Review
Contract drawings, specifications, RFIs and your shop standards are reviewed first. Open questions go back as RFIs before modeling starts.
SDS/2 detailing for US fabricators
SDS/2 steel detailing that keeps fabrication moving.
A five-person SDS/2 team in Karnataka, India, producing shop drawings, erection drawings, 3D models and NC files to AISC standards for steel fabricators and contractors across the United States.
- The only detailing software the team runs
- SDS/2
- Published rate in USD, set by project complexity
- $15–20/hr
- Detailers and checkers, based in Karnataka, India
- 5
Model status Issued for approval
Shop + field
What we do
Detailing support from first review to fabrication release.
Structural and miscellaneous steel, modeled once in SDS/2 and delivered as the files each person needs: details for the shop floor, erection drawings for the field crew, NC files for the beam line, and submittal packages for the Engineer of Record.
- Structural Steel DetailingBeams, columns, bracing and connections detailed in SDS/2 to AISC standards, with shop drawings, erection drawings and NC files for US fabricators.
- SDS/2 Detailing & 3D ModelingSDS/2 models, drawings, reports and CNC exports from a team that runs SDS/2 and no other detailing platform.
- Steel Shop DrawingsAssembly and part details with bills of material, weld and bolt call-outs, checked before release for fabrication.
- Erection DrawingsErection plans, elevations, sections and field bolt lists that show the field crew where every piece mark goes.
- Miscellaneous Steel DetailingStairs, handrails, ladders, embeds, canopies, mezzanines, pipe racks, skids and industrial platforms.
- Connection DetailingConnections detailed to the Engineer of Record's design: bolt patterns, welds, plates and holes shown for fabrication. No stamped connection design.
- Thermal Break DetailingStructural thermal break connections detailed for fabrication: bolt stack-up through the pad, bushings, washers, hole sizes and shop sequencing.
- All steel detailing servicesCompare deliverables across every service →
Why Vertex
What is different about how Vertex works?
Many detailing firms list several platforms and ask you to request a quote. Vertex runs SDS/2 only, says where the team is, and publishes the rate. The lead detailer has 8 years of SDS/2 experience.
One platform: SDS/2
Connection automation, drawing templates, reports and NC exports are set up once and used every day, not rebuilt for each project.
SDS/2 detailing services →Offshore, stated openly
The team works in Karnataka, India. Markups sent at the end of the US workday are worked during the US night and back for the next morning's review.
Risks and tradeoffs of outsourcing →Rates on the page
$15–20 per hour, with the factors that move a package within that range explained before you send a single drawing.
How rates are set →A second check before release
Drawings are checked against the design drawings and your shop standards by someone who did not draw them.
The checking sequence →Structural thermal breaks
Can Vertex detail thermally broken steel connections?
Yes. On an airport terminal rehabilitation and addition in New England, the team detailed HSS frame assemblies with 1" Armatherm 500 series thermal breaks at the frame-to-structure connections, each bolted through the pad with four 3/4" A325N bolts, washers and bushings.
- Grip recalculated through the pad, washers and bushings
- Bolt stack-up
- Pad holes and steel ply holes shown and called out separately
- Hole sizes
- Welding finished before the pad goes in; loose parts listed
- Shop sequence
- Rev A for approval to Rev 0 for fabrication on the reference project
- Six days
Process
A straightforward workflow for complex steel packages.
Model and check
Members, connections to the Engineer of Record's design, and misc steel are modeled in SDS/2, clash-reviewed, then drawn and checked.
Deliver
Shop drawings, erection drawings, bolt lists, material takeoffs and NC files are issued for approval, then for fabrication from the same model revision.
Client feedback
What clients have said about the work
“Vertex Steel Detailing provided accurate SDS/2 modeling and fabrication-ready shop drawings. The detailing was well organized and the communication throughout the project was smooth.”
Detailing client “The drawings were clear and detailed, with the necessary information for fabrication and erection. Vertex was responsive to revisions and delivered the project within the agreed timeline.”
Detailing client “Vertex Steel Detailing has been a reliable detailing resource for our workload. Their attention to connections, dimensions, and drawing quality helped us move projects forward efficiently.”
Detailing client
Project fit
Overflow capacity for structural and misc steel.
When your detailers are booked or a bid comes in heavy, send the package. Each one is organized to your shop standards, traceable by revision, and ready for review.
- Beams, columns and bracing
- Stairs and handrails
- Ladders
- Embeds
- Canopies
- Mezzanines
- Pipe racks and skids
- Industrial platforms
How much does Vertex charge for steel detailing?
$15–20 USD per hour, varying with project complexity. Connection complexity, miscellaneous steel density, revision volume and turnaround pressure set where a package falls in the range. See how steel detailing rates are set.
What software does Vertex use for steel detailing?
SDS/2 only. The team does not switch platforms between projects, so models, drawings, bolt lists, material takeoffs and NC files all come from one SDS/2 setup. See SDS/2 detailing and 3D modeling.
Where is the Vertex team based?
Karnataka, India. The five-person team details for fabricators and construction businesses across the United States. Work sent at the end of the US day is picked up during the US night. See how outsourcing across time zones works.
Are Vertex drawings prepared to AISC standards?
Yes. Drawings are prepared in accordance with AISC 303 and AISC 360. Vertex details connections to the Engineer of Record's design and does not perform stamped connection design. See connection detailing.
Resources
Guides for buying detailing
- SDS/2 vs Tekla for Steel DetailingA neutral comparison of SDS/2 and Tekla Structures, and where each fits.
- How Much Does Steel Detailing Cost?How steel detailing is priced in the US market and what drives cost up or down.
- How to Vet a Steel Detailing PartnerA buyer's checklist for choosing an outsourced steel detailer.
Start a package
Send the drawings. We'll map the path to fabrication.
Share contract drawings, specifications, your shop standards and target dates. We review the package, send back scope questions, and quote hours against the published $15–20 per hour range.