Length modification

Editing of members means different requirements concerning their length. For instance, one situation requires a merely dimensional shortening, another one an adjustment in dependence of the position of another member. The different functions are grouped in the function Length modification in the menu point (Member) Tools. After loading this function you can open the dialog box Length modification < Work on: Members for further settings by clicking the right button of your mouse

In the left window area you can choose the type of member editing via the tree representation.

In the right window area you will then find different possible settings.

8.1.1. Lengthen and shorten

After selection the function Lengthen/Shorten you can enter a value in mm in the input field Distance on the right side. This value defines the lengthening of the member. In case of a ne-gative distance value the member will be shortened correspondingly. Additionally, you can also indicate via Test whether an individual member (this is normally the case and thus the preset-ting) or a complete construction group shall be edited.

After confirming the dialog box with OK you can pick members to be edited in accordance with the messages until terminating your input with a double click or by pressing the return button.

Then you have to pick that member edge where you want to modify the length. For doing that you only need to click in the area of the member edge, i.e. you need not click it exactly. The length modification in this function refers only to the length of the member and not to the width or height.

Functions of length modification

8.1.2. Adapt

With the function Adapt you can adapt members with their front surface to a plane. The adap-tation can be carried out two ways: either Projection to axis or via 2 or 3 points (the third point will be used for creating a compound angled section). You will find this function as well in the dialog box Length modification < Work on:Members. It will also be activated by selecting the type, i.e. in this case Adapt.

.For the adaptation via Proj. on axis you only need one point to determine the adaptation pla-ce. Therefore, the cross section will be adapted directly to the point. If you choose an adapta-tion plane via 2 or 3 points, you will require the corresponding number of points. With the help of this setting you can adapt members to an inclined plane.

Lengthening of an I- profile by 500 mm

Settings for member adjustment

Adapt member via two points

Adapt member with proj on axis

8.1.3. Adapt to a member

By using the function Adapt to a member in the dialog box Length modification < Work on:

Members you can carry out a similar member editing as in the setting Adapt. The only diffe-rence is that the adaptation plane will be offered by another – tool-part – member.

In case of this function, you can carry out the setting Adapt to 3D surfaces, Adapt to external volume and Adapt to member extreme in the dialog box by using the selection list Adapta-tion plane. These refer to the tool-part member to which the to-be-adapted member shall be adapted and have the following meanings:

Adapt to a 3D surfaces:

Alongside the axis of the tool-part member it will be checked which edge of the to-be-adapted member will be touched. This edge will be the adaptation plane.

Adapt to external volume:

The tool-part member will be sur-rounded by a cladding. This edge of the cladding will be the adaptation plane.

Adapt to a member extreme:

If a member rotates around its own axis, this member can be surround-ed by a cladding running through the extremes of the member..

In addition to these setting, you can control in the dialog box Length modification < Work on:

Members whether – only if members intersect – tool-part members shall be considered.

Member axis

8.1.4. Cut

As in the case of Adapt the member will be shortened via Proj on axis or via 2 or 3 points. It is also possible to add a Tolerance. When executing this cut alongside a plane, the front sur-face, however, will not be adapted automatically. Rather you must indicate the so-called waste side of the member.

After confirming the dialog box the plane will be determined as in the case of the function Ad-apt. Then, in accordance with the message Pick side to remove (member-point), you must pick the side on the left of right part of the section plane. After confirming with double click or with the return button this waste side will be cut off the member.

8.1.5. Split

During the splitting process a member will be divided in two separate members. Here you can split a beam with a Tolerance so that, e.g. the plates for a beam joint can be inserted into the section.

8.1.6. Regroup

With the help of this function you can combine various members. Here a prerequisite is that the members have the same cross section and an identical member axis. A direct contact area bet-ween the members, however, is not required. If you edit for example two beams by using this function, the new merged beam will extend over the complete length of the original beam and the previous spacing.

Cut member with tolerance

Adding two sup-por