Structural Drafting Software — Why Engineering Leadership Matters

Structural drafting underpins how assets are designed, reviewed, fabricated, and built. While there is no shortage of powerful drafting software on the market, successful project outcomes are not defined by software alone — they are defined by engineering judgement applied through the right tools.

At Hamilton By Design, we operate across multiple structural drafting platforms to suit asset risk, fabrication pathways, and project complexity. Below are the five most widely used structural drafting software platforms in industry today — and how they fit into an engineering-led workflow.

AutoCAD — The Industry Baseline for Structural Drafting

AutoCAD remains the most widely accepted platform for 2D structural drafting across Australia.

It is commonly used for:

General arrangement drawings
Structural sections and details
Retrofit and brownfield documentation
As-built drawings

AutoCAD’s strength lies in its universality and clarity, particularly for issuing IFC documentation. However, on complex or fabrication-heavy projects, AutoCAD alone relies heavily on the experience and discipline of the engineer and drafter producing the drawings.

Revit — Coordinated Structural Documentation in a BIM Environment

Revit enables a model-driven approach to structural drafting, where plans, sections, elevations, and schedules are generated from a single coordinated model.

It is well suited to:

Building structures
Multidiscipline coordination
Projects requiring digital handover or asset information models

While Revit is a powerful coordination tool, its effectiveness depends on engineering control of modelling assumptions, member sizing, and load paths. Without that oversight, models can appear complete while concealing risk.

Engineering-led LiDAR scanning of an industrial steel platform to produce accurate structural drafting data

Tekla Structures — Fabrication-Level Structural Drafting

Tekla Structures is widely recognised as the benchmark platform for steel and concrete detailing.

It is commonly used where:

Fabrication accuracy is critical
Connection design must be unambiguous
CNC data, BOMs, and shop drawings are required

Tekla excels in mining, heavy industry, and complex steel structures where what is modelled is what gets built. Its strength is not simply its software capability, but its ability to enforce constructability and clarity.

Advance Steel — Steel Detailing Within an AutoCAD Environment

Advance Steel extends traditional AutoCAD workflows into 3D steel detailing.

It is often selected where:

Fabricators operate primarily in AutoCAD
3D steel modelling is required without a full BIM transition
Fabrication drawings and NC data are needed

Advance Steel provides an efficient pathway from drafting to fabrication when applied within an engineering-controlled workflow.

Our clients:

SolidWorks — Structural Drafting for Industrial and Mechanical Assets

SolidWorks is widely used for industrial structures integrated with mechanical equipment.

It is particularly effective for:

Platforms, frames, skids, and support structures
Conveyors and transfer stations
Structures requiring integration with machinery and FEA

For industrial environments, SolidWorks enables structural drafting to be developed in context, reducing interface risk between mechanical and structural elements.

Software Is a Tool — Engineering Is the Outcome

No single software platform is “best” in all circumstances. Each has strengths depending on:

Asset type
Fabrication method
Risk profile
Compliance requirements

The real differentiator is engineering leadership — selecting the right platform, applying the correct standards, and ensuring drawings are fit-for-purpose and fit-for-fabrication.

Structural Drafting Done Properly

At Hamilton By Design, structural drafting is delivered as part of an engineering-led service, not a drafting-only output. Our work is supported by:

Engineering-grade 3D LiDAR scanning
Fabrication-ready documentation
Australian Standards-aligned detailing
Clear accountability from concept through to construction

If your project requires structural drafting that stands up to fabrication, construction, and long-term operation, we can help.

Need Structural Drafting Support?

If you’re planning a new structure, upgrading an existing asset, or preparing fabrication documentation, contact Hamilton By Design to discuss how an engineering-led drafting approach can reduce risk and improve outcomes.

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Structural Drafting

Engineering-Grade LiDAR Scanning for Industrial & Mining Assets

AS 1657 Access Compliance | Fixed Platforms, Walkways, Stairs & Ladders

Why Both Matter in Mechanical and Structural Engineering

In the fast-paced and high-stakes environment of the Australian mining industry, reliable engineering design isn’t just a competitive advantage — it’s a necessity. Across regions like the Pilbara, Kalgoorlie, the Hunter Valley, Bowen Basin, and Mount Isa, mining operations depend on complex mechanical systems that must perform under extreme loads, harsh conditions, and round-the-clock operation.

To ensure safety, reliability, and performance, mining engineers increasingly rely on advanced simulation tools like Rigid Body Dynamics (RBD) and Transient Structural Analysis (TSA). While these tools might appear similar, they serve fundamentally different purposes in mechanical and structural engineering. Using the right tool at the right time can dramatically reduce downtime, improve equipment longevity, and lower operating costs.

At Hamilton By Design, we bring the latest in engineering simulation and scanning technology directly to your mining operation — wherever you are in Australia. Whether you’re operating in the iron-rich Pilbara, the gold-rich Kalgoorlie, or deep in Mount Isa’s underground hard rock mines, we deliver world-class engineering solutions on-site or remotely.

What is Transient Structural Analysis?

Transient Structural Analysis (TSA) is a Finite Element Analysis (FEA) technique that models how structures respond to time-varying loads. It provides insights into:

Displacement and deformation under dynamic loads
Stress and strain distribution over time
Vibrations and impact response
Fatigue life prediction

This type of simulation is essential when you’re dealing with high-frequency loading, shock events, or long-term structural wear and fatigue. TSA is invaluable for assessing risk in static and semi-dynamic systems across mining sites.

