Continue working in Feature Practice File.dwg for practicing with plates
11.3. Folded Plates
As well as being able to model simple flat plates Advance Steel can model plates that are folded into complex shapes.
A folded plate is considered as a single object for drawing and manufacturing purposes. Though very powerful Advance Steel is not a sheet metal package. If a fold does not cover an entire edge no bend relief will be modelled so effectively the fold will be modelled as a tear. No corner reliefs are modelled at any time either.
11.3.1. Folded Plate without position adjustment
Turns two neighbouring plates into a folded plate.
• Create individual flat plates representing each flat face of your finished object. These plates should be positioned with the joined edges touching in the desired location.
• AS Modeling > Plates > Folded plate without position adjustment.
• Please identify the plate to connect to: Select the plate that will not move when folded.
• Please identify the plate to be connected: Select the plate that will move when folded.
A fold will be modelled between the plates and the Folded Plate – Fold Line Properties box displayed.
Advance Steel 2011 Training Manual Any plate features already existing in the individual pieces of plate will be preserved and remain in the correct position relative to the piece of plate.
11.3.2. Folded Plate with position adjustment.
Joins any two plates together into a folded plate. The second plate will be moved and rotated so that the selected edges are joined so the plates do not have to be touching to begin with.
• Create the flat plate pieces required.
• AS Modeling > Plates > Folded Plate with position adjustment
• Please identify the plate to connect to near an edge: Select the plate that will not move near the edge that should be joined to the other plate.
• Please identify the plate to be connected near an edge: Select the plate that will move near the edge to be joined.
• Angle Enter the fold angle desired.
The second plate will be moved so they midpoints of the selected edges touch and then be tilted to the specified angle. The Folded Plate – Fold Line Properties box will be displayed.
Any plate features already existing in the individual pieces of plate will be preserved and remain in the correct position relative to the piece of plate.
When setting the sizes of individual plates remember to allow for the plate thickness within your desired final dimensions as shown in the image below. The individual plates on the left get aligned as shown in the middle before applying the fold as shown on the right.
11.3.3. Create Conical Folded Plate
Creates a folded plate between any two closed polyline shapes. Originally aimed at hoppers or ducting type shapes where rectangles turn into round sections this command can actually handle merging any two shapes together.
• Create 2 closed polyline shapes above each other on different Z planes.
• AS Modeling > Plates > Create conical folded plate
• Select start shape type [Contour/Beam] <C>: Select the Contour option
• Select contour_ Select the polyline for the top of the cone and accept.
• Select end shape type [Contour/Beam] <C>: Select the Contour option
• Select contour_ Select the polyline for the bottom of the cone and accept
• The Conical Folded Plate dialog will be displayed. Complete the required options before continuing .
o Facets per corner / quadrant – How many flat segments are used to convert a sharp corner into a curve?
o Plate thickness – How thick should your plate be?
o Plate Justification – Select whether the shapes you drew were the inside or outside edges of the plate or between the two.
• Click OK when you have set the desired options.
A shaped folded plate will be created merging between the two selected shapes.
11.3.4. Create Twisted Folded Plate
Creates a twisted, folded plate between any two lines, arcs or polylines.
• Create your lines, arc or polylines representing the edges of your plate.
• AS Modeling > Plates > Create twisted folded plate.
• Please select two entities (arcs, lines, polylines, splines) close to the end from where the creation of the folded plate should begin. ~> Please select the first entity
Select the element for one edge of your plate near one end.
• Please select the second entity Select the element for the other edge of your plate near the same end.
Advance Steel 2011 Training Manual
• The Twisted Folded Plate Properties box will be displayed. Complete the required settings before continuing.
o Number of division points – How many folds should be used to create the finished plate.
o Plate Thickness – Set the thickness of your plate.
o Justification – Set which side of the selected elements your plate should be.
o Radius Factor – The fold radius will be set to this value multiplied by the plate thickness.
• Click OK when you have made the desired settings.
A shaped folded plate will be created merging between the selected elements as its edges.
A folded plate with flat facets will be created to go between the two edges selected. If the shape can be created using less facets than you set in the properties box it will be. If the two elements selected prove to be coplanar the result will actually be a single flat plate (no facets) of the required shape.
