Lesson09-ModelEnvironExplan

8/14/2019 Lesson09-ModelEnvironExplan

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Training Course Lesson 9 Modeling Environment Explanation

Copyright Tekla Oyj 2000 Page 9-1

Lesson 9 Modeling Environment Tools

Lesson 9 will deal with the use of the commands and tools available in themodeling environment. Most of these items have not previously been coveredwhile completing the training models but are still useful modeling tools.

Useful Modeling Tools and Commands

Construction Lines and Circles 3

Print 3

Nc-dstv 4

Wizard 4

Import/Export 5

Databases 5

Reference DGN Models 6

Joint Basic Views 6

Part Basic views 7

Pick Work Area 7

Partadd 7

Project Properties 8

Phase Number 8

Copy From Model 9

Edit Polygon Shape 10

Edit Bolt Parts 11


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Xsteel Training Course Lesson 9 Modeling Environment Explanation


Select Filter 11

Select Switches 12

Autosave 13

Numbering Setup 14

Preferences 14

Color by Class 15

Load/Save Defaults 15Save defaults 15

Load defaults 15

Measure 16

Unnumber Selected 17

Preliminary Marks 18

Compare Parts/Assemblies 18

Check/Correct Database 19

Check Database (xs_lib) 19

Correct Database (xs_lib) 19

Display Log File 19

Drawing History Log 20

Inquire Assembly 20

Inquire Welded Parts 20

Help 21


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Construction Lines and Circles

Construction lines and circles can be used in laying out the geometry of a model. They arecreated by picking points in the model and they have the same priority as other lines whenusing the point selection tools.You can find the icons at the left screen menu.

1. Construction lines are created between any picked 3d points.2. Construction circles are created by picking a center point and then picking a point on

the circumference.3. Picking three points on the circumference of the required circle creates Construction

circles by 3 points.

Twin Profile

Twin profile creates double beams. The type and orientation of the profiles is defined in theTwin Profiles dialog box.The Twin profile icon is on the left screen menu.

Picking a start point and an end point in the model creates the twin profile.

Orthogonal Beam

The Orthogonal Beam tool creates a beam perpendicular to the work plane. Double click on theicon to open its properties dialog box to set the properties.Start the command by picking the icon on the left screen menu.

Pick a point in the model to create the orthogonal beam.

Print

The print command is accessed from the menu File->Printand can be used to print text filessuch as reports from Xsteel.

Select the print command to open the Printdialog box and use the Browse button to navigateto the file you wish to print.


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Nc Files

This command can be found in the menu at File->CNC->NC files. The command is used tocreate NC (Numeric Control) files and MIS (Manufacturing Information System) list files of all orselected parts. These files are used in the running of automated equipment. For furtherinformation see the on-line help files.

Wizard

The wizard is used for the automated production of assembly and part drawings.

Click the Wizardicon (On the left screen menu.) to open the dialog box.

To create drawings using a wizard:

1. In the model, select the parts that you want drawings of.

Note: Selection filters are set in the wizard so the selection can include partsthat will be excluded from the created drawings.

2. From the wizard dialog box, select the wizard name for the type of drawingsyou want to create.

3. Click the Execute button to create the drawings.


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Import/Export

The import/export functions are used to bring into or output data from the model. The importfeature can import models from other sources. It can also import drawing files created in othersoftware. (These commands are available from the File drop down menu.)

The export function sends data from the model to be used in other models or other softwareapplications.

For additional information on import and export refer to the Xsteel user manual and the on-linehelp files.

Databases

The database commands are used to edit or view the profile, bolt, material, and plotterdatabases. (The databases are available from the File drop down menu.)

In the database dialog box you can modify values and add customized objects to the database.


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Reference DGN Models

Reference models can be used in Xsteel as background pictures. Connected reference modelsare visible in all Xsteel views in which the reference has not been switched off. The origincoordinates can also be defined separately for each model. Xsteel can read Microstation DGNfiles as reference models. Several DGN files can be opened at the same time. Referencemodels are not saved with Xsteel models and should be read separately each time the Xsteelmodel is loaded. Picking of objects in reference models is not possible; however, approximatevalues can be obtained by picking free points. To start the command select File->Referencefrom the top screen menu.

Joint Basic Views

This command creates four views of a picked joint. The work area is set at 1 meter in alldirections. The joint basic views always show all objects. It is not dependent on the currentview property settings. Parts, bolts, and holes are represented in the exact mode.

To start the command either select View->Create view->Joint basic views from the screenmenu and then pick joint symbol, or pick first the joint symbol and right click and select thecommand from the quick menu.

