Steel Detailing System |
Contents:
A.5 Wall Bearing Angles: Types
A.6 Wall Bearing PLates: Types
B.7 Anchor Bolts:
Typical Section
SolidStructural is an application for
creating 3DSOLID
models of steel structures and stairs, AUTO generated drawings: SHOP DRAWINGS OF PIECE DETAILS, STEEL PLANS, ELEVATIONS, GRIDS, ANCHOR BOLTS SETTING PLANS
in AutoCAD and automatically updated REPORTS.
System requirements: MS Access
2000 (or higher) and ACAD2002 (or higher).
Help files are located in Help folder: this file and STAIRS-help.htm
Additional links:
http://www.nyacad.com/Movies.htm
http://www.nyacad.com/SolidStructural09.htm
http://www.nyacad.com/AcadOffice.html
http://www.nyacad.com/SolidStructuralTutorials/SolidStructural-Tutorials.html
SolidStructural
Forms:
http://www.nyacad.com/SS06Interface.htm
This program is a valuable
tool for everyone involved in steel construction: detailers, steel fabricators,
estimators, structural engineers etc. This software was designed for individual
detailers and small fabrication shops as an alternative to expensive 3D steel
systems which are not effective for small projects and renovation types of
jobs. SolidStructural is very flexible for design changes; it is the cheapest
software in the family of 3D Steel packages and has short learning curve.
SolidStructural is distributed in two ways:
WITH
or WITHOUT
auto detailing module. See additional information on our web site http://www.nyacad.com/
Notes:
and
read the following instructions:
Setting AutoCAD:
Start AutoCAD and configure
your support path information to include the directory: C:\ SolidStructural\Support
To do it type at the command
prompt: options. Then in “Options”
dialog window press tab “Files”,
select “Support File Search Path”,
press button “Add…”, then “Browse…” to locate folder C:\SolidStructural\Support
Next step (for AutoCAD
versions prior to 2007): Click on tab System
to setup transparent mode of 3D model
Press button Properties… (in
section Current 3D Graphics Display)
Make a setting
as shown on picture below
Skip transparency and rendering setting for AutoCAD2007 or
higher. Use Visual Style commands
for different representation of 3D Model. (Read the corresponding AutoCAD2007
Help topics)
Next include file SolidStructural.lsp in ACAD Startup Suite. To
do it type at the command prompt: appload
Then press
button “Contents…”.
In the next window press button “Add…” and browse to find folder C:\SolidStructural\Support
Click on the file SolidStructural.lsp in that
folder.
Close all windows.
Change toolbar button macro for open and
qsave
commands (to avoid manual restoring filedia system variable value to 1) :
^C^C_fi1;open
^C^C_fi1;qsave
Configuring MS Access
Start MS Access. Open any existing database (*.mdb or *.mde file) or create new blank database anywhere on your PC as shown
below:
MS Access Menu-File-New…
Select Blank
database…
Accept db1.mdb
name and click on Create...
Go to menu
Tools
Options…
Click on “Keyboard”
tab and set options as shown below:
Press OK.
Additional
setting for MS Access2003 or higher
In menu Tools…Macro…Security…
Select Low
security level, as shown below
Close MS Access.
1. Make sure AutoCAD is running and you have any
active drawing on the screen (e.g. Drawing1.dwg).
Double click on file Sample.mde
Main form shows up.
Recommended steps for beginners in
SolidStructural
1.
Read B. Output section
2.
The database Sample contains preliminary developed structure.
Perform output procedures (Lessons 3 to
6) shown on tutorials page (download videos on your hard drive): http://www.nyacad.com/SolidStructuralTutorials/SolidStructural-Tutorials.html
Try to follow inputs shown on the screen. You always can stop video or
play back.
3.
Try to
experiment with output: produce different plans, views, details etc. Learn, how
to preview 3D model. Try to add new submaterials (angles, plates) and modify
connections in database.
Your next step – working on new project.
HOW
TO ADD NEW PROJECT:
·Copy folder (_BlankDB) and paste it under C:\SolidStructural\Projects\
·Give a name for the new
project (rename new folder) and specify a new name for database (MS Access .mde
file).
