Tekla - Custom Component Editing

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Custom Component

Editing

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Custom Component Editing... 1

Contents ... 2

1 Lifting bracket detail ... 1

1.1 Import custom component to your model...1

1.2 Define custom component detail ...3

1.3 Open the Custom component editor...4

1.4 Fix the position of plates...5

Edit the variables ...7

Test the variables ...7

1.5 Control the properties of the plates and the bolts ...8

1.6 Close the editor and test the custom component...11

2 End plate connection ... 12

2.1 Define custom component connection...12

2.2 Top notch...14

2.3 Plate length...19

2.4 Plate width and thickness ...21

2.5 Plate material...22

2.6 Adjust the component for new beam size ...22

2.7 Add intelligence to bolts...24

2.8 Close the editor and test the custom component...26

3 Stiffeners detail... 27

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3.2 Create magnetic planes...28

3.3 Bind magnetic planes to the beam...30

3.4 Use equations to make the plate thickness intelligent ...32

3.5 Close the editor and test the custom component...34

4 Ladders custom part ... 35

4.1 Create the stringers and rungs ...35

Create two stringers and one rung...35

Create array of rungs...38

4.2 Define the custom part...40

4.3 Edit custom part...42

Stringer top offset ...42

Number and spacing of rungs...43

Bottom rung offset ...44

Ladder width ...45

Stringer and rung profiles ...47

Rung connections...49

4.4 Test the custom part...49

5 Add user interface to ladders custom part ... 50

5.1 Create and save the picture...51

5.2 Add the bmp to the dialog box ...53

5.3 Position the picture and the parameters ...55

5.4 Add and rename tab pages ...56

5.5 Test the custom part...58

5.6 Backup the INP file ...60

6 Create a Sandwich Panel ... 61

6.1 Parameterize the Component...62

6.2 Test the bindings by creating a new Sandwich panel ...63

6.3 Parameterize the Panel Thicknesses ...64

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1 Lifting bracket detail

1.1 Import custom component to your model

1. Open the model Lifting bracket. This model includes the custom component named lb1. 2. Press Ctrl-F or double click the Find a component icon to open the Component catalog

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4. Select lb1 from the list, right click and select export 5. Type lb1 to the Selection field and click OK

The file lb1.uel is now created to the model folder

6. Exit the Lifting bracket model and create a new model

7. Import lb.uel file from the Lifting bracket folder to your new model

You can export custom components to *.uel files, and then import the files into another model. Custom components are stored into xslib.db1 file which you can copy from one model folder to another. Xslib.db1 file can not be placed for use of all projects.

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1.2 Define custom component detail

1. Create a horizontal beam using the default properties

2. Create the imported Lifting bracket custom component to the middle of the top flange of the beam

3. Explode Lifting Bracket

4. Define your own custom component from the exploded detail by using the Custom component wizard Detailing > Define custom component

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1.3 Open the Custom component editor

Use the custom component editor to modify custom components and create intelligent, parametric custom components.

Edit Custom component

Select the component, right click and select Edit custom component to open custom component editor

Custom component editor opens showing the Custom component editor toolbar, the Model browser and four views of the custom component

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1.4 Fix the position of plates

We will first tie the gusset plate to the end plate by binding each of its chamfer to the top of the end plate. We then tie the end plate to the beam top flange by binding the plate handles one by one.

By binding all the chamfers of the gusset plate we ensure the shape of the plate is kept when end plate thickness or the main profile is modified.

Tie gusset plate chamfers to end plate top and end

1. Select the chamfer, right click and select bind to plane

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3. Following the procedure above tie the opposite chamfer and then the other chamfers (shown below) to top face of the end plate as well

Tie end plate handles to beam top

1. Select the end plate

2. select one of its handles and bind it to the beam top face 3. bind the other handle the same way

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Edit the variables

Make preferred dimensions visible in the dialogue box

1. Click the Display Variables icon to show the variables dialog box.

We can now see all the distance variables we have created so far

2. Change the Label in dialog box of first two variables to Show (This will make them visible in the custom component dialog box)

3. Edit the variable labels of these variables to Dim 1 and Dim 2. 4. Change the Label in dialog box of other variables to Hide

When you select a variable in the list Tekla Structures highlights it in the model

