sds2.com

SDS2 is steel detailing and modeling software used by steel detailers, fabricators, and engineers to produce structural and miscellaneous steel work — including connections, stairs, and rails — with the goal of delivering projects faster, reducing risk, and maximizing ROI. It fits teams that need either 2D code-compliant drawings, 3D BIM modeling with automated connection design, or both in one package.

Who SDS2 Is Built For

The site names three audiences directly:

• Steel detailers — precision drafting and fabrication-ready drawings
• Fabricators — shop and machine workflows connected to the model
• Engineers — design and BIM coordination

If your work stops at drawings, or stops at modeling, SDS2 splits those needs into separate packages rather than forcing the full suite.

What SDS2 Actually Does

Detailing and drawing production

SDS2 Drafting covers 2D drafting and code-compliant drawings without 3D modeling. It adds shop drawing creation and erection placement drawings on top of the Basic tier.

Modeling and connection design

SDS2 Modeling is for BIM modeling and connection design without drafting deliverables. It includes 3D model input, automated connection design, quantity takeoff, load planning and delivery, imports/exports, and BIM integrations.

All-in-one detailing

SDS2 Ultimate combines Basic, Drafting, and Modeling — the full path from model to fabrication-ready drawings. The site labels it the most popular option.

Integration with shop and office systems

SDS2 connects to BIM tools, CNC machines, and ERP systems so design-through-fabrication data moves without re-entry. This is the mechanism behind the "deliver faster" claim: one model feeds drawings, machine files, and business systems.

Package Comparison

Current Release and Support

SDS2 2026 is the current version, described as adding detailing speed, design versatility, new features, automation, and customized control. Support, training programs, and a webinar library (live and on-demand) are available for teams getting started or deepening use.

How to Decide If It Fits

• Choose Drafting if your deliverable is drawings, not a coordinated 3D model.
• Choose Modeling if you need connection design and BIM coordination but not drafting output.
• Choose Ultimate if you want one system covering model, connections, and fabrication-ready drawings.
• Book a demo or compare packages on sds2.com if you need to match tiers against your current toolchain and machine/ERP setup.

Pricing is not published on the page reviewed here, so cost comparison requires contacting SDS2 directly.

SDS2 Drafting, SDS2 Modeling, and SDS2 Ultimate are three packages that build on SDS2 Basic but target different steel detailing workflows. Drafting is for detailers who need precision 2D drafting and code-compliant drawings without 3D modeling. Modeling is for teams focused on BIM modeling and connection design without drafting deliverables. Ultimate is the all-in-one option for detailers who need advanced steel detailing and fabrication-ready drawings, and it includes all features in Basic, Drafting, and Modeling.

Quick comparison

How to choose

• Choose SDS2 Drafting if your work centers on producing 2D shop drawings and erection placement drawings, and you do not need 3D modeling.
• Choose SDS2 Modeling if your team's priority is building and working with a 3D BIM model, automating connection design, and handling quantities, load planning, and imports/exports — but you do not need drafting deliverables from the package.
• Choose SDS2 Ultimate if you need both drafting and modeling capabilities in one package, including fabrication-ready drawings. SDS2 lists it as the most popular option.

What they share

All three packages build on SDS2 Basic, so the differences above are the additions each tier brings. SDS2 also emphasizes integration across design-to-fabrication workflows — BIM integration, CNC machines, and ERP systems — so it is worth confirming which integrations matter for your setup when comparing packages.

Next steps

SDS2 provides a "Book Demo" option and a "Compare Packages" page for a direct feature-by-feature view. If you want to validate fit before deciding, a demo is the most reliable way to check how each package handles your specific detailing workflow.

SDS2 is steel detailing software for detailers, fabricators, and engineers, and the fastest way to get oriented is to book a demo, compare the three packages (Drafting, Modeling, Ultimate), and then use the training, webinar, and support resources that match your role. This guide walks through each of those steps in the order you'd typically need them, based on what SDS2 publishes on its own site.