·Open .mde (MS Access file) in the root
of new folder
·In main form click on
button ‘Clean
DB’
· Check option buttons and
click on
‘Delete Records’
· Go back to Main form and
press button ‘Update’
Remarks:
: \ / * ?<>| and .(period).
: \ / * ?<>|
Also don’t use single character for
marking, such as plate mark a
Example: You decided to rename base
plate bp1
to pa1
and you have already column with base plate bp1. In this case just add new plate
in ‘Base Plate’ form called pa1. Then go to ‘Column’ form and for columns with
base plate bp1 select
from combo
When two beams are framing into column
or girder from opposite directions (type or connection: clip angles), the
combinations of ends must be as shown on picture: Left End - Right End
Left
End - Left End or Right End - Right End won’t work.
·If while using
SolidStructural ‘Open’ or ‘Save’ dialog windows in AutoCAD will disappear, then
enter in the AutoCAD command prompt: RV to fix the
problem
·In form Edit Beam when
you are getting message shown below always click on Save Record button
When you have Project Structure-08
opened, first you have to setup default properties of the project. Press button
“Setup”.
Notes:
1.
Field “Distance to steel face”
represents the typical distance from the end
of the beam to the surface of supporting member.
2.
Field “North. Value in
this field represents degrees. 0 (zero): North direction – East; 90
North direction – North; 180: North direction – West; 270:
North direction – South.
3.
Wide Gage Typ. Ang or Narrow Gage Typ. Ang: these fields used in Auto Clip Angles procedure. Type
one character (e.g. X) in Wide Gage Typ. Ang
field. And then after applying Auto Clip Angles procedure wide gage clip angles
will get mark X1,
X2, X3… depending from the depth of the beam. The same system for
narrow gage and continuous beams’ clip angles. Before applying Auto Clip Angles
procedure the clip angles must be entered in Clip Angles Form.
Grid:
Remark: Working with
grids (establishing location of nodes and distances between grid lines) can be
a tedious task in case you have a project with several floors and beam pattern is
not identical for different floors. This is the problem for all steel detailing
software (not only for SolidStructural). In complicated cases you can split big
project into small parts.
Example: you project is 6 floors building. Create 1st
project including only columns of the project. Next copy 1st project
in order to in new 2nd project on having columns in database layout
beams of the 1st and 2nd floors (keep columns’ grid lines
and add lines for beams of 1st and 2nd floors). In third
project copied from 2nd you delete (or edit) beams of 1st
and 2nd floors, create the grid for 3rd and 4th
floors and layout beams of these floors and so on. Using this method you can
simplify your work (less nodes and distances between grid lines).
-------------------------------------------------------------------
In main form click button
“Grid”. New form pops up.
Click button “Input” in it. After that you can see on the
screen 2 forms: “Grid: Vertical Lines” and “Grid: Horizontal Lines”. Fill in
data as shown on the picture below:
Type “A” in field “Name in
DB”, press Enter, type “B”, press Enter and so on. Then you fill out distances
between horizontal grid lines.
Remark: in both forms (“Vertical lines” and “Horizontal
lines” first row in field “Dist. to next” must be 0 (zero).
In above picture (see form ‘Grid: Vertical Lines’)
the distance 6’10
represents distance between “B” and “A” vertical grid lines and 3’
the distance between “C” and “B” lines.
Close forms (click on the cross on the right upper corner of the
form). If you need to remove or add (in regard with cursor location) grid line,
then press the corresponding button. Example: you need to add new grid line B1 between A and B lines
(distance from A
and B1
is 6”). Place cursor into the record B field ‘Name in DB’ (form ‘Grid: Vertical
Lines’). Click on button ‘Add Record Above’. Type: B1. Next press Tab on keyboard.
Type 6.
You just added new grid
line. Now delete this record using button (we don’t need this line for our structure).
Remarks:
1. In case you have already beams or columns in database
be careful with renaming or deleting of grid lines in “Grid” forms, because it
could destroy the database.