Test the variables

Change Dim 1 value

1. Change the value from 55 to 100 in the Formula field of Dim 1 2. Press Enter

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3. Reset the value to 55

1.5 Control the properties of the plates and the bolts

We will now add parameter variables to control the profile and the material of the plates and the bolt size and bolt standard

The prefix D (Distance) in variable shows the variable is created by system and the prefix P (Parameter) that it is a user defined variable

Define variables for plate profiles and materials

We will now add user defined variables to the variables dialog in order to control the gusset plate profile from the custom component dialog box

1. Click Add in the Variables dialog box to create a new variable

2. change the Value type of the variable to profile

3. Edit the Label in dialog box to Gusset plate profile 4. Select the gusset plate in the model

Selecting an object in the custom component editor highlights this object in the model browser

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6. Paste the profile value to the Formula field of the new variable

7. Add the equation =P1 to the profile in the model browser to tie the new variable to the gusset plate Profile

8. Add the same way a new variable for the gusset plate material and tie it to the material in the model browser.

9. Create and tie variables for end plate profile and material the same way

Define variables for bolt size and grade

1. Add two new variables

2. Change the value type of the first variable to bolt size and the second to bolt standard

3. Copy values from the Model browser to the Formula fields of the variables 4. Edit the variable names to be the same

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Bolt size & bolt standard MUST have the same name (P5 in the example below).

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1.6 Close the editor and test the custom component

At this stage we will now check the custom component.

Close the editor

1. Click the Close icon

2. Click Yes to the question of saving the Custom component 3. Close the editor and save

Test the custom component

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2 End plate connection

2.1 Define custom component connection

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2. Explode the connection

3. Define a custom component connection

Parameters to be used

In this example we will input the following parameters:

Additional information:

Plate Length

Plate width

Plate thickness

Plate Material

Bolt Size

Bolt Grade

1 = Clearance From Flange Face

2 = Notch Depth

3 = Distance to 1

st

_Bolt

4 = Bolt Pitch

5 = Bolt C/Ctrs

Once all parameters have been defined the finished result should look something like in below:

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The connection should also have the intelligence to adjust to suit a change in the profile of either the main or secondary beam.

2.2 Top notch

We are going to define the notch first. The values we would like to input are:

The clearance from the flange and the depth from the secondary beam top. We are going to use Magnetic user planes to control these variables

Open the custom component editor

Select the connection symbol, right click and select: Edit custom component.

Create User defined planes

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2. Hide the main beam to make it easier to pick the plane

3. Pick three corner points of the cut to define the location of the plane and click middle button

Only the objects directly on the magnetic plane move with the plane. Note that the objects must be inside the plane frames to move with the plane Use the handles in the plane corners to enlarge the planes to cover all the polygon cut sizes possible needed.

4. Move the user plane handles one by one 200 mm to the directions shown.

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5. Move the plane to be symmetrically according the cut

6. Copy this plane to the underside of the notch

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Make the planes magnetic

1. Select all 4 planes and double click on one to open the properties dialog 2. Add a “tick” to the magnetic box and click Modify

The planes will now be magnetic (this means any handles or chamfers on the

plane will become attached to the plane automatically)

Bind the planes

We can now bind the planes to define the input dimensions

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2. Bind the vertical plane highlighted in the fig. below to the flange edge of the main beam

3. Bind the other vertical plane to the web face of the main beam

4. To see these values select the Display variables option from the Custom component

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We have 4 variable created by binding the planes,

Edit variables for clearance and

notch depth 1. Edit the label of variable D2 to Notch depth

2. Edit the label of variable D3 to Clearance 3. Set the values (Formulas) to D2 and D3

4. Set the visibility of variables D2 and D3 to Show and the others to Hide

2.3 Plate length

Adjust the plate length to suit user

input _{1. Double click the plate and set the Start and end offset to zero, Modify}

Before “binding” the plate to any planes we must first take away any values already set in the plate properties. If not these values will always be added to the user input values.

