Steel Takeoff Software for Small Fabrication Shops
Measure members, count connections and misc metals from the PDF set, and carry the quantities straight into the quote and the work order.
What you measure
Members by length
Trace beams, girts, angles and lintels as linear runs grouped by section size.
Connections & embeds
Count base plates, embed plates, clip angles and anchor sets.
Plate & grating areas
Measure checker plate, grating and deck areas, with cutouts for openings.
Typical bays
Measure one bay or frame and multiply it across the identical ones.
How a job runs
- Step 1
Load the structural and architectural PDFs.
- Step 2
Trace members by size; count plates and embeds.
- Step 3
Convert length to weight (lb per foot) on each catalogue item.
- Step 4
Quote it, then turn the job into work orders in Job Central.
What you price
Why metal fabrication & structural steel businesses switch
Small fab shops often estimate in Excel next to a PDF viewer, or use desktop steel estimating packages built for large structural fabricators. TrueScope keeps the takeoff, the price, the parts list and the work order in one browser app.
Setup tip
Put the weight per foot on each section in your catalogue (1 LF of W8x10 = 10 lb) so the takeoff totals tons for material and shop pricing.
Common questions
Yes. Set a quantity conversion from feet to pounds on each section, and the Bill of Quantities shows weight as well as length.
Yes. The quoted items become a sales order, and Job Central turns it into work orders with Bills of Materials and routings.
No. TrueScope is for estimating and running the job. Detailing and shop drawing models still belong in dedicated detailing software.
Try Takeoffs on your next metal fabrication & structural steel job.
30-day free trial · no credit card · every module included