If you need to edit or delete grid lines’
names:
Following this sequence of command will
prevent you from severe error.
2. Try to avoid using in Database grid lines names
like A.5
or G1.2
etc. Real names for grids as per your contract drawings could be assigned then
(see the following paragraph)
3. If you edited or deleted records in Input
grid forms (‘Grid: Vertical Lines’ and ‘Grid: Horizontal Lines’), you have to
perform drafting of grid (see the following explanations).
Press button “Draw Grid” in small form “Grid”. In
opened Main Grid form (see picture below) select scale, check lines you wish to
be present in your drawing (use pairs of buttons for check-uncheck) and assign
drawing name for grid. Now you can assign real grid name in field “DWG Name”.
After that press button “Draw Grid”. Additional options in form “Grid” –
locking and unlocking of grid layers (the ones with name “Grid…”) can be used when you have “Grid” drawing
as an active drawing. On Pressing button “Lock grid” you can get better
conditions to continue development of your drawing (ACAD entities on locked
layers cannot be affected by selection). If you need to edit grid, then press
button “UNlock grid”. You also have an option what to show on drawing: database
Grid name (option button “Show DB Name”) or contract drawings’ grid name
(option “Show real name”). In current release you are able to draw the grid
with grid lines bubbles located on both left and right or top and bottom sides.
After grid is completed
press button “Main Form”.
Remark: All grid items are placed
on separate layers, so you can make any of them invisible by freezing (layers
named “Grid…”).
Press button “Elevations”
in main form. Assign ID levels (integers only!) and elevations. Do not allow ‘ID
levels’ duplication. You can assign any number of levels (Field ‘Elev. (Inch.)’
is used for information only, no input here). Fill in data as shown below:
Rectangular
Plates
Press button “Rect. Plate” in main form.
Fill out data of base
plates. Do not allow plate mark duplication (while working in this form read
help string in the lower left corner of MS Access window).
In this form as well as in
other forms for adding submaterials (shear, moment plates, clip angles etc.)
you can create customized submaterial by using LOCK option.
You first create regular submaterial (Create
3D plates button). Then open drawing of 3D submaterial in corresponding
folder (for rect. plates it is BasePLates
folder), make necessary changes. For instance using 3D Modify AutoCAD commands
you can add holes, add chamfer etc. Next you save the drawing, open form Rect.
Plates and select Yes in ‘
You can use plates with no
holes (check field “
Locations of holes may be
symmetrical or nonsymmetrical.
Remarks:
1. To facilitate input use the button “Duplicate
Record” and TAB on keyboard.
2. If you have edited, deleted or added records,
press button “Create
3D plates” before leaving the form.
Shear & Stiffener Plates
Press button “Shear Plates” in main form.
Fill out data of shear
plates (use button “Show picture” for graphical explanations).
Do not allow plate mark
duplication.
Remarks:
1.
To facilitate input use the button “Duplicate Record” and
TAB on keyboard.
2.
If you have edited, deleted or added records, press button “Create 3D plates”
before leaving the form.
3.
For stiffener plates (no holes) enter 0 (zero) in field Rows
Backing Bars
Press button “Backing Bars” in main form.
Enter data.
Remarks:
4.
To facilitate input use the button “Duplicate Record” and
TAB on keyboard.
2. If you
have edited, deleted or added records, press button “Create 3D plates” before leaving
the form.
Moment & Splice Plates
Press button “Spl. & Mom. PL” in main form.
Enter data.
Remarks: 1. To facilitate input use the button “Duplicate
Record” and TAB on keyboard.
2. If you
have edited, deleted or added records, press button “Create 3D plates” before leaving
the form.
Click button “Clip Angles”
in main form. Select material and type of clip angle; assign piece mark, number
of rows (horizontal) and columns (vertical) for both web and OSL, distances
between holes, long leg location and bolt diameter. The length of clip angle
will be determined automatically. Do not pay
attention the picture on form shows clip angle with 2 columns of holes. To
specify number of columns enter 1 (or 2) in ‘Bolt Columns WEB’ or ‘Bolt Columns
OSL’.