Typical TSA applications in mining include:

Vibrating screens and feeder structures
Crusher housings and foundations
Chutes and hoppers exposed to high-velocity ore impact
Structural skids for processing equipment
Equipment subject to cyclic fatigue (e.g., slurry pumps, reclaimer arms)

What is Rigid Body Dynamics?

Rigid Body Dynamics (RBD) focuses on the motion of bodies under the assumption they do not deform. This tool models:

Position, velocity, and acceleration
Reaction forces at joints and actuators
Dynamic behaviour of moving parts and linkages
Contact, impact, and frictional interaction

Unlike TSA, RBD doesn’t solve for stress or strain. Instead, it calculates the kinematics and kinetics of motion systems — making it ideal for analysing mechanical assemblies where movement, timing, and loads are key.

Common RBD applications in mining include:

Stacker-reclaimer arms and boom articulation
Mobile equipment with hydraulic or mechanical actuators
Diverter chutes and gating systems
Rockbreaker arm kinematics
Conveyor take-up and tensioning systems

RBD also plays a pivotal role in process optimisation and troubleshooting — helping engineers simulate how mechanisms will respond under load, ensuring operational efficiency before physical prototypes are built.

Why TSA Can’t Replace RBD (and Vice Versa)

While TSA includes rigid body motion as part of the total displacement field, it is not designed for efficient or accurate motion simulation. Trying to model the dynamics of a moving mechanism in TSA can:

Lead to slow solve times and high computational cost
Produce unstable results due to unconstrained motion
Provide limited insight into timing, velocity, or actuation behaviour

Conversely, using RBD for structures that flex, vibrate, or wear over time won’t give you the data needed to assess material failure or fatigue.

The takeaway? Use TSA when deformation matters. Use RBD when motion matters. Use both when you need the complete picture.

Regional Applications Across Australian Mining

Hamilton By Design supports clients across Australia’s mining regions with tailored simulation services designed to meet real operational needs.

Pilbara – Iron Ore

With high-capacity iron ore operations, this region depends on large-scale materials handling systems.

Use RBD to simulate boom movement, slewing systems, and travel paths of stackers.
Use TSA to assess fatigue on booms, rail frames, and conveyor supports exposed to cyclic load.

Hamilton By Design helps model these systems efficiently, ensuring both accurate motion control and structural durability. Contact us for help simulating your Pilbara handling systems.

Kalgoorlie – Goldfields (Eastern Gold Region)

Gold operations rely on compact, high-force machinery in confined processing facilities.

Use TSA to simulate vibration-induced stress in equipment frames and foundations.
Use RBD to model diverter gates, hydraulic arms, and transport carts in processing facilities.

Whether you’re retrofitting a plant or building a new line, Hamilton By Design provides flexible support wherever you operate. Email info@hamiltonbydesign.com.au to learn more.

Hunter Valley – Coal (Thermal)

Thermal coal operations in NSW require robust, wear-resistant infrastructure.

RBD helps simulate automated diverters, boom stackers, and actuated gates.
TSA ensures the wear-prone chutes and hoppers withstand repetitive impacts.

We provide quick-turn simulations for both brownfield and greenfield projects. Get in touch to scope your simulation needs.

Bowen Basin – Coal (Metallurgical)

Queensland’s met coal operations power the global steel industry.

RBD enables accurate simulation of take-up systems and longwall motion.
TSA supports design of structural supports under repetitive and impact loading.

Our experts work with surface and underground operators, reducing risk through advanced motion and stress analysis. Request a quote at info@hamiltonbydesign.com.au.

Mount Isa – Hard Rock Mining

Mount Isa’s deep and abrasive ore bodies test every piece of equipment.

RBD is ideal for simulating rockbreaker motion, loader paths, and mobile assets.
TSA provides insights into vibration effects on headframes, bins, and fixed plant.

Hamilton By Design offers full analysis support for operators in remote locations. Contact us today for tailored advice.

When to Use Both Tools Together

A real advantage emerges when RBD and TSA are used in combination:

RBD identifies dynamic forces and timing on moving parts
TSA then evaluates the structural response to those forces

For example, in a diverter chute:

RBD determines the acceleration profile, impact forces, and system timing.
TSA uses that input to analyse whether the chute will survive years of repeated service.

This integrated approach results in more accurate models, fewer design revisions, and significantly lower project risk.

Why Work with Hamilton By Design?

As mechanical engineering consultants with national reach, Hamilton By Design offers:

Combined RBD and TSA simulation capability
Lidar scanning and digital plant modelling
Experience with mining-specific assets and constraints
Mobile, responsive teams that bring technology to you

From site scoping to final design verification, we help our clients solve the right problem, the right way.

Have a project in mind? Reach out via our contact page or email info@hamiltonbydesign.com.au.

Conclusion: Technology That Moves With You

Rigid Body Dynamics and Transient Structural Analysis are not interchangeable — they are complementary. Each method offers unique insights into how a mining system performs — whether moving, flexing, vibrating, or carrying tonnes of ore.

At Hamilton By Design, we believe engineering technology should move as fast and far as our clients do. That’s why we bring simulation, scanning, and design tools directly to you, wherever you operate across Australia.

If your system moves, simulate it with RBD. If your structure flexes, vibrates, or wears, model it with TSA. For full insight? Use both.

Let us help you design smarter, safer mining systems.

Hamilton By Design – Bringing Engineering Technology to You, Wherever You Are in Australia

Email: sales@hamiltonbydesign.com.au

Hamilton By Design | Mechanical Drafting | Structural Drafting | 3-D Lidar Scanning