Exclusively for all customers with an active maintenance contract, it is possible to test the new version as a beta before the official release.

To install the beta version, simply enable the "Install beta versions" option in the "Info" section of the SolidSteel parametric settings, confirm with “Apply” below and then click on “Check for Updates”. You will then receive a message informing you that the beta version is available and you can start the update.

Please note that new passwords are required for the new version.
You can find information on this at the bottom of the page or simply click here.

Sheet metal stringers
In addition to U-profiles and flat bars, stairs can now have sheet metal as a stringer profile. But what is the difference between a flat bar and a plate stringer?
In principle, of course, there are none. But the flat bars are treated as profiles in the parts lists and in all subsequent processes. To ensure that they are also treated as plates, the new profile class is now available as a selection option when creating a stair. All components of the stair stringer then appear as sheet metal in the parts list, are recognized as sheet metal by the automatic drawing creation and can be automatically exported as DXF. The assignment is then also correct in the optionally available DSTV Assistant.

By using sheet metal stringers, the dimensions of the stair stringers are no longer limited to the dimensions of the standard profiles, and more unusual or "crooked" dimensions can be used.
Of course, the database can be expanded and edited at will with the sheet metal used for the stair stringers.

Merging
When "extensions" are placed on a staircase, such as a landing or a vertical support, the SolidSteel parametric for SOLIDWORKS staircase feature automatically creates a miter cut and the corresponding welded assemblies.
In addition to the ability to place metal stringers, the stair function has now been extended to allow the individual parts of a stair stringer to be merged. This makes it possible to create a complete stringer, including extensions, from a single piece.

Splitting
In the new version of SolidSteel parametric for SOLIDWORKS, stair stringers can now be split at any point. Using the normal functions of SolidSteel parametric, for example, a double end plate can be installed, a splice connection can be made or the components can simply be welded on site.
Of course, when the stringer is separated, the welded assemblies are also created according to the new situation. A stringer can be split at two points.

Grouping templates
In the revised Drawing Assistant, drawing templates can now be grouped for different part types. This means that one drawing template can be selected for sheet metal, another for profiles and a third for welded assemblies. Of course, it is still possible to assign the drawing templates for each component individually.

The user interface (PMP) of the end plates has been revised and divided into several PMP pages for a better overview.

As part of the revision of the PMP, the option has been added to not only enter end plate offsets by value, but also to select a body edge, sketch entity, or reference axis. The software then determines the exact distance to the selected edge and extends the end plate to the selected edge. An offset value can then be redefined from this new "origin".

If the selected edge/sketch/reference is not parallel to the end plate, it can be rotated to make it parallel to the selected reference.

The new Custom Plate function creates a new sheet metal part with attributes directly from the assembly context. The new sheet metal part is then created using normal SOLIDWORKS functions and can be placed in the assembly.
All attributes required by SolidSteel parametric for SOLIDWORKS are then already written and the new Custom Plate is recognized and handled as a sheet metal part in all subsequent processes, such as the bill of materials, automatic drawing generation, or automatic DXF export.

A coordinate system is now displayed for profile placement. This simplifies detailed placement of the profile, such as displaying the start and end points of the profile for individual offsets, or for parallel offsets to determine where the top and bottom are.

In addition to the familiar ability to update an entire assembly or a single sub-assembly, the new version 7.0.0 of SolidSteel parametric adds another update option. Single components can now be updated.

If, for example, the sketch in a complicated and large assembly has been adjusted at only a small point, there is no need to check the entire assembly. Instead, the user can select individual components (profiles, connection parts, etc.) and only those components and the parts directly connected to them are updated.

In the area of manual bolting, the multiple selection of components has been enhanced. Previously, existing holes on the selected faces were automatically detected and bolted. Now a hole sketch can be used to automatically place holes on the selected faces and create a bolted joint.