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3. Tie Bottom handle to top flange of the secondary beam, Parameter D5 appears 4. Add a new variable P1, edit the label to Plate length and edit the value to 200 5. Set D5 = P1 +D2

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2.4 Plate width and thickness

Define plate profile with width

and thickness 1. Add two new variables and name them to Plate width and Plate thickness

2. Set the values for variables according the existing end plate

3. Add a new variable and name it to Plate profile

4. Edit the formula of variable P4 to be ="PL"+P2+"*"+P3 and select the Value type Profile

5. Set the visibility of variable to Hide

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2.5 Plate material

1. Add a new variable and name it to Plate material, also change the Value Type to

Material

2. Set the values for variable

3. Tie the variable P5 back to the model browser

2.6 Adjust the component for new beam size

We will next tie the end of the secondary beam to the back of the end plate by binding the fitting to the plate

Tie the end of the secondary beam

to the plate 1. Select the fitting

2. Bind the fitting to the back of the end plate 3. Set the visibility of variable to Hide

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We will next tie the plate to the main beam taking possible changes of plate thickness into account.

Tie the plate to the main beam

1. Tie the plate top and bottom handles to the face of the main beam

2. Make these variables to follow the plate thickness by adding the plate thickness as an equation to the variables

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2.7 Add intelligence to bolts

Distance from Top

flange to 1st. bolt _{1. Double click the bolt group and set the Start and end offsets to zero, Modify}

2. Bind the upper handle of the bolt group to the top of the secondary flange. A new variable D9 will appear

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3. Add a new variable, name it as Top flange to 1st. bolt and edit the value to 70 4. Edit the formula of variable D9 to be =-P6

Bolt size and

grade _{1. Add two new variables}

2. Change the value type of the first variable to Bolt size and the second to Bolt standard 3. Edit the variable names (P7) to be the same

4. Copy values from the Model browser to the Formula fields of the variables

5. Tie variables for bolt size and grade back to the model browser.

Bolt Pitch, Bolt C/Ctrs

1. Add two new variable and change their value type to Distance list

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3. Edit manually the values to the formula fields of the variables as 2*60 for the Bolt dist X and 80 for Bolt dist Y

4. Tie the Bolt Pitch variable to Bolt group distance x and Bolt C/C to Bolt group distance y in the model browser

You can not copy the values of distance lists from the model browser. Edit them manually to the variables dialog box Formula field.

2.8 Close the editor and test the custom component

Close the editor

1. Click the Close icon

2. Click Yes to the question of saving the Custom component 3. Close the editor and save

Test the custom component

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3.1 Define custom component

1. Create a beam

2. Create stiffeners (1003) detail in the middle of the beam 3. Explode the detail

4. Define a new custom component "jäykkärit" of stiffeners

3.2 Create magnetic planes

1. Open custom component editor

2. Double click the Create user-defined plane icon

3. Select the Magnetic check box, click OK

4. Create six user defined planes to the edges of the plates as shown to control the size of stiffeners (Pick three points to define the location of the plane and click middle button)

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You can also use user defined planes (Magnetic or not) to bind distances to

To make it easier to pick the stiffeners corners hide the main part

5. Create one magnetic to the middle of the plates plane to control the plate's position in depth

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The objects must be inside the magnetic plane frames to move with the plane. To make this detail to work for significantly larger profiles we should enlarge the planes

3.3 Bind magnetic planes to the beam

Tie magnetic planes to beam

1. Tie the magnetic planes to the appropriate faces of the beam Six new parameters appear to the Variables dialog box

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2. Set the visibility of variables as false

The distance variable visibility in the variables list is by default False if the distance equals to zero. Otherwise it is True

3. Tie the magnetic plane in the middle of the stiffener to the connection plane shown

4. Name the variable as Position at depth and set it true

5. Close the editor and save the custom component

Test the custom detail

1. Change the beam profile from HEA300 to HEA200

The height and width of the stiffeners are now adjusted to the new beam profile whereas the thickness of the stiffeners is always the same.

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3.4 Use equations to make the plate thickness

intelligent

We will now adjust the stiffeners thickness to suit the web thickness of the beam so that it will be 1.5*beam web thickness rounded up to the next available plate thickness. The available plate thicknesses are 10, 12 and 16 mm.

We will first add a new variable that returns the beam web thickness multiplied by 1.5.

1.5 * Web thickness

1. Open the custom component editor

2. Add a new parameter and change its Value type to length 3. Add the equation =1.5* to the variable

4. Select the beam in the model

5. Right click the Primary part > Profile properties > Web thickness in the model browser and select Copy reference

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A reference function refers to the property of object, such as the web thickness of a part. If the object property changes, so does the reference function value.