To add in Database anchor
angles for wall
bearing beams just type length (e.g. 3Ѕ) of anchor angle (field
“Length” in lower left part of the form).
If you have edited, deleted
or added records, then press button “Create 3D
Angles” before leaving the form. The program will create ACAD file
containing all clip angles from database.
Remarks:
A.5 Wall Bearing Angles: Types
Press button “Wall/b Ang.” in main form. In opened form you
can specify design for wall bearing beams: the number of angles and their
location.
A.6 Wall Bearing PLates:
Types
Press button “
Push button ‘Show Picture’ to get more information.
Press button “Columns”
in main form. Enter names of nodes and shapes (W, TS and Pipes shapes only) by
selecting them from the lists. Assign column rotation, degrees (W-shape web or
TS long wall horizontal = 0 degree, W-shape web or TS long wall vertical = 90 degree). Select top and bottom IDlevels
(adjust elevations by putting numbers in fields Top (+/-) and Btm (+/-)). Add
base and cap plates; assign column name which is a column piece mark as well
(optional), plate’s rotation and steel grade. Field “Status” used for reports. To
exclude column material from report assign “Existing” value.
Remark:
In all forms you can sort or filter records. Place
cursor in field you wish to sort or select contents of field you wish to filter
and press the corresponding button in toolbar:
In main
form press button “Beams”.
Fill out beam nodes, shapes (W, TS, C and MC shapes
only) and Toe direction (for C and MC shapes – “Inside” or “Outside”, for W or
TS put “0” - zero). Put beam reference elevation (field (+/-) Elev.).
For sloped beams enter value in field (+/-) RG End in reference to Left end. Example: for sloped beam Left
end working point (elevation) is 2” above level 1 and right end is 5 1/2”
above level 1. Right end is 3 ½” higher than left end. Enter 3 ½” in (+/-) RG End field.
Assign ID Layer (new or existing beam, visible or
invisible). Accordingly to ID Layer different linetypes and colors for sticks
representing beams on framing plan will be used. Apply status: new or existing
member.
To
speed up input use button ‘Duplicate records’ or double click in fields ‘Right
End’ or ‘Shape’.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After input is completed press button “Update”.
The program will automatically calculate beam and column lengths (all beam
lengths will be rounded to ј”), make end preparations etc.
Adding
clip angles
to beams could be made by using:
- Auto regime.
Press button “Auto
Clip Angles” and the program will add for beam-to-beam,
beam-to-column connections and continuous beams clip angles (BS) as per your
assignment in “Setup”
form (e.g. clip angles with marks X… or S…)
or
- Manually by
using form “Edit
Beam” (see the following explanations).
Click on “Beam
Select Beam, plates for connection, distances. Define
rotation of the plates (depending on the design of the plate in Spl. & Mom.
Plates form). You can select any combination of the plates (e.g. web plates
only). Use duplicate record button to assign beam splice connection for other
beams.
Click on “Add Materials” button in main form.
Click on “Welded Angles” button in main form.
|
Select Beam, angle, distances. Angles used in this
form should be present in Angles form. Define rotation of the angles: 0
(zero) – attached angles have web toe down (deck or plank support); 180 – web
toe UP (lintels); 90 – web toe towards right end of the beam; -90 - web toe
towards left end of the beam. You can specify any rotation angle (15, -30, 45
etc.) and array (several columns and rows). |
Press button “Edit Beam” in main form.
To navigate in this form select beam from the list
“Find Beam”.
In opened form edit (if it is necessary) left or
right end dist. to steel face, thereby setbacks and beam length will be
changed. If you would like to keep from changes user’s set back, check box next
to Dist. to steel face (the corresponding label switches from Auto to User).
You can also change sizes of copes and keep them form
changes (check the corresponding box).
Clip angles: Assign clip angle piece mark (use TAB) for both ends,
top of clip angles; adjust distance from center line to first hole on OSL (can
be saved as user’s: check the corresponding box).
Shear Plates: Select plate mark, side, top distance and bolt grade
(text box next to bolt dia. on the form).
