Replies

1. 
   BossHog | Jun 28, 2012 06:47pm | #1

   What are you trying to design?  Beams, truses, entire structures...................???

1. 
   IvanDrew | Jun 28, 2012 11:26pm | #2

   BossHog wrote:

   What are you trying to design?  Beams, truses, entire structures...................???

   mostly truss....sometimes beam and post....so you can say it's entire structure...

1. 
   BossHog | Jun 29, 2012 08:03pm | #3

   I use Mitek for designing trusses.  But I work for a truss manufacturer. If you don't, I can't imagine why you would want to design trusses.

   I don't think Mitek has software to design beams.  If they do I don't have a copy of it and am not aware of it. 

   There's some fairly simple software out there called "Beamcheck" that works with regular lumber, LVL, PSL, and steel beams.  It's worth a look for beams.

   http://www.beamchek.com/

   I've never seen software for designing posts, so I can't help ya there.

1. 
   IvanDrew | Jul 01, 2012 12:03am | #4

   well...I'm from China...wood frame is a fast growing industry here...a lot of  wood frame projects are going on in this country...but it's not that advanced as your country...when we design...we have to do it all...unlike you guys have truss manufacturers...we dont....we have to design the whole structure....

   1. i've already sent an e-mail to Mitek office in Canada cause they dont have a branch office here...i wonder if we can purchase Mitek software in China...so you're telling me Mitek can only design truss??? well...i think it'll work for me cause i can caculate most of the posts and beams by hand...truss is the hard part...so i'm gonna need some software's help...

   2.about Woodexpress... i've already downloaded  a demo version of this software...using it now....it's from Europe...fits most of my needs...beam...post....truss design...but they dont have a scissor truss...and it's based on Europe Code...but i think it's okay...because there's no wood frame software based on China Code yet...http://www.runet-software.com/WOODexpress.htm

   3.about woodworks...i also downloaded a demo version too...it's kinda hard for me to use it...but it's cheaper than Woodexpress..http://www.cwc.ca/index.php/en/mainmenuwoodworkssoftware

   to sum it up...i probably would choose Woodexpress...and in that e-mail i sent to Mitek...i also asked about the price of Mitek...if they have a reasonable price and i have enough budget...i probably would purchase this software too...you wouldnt happen to know the price,do you??

   anyway...thank you for your help....appreciate....

1. 
   BossHog | Jul 01, 2012 06:47am | #5

   That explains a lot. I can see why you would want the software.

   I have no idea what Mitek would tell ya.  In the US when you buy your truss plates from a company they provide the software for free.  So I cna't tell you the cost.

   What kind of lumber are you using? Do you have truss plates, or do you use plywood gussets?

   I'm sure there are many people here who would be interested in hearing about construction in China if you'd like to talk about it.

2. 
   IvanDrew | Jul 01, 2012 11:55pm | #6

   well...all the lumber we're using on wood frame houses are from Canada and United States....dimension lumber,glulam,LVL,OSB,Plywood...

   we do have truss plates...but most of them are custom made in local factory....

   90% of resident houses are concrete structure in this country...but more and more peopel begin to realize wood frame is a better choice...some of them had been to North America before and they know wood frame houses are more comfortable to live in.....wood frame become ever more popular right after Sichuang earthquake in 2008...and the government encourage wood frame because of energy saving...an organization which is owned by the government of British Colombia in Canada has opened an office in Shanghai China...they've been training people who work in this industry for couple years...

   in a word...wood frame market's growing very fast here.....