We will now use if-then-else statement to test whether the Variable P1 is bigger than the condition and set the value according to the result

Define the condition for the

plate thickness _{1. Add a new variable and change its value type to Number}

2. Edit the Formula of the variable P2 to be

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Tie the plate thickness to the

model Tie the parameter P2 to plate Profiles in the Model browser

3.5 Close the editor and test the custom component

Test the custom

component _{1. Close the editor and save the custom component}

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4 Ladders custom part

4.1 Create the stringers and rungs

We will create the stringers by using the column command and the bottom rung by using the beam command. We then use this bottom rung as the input for creating the rungs with Array

of objects macro.

Create two stringers and one rung

Create the Stringers

1. Start the Create column command

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Create the bottom Rung

1. Start the Create beam command

2. Enter the information in the dialog box according the fig. below

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Fit and weld the rungs

Create array of rungs

Create array of rungs

1. Use shortcut Ctrl + F to open the Component catalog 2. Search Array of objects macro by using the word array

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5. Select rung, and the components (including the objects in components) click Middle button

6. Select first position (the grid intersection)

7. Select the second position 4000 mm upwards (0,0,4000)

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4.2 Define the custom part

We will next define the ladders just created as a custom part. We will define the first point of user selection to be at the bottom of the ladder (contrary to ladders system components) and the second point to show the direction of the custom part

Define the custom part

1. Start the Custom component wizard from Detailing > Define custom component 2. select Type as Part and name the custom component as Ladder simple, Click Next

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4. Select the grid intersection as the first position and second position 4000 mm above (0,0,4000)

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4.3 Edit custom part

Start custom component editor

1. Select the Ladder simple custom part

2. Right click and select Edit custom component The custom component editor opens

Stringer top offset

We will handle stringer top offset by tying the stringer top handles to the component plane

Stringer top offset

1. Add a new variable (P1) to the variables list, change its value to 200 and name it as Stringer top offset

2. Select top handles of the stringers (one at a time) and bind them to the upper component plane => Variables D1 and D2 appear

3. Tie variables D1 and D2 to variable P1 as shown. 4. Change the visibility of variables D1 and D2 to Hide

A custom part which has not been edited appears in its predefined size despite the points picked for creating it.

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Number and spacing of rungs

We created manually the bottom rung and multiplied it by using the array of objects macro. To parameterize the number and spacing of rungs we first define parameters for them and then tie these parameters to the array component in the model browser.

Number and spacing of rungs

1. Add a new variable (P2) to the variables dialog box and name it as Number of rungs and edit the Formula to be 13 (This will be the number of all the rungs)

2. Add another variable (P3) and tie it to variable P2 with the formula shown

Variable P3 returns now the number of rungs created by the array macro. 3. Add another variable (P4) and name it to Spacing of rungs

4. Select the Array macro symbol (the component is highlighted in the Model browser) Tie the variables P3 and P4 to the model browser as shown

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Bottom rung offset

Bottom rung offset

1. Add a new variable (P5) and name it as Bottom rung offset 2. Edit the Formula of P5 to be 285

3. Select handles of the lowest rung and tie them one by one to the bottom component plane = > Two new variables (D3, D4) will be added

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5. Edit the formulas of the variables D3 and D4 to be equal with P5

Ladder width

We will now create two magnetic planes in the middle of the stringers to control the ladder width. We will adjust the magnetic planes to cover also longer stringers by binding the magnetic planes top handles to upper component plane (This way the magnetic plane is automatically resized according the picked positions for the custom part)

Since the handles of the rungs are positioned in the middle of the stringers they will move with the planes as well and adjust with the ladder width.

Create magnetic planes

1. Create a magnetic planes by picking 3 points in the middle of the stringer as shown and click middle button

2. Copy the magnetic plane to the other stringer

Adjust the magnetic planes for longer stringers

1. Bind one upper handle of both magnetic planes to the upper component plane Variables D5 and D6 appears

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2. Edit the formula of variables D5 and D6 to be =P1+20 and turn the visibility of variables to Hide

This ensures the magnetic plane tops are always 20 mm higher than the stringers

Adjust the ladder width

1. Add a new variable (P6) named Ladder width and edit its Formula to be 460. 2. Tie the magnetic planes created one by one to the component plane in the middle

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3. Edit the formula of variables D7 and D8 to be =P6/2 and turn their visibility to Hide

Stringer and rung profiles

We will now add two variables in order to control the stringer and rung profiles from the custom component dialog box

1. Add two new variables (P7 and P8), change their value type to profile and name them as Stringer profile and Rung profile.