Weld Moment conn.
|
Check box for top or (and) bottom flange, select
backing bar. You also might need to change the length of cope (make user’s
size of cope in order to prevent changes while next update) or distance to steel
face. Use 3D model or draw plan or elevation view to define exact sizes of
copes or distance to steel face for this type of connection. |
Flange preparation.
|
You can specify cut wide or cut flush operation for
top and bottom flanges of beam. For the framing condition when beam frames
into the web of W-flange column, the sizes of cuts will be defined by the
program automatically. You can change auto design and make it user’s (check
the box as shown in the picture): change the sizes of cuts or assign cut
flush operation. |
Moment Plates: Select top and (or) bottom plate mark, gap (distance
from plate to beam flange), bolt grade and specify weld.
Rotation of the plate: As is means: there is no rotation, the plate will be attached to
the column the way it was added to Spl. & Mom. Form, left end of the plate
will be directed towards left end of the beam; Rot. 180: left end of the plate will be directed towards right end
of the beam ; Opp.: the plate will
be attached to the column the way it was added to Spl. & Mom. Form then
mirrored left end of the plate will be directed towards right end of the beam.
Example: you assigned identical
moment plates (not symmetrical) for both ends of the beam. You use As is rotation for left end and Rot. 180 or Opp. for right end.
In fields “W/bear Type” you can select type of wall
bearing angles for left and right ends. Choose wall bearing plates (if
necessary). If you decide to use shear plate connection, assign shear plate
parameters (see bottom of the form). Do not allow duplication of connection,
assigned for end of the beam (e.g. both clip angles and shear plate for left
end or both wall bearing anchor angles and clip angles).
Remarks:
-
Every time after making changes in design
of your steel structure WHICH WILL AFFECT THE FRAMING CONDITIONS (grid
distances, elevations, beam or column shape sizes or editing clip angles) you
have to press button “Update”.
-
Some times you need to apply Update
procedure second time: in case, when 3D model doesn’t reflect your input
(missed bolts, wrong elevation of column etc.)
In case you are almost
finished with design (all inputs in “Grids”, “Plates”, “Angles”, “Columns” and “Beams”
forms done; you applied already “Update” procedure) and in “Edit Beam” form you
are making changes which will NOT AFFECT THE FRAMING CONDITIONS such as
assign different angle piece mark, change top of angles, change connection side
(NS instead BS), distance to steel face, size of copes or distance from center
line to first hole on OSL you DO NOT need to apply “Update”. If you just opened
any of the forms, looked through the records, didn’t perform any editing
operations, you DO NOT need to apply “Update”.
-
To facilitate input buttons “Duplicate record” added
in forms.
-
Use copy and paste operations to copy several records
(e.g. for copying of typical floors)
How
to copy floor: select records, press “Ctrl”
+ C and go to new record row (marked with asterisk) then press “Ctrl” + V. After that change levels of new beams
(“IDlev” field)
-
If you need to make a global editing of records use
“Filter by Selection” button in toolbar in combination with “Replace” button (read
MS Access Help).
-
There is an Error handling procedure to prevent from
duplicating beams or columns, There is NO Error handling for partial
overlapping of beams (e. g. beams 1-A1A3 and 1-A1A2 are partially overlapped).
If you have in database beams as above-mentioned the program will produce an
error. Try to avoid this situation.
-
You are able to cut out beam end (put positive number
in “Dist. to steel face” field) or lengthen (negative number). Again, if you
need to keep from changes value, entered in field “Dist. to steel face”, check
box next to this field. Try to assign user’s set backs at the end of work on
your project due to update procedure of database, containing user’s set backs,
takes longer time.
Press button “Edit Column” in main form.
In Edit Column form you can add beam stiffeners at column locations and add bolts for connection of base (cap) plates and beam flanges. To do it select column, beam above (below), select 'stiffeners’ system. The program calculates parameters of stiffeners and adds them in form. You can edit those parameters. When you close Edit Columns form, SolidStructural automatically assigns stiffeners piece marks: pf1, pf2, pf3 etc.
