ASD to Robot connection export

[takacs.levente]

Hi!

Is someone managed to export a steel model made in ASD to Robot WITH CONNECTIONS?
I can export the model but the connections wont go through. I can send it from Robot to ASD, but it would be great to design the connection in Robot export it to ASD, run collision detection to see if it can be constructed make the necessary changes then send it back to Verify the connection with the changed geometry until everything is OK!

[m20roxxers]

You can send and analyze a connection, as well as send it back to the ASD model. However you can't send all connections. I could not see a purpose for trying to analyze a structure with all the connections simultaniously as I doubt you would go to that specific a detail unless it was a very large or complex connection system, which would require something special or probably just hand calcs.

[takacs.levente]

I have tried to send only one connection from ASD to Robot without success. Maybe im missing something, can you write down a step by step? Im using ASD 2011 and Robot 2011 Pro.

As for the purpose: Im working as an Autodesk software reseller and structural software consultant. The whole idea behind using Revit Structure Suite and Robot is applying BIM to structural engineering (at least autodesks every second word is BIM). For me an ideal BIM workflow would be this: Fastly create my model in Revit Structure export it to Robot analyze it and make changes needed then export it to ASD where i can create shop drawings and etc. As i mentioned in my earlier post lets say that i run the collision detection in ASD and find that some of my bolts are colliding and could not be placed in real life. Of course i modify them to suite the needs but then i have to send it back to Robot to reanalyze the modified connections and here comes the problem. I cant.
Maybe i can live with that i can only send back one connection but for me it is far from logical.
Just see a simple steel frame. Even if my connections are symmetrical i have to check 3 types of connections (column base, end plate appex, beam/coloumn flange) that means 3 sends back and forth instead of sending all of them once. Robot can send all created connections to ASD so why would ASD send only one to Robot?
Anyways thanks for the answere and a step by step would be greatly appriciated!

[m20roxxers]

The main reason would be no engineer would want them all in there, 95% of connections usually are built off load calcs and then local Standards to resist those loads & torsion which usually point to a number of sources, specs, experience and manufacturers with the correct detail. Analysis usually only occurs on the really crazy stuff (bridges, massive spans/loads etc), as well fabric structural connections

It also depends on what analysis you are trying to do in the first place. Vertical, Horizontal, Time, seismic, wind, Live & Dead static loads.

You don't just do all this at once you do them at different times depending on the current status of the project and the area's determined by the engineer to need fine tuning.

As for detailling the connection you should just be able to select a created connection in ASD, then select export to robot. This should open up the connection analysis tool and allow you to perform tests required and if there are changes to the connection you can send those back to ASD.