Step 1: Book a demo

SDS2's homepage lists Book Demo as a primary call to action, positioned alongside Compare Packages. If you're evaluating the software for a team, the demo is the entry point the vendor itself directs you to before you commit to a package.

What to prepare before the demo, so you get useful answers:

• Your project types — structural steel, miscellaneous steel, stairs and rails, or connections. SDS2's stated coverage spans all of these, so naming yours focuses the walkthrough.
• Your current toolchain — which BIM, CNC, or ERP systems you already run. SDS2 says it connects with existing office and shop software and machines, so this determines which integrations matter to you.
• Your deliverable — 2D shop drawings, a 3D BIM model, or both. This is the single biggest factor in which package fits (see Step 2).

Step 2: Compare the three packages

SDS2 publishes three tiers. The distinction is not "small vs. large" — it's what kind of output you produce.

SDS2 labels Ultimate as its most popular option and describes it as "everything you need to get the job done."

How to choose:

• If your team only produces drawings and doesn't need a 3D model, Drafting covers that.
• If your team builds and coordinates a BIM model but doesn't issue drafting deliverables, Modeling covers that.
• If you need both drawings and modeling — the common case for a full detailing shop — Ultimate is the only tier that includes both, since Drafting and Modeling each exclude the other's core capability.

Note that the site does not publish prices for any tier. Use Compare Packages and the demo to get commercial terms.

Step 3: Explore integrations before you commit

SDS2 states that it integrates with your existing office and shop systems from design through fabrication, specifically naming:

• BIM integration
• CNC machines
• ERP systems

The site frames this as a "unified experience" across automation and connectivity. If your workflow depends on a specific machine or ERP platform, confirm that exact connection during the demo rather than assuming it — the homepage describes the categories, not a named partner list.

Step 4: Get trained

SDS2 offers two training channels:

• Training programs — described as a way to "unlock the full potential of SDS2 for your team," which suggests team-level onboarding rather than only individual self-study.
• Webinars — a library of live and on-demand sessions, positioned as time-saving tips and tricks.

For a new team, a practical sequence is: on-demand webinars first to build baseline familiarity, then structured training for the workflows specific to your package tier.

Step 5: Know where to get support

SDS2 lists a Customer Support channel for "quick assistance and expert solutions," with a Contact Support / Get Started path. This is the route for issues that come up after you're live, as opposed to the pre-sales demo path.

Step 6: Stay current on releases

SDS2 2026 is the current release, described as focusing on brand new features, powerful automation, and customized control, with more detailing speed and design versatility than prior versions. SDS2 also runs a monthly newsletter covering product updates, releases, features, training events, and webinars — the lowest-effort way to track new versions without checking the site.

One practical note from the site itself: the newsletter signup form loads from an external tool (HubSpot), and SDS2 warns that if a "please wait" message persists, your browser has blocked the external form. If that happens, allow the form to load or use a different browser.

Quick reference: which resource for which need

SDS2 is built to connect with the systems steel fabricators and detailers already use, from design through fabrication. According to SDS2, it integrates with BIM platforms, CNC machines, and ERP systems, and it also supports imports and exports. The goal is a unified workflow: model and detailing data move between SDS2 and your office and shop software without manual re-entry. Integration capability varies by package, so check which tier includes the connections you need.

The three integration categories SDS2 names

SDS2 describes its integration coverage in three areas:

• BIM integration — connects SDS2 models with building information modeling workflows, so design and detailing data can be shared rather than rebuilt.
• CNC machines — links detailing output to fabrication equipment, carrying model data into the shop.
• ERP systems — connects with business and production management systems used to run fabrication operations.

SDS2 frames these as a single connected chain: "From design to fabrication, SDS2 connects with your existing software and machines." The stated outcomes are streamlined workflows, higher efficiency, and precision at each stage.

Imports and exports

Beyond named system categories, SDS2 lists Imports/Exports as a feature. This matters when your tools fall outside the BIM/CNC/ERP categories — file-based exchange is the fallback for moving data in and out of the model. Imports/Exports appear in the SDS2 Modeling feature list, not in SDS2 Drafting.

