In this example you create a data file that contains information on cell diameter and cell spacing. Then you edit the custom component to read the information from the data file. As a result, when you change the beam profile, cell diameter and spacing are changed accordingly.
The example consists of the following sections:
Opening the cell beam part in custom component editor (p. 101) Creating a data file (p. 102)
Creating variables to control cell diameter and spacing (p. 103)
A custom part creates a group of objects which may contain connections and details.
A custom part does not get any component symbol. A custom part has the same position properties as a beam.
Testing the cell beam part (p. 108)
Opening the cell beam part in custom component editor
Use the custom component editor to modify the cell beam part.
To open the cell beam part in the custom component editor:
1. Right-click the cell beam part in the model.
2. Select Edit Custom Component in the list.
The custom component editor opens showing the custom component editor toolbar, the component browser and four views of the custom component.
Before you start, ensure that you have the example model Cell_Beam open.
Creating a data file
Create a data file that contains information on hole diameter and spacing. When you use a data file, you do not need to save a lot of information in the component itself. You can store the data file in a central location and update the information easily.
To create a data file:
1. Open a standard text editor.
2. Enter the information as shown below.
First column is the beam profile, second column is the hole diameter and third column is the hole spacing.
3. Save the data file with the extension .dat in the model folder.
Creating variables to control cell diameter and spacing
Create variables and use functions to read cell diameter and spacing values from the data file.
To create the variables:
1. Click the Display variables button to open the Variables dialog box.
2. Click Add three times to create three variables.
3. Enter names for the variables in Label in dialog box.
4. Change Formula to IPE300 and Value type to Profile for variable P3.
5. Change Formula of variable P1 to =fVF("Cell.dat", P3, 2)
Enter a space at the end of each row. Otherwise the information is not read correctly.
The variables created by the user get the prefix P (parameter).
The value is read from the data file automatically. The logic is the following:
6. Change Formula of variable P2 to =fVF("Cell.dat", P3, 3)
7. Select the part cut in the custom component editor to highlight it in the custom component browser.
8. Right-click Profile under Part cut in the custom component browser and select Add Equation in the list.
File name of the data file
Key value of the row (in this example, the key value is read from variable P3)
Column number
9. Enter "D"+P1.
Variable P1 is now linked to the part cut profile (cell diameter).
This means that the profile gets value D150 with the current variable values.
10. Link variable P2 to dist_between_elem under Component in the custom component browser.
Variable P2 is now linked to the cell spacing.
Creating variables to control the cell position
Bind the part cut to the beam to create the variables that control the cell position.
To create the variables:
1. Select the cut in a custom component editor view.
2. Hold down the Alt key and use area selection (left to right) to select both cut handles.
3. Right-click and select Bind to Plane in the list.
4. Select Component planes in the custom component editor toolbar.
5. Move the pointer over the beam end to highlight it.
6. Click the beam end to bind the handles.
Dimensions appear in the custom component editor views.
7. Bind the cut handles to the component center plane.
8. Change Visibility of the new distance variables to Hide.
You have created the variables to control the cell position.
Creating a variable to control the number of cells
Create a variable and link it to the Array of objects (29) component to control the number of cells.
To create the variable:
1. Click Add to create a new variable in the Variables dialog box.
2. Change Formula and Label in dialog box for the new variable.
3. Link variable P4 to number_of_arrays under Component in the custom component browser.
You have created the variable that controls the number of cells.
Linking a variable to the beam profile
To link the variable:
1. Right-click Profile under Part in the custom component browser.
2. Select Add Equation in the list.
3. Enter P3.
Variable P3 is now linked to the beam profile.
Testing the cell beam part
To test the cell beam part:
1. Save the cell beam part in the custom component editor.
2. Close the custom component editor.
3. Double-click a cell beam part to open the dialog box.
The value is P4-1, because the total number of cells is the number of arrays + the original part cut.
2.7 Nested custom connection
In this example you create a nested custom connection that consists of a beam, a column and a system component End Plate (144). The system component has a large number of options in its dialog box. By creating a nested custom connection, you can select which options are shown in the custom connection dialog box and thus make it easier to use the connection.
