I am trying to get a trial version of Bocad Steel and just wanted to see what others thought of the program and how it compared to other 3d modeling programs you have used, like maybe Tekla or SDS/2
A colleauge's personal opinion a couple of years ago: Tekla is superior when set against Bocad.
But maybe that is only one side of the coin, if you have steel/structural and plant/piping done in-house the benefits of having the same 3D model might tip the favour.
I have only used SDS/2 and Tekla so I know how they stack up. I did get a trial version of Bocad to try it out and my first thought is that it is more cumbersome than it needs to be, especially the way you have to edit sizes or even connections.
I've been using bocad for more than 20 years now. With bocad I could complete projects where tekla couldnt move forward. Expecially in very complicate geometries, warped plates, multiple bevelings, unfolindgs and so on.
Bocad has also modules not available in tekla, like the Transmission Tower module, roof&wall for cladding/glazing, timber. Bocad is also more effective in bridges. Generally talking automatic outputs are way better in bocad.
Yes, for mere straight, easy jobs (which are actually most projects), tekla is way superior than bocad. Not cheaper though. Tekla is mode easy to learn, available in cracked versions, chatcy in appereance. You could probably learn it without a training either.