Note: There is no special form for adding stiffeners at column locations. Other stiffeners - use Shear plates form.
When you create 3D Model, the program generates 3D plates (stiffeners defined in Edit Column form). Location of drawings - StifPLates folder of current project.
When you generate drawings of beams, the program produces beams sections with stiffeners automatically (StifPLates folder).
If you produced and finished editing of beam drawings with beams sections with stiffeners, in order to save time, you can turn off auto generation of stiffeners sections : form Setup - check Skip Sections?
Remark:
There is no auto update procedure for beam
stiffeners. If the size (shape) of beam above (below) was changed, then you have
to open the form “Edit Column” and press button “Update Records” with following
Update in Main form
First open report “Beam Groups” (press corresponding button in Reports
section). Printed report can help you in grouping and assigning beams’ piece
marks.
Next click on Piece
Marks button in Main form
MS Access
ShortCut |
Action |
Description |
F11 |
Open database window |
View Tables and Queries |
F2 |
Select entire field |
|
Ctrl + F |
Find |
|
Ctrl + H |
Replace |
|
On pressing this button in main form 3D Solid model of your structure
will be created.
In opened form (see picture
below) depending on the type of project - with or without stairs - click on appropriate button.
Add Bolts, Cope Beams Ends
as well as Update weight options:
uncheck these options (especially at the beginning of your work on 3D model,
when you are not planning to produce final drawing) to shorten the time of
creation of 3D Model.
You could navigate 3D Model
using ACAD toolbars “View” or “3D Orbit”. Generation of 3D model is a time
consuming procedure. Wait until message box “100% done!” will show up.
For previewing 3D Model you
can use different modes available from toolbar ‘Shade’ (AutoCAD prior to 2007)
or Visual Styles (ACAD2008 or higher)
Transparent representation
of 3D – shortcut TR+ (undo
transparency shortcut TR-).
Other shortcuts:
ZZ –3D orbit
`2 – (back slash and 2) Visual Style - 2d wireframe
`R – (back slash and R) Visual Style - Realistic
Press button “Framing Plan” in Main form
.
In opened form select level, check box “Yes” if you need to put reference
beam elevation on plan, use alsoother options and press button “Draw 2D Plan”.
Click on ‘Plan View’ button.
Select Level, check box “Yes” if you need to put reference beam elevation
on plan and assign distances to clipping planes. Front distance defines upper
clipping plane elevation and back distance defines lower clipping plane
elevation.
In order to prevent user’s errors the message boxes
similar to shown below are used.
Example 1: 1st level elevation = 8’-0”. If you put 5” as the front distance and –10Ѕ ”
as the back distance 3D model will be sliced at elevations 8’-5” and 7’-1Ѕ”.
The drawing will show all members between these elevations as 2D shapes.
Example 2: 2nd level elevation = 16’-1”. If you put -4Ѕ ” as the front distance and -11’-0Ѕ ”
as back distance 3D model will be sliced at elevations 15’-9Ѕ
” and 5’-0Ѕ”. The drawing will
represent all members between these elevations as 2D shapes.
Select Grid line from the list, check box “Yes” if you need to put
reference beam elevation, assign distances to clipping planes. Front distance
defines closest clipping plane location and back distance defines farthest
clipping plane location.
Example: Grid line 1 is a horizontal line with Y coordinate = 0’-0”. If
you put 5” as the front distance and 6’-0” as the back distance the 3D model will be sliced
by horizontal planes at Y coordinates 5” and 6’-0” respectively. The drawing will represent all members
between these elevations as 2D shapes. If you have chosen FRONT view the 3D
model will be sectioned at a front clipping plan (see picture below).
If you have chosen REAR view the 3D model will be sectioned at back
clipping plan (see picture below).
Select Grid line from the list, check box “Yes” if you need to put
reference beam elevation and assign distances to clipping planes. Front
distance defines RIGHT clipping plane location and back distance defines LEFT clipping
plane location.
Example 1: Grid line A is a vertical line with X coordinate = 6’-0”. If
you put 6’ as the front distance and -5’ as the back distance the 3D model will be sliced
by vertical planes at X coordinates 12’ and 1’-0” respectively. The drawing
will represent all members between these planes as 2D shapes.
