Engineering Automation
Revolutionising Residential Framing Design with Intrax: A Case Study in Engineering Automation
In collaboration with Intrax, ClearCalcs developed an innovative tool that has transformed the residential framing design process.
This groundbreaking solution automates the calculation of load paths and connections for residential timber frames, reducing manual work and minimising errors through seamless integration between CAD and ClearCalcs.
It enables engineering drafters to input key design elements directly into CAD software, which then integrates with ClearCalcs for a semi-automated calculation process. This reduces the time spent on administrative tasks, allowing engineers to focus more on assessing structural framing options and optimising the design.
This project, developed over two years with significant contributions from the Intrax engineering and drafting teams, represents a major leap forward in engineering automation. The tool’s advanced algorithms automatically detect tributary areas and apply point loads from 2D drawings, ensuring precision and efficiency.
The rigorous quality and beta testing phases demonstrated the tool’s impact, showing a time saving for engineers, an 8% material cost reduction in the frame, and a 15% improvement in quality assurance. Following the success with single-storey designs, the tool was further refined to handle double-storey projects, broadening its application.
Intrax has since leveraged this technology to deliver exceptional value to builders and homeowners, applying it across thousands of residential projects throughout Australia. The cloud-based nature of ClearCalcs has been crucial in enabling Intrax engineers to access the tool from anywhere, ensuring uninterrupted productivity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Intrax’s forward-thinking investment in cloud-first infrastructure, including file management, calculation software, and ERP systems, positioned them to adapt swiftly to the challenges posed by remote work.