The example consists of the following sections:
Creating custom connection objects (p. 109) Defining the custom connection (p. 110)
Opening the custom connection in custom component editor (p. 112) Creating variables (p. 115)
Linking variables to control the plate properties (p. 116) Linking variables to control the bolt properties (p. 117) Testing the nested custom connection (p. 121)
Creating custom connection objects
You can also enter values for the cell diameter and cell spacing in the dialog box to overwrite the values that are read from the data file.
Create a new model before creating custom connection objects.
To create the custom connection objects:
1. Create a steel column.
2. Create a steel beam that overlaps with the column.
3. Create a dummy concrete beam as a temporary connection between the steel beam and column.
Defining the custom connection
To define the custom connection:
1. Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom Component Wizard.
2. Select Connection in the Type list.
3. Enter a name for the custom connection in the Name box.
The dummy part is needed because you can not create a custom connection directly from another connection. You can later replace the dummy part with a system component.
4. Click Next.
5. Select the column and the two beams.
6. Click Next.
7. Select the column as the main part.
8. Click Next.
9. Select the steel beam as the secondary part.
10. Click Finish.
Tekla Structures displays a component symbol for the new connection and the custom connection is added to the component catalog.
Opening the custom connection in custom component editor
Use the custom component editor to modify the custom connection.
To open the custom component editor:
1. Right-click the custom connection in the model.
2. Select Edit Custom Component in the list.
The custom component editor opens showing the custom component editor toolbar, the component browser and four views of the custom component.
Replacing the dummy part with the system component
Replace the dummy part with the system component (End plate (144)) in the custom component editor.
To replace the dummy part with the system component:
1. Press Ctrl + F to open the component catalog.
2. Search for 144 to find the correct component.
3. Click End plate (144).
4. Select the column as the main part.
5. Select the steel beam as the secondary part.
The nested end plate connection is created.
6. Click Refresh to see the nested connection in the custom component browser.
7. Delete the dummy part.
Creating variables
Create variables that you want to show in the nested custom connection dialog box.
To create the variables:
1. Click the Display variables button in the custom component editor toolbar to open the Variables dialog box.
2. Click Add eight times to create eight new variables.
3. Edit the variables as shown below.
The variables created by the user get the prefix P (parameter).
Linking variables to control the plate properties
You need to link the variables you have created to the properties of the nested system component.
To link the variables:
1. Double-click the end plate connection in a custom component editor view.
The End plate (144) dialog box opens.
2. Go to the Plates tab.
3. Change the end plate thickness.
4. Click Modify.
5. Check General properties under Connection in the custom component browser.
6. Click Refresh.
7. Look for the newly visible property under General properties.
You added the end plate connection using the default properties, because they are not shown in the custom component browser. You can now change the properties of the nested system component one by one and check the changes in the custom component browser. This way it is easier to link the variables to the correct component properties.
8. Right-click tpl1 and select Add Equation in the list.
9. Enter P1.
Variable P1 is now linked to the plate thickness property of the nested system component.
10. Change the end plate width in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
11. Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
12. Link variable P2 to bpl1.
Variable P2 is now linked to the plate width property of the nested system component.
Linking variables to control the bolt properties
To link the variables:
1. Go to the Bolts tab in the End plate (144) dialog box.
2. Change Bolt size and click Modify.
3. Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
4. Link variable P3_diameter to diameter.
5. Change Bolt standard in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
6. Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
7. Link variable P3_screwdin to screwdin.
8. Change the bolt distance to the beam top and bolt distance to the plate top in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
9. Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
10. Link variable P4 to rb1 and lba.
11. Change the bolt horizontal spacing in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
12. Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
13. Link variable P5 to lwd.
14. Change the number of bolts in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
15. Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
16. Link variable P6 to nb.
17. Change the bolt vertical spacing in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
18. Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
19. Link variable P7 to lbd.
You have now linked the variables to the bolt properties.
Testing the nested custom connection
To test the custom component:
1. Save the custom component in the custom component editor.
2. Close the custom component editor.
3. Double-click the nested custom connection to open the dialog box.
4. Change the values in the dialog box and click Modify to see the changes in the model.