Chris, Roy, and Scooter.

  My question has basically been answered.

  I am not sure I am ready to work at home yet, but I appreciate the
information.
In looking in to these tools, I believe they will be very useful, if not
essential. 

  My question did get me to thinking though, about others in the world who might
be approaching an age when they should be able to retire. Even with the economy
the way it is, we are very lucky to live where we do.
  I'll bet there are many people in the world who are concerned with more
important life choices than what software they might need. Like staying alive
for one.

  Thanks and a good 2009 to you and all.

Bill Nettles

 




________________________________
From: Chris Bell <belldraft@...>
To: Bill Nettles <billditsteel@...>; Steel Detail
<steel-detail@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 9:49:17 PM
Subject: RE: Steel-Detail: IF....


Bill,
 
You might want to look into getting DRCauto's LT Tool Kit and SSDCP.
 
This would give you a very powerful set of tools for doing all kinds of
miscellaneous as well as any of the beams and columns that may be associated in
any projects that you get.
 
Some of the things that you describe are fairly specialized and you probably
will not find tools to do them fully, but you should be able to get a fair
amount of assistance even for these items from the vast tool assortment in
SSDCP. If you get it, take time to got through the entire menu and play with
each of the programs to see it's capabilities, I have found that many times you
can get a lot more out of a tool than is implied in it's basic intent.
 
If you get the LT Tool Kit you will also be able to run lisp applications, and
you may find a lot of useful ones online. I'm attaching one called stl.lsp that
is a very useful tool for generating cross sections, plan and elevation views of
most steel members as well as some bent plates. This is a pretty handy tool if
you don't have any thing else, it is lisp and will need the tool kit. (You'll be
the only one to get it, as the list will strip it, but it is available on
Steel-Link, and should work with most releases, I've used it with most releases
from 2000 through 2009.)
 
You might also want to look into getting a tiff file editing program similar to
the old "Windows Imaging" if you don't have an older computer with it available.
This will allow you to edit scanned drawings, which can save you tons of time.
If you want to pursue this further and need more information, let me know and I
can send you some more information.
 
How soon you doing it? I'm getting jealous.
 
Good luck and keep us posted.

Chris Bell

----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Nettles
To: Steel Detail
Sent: 1/2/2009 1:29:27 PM
Subject: Steel-Detail: IF....
- you are retiring after 26 years working for a steel fabricator.
- you need to supplement your income, as many of us boomers will have to do in
later years.
- most of the stuff you have worked on has nothing to do with beams, columns, or
connection design.
- you have worked on cranes, girders, bridges, trusses, spans, rails,
stairs, towers, platforms,
gangways, floats, marine assemblies, machinery, movable bridge repair, and other
stuff.
- you have AutocadLT 2007 at your home office, Adobe 8.0, and MS Office. 

What software would you acquire to produce more efficient, fast, and accurate
detail drawings for a variety of customers?

Any comments are welcome. Hopefully I will be able to work part time and still
enjoy what is left of my days doing the important things, travel, gardening,
fishing, etc.

Happy New Year to All, and may infrastructure work GO GO GO!

Bill Nettles






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