keymark software, anyone heard/use it? 2

[COEngineeer]

Has anoyone used this software? We just went trough an internet presentation. The software looks pretty cool. You just draw the house in 3D, apply the load, and youll design all the members at once.

http://www.keymark.com

 

[jhoulette]

I used it several years ago. They had many problems then, that I have heard have been fixed. I haven't used it in the last tow years. My main problem was that they wanted control over the plans and had to be a part of the design/drafting process. That may have changed since I used it as well. Some builders got on board with it and have also dropped it after a few months of use.
Another software to compare to is OptiFrame.

 

[COEngineeer]

Yeah, they want to do the initial drafting for a fee but the software will be free. Do you have any idea how much optiframe is per user?

 

[jhoulette]

I'm not sure on Optiframes costs. I'm not even sure if they are selling to engineers. It seems to be software intended for lumber yards, such as Homelumber, that already do the TJI joist layouts with TJExpert.

 

[Kuendog187]

I currently use Keybuild software. It is a very handy piece of software and does most of what it advertises, however, it does have some serious bugs and the learning curve can be quite long depending on how familiar the individual is with running 3D software. We have a group that runs it at our office and it is kind of the joke around here. But we are stuck using it because there is no other software that will do what it can and also interface with Autocad. I would be happy to answer any specific questions about this particular piece of software.

 

[COEngineeer]

TY for the response Kuendog. So are you paying them to do initial drafting also?
How hard is it to do stick framed roof? How about if you have funky roof?

Could you list some of the bugs?

 

[KeySol]

COEngineer-

I have been using Keymark software for a few years now. I have done some of the modeling but have mostly used it for its engineering applications. Is there something in particular you wanted to know about it? What types of projects will you be using it for?

 

[COEngineeer]

I was just wondering how easy it is to draw a complicated stick framed roof, arched window, etc.

 

[KeySol]

As far as the roof system is concerned, I have seen some complicated stick framed systems modeled and analyzed by the Keymark software just fine. Arched windows cannot be modeled as arched windows but you would just input the wndow header height higher and as long as you realize that its arched there shouldnt be an issue. Unless you are talking about curved headers (which you cannot analyze in the this suite of software). I use it for its lateral design purposes. They have a Wind and Lateral design suite that is great for getting forces on shear wall lines. They also have plotting output that you can use to create structural drawings.