This command can handle almost anything. You can select Lines, Arcs, Polylines or even 3D Polylines, Splines or Helixes to create the folded plate. The polylines may include straight or arc segments but you cannot use a curved polyline (one that uses the Fit or Spline options)
11.3.5. Fold Line Properties
After it is created the folded plate is treated as a single object. After creation you cannot get back to the Conical Folded Plate properties box. Selecting Advance Properties will either call the Plate Properties or Fold Line Properties box depending on what you selected.
If you select a flat piece of plate and ask for Advance Properties you will be presented with the normal Plate Properties box (see above)
If you select the curved portion of plate between two flats and ask for Advance Properties you will be given the Fold Line Properties box.
• Angle – Enter the angle of fold according to the image.
• Justification – Set whether the fold radius should be measured on the inside surface, outside surface or between the two.
• Radius – The bend radius required.
If you change the angle the associated plate will be moved to suit. All features within the plate will be preserved within the plate segment.
11.3.6. Deleting Folded Plates
If you select a flat segment of a folded plate and press delete the entire folded plate will be deleted.
If you select the fold between to flat segments of plate and press delete the fold will be deleted and the flat segments will no longer be joined.
11.3.7. Check Unfolding
When creating folded plates it would be possible to get carried away and model something that could not be developed into one sheet of material. To ensure you have not done this you can use the Check Unfolding function.
• AS Modeling > Plates > Check unfolding
• Please select folded plate:_ Select the folded plate you want to check.
• Display unfolded representation [Yes/No] <Y>: Yes A green outline of the developed plate will be displayed on screen.
If the plate cannot be unfolded safely a message will be written before the “Display unfolded representation [Yes/No] <Y>:” prompt as follows:
Selected folded plate cannot be correctly unfolded ! Display unfolded representation [Yes/No] <Y>:
If you answer yes you will be shown the theoretical unfolded outline so you can identify where the overlap would occur. If no message is displayed the plate can be safely developed into a flat pattern.
Once you are finished with the unfolded outline you can remove it from the display using Selection Clear Marked specification of the grating but are simply representative.
11.4.1. Standard Grating
Creates a model of a standard grating panel.
• AS Modeling > Grating > Standard Grating
• Pick a point to locate the grating. Select a point for the centre of your grating panel.
Advance Steel 2011 Training Manual A default grating panel will be created and the Standard Grating Properties box displayed.
Select the desired grating to use on the Shape and Connector tab.
11.4.2. Variable Grating, Polygonal
Creates a piece of grating of any size and shape.
• AS Modeling > Grating > Variable Grating, Polygonal
• Please specify points that define the grating's contour: Select a point for the first corner of your grating.
• Polygon vertex 2: Select a point for the second corner of your grate.
• Polygon vertex 3: Select a point for the third corner of your plate.
• Polygon vertex 4: You can continue to select as many points as you wish. After you have at least three points you can finish you grating by pressing Return or Right Click to connect the last point to the first.
A grating will be modelled with straight edges of the shape you defined and the Variable Grating Properties box displayed.
Select the desired grating specification from the Shape and Connector tab.
11.4.3. Variable Gating, Rectangular
Create a rectangular piece of grating of any size.
• AS Modeling > Grating > Variable Grating, Rectangular
• Please define the start point of the grating's diagonal line Select a point for one corner of your grating.
• Please define the end point of the grating's diagonal line Select a point for the diagonally opposite corner of your grating.
A rectangular piece of grating will be modelled between the points you chose and th Variable Grating Properties box displayed.
Set the grating specification required in the Shape and Connector tab.
11.4.4. Span Direction
The span direction of the grating (direction of largest sections) is indicated by the direction of the hatch patter and a symbol in the middle of the hatch.
For a Standard Grating the span direction is always parallel to the shortest edge of the panel.
For a Variable Grating you may set your own span direction. When created a span direction parallel to the UCS X axis will be set. If desired you can modify this as follows:
• Select the variable grating.
• Locate the Span direction symbol near the centre of the grating.
• Locate the grip at the end of the symbol and click on it to select it.
• Move the grip until the desired span direction is indicated and left click again.