Start new drawing using file SolidStructural.dwt (folder
C:\Solidstructural\Support) as a template.
Remark: In order to draw anchor bolt plan you have to have the
drawings with 3D plates (see section A.3. Base Plates)
Press button “A/B Plan”
in main form. In opened form select scale and text style.
Press button “Draw Columns”, then button
“Add Plates”. You can suppress visibility of
base plate’s contour by selecting “No” in
combo box “
Remark: for better performance of
your drawing you can exaggerate columns with plates. Put any number bigger then
1 in text box “Exaggerate, times”. Columns and plates will be scaled using coefficient
you put in that text box.
To add anchor bolt
dimension press the corresponding button.
On pressing this button the
new form for drafting of typical base column detail with anchor bolts will show
up. Select column from combo box, assign parameters, select scale, give the
name for drawing and press button “Draw Anchor Bolt
Detail”. If you need to draw anchor bolt with no hook just type 0 (zero)
for length of hook. In this form you have options for showing either flange or
web of the column and whether or not to show straps.
Set auto detailing options in Setup form. Drawings of beams
will be stored in folder BeamDetails and columns in folder ColumnDetails of current project.
General notes:
If you have chosen One Det/Sheet option in Setup form you will get completed drawings (11x17 size for
beams and 18x24 for columns) including title block and bill of material.
First, you need to edit information in title block.
Open drawing _Stamp.dwg
(folder Xrefs under your current project directory) and add your
current project data. You also can make a page setup (use plot style SolidStructural.ctb
file found under C:\SolidStructuralSupport\ folder)
If you selected ‘No’ (several details per a sheet) in Setup form, the program will create two files: the
first is the drawing of member (e.g. B1.dwg),
the second one is the Bill of Material with suffix ‘-BOM’
(e.g. B1-BOM.dwg). To compose sheet with
several members you can insert drawings of piece details as blocks or attach
them as XReferences. You can use as a template drawing PieceDetail-Template.dwg found in folder Drawings
under your current project directory. That drawing has XReferenced
border:
C:\SolidStructural\Projects\Structure-08\Xrefs\Border24x36.dwg
and inserted block with attributes called DWG-INFO.
In folder Drawings you also can find the following drawings:
·ErectionPlan-Template.dwg –
template for erection drawings
·E1.dwg – first floor steel
framing plan of structure used in demo version. The core of the drawing was
created in auto regime in SolidStructural. Then manually was added the north
symbol, title, titleblock and grid. You decide how much time you need to
finalize this drawing as well as the other drawing:
·B1.dwg – drawing of beam
details (members of demo version of SolidStructural).
To start auto detailing Press button “Select” in main
form
Select beams (columns) from “Select”
form and click on button “Done”. You can
select by holding left button of the mouse and moving mouse down or
combination: mouse + Control or Shift.
After that click on the corresponding button “Go!” in main form.
Remarks:
1.
Each drawing of member contains two blocks, which could be
used for final editing of drawings. Block ‘0’ (zero): insert this block at point 0,0
to show 3 more views of beam (top view, top flange only and bottom flange only)
or 3 more views of column. Block ‘A’: 3D model of member.
2.
Scale for columns drawings can be assigned in Setup
form. Scale for beams assigned individually in Piece Marks form.
3.
If you make first time auto detailing after your structure
is built or after you have made a changes in your design, Uncheck box “Skip sections”. In
this case, the program will create sections of beams, which will be used in
drawings. If you just changed scale of drawing or need to recreate drawings of
beams, you can Check
box “Skip sections” to save time.
In case column (beam) doesn’t fit the border, you can
use different methods:
A. Overwrite dimensions and Stretch (use this
method if you are not expecting any changes in design and you are ready to send
drawings for fabrication).
B. Use PaperSpace ViewPort (use this
method in case the drawing produced by SolidStructural is not complete: you are
planning to add holes or materials to the drawing or even re-detail the drawing
of member). Use ‘QuickViewPort’ application to add new ViewPorts (shortcut: QV).