It is also possible to create a perspective joint basic view of several joints by selecting the jointsymbols required right clicking and selecting the command Create view->Basic view from the

quick menu.


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Part Basic views

This command creates four basic views of a picked part. (Front, top, end, and perspectiveviews.) The currently view properties are used. The work area is created around the pickedpart. To start the command either selectView->Create view->Part basic views from the screen menu, or right click and select thecommand from the quick menu.

It is also possible to create a perspective part basic view of several selected parts by rightclicking and selecting the command Create view->Basic view from the quick menu.

Pick Work Area

The work area defines the part of the model that is visible.

Note: The view properties also affect visibility (See the online help section View properties).

The work area is represented on the screen by a green dashed box.

The command Pick work area sizes the work area by picking two points in the model.Restricting the size of the work area speeds up the management of the model and viewsregenerate faster. This is especially true when working with large models. Using the Fit workarea command can enlarge a work area. Either of these commands are started by selectingViewand then the command from the screen menu.

Partadd

The Partaddcommand causes a secondary part to become part of a main part. Theidentification for the added part will be removed at the same time that the part add is created.


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The combination of parts created with command Partaddgets only one mark. The added partis magenta in color.

Partaddcan be used in cases where prefabricated parts may already be connected to themain part when it arrives at the shop. The Partaddcommand can be found underDetailingonthe screen menu.

Project Properties

Project properties dialog box consists of fields as Project number, name, Builder etc. Thesefields can be read into reports and drawing templates. The default values for these fields canbe changed in ...\system\standard.prf You can find Project properties underProperties onthe screen menu.

Phase Number

This dialog box is used for modifying the phases of existing objects.

Open the Phase numberdialog box by selecting Properties->Phase number.The phase number for an object is displayed in the Inquire objectdialog box.


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The parts included in the same assembly will always have the same assembly phase number.If a joint connects parts in different phases, the parts of the joint will be divided into the differentassembly phases. The phase number of the parts of the joint will have the same phase number

as the main part to which they are attached. The assembly phase number is the same as themain part of the assembly.

Copy From Model

The Edit->Copy->From modelcommand copies objects from specific phases from anothermodel. This command can be used when there is more than one person working with the samemodel.


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The Copy from modeldialog box defines the model and the phases to be copied into thecurrent model. The dialog box is very similar the Open modeldialog box.

Edit Polygon Shape

The command modifies the shape of a contour plate or polybeam. To modify the shape of anexisting contour plate:

Pick existing polygon corner (1)Pick new polygon corner positions (2,3)Pick another existing polygon corner (4)Pick corner to remove (5)

It is also possible to use drag and drop to modify the polygon shape:

Select Drag and drop from the Setup menu (Or use short cut key D)Click the polygon corner (1) to active the chamferClick the activated chamfer, hold down the mouse button, and drag thechamfer to the new position (2).Release the mouse button


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Edit Bolt Parts

The command adds or removes parts connected by a bolt or bolt group. The bolt length will beautomatically adjusted.

1. On the screen menu select Edit->Bolt parts.2. Pick a bolt group. The connected parts will be highlighted.3. Pick the parts to be connected. Enter the selection by clicking the middle

mouse button.

Select Filter

The command defines which objects can be selected in the model. Select ability is alsocontrolled with the Select switches. (See the next section on Select switches.) To open thedialog box double click the icon or pick Setup->Select filter.

Note: An object must also be visible to be selectable. It cannot be filtered with the view filtersand be selectable.


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You can load predefined filters by selecting them straight from the drop-down menu in the

toolbar. Another way is to select the predefined filter from Select filter dialog click the Loadbutton and OK.

Filtering keys can also be entered into the text fields. Filtering keys are the exact descriptionused in the model to identify the part. As an example, for a Profile IPE300 is correct ipe300 isnot. Filtering is on when the check box in front of the filtering label is checked. Complementaryfiltering is in effect when the Notbox is checked. Several filters can be applied at the sametime and several keys can be entered into one filter field. Filtering keys can be completestrings, such as the profile name IPE300.They can also be incomplete strings for instancewhen IPE* is entered into the Profile field all of the parts beginning with IPE* are selectable. Ifa multi-key is used the strings should be separated with blank spaces. (IPE* HE*)

Select Switches

There are two sets of switches always visible: select switches and snap settings. (Select filteris described in the preceding section)

Select is the default function in Xsteel. When the Cursor arrowicon, in the top left corner ispressed, the program is in select mode.


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The Select switches are used for defining which object types can be selected. Objects can beselected if the corresponding button is pressed. Select modelobjects and Select jointobjects buttons are on a higher level in the hierarchy. They define which types of objects canbe selected.

