Tekla Structures can generate pop-marks in NC files to help position parts that will be manually welded to the main part. Pop-marks are usually made using a drilling machine.
To include pop-marks in the NC file, you have to define a list of part names to pop-mark in the
Pop-mark settings dialog box. To access the dialog box, select File > Export > CNC > Create NC Files... > Pop-marks...
You can save the pop-mark settings in a .ncp file, which Tekla Structures saves in the attributes folder under the current model folder by default. Tekla Structures only creates pop-marks for parts for which you have defined properties.
The Pop-marking options tab in the Pop-mark settings dialog box contains options for controlling the settings for marks in the back of parts, and other additional options. For more information on these settings, see Pop-marking options (p. 180).
To have Tekla Structures create pop-marks when creating NC files, select the check box in NC files > NC file settings: > Pop-marks.
Creating pop-marks
To create pop-marks in an NC file:
1. Define and save the pop-mark settings in the Pop-mark settings (p. 179) dialog box. 2. To display pop-marks in a model view, select Pop-marking options > Show pop-marks
in the model.
3. Create the NC files. Remember to select the Pop-marks checkbox in the NC files dialog box.
Pop-marks are written in the NC file BO block as 0 mm diameter holes.
Tekla Structures displays thick red lines for each pop-mark pair in the model view which was last updated.
Pop-marking also affects numbering.
For example, if two parts have different pop-marks, or one part has pop- marks and the other one does not, Tekla Structures gives the parts different numbers.
Topics Pop-mark settings (p. 179) Pop-marking options (p. 180)
Pop-mark settings
The Pop-mark settings dialog box includes pop-mark settings that define:
•
Which parts are pop-marked•
Where the pop-marks are createdTekla Structures saves the settings file .ncp in the attributes folder under the current model folder.
Tekla Structures looks for this file in the current model folder, then uses the standard folder search order. See Folder search order (p. 94).
You can use wildcards (* ? [ ] ) in the Main part name and Secondary part name fields in the
Pop-mark settings dialog box. For example, HE* matches all parts with a profile name that begins with the characters "HE". For more information on wildcards, see Using wildcards.
Pop-mark settings
The order of the lines in the dialog box is important. Tekla Structures uses the match it finds, so you should put the most limiting definition first, and the most generic one last.
Option Description
Main part profile type
The main part profile types to pop-mark. The list box contains profile types corresponding to the DSTV standard.
Main part name The main part profile names to pop-mark. You can enter several part names separated by commas.
Sec part profile type Secondary part profile type.
Secondary part name
Secondary part name. You can enter several part names separated by commas.
Pop-marking options
Options for marks in the back
Use the options for marks in the back face of parts to set the NC machine to:
•
Rotate the part if there are items on the back of it and none on the front.•
Drill the pop-marks through to the back, if there are no other items there. The hole diameter must also be defined.•
Rotate the part and drill pop-marks through to the back if there are no items on the front but some in the back or more pop-marks on the back than on the front. The hole diameter must also be defined.Other options
•
No pop-marks on overlapping holes deletes a pop-mark if a hole overlaps it.•
Pop-mark centres of studs adds pop-marks to the center point of studs. Uncheck this option to prevent studs from being pop-marked.•
Show pop-marks in the model displays pop-marks in model views.Pop-mark location Defines how the secondary part is projected onto a main part.
•
Left side: The left side of the secondary part is marked on the main part. The left side is the side of the secondary part that points in the negative direction of the main part local coordinate system.•
Right side: The right side of the secondary part is marked on the main part.•
Both sides: combines Left side and Right side.•
Center: Center of the secondary part.•
Left side holes: Marks the main part with the hole positions on the left side of the secondary.•
Right side holes: Marks the main part with the hole positions on the right side of the secondary.•
Both side holes: combines Left side holesand Right side holes.
•
Middle line: Marks two points on the middle line of the secondary part x axis.Edge distance Minimum distance from a pop-mark to the edge of the main part. Tekla Structures does not create pop-marks inside this distance. If a pop-mark is inside the defined edge distance, Tekla Structures moves it (with the exception of Center).
Move to flange Moves pop-marks to the main part flange.
Secondary pop- marks
Creates pop-marks into secondary parts.
Examples The following line in the Pop-mark settings dialog box tells Tekla Structures to mark the center point of all round secondary profiles on a main part, and not to create pop-marks closer than 10 mm to the main part edge.
The following line in the Pop-mark settings dialog box tells Tekla Structures to project the hole locations in secondary plates onto a main part: