Build with AI

How it works

CalcSteel’s AI builds the steel structure inside the editor from what you write, or from a photo, plan or sketch. It draws the bars with profiles, places supports, panels and loads, and at the end offers to run the analysis. Everything happens in the open model, in front of you, and one Ctrl+Z undoes the whole round.

Where it is

On a computer, the button sits at the bottom center, just above the status bar. The “x” next to it hides the button; the handle that remains brings it back.

On a phone: the round button in the middle of the bottom bar, or “Build with AI” in the side menu.
Account: to send a request, you need to be logged in with a confirmed e-mail. Without an account, the card opens normally and sending takes you to sign up.

What a round looks like

1You describetext, photo, plan or PDF
2It asksonly what is missing
3It buildsbar by bar, on screen
4You decideanalyze, save or adjust

A complete request skips step 2: with dimensions, profiles and loads in the text, it builds right away.

When some information is missing, it asks two to four questions with options. You answer and tap Answer and build, or tap Decide for me so it goes ahead with the recommended options. While it builds, the editor is locked; Stop or Esc interrupts.

What it can do

New structure

Sheds, mezzanines, truss roofs, towers and frames, with profiles, supports, panels and load cases.

Edit the open model

Add purlins and bracing, change profiles, rotate a profile, make a beam continuous over a column, move and split bars.

Organize

Split the bars into classes, each with its own profile and color.

Loads and wind

Adds load cases and distributed loads. Wind is estimated with NBR 6123, and it tells you the values it adopted.

“Will this purlin hold?”

Runs the real analysis, turns on the utilization colors and answers with the number of the bar.

Sheets

Generates the views and lays out the sheet with the view, a node detail and reports.

What it does not do

It does not choose or size connections. That stays in the Connections tab.
It does not touch the load combinations. If a load case ends up outside all of them, it warns you.
It does not delete anything on its own. A card with Delete and Keep appears, and only your tap deletes.
It only works on the open model. It does not open other models, files or websites.

Usage quota

Each plan has an AI quota. The bar on the card shows how much you have used, as a percentage, and the details are on the Usage page, in your account menu.

Yellow from 80%, red at 100%.

Plan	Quota
Free and trial	An initial quota that does not renew.
Starter and Education	Renews every month, on the billing date.
Pro	The largest quota, renewed every month. When it reaches 100%, you can buy extra credits.

A request that has already started always runs to the end. The analysis the AI triggers uses the analysis credits of your plan, like an analysis you run yourself.

How to write a good request

Give the main dimensions: span, length, height and spacing.
Name the profile, if you already have one in mind. If it is not in the catalog, the AI uses the closest one and tells you.
Ask for one thing at a time. If the request is too big, the AI asks you to split it, and that round does not count toward the quota.
Write in your language: the AI answers in the language you wrote in.

New structureFour real requests, from text to structure.Edit a structurePurlins, bracing, profile and lattice columns.From a photo or planWhat it reads and how you check it.