Introduction To make a simple custom component parametric, so that it adapts to changes in the model, you must edit it in the Custom component editor. Here you can build dependencies between component objects and model objects. For example, you could specify that the size of a stiffener depends on the size of the beam. So, if you change the size of the beam, the size of the stiffener also changes. You can also add distance variables, for example to specify the gap between a plate and a beam.
Topics Custom component editor (p. 69) Plane types (p. 120)
Construction plane (p. 121)
Custom component editor
Use the custom component editor to modify custom components and create intelligent, parametric custom components.
First, create a custom component in the model.
Opening the
editor To open the custom component editor:
1. Click Detailing > Component > Edit Custom Component.
2. Select the custom component. The Custom component editor opens. It shows the Custom component editor toolbar, the Custom component browser and four views of the custom component.
At depth Changes part location perpendicular to work plane.
Position depth Show third handle Sets the third handle of a nested
custom part to be visible in the desired direction.
You can bind the third handle in the desired direction and thus force the part to follow the rotation of another part. You have the following options:
•
Above: the handle is shown above the first handle in custom part local coordinate system.•
On the left: the handle is shown on the left-hand side of the first handle in custom part local coordinate system.•
No: the third handle is not shown.Part handles
Field Description More information
Custom component toolbar
The toolbar contains the following icons and list boxes:
For more information on these tools, see Custom components reference (p. 111).
Editing
properties You can add and edit many custom component properties:
Custom parts do not have a component symbol. To be able to select custom parts, make sure the Select components switch is active.
Icon/ List box Description Creates a distance.
Creates a reference distance.
Creates distances automatically.
Creates a construction plane.
Creates a construction line.
Plane types Displays plane types you can use when defining distance variables.
For more information, see Plane types (p. 120).
Position types Define the position (or origin) of the custom component, relative to the main part.
For more information, see Position type (p. 114).
Allows you to edit the type or the position of a custom component or add notes after you have created the component.
Shows all created variables.
Displays Custom component browser.
Saves the custom component with another name.
Saves and updates the existing component(s) in the model.
Closes the editor.
Library component vs.
model component
Use the custom component editor to modify custom component. You can open a custom component in the editor even if you have already used it in a model.
When you have edited the custom component, you can choose to apply the changes to all copies of the custom component, or to save the component with a new name.
•
To apply your changes to the library and to all copies of the custom component in the model, use the Copy component to library command.•
To save the edited custom component with a new name, use the Copy component to library with new name command and enter a new name for the custom component.Tekla Structures does not apply the changes to the other copies of the custom component in the model.Closing the editor To close the custom component editor:
1. Click the Close icon .
2. Tekla Structures asks if you want to save the custom component with its original name.
Creating
automatic backup files
When you modify a custom component, Tekla Structures automatically creates a backup file of the custom component. The backup files have the extension .inp_bak, and they are located in the model folder. Tekla Structures displays a notification when the backup file is created.
See also Custom component browser (p. 71)
Custom component browser
The Custom component browser shows the contents of a custom component in a hierarchical, tree-like structure. The Custom component browser works with Custom component editor views. Click a part in the view and Tekla Structures highlights it in the browser, or click a part in the browser to have Tekla Structures highlight it in the view.
The Custom component browser contains the following information about a custom component:
Editing task More information
Create fields for material grade, profile, bolt size, and other properties that will be visible in the custom component dialog box.
Creating parameter variables (p. 80)
Define part dimensions, spacings, gaps, etc. that will be visible in the custom component dialog box.
Creating distance variables (p.
75) Bind component objects to model objects so that component objects adjust for new beam size or profile.
Automatic distances (p. 125) Creating distance variables (p.
75) Create formulas to calculate
values, for example for calculating bolt edge distance using bolt size.
Creating parameters that use formulae (p. 81)
If you click Yes, Tekla Structures will overwrite the copies of the custom component in the library and the model.
You can create links between custom component parameter variables and component object properties. For example, variable "m" defines the material grade for all plates in your component. It appears as "Material = m" in the Custom component browser (see above illustration). "m" is also a field in the custom component dialog box. When a user enters a value in the "m" field in the dialog box for plates, Tekla Structures saves the value to the part properties in the model.
Popup menu You can also use the popup menu in the Custom component browser to copy names, values, and references from main and secondary parts in the component. Then use them in the Variables dialog box to define the properties of custom components.
For example, to report how many secondary parts to pick when applying a component, you can use a variable called Number of secondaries. You can then use the variable in formulas, and copy the name, value and reference to other custom components.
Model objects, to which custom component is attached The objects the custom component creates
You can create links between custom component variables and component object properties
Using custom
part properties If you have created a custom part in to your model, you can access the object properties of the custom part when the custom part is used an input part. You can access the name, profile, material and class of the input custom part, and use the properties of the input part in the component objects. This is useful in cases where the material for a new part needs to be taken from the inner or outer layer of an existing part.
See also Defining variables (p. 73)
Creating parameter variables (p. 80)
Creating parameters that use formulae (p. 81)