard Grating (a library size), Variable Grating, Rectangular (any size, from two corners), Bar Grating, Variable Grating, Polygonal (any outline), and Grating at Polyline (from a closed polyline). They’re on the Home tab > Objects panel and the Objects tab > Grating panel. Openings are cut with the contour tools on the Features tab of the Tool Palette.
Grating shows up a lot on platforms, walkways and stairs, especially in plants and mining work. Below is each grating tool, the six ways to cut openings in it, and the mistakes to avoid.
How do I place a standard grating?
Home tab > Objects panel > Standard Grating, or Objects tab > Grating panel > Standard Grating.
- Start the tool.
- Pick the center point of the grating.
The grating goes in centered on that point, and the dialog opens. Choose the grating Class, then a size from the list below it. The sizes depend on the class. The other tabs (Material, Positioning and so on) work like they do for other Advance Steel objects.
How do I place a grating of any size?
Use Variable Grating, Rectangular (Home tab > Objects panel, or Objects tab > Grating panel).
- Pick the start point (one corner).
- Pick the end point (the opposite corner).
The dialog is like the standard one, plus Grating Length and Width.
How do I place a bar grating?
Use Bar Grating (Home tab > Objects panel, or Objects tab > Grating panel).
- Pick the start point.
- Pick the end point. These set the length.
The grating goes in and the dialog opens with all its settings.
How do I make an odd-shaped grating?
There are two tools, both under the expanded Objects panel (Home tab) or the expanded Grating panel (Objects tab).
Variable Grating, Polygonal. Pick each corner of the outline and press Enter.
Grating at Polyline. Draw a closed polyline first, start the tool, select the polyline and press Enter. The grating takes the polyline’s shape. This is the easiest way when the outline is already drawn, for example traced off the architectural plan.
How do I cut openings in a grating?
The cut tools are on the Features tab of the Advance Steel Tool Palette. There are six.
Rectangular contour, center
- Select the grating near a corner.
- Pick the center of the opening.
The rectangular cut is made and a dialog opens to set its size.
Rectangular contour, 2 points
- Select the grating near a corner.
- Pick two opposite corners of the opening.
The same dialog opens.
Circular contour, center
- Select the grating near a corner.
- Pick the center of the circular opening.
A dialog opens where you set the radius, position and contour offset.
Circular contour, 2 points
Select the grating, then pick the center and a point that sets the size. The same dialog opens.
Polygonal contour
- Select the grating near a corner.
- Pick the corners of the opening, or select an existing closed polyline.
- Press Enter.
Element contour
This cuts the grating around another member, like a column passing through a platform. The cut can follow the member’s exact shape or a box around it (casing). Switch between them on the Objects tab > Switch panel > Cross Section: Exact or Casing.
Exact cut:
- Set Exact cross section on the Switch panel.
- Start Element Contour from the Tool Palette.
- Select the grating, then the member to cut around.
- Adjust the cut in the dialog and close it.
Casing cut: same steps with Casing selected.
What mistakes should I avoid with grating?
- Wrong span direction. Grating carries load along its bearing bars, so they have to span between supports. Check the direction in the model before drawings.
- Picking a size by habit. The grating type and depth come from the drawings or the engineer, based on the span and load.
- Forgetting openings. Columns, pipes and handrail posts all need cuts. Element Contour is the fastest way to cut around members.
- No clearance at cuts. A casing cut leaves room around the member, which is usually easier to install than an exact cut.
If you’re looking at hardware or software upgrades, my toolbox page lists the tools I use and any discounts I know of.