Which package includes integration features

Integration-related capabilities are not identical across the three SDS2 packages. Based on the published package breakdown:

If BIM integration or imports/exports are requirements for your workflow, they are listed under SDS2 Modeling and above. SDS2 Ultimate includes all features across the other tiers.

How to confirm a specific connection works

The site does not publish a named list of supported BIM, CNC, or ERP products, so you cannot verify a specific vendor from the page alone. To confirm your exact stack:

1. Identify which category your system falls into (BIM, CNC, ERP, or other).
2. Check that your chosen package includes the relevant integration feature (see table above).
3. Use the Book Demo or Contact Support options on the SDS2 site to ask about your specific software and machine models.
4. If your tool isn't covered by a direct integration, plan on Imports/Exports as the data path.

What SDS2 does not specify here

The available SDS2 material does not name individual compatible products, version requirements, or file formats for imports/exports. It also does not state pricing or licensing terms for any package. Treat the categories above as the confirmed scope, and verify product-level compatibility directly with SDS2 before committing to a workflow.

SDS2 2026 is the latest release of the SDS2 steel detailing software, and it is now available. According to SDS2, the release focuses on three things: brand-new features, more powerful automation, and customized control. The stated goal is to give detailers more detailing speed and design versatility than previous versions, so teams can take on more work and move through projects faster.

If you are evaluating whether to upgrade or are new to the platform, the sections below break down what the release emphasizes and how it fits into the broader SDS2 product line.

The three focus areas of the 2026 release

SDS2 describes the 2026 version around three themes:

• New features — capabilities that did not exist in earlier releases.
• Powerful automation — more of the repetitive detailing work handled by the software rather than by hand.
• Customized control — users retain the ability to adjust and direct how the software behaves rather than accepting a fixed workflow.

The practical takeaway is that the release is positioned as a productivity upgrade rather than a maintenance patch. SDS2 frames it as "your ticket to success" in an industry that keeps pushing for more output, with the emphasis on doing more at every stage of a project.

What this means for detailing speed and design versatility

SDS2 states that 2026 delivers "more detailing speed and design versatility than ever before." Those two claims map onto the focus areas above:

• Detailing speed comes from the automation improvements — less manual input for routine detailing tasks.
• Design versatility comes from the combination of new features and customized control — more ways to handle non-standard conditions without leaving the tool.

Because the source material does not list individual feature names or version-to-version comparisons, treat these as directional claims from the vendor rather than a feature-by-feature changelog. If you need specifics for your workflow, the most reliable path is to request a demo or review the release notes directly with SDS2.

How SDS2 2026 fits the product lineup

The 2026 release applies across the SDS2 package structure. The packages differ by what they include:

SDS2 Ultimate is marked as the most popular option. If your interest in 2026 is specifically about automation and connection design, the Modeling and Ultimate tiers are where those capabilities live.

Integration context

SDS2 positions itself as connecting to existing office and shop systems — BIM tools, CNC machines, and ERP systems — so that design-through-fabrication workflows stay in one place. The 2026 release sits within that same integration story rather than replacing it. If integration compatibility is a deciding factor for you, confirm the specific systems and versions you rely on before committing.

How to evaluate the release for your team

1. Book a demo — SDS2 offers this as the primary way to see the release in action against your own project types.
2. Compare packages — use the package comparison to confirm which tier contains the automation and modeling features you need.
3. Check training and webinars — SDS2 maintains training programs and a library of live and on-demand webinars, which is a low-cost way to see time-saving tips tied to the new release.
4. Subscribe to the newsletter — SDS2's monthly newsletter covers product updates, releases, features, training events, and webinars.

Common considerations before upgrading

• The source material does not publish pricing, so cost of upgrading to 2026 is not something you can determine from the site alone — contact SDS2 directly.
• The release notes describe direction ("more speed," "more versatility") rather than quantified benchmarks. Ask for specifics relevant to your project mix during a demo.
• If you are on an older version, confirm whether your current integrations and machine outputs are supported in 2026 before scheduling the move.