Summary of benefits

• Productivity – unnecessary repetition is eliminated as walls and roof planes are only inputted once.
• Flexibility – users can work in either system with the same data.
• Creditability – hsbCAD and Alpine are in a position to continue with commitment to software development.
• Accuracy – eliminating double handling removes the possibility of inaccuracies between the timber frame, roof truss and floor joist models.
• Current Alpine users can promote their business to third party hsbCAD clients offering the benefit of major savings with reduced design times.
• hsbCAD clients could link into any Alpine fabricator, reducing potential delivery costs.

Alpine VIEW & hsbCAD link

ITW Industry offer a whole house design, detailing and engineering solution for timber frame manufacturers incorporating Alpine VIEW and hsbCAD software. This dynamic software link enables fast, accurate design turnaround with huge flexibility and control.


Bridging the gap
The day to day problems caused by the disconnection between the roof truss / floor joist designers and timber frame designers has long been accepted. Not content with this situation, hsbCAD and Alpine have embarked upon the task of bridging the gap.  

Following thorough consultation with users of both  software products, it was concluded that the first step towards integration between roof truss / floor joist and timber frame design is to enable the ability to share the same input of  walls, structural members and roof planes.

As a result of the hsbCAD / Alpine VIEW link, communication between the roof truss / floor joist designer is enhanced. The elimination of the double handling of data speeds up design turnaround and reduces the possibility of errors. Ultimately the synergy between designers and manufacturers leads better designs, more accurate documents and better homes.

The gap bridged
Whether at the early stages of truss quotation or creating a client approval drawing, the link enables the automatic transfer data between hsbCAD and Alpine VIEW.

When a quotation for a roof truss or floor joist layout is completed, all of the wall, floor and roof data within the Alpine VIEW software can be easily imported into hsbCAD. This eliminates the requirement for the timber frame designer to re-input the walls and resolve roof planes, and the possibility of inaccuracies. Any changes required for the overall structure can be easily and quickly communicated back to the VIEW model and engineered as required while updating the hsbCAD model.

On the other side of the equation, once the architectural model is completed in hsbCAD, all wall, structural beam and roof data can be exported directly to Alpine VIEW. This allows the roof truss / floor joist designer to concentrate on the specific task of engineering the roofs and floors. Once the roof and floor analysis is complete, all the engineering data can be exported directly back to hsbCAD to complete the 3D model.

The complete 3D model now contains every engineered roof truss / floor joist component, each with details on their plates and reactions. The reactions are shown on the hsbCAD model, allowing the timber frame designer to make informed decisions when dealing with any point loads. In addition, information on other components such as loose infill, bracing, gable ladders and metalwork are contained within the 3D model.

Further to the transfer of the architectural aspect and engineered components, the hsbCAD / Alpine link also allows the transfer of completely detailed cut roofs, as well as loose and cassette floors. The hsbCAD / Alpine link takes advantage of the most powerful traditional roof and cassette floor detailing tools on the market by allowing the user to detail complete roofs and floors within hsbCAD before exporting directly to VIEW for engineering. If required, further adjustments to individual components can be carried out within VIEW, then exported directly back to the hsbCAD 3D model.