Tekla PowerFab contains a variety of materials, which are stored in the material database, or the shapes, grades, and sizes library. These materials are the foundation of all material calculations in Tekla PowerFab, and therefore it is extremely important to adjust the material database according to the needs of your company before you start working in Tekla PowerFab.

We recommend that access to the material database is limited to a small number of users who are experienced and familiar with the materials used by your company.

Users with administrator rights need to grant the relevant access rights for other users on the Company Standards tab in File > Administration. See Manage user permissions.

The material database is used to determine the following:

• The material sizes and grades available when creating estimates, purchase orders, and production jobs.
• Material specifications, such as pounds per foot, web and flange thicknesses, and cross-sectional area to provide accurate calculations of piece weights and surface areas.
• Material grade hierarchy to control when alternatives to the specified grade may be utilized.
• Alternative naming conventions for materials to cater variations in nomenclature between different regions, industries, and authoring (detailing) software.
• Material optimization settings, such as kerf and clamping allowances, and restock thresholds to control if remnants are scrapped or go back into inventory.

You can add any materials that you need to the material database. You can also add material items that are not steel, from equipment and consumables to office supplies. Tekla PowerFab accepts a variety of property formats used to assist with material calculations for weights, pricing, and surface area for coating.

For more information, see Pricing maintenance.