# Vertex BD > Automated BIM Software for Wood and Steel Framing Canonical: https://www.ramcadds.com/products/vertex-bd Source: RAM CADDSYS product catalog — https://www.ramcadds.com/products Categories: bim-solutions / modular-volumetric / steel-design Vertex BD is the leading cold-formed steel framing software and light gauge steel framing software for prefab, modular, residential, and commercial construction. Architects, drafters, engineers, and construction professionals use Vertex BD to streamline their entire building process—from architectural design through framing and detailing to manufacturing data output. Vertex BD is a complete architectural and framing BIM software trusted by 18,000+ users worldwide. Once a building is created, it automatically generates architectural layouts, elevations, sections, structural layouts, production drawings, material reports, manufacturing data, and rendered images—all from one source. Plans are produced up to 2× faster. Designed for commercial and residential cold-formed steel frames and trusses, prefabricated panels, bathroom pods, and modular construction. ## Key points - Complete architectural and framing BIM software in a single platform - Produces plans up to 2× faster than traditional CAD-based workflows - Eliminates on-site construction mistakes through precise fabrication data - Automates panel fabrication drawings in seconds from the 3D model - Most customizable framing software—supports any manufacturer's products - Exports data directly to manufacturing equipment, eliminating translation errors - Trusted by 18,000+ users across prefab, modular, residential, and commercial sectors ## Why engineers pick it - **Architectural Design** — Full architectural BIM environment for building design. Create floor plans, elevations, sections, 3D views, and rendered images—all automatically updated when the building model changes. - **Framing and Detailing** — Automated cold-formed steel and wood framing generation from architectural geometry. Stud walls, floor joists, roof rafters, and ceiling frames are detailed automatically with proper structural logic. - **Truss Design and Engineering** — Integrated truss design tools for roof and floor trusses. Structural analysis and engineering calculations built into the framing workflow, producing truss layouts and engineering reports. - **Documentation** — Complete documentation package generated from the model: architectural layouts, structural layouts, production drawings, cut lists, material reports, and quantities—all from a single source. - **Collaboration** — BIM-based collaboration enabling architects, engineers, drafters, and fabricators to work from the same model. Eliminates re-entry of data between disciplines and keeps all teams aligned. - **Manufacturing** — Direct export of manufacturing data to roll-forming machines and automated fabrication equipment. CNC files, cut lists, and panel production data eliminate manual transfer and shop floor errors. ## Applications - **Cold-Formed Steel Framing** — Purpose-built for light gauge steel (LGS) framing. Automates wall, floor, and roof framing with cold-formed steel studs, tracks, joists, and bridging. Generates AISI or AS/NZS-compliant structural layouts and fabrication drawings. - **Wood Framing** — Automated timber framing for residential and light commercial construction. Stud walls, platform framing, engineered lumber (LVL, I-joists), and timber trusses all handled within the same BIM environment. - **Prefab and Modular Construction** — Designed for prefabricated panel and modular building manufacturers. Automates panel layouts, module assemblies, bathroom pod framing, and modular stack configurations with full production data output. - **Home Builders** — Streamlines the full design-to-build process for residential builders. From site plan to structural frame drawings, Vertex BD reduces design time and ensures fabrication accuracy for every project. - **Production Home Builders** — High-volume production builders benefit from Vertex BD's parametric model library and automated variation management. Produce hundreds of housing variants from master templates with minimal rework. ## Questions ### Which package fits my build type? ADVANCED is built for CFS Frame Manufacturers — light gauge steel framing, truss design, cut lists, BIM collaboration. PREMIUM adds architectural design and rendering, which Pods & Portacabin manufacturers and Panelized Prefab builders (incl. gypsum systems) typically need. TOTAL adds Housing Options Manager and Sales Configurator, designed for Modular Volumetric factories shipping at volume. CNC Link is recommended for any builder feeding a roll-former; the Engineering Module suits modular factories and load-bearing CFS. ### Do you support gypsum wall systems? Yes. Vertex BD handles both load-bearing structural gypsum walls and non-load-bearing partition systems within the panelized workflow — steel framing, sheet layout, opening calculations, and CNC output all from the same BIM model. Customers like Mada Gypsum use Vertex BD for their gypsum panel production. ### Who should use Vertex BD light gauge steel framing software? Vertex BD is an advanced cold formed steel framing software for medium to large sized residential and commercial builders. Home builders utilize our steel framing software to automate lot-specific drawing sets, while light gauge steel framing panelizers, component manufacturers, and modular building software users take advantage of our customizable framing generator. Delivered to: production home builders, custom home builders, commercial builders, manufactured home builders, modular builders, component manufacturers, architecture firms, engineering firms, material suppliers, plan service providers, and educational institutions. ### How is Vertex BD different from traditional CAD software? CAD refers to old-fashioned software for creating 2D line drawings and basic 3D models. Vertex BD is a BIM for construction platform where objects contain information about themselves — materials, cold formed steel framing details, connections to other elements. Once the building is created, all this information generates architectural layouts, structural drawings, production drawings, material reports, CNC manufacturing data, and rendered images from one source. This eliminates creating all drawings separately and ensures consistency across the entire steel framing design process. ### Is Vertex BD a BIM software for construction? Yes. Vertex BD has utilized BIM for construction technology long before the term was commonly recognized. BIM stands for Building Information Modeling — the model contains information about itself. As a cold formed steel design software, Vertex BD generates all framing, documentation, and manufacturing output from a single BIM model. BIM is a generic term describing a type of software, not any one specific application like Autodesk Revit. ### What makes Vertex BD different from other steel framing software? Vertex BD is a complete architectural and light gauge steel framing software that produces plans up to 2X faster and eliminates mistakes on-site. No need to redraw models in different cold formed steel design software. The automated framing generator produces drawings with dimensions, piece labels, cut lists, and more. Unlike other steel structure design software, our framing rules, details, and materials are all customizable, and final production drawings are completely editable with direct CNC framing machine export. ### Do you provide software training? Yes. We provide on-site training, training at our local offices, and hands-on online training sessions. Training is always conducted by expert software support engineers and is private for each customer. ### How much training should we get? Our training sessions are tailored to specific needs. We recommend 2-3 days for framing features or 5 days for architectural and framing features. Additional days are recommended based on selected add-on modules. ### Can you help us setup and customize the software? Yes. Our support engineers can develop customized functionality — modifying/creating component libraries, framing rules, and material databases to integrate with your existing goals. Services can be performed both on-site and off-site. ### What is included with Support & Maintenance? Direct access to our Software Support Engineers. Our engineers work closely with software developers and can research questions using source code. Includes: support via phone, email, and web conferencing, software patches and updates, and annual software upgrades. ### How are Vertex BD licenses managed? Vertex BD uses NetVID Online License to control product configuration and number of concurrent users. Software may be installed on any number of computers but only runs where the license is active. Licenses can be moved between computers. Purchased licenses have no time limit. Licenses covered by Support & Maintenance are eligible for updates and upgrades. --- Full page: https://www.ramcadds.com/products/vertex-bd Pricing is quoted per territory and is deliberately not published. Talk to us: https://www.ramcadds.com/contact