All Xsteel commands such as modify, remove, and copy manipulate selected items such asparts, points, and windows. When selected an object is highlighted and a selected window hasa red border.

Note:Commands can be canceled by right clicking with the mouse to open the quick menuand selecting Interrupt. They can also be cancelled with ESCkey or with the Cursoricon.

Autosave

The command defines theAutosave interval. Separate intervals can be defined for thefunctions of modeling and interactive drawing creation and separately for automatic drawingcreation. For modeling and interactive drawing creation the interval is number of menucommands invoked between saves. For automatic drawing creation, it is the number ofdrawings created between saves. A check in the check box in front ofModeland Drawingcontrols whetherAutosave is active for the selected function. Open the dialog box by selectingSetup->Autosave


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Numbering Setup

The Numbering setup dialog box controls how the parts in the model get numbered. Open theNumbering setup dialog box by selectingSetup->Numbering

Included are the options for numbering and how parts are compared for the numbering of likeparts. For a more extensive description of the functions in the Numbering setup dialog boxrefer the Xsteel help file.

Preferences

The Preferences dialog box is used to set some basic defaults to be used in the model. Open

the Preferences dialog box by selectingSetup->Preferences


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Color by Class

Selecting Color by class from the Setup drop down menu turns on the color of the objects inthe model. The class is a number set in the objects properties dialog box and represented by acolor in the model. A class designation is used to further define the objects in the model so thatthey may be more precisely manipulated. Objects may be filtered or selected by class.

The following table is a suggestion as to what to use for classes.

The suggestion not to use RED or YELLOW is because some functions when performed inXsteel use those colors to identify associated parts. Of course, you can assign classes anyway that you want.

Load/Save Defaults

Save defaults

The command saves the current settings in the properties dialog box to be used as defaultsettings next time the dialog box is invoked or even in another session. You would normallysave the defaults with the name standard.

Load defaults

The command loads the earlier saved default settings into the properties dialog boxes. At thestart of the program, this command is invoked automatically.


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Measure

The measure command creates temporary dimensions in the model by picking points. Oncethe view is zoomed, panned, redrawn or updated the dimensions disappear.

The measure commands can be started by picking one of the measure icons or selectingTools->Measure-> from the menu.

From the tools drop-down menu two additional selections are available. TheAngle measure isused to measure the degree of angle. In addition, a Boltmeasure tool will dimension a boltlayout in a selected part.

UC310*97

300PLUS


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Unnumber Selected

This command can be found in the tools menu Tools->Numbering->Unnumber selected. Youselect parts or assemblies and invoke the command to remove the numbering. The parts canthen be numbered as though they have never had a number.


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Preliminary Marks

The Preliminary markcommand can be used to obtain preliminary marks for beams orcolumns for use in reports. You can use preliminary marks for grouping parts that have thesame position or part number. You can check the preliminary mark of the object with the inquireobject command. Start the command by selecting Tools->Numbering->Preliminary marks.

Compare Parts/Assemblies

This command can be used to compare any two assemblies or any two parts to see if they arethe same or different. To use this command you should only select two objects to be compared.If more or less than two are selected Xsteel gives you an error message. When comparingassemblies any part of an assembly can be selected to identify it. The result of the comparisonwill be written at the command line at the top of the screen.Pick Tools->Compare-> Assembliesto start the command.


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Check/Correct Database

Both of the next commands can be found in the Tools drop down menu.

Check Database

Check database does an integrity check on the database. If any inconsistencies are found amessage appears at the command line.

Correct Database

Correct database checks the database; in addition, it corrects any inconsistencies that it finds.You may need to run Correct databaseseveral times to make all of the corrections. You

should then run Check Database to check the results.

Note:It is a good modeling practice to run Check database on a daily basis. This practice isespecially valuable when modeling in Multi user mode. Check-database/Correct databasehelps prevent a build up of potentially fatal database errors.

Display Log File

This command displays the log of the entire modeling session.


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Drawing History Log

This command displays the complete drawing history.Pick Tools->Drawing history logto display.

Inquire Assembly

Pick any part of an assembly in the model. Select Inquire assemblyfrom the Inquire dropdown menu (OR right click for the quick menu.) and the entire assembly will becomehighlighted. The main part is shown in RED and all of the secondary parts are shown inYELLOW.

Inquire Welded Parts

Pick a secondary part and select Inquire->welded parts->to and the part that it is welded towill become highlighted.

Pick any part and select Inquire->welded parts->alland all the parts that are welded will behighlighted.


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Help

Any time you run into a problem in either the modeling environment or the drawing environmenta good source of information are the help files. The macro help files are especially useful forlearning their features and how they work.

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Lesson09-ModelEnvironExplan

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