How it works. For auto detailing you have
selected ‘NO’
in ‘One Det. Per Sheet’ combo box (e.g. columns
F1 and F5). Drawings of columns are stored in ColumnDetails
folder. In this case you will have two drawing for each column: first is
drawing of the column (F1.dwg) and second is BOM of this column (F1-BOM.dwg). You
open template, prepared for this project or use the drawing PieceDetail-Template.dwg found under Drawings folder of your current project directory.
Save template as e.g. C-1 (better use dash symbol, because you can have column
with the name C1). Next you attach XReferences (shortcut XR) or insert drawings of the members into current
drawing. After you have made sheet composition and closed drawing containing
several members, you always can go back to drawing of member, edit it or even
send it for auto detailing again and your drawing C-1.
dwg will be automatically updated (maybe you will need only make minor
changes in ViewPorts).
Remark: Above-mentioned drawing PieceDetail-Template.dwg contains ViewPort (scale
1”=1’-0”). Leave this ViewPort as it is, if your columns (beams) details are
detailed in 1” scale, otherwise delete that ViewPort (you’ll add new ViewPorts
with the help of ‘QuickViewport’ program)
You have at your disposal automatically updated
reports: “Cutting List”, “Steel Summary”, “Plates”, “Angles”, “Bolts” (three
types of reports) and “Nodes”. Information from report “Beam Groups” could be
used for piece marks assignment. Report “Order Steel” is based on user’s input.
You can filter data in reports (use the button “Change Filter”).
Reports’
data can be transferred to MS Excel or MS Word (press the corresponding
button in toolbar).
This module gives you
possibilities to:
·
Make calculations using any formats of numbers;
·
Solve triangles;
·
Have at your disposal database of structural shapes (more
than thousand shapes in registered copy of program) with fast search;
·
Select and print W- shapes data;
·
Use clipboard to transfer text or numbers in Autocad or
other applications.
To launch module press button “Calcshapes” in main
form
1. Calculator
In order to make
calculations you have to enter numbers in field [1]
using formats:
o
architectural (5’-4 11/16 or 12’-3 7/8
or 10’ etc.);
o
fractional (14 5/16 or 1 3/16 or 13/128
or 156/1793 etc.);
o
decimal (14.55 or 0.001 etc.)
After putting number in [1] press TAB key, put number in field [2],
press TAB, type in combo box (yellow box between [1] and [2] – see picture) “+”or “-“or “/“or “x“ or “sqr“ (square root of number [1]) or “pow” ([1]^2),
press TAB.
The “TOTAL” fields represent result of
calculations in various formats. Decimal representation of result of
calculation gets into clipboard of your computer and in the field “Clipboard”. Button “CLEAN”
makes fields [1] and [2] equal 0.
2. Triangles
Fill out numbers in fields [1] and [2] ([1] must be less
than [2]) and then press button “BEVEL”. Results: angle, hypotenuse of triangle
and bevel.
3. Database of shapes
This part of module is
database of structural shapes. You can select shape in combo box named “Full name” by typing W8x31
or in combo box “Short name” type W831, or in “W-SHAPES”
– just type 831 (last combo box – only for
W-shapes search, this is the fastest way to select).
On pressing buttons “1” or
“2” (see picture below) shape data (depth,
web etc.) get into calculator – fields [1] or [2] respectively
Example: define thickness of fill plate for splice connection of columns
W12x87 and W12x65.
·
Select (or type) in [W-SHAPES] 1287,
press button “1” next to field [Depth];
·
Select in [W-SHAPES] 1265,
press button “2” next to field [Depth];
·
Type “-“ in yellow field
of Calculator, press TAB on keyboard;
·
Enter number 2 in field
[2] , press TAB, type or select “/” and press
“Enter”.
At the beginning a new job it is helpful to have printed
shapes data. Press button “SELECT SHAPES” then
move from the list to list desirable shapes and press button “Done”. Select form will be closed. Next press button “OPEN Report with Selected Shapes” for preview and
print.
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