2. Copy the rung and stringer profile values from model browser and paste them to formula field of variables P7 and P8

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3. Bind the variables back to the model browser (P7 to both stringers and P8 to the bottom rung)

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Rung connections

We will now add a new variable in order to control the connections between stringer and rung profiles.

1. Add a new variable (P9), change its value type to Component name and name it as connection.

2. Copy the component name value from model browser and paste it to formula field of variable P9

3. Bind the variable P9 back to the model browser to the bottom rung)

4.4 Test the custom part

Test the custom part

1. Close the custom component editor

2. Double click the custom part to open the dialog box

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4. Test that the fields work properly

5 Add user interface to

ladders custom part

We can make our Custom components easier to use by customizing their dialog boxes. By modifying the input file of the custom component we can:

• Add pictures,

• Change the order and location of fields • Add / rename tab pages.

We will next add a picture to the ladder simple custom part. We will then position the parameters and group them to two different tab pages: Picture and Parts

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5.1 Create and save the picture

We will first create the image and save it as a bitmap file. We will then add the image to the custom component dialog box by editing the custom component's input file.

To create the picture you can open an existing bmp from the

teklastructures\”version”\nt\bitmaps directory or take a snapshot from an existing component dialog box and edit it by using any picture editing program. You can also create the bmp from the scratch

Remember to use the standard Tekla colors in the bitmaps

Create the bmp

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2. Edit the picture to be as shown below using any picture editing program. (The size of the example picture is 62*250 pixels)

The first pixel in the top left corner of a bitmap must be the same color (grey) as the background of the dialog box

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Place the bmp file to the system

older Save the completed picture to the teklastructures\”version”\nt\bitmaps with a name

ladder.bmp

5.2 Add the bmp to the dialog box

Tekla Structures uses input files to control dialog boxes

A custom component dialog box is controlled by an INP file automatically generated in the model directory. We will now edit the Ladder simple.inp file to customize the dialog box of our custom part

Edit the inp file

1. Open the Ladder simple.inp file in the model folder using a normal text editor (Notepad, WordPad...)

2. Add the text:

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3. Save the inp file (In txt format)

4. Close and restart the model to see the modified dialog box 5. Study the dialog box to understand the positioning of the picture

The number of fields and the coordinates added will effect to the size of the dialog box. Each tab page can contain 25 fields. If there are more than 25 visible fields, Tekla Structures creates another tab page

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5.3 Position the picture and the parameters

We can now plan the picture page and position the parameters P1-P6 according the ladder picture as shown. We will position parameters P7 and P8 at this stage at the bottom of the dialog box

Position the picture and the

parameters 1. Remove the parameter names from parameters P1-P6

2. Add the X,Y coordinates and the length of the field for parameters P1-P6

3. Change the order number of parameters P7 to 15 and P8 to 16 4. Save the inp file

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Reopen the model

Reopen the model to check the dialog box

5.4 Add and rename tab pages

We will now rename the parameters 1 tab page to Picture and then add a new tab page Parts to the dialog box. We then move the profile parameters to this new tab

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Rename a tab page

Replace the text Parameters 1 with Picture

Add a tab page

1. To add a second tab Parts, edit the input file as shown below 2. Save the file

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3. Reopen the model to check the dialog box

5.5 Test the custom part

Test the custom part

1. Save the default values as standard 2. Test that the fields work properly

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5.6 Backup the INP file

• Export the custom component • Save the inp file with a specific name

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•

6 Create a Sandwich Panel

1. First create the objects for the sandwich panel: inner panel, insulation and outer panel. Then make a cast unit of all the parts by Right clicking > Cast unit > Create cast unit.

2. The define the custom component – Part

a. Select Detailing > Define custom component… b. Select type to be "Part", write the name and descriptions.

c. Select objects, which form the custom part. d. Pick the definition points

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e. Press the Finish button – the component is created and added to component catalog

6.1 Parameterize the Component.

1. Select the sandwich panel.

2. Right click > Edit custom component. The component editor opens.

Bind the panel objects' definition points to the component planes – then they follow the component definition points in creation.

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2. Select the start point of the inner panel. 3. Right-click > Bind to plane

4. Pick the XZ-plane at the same end of the panel, where the definition point is located.

5. Interrupt the command.

6. Select the start point of the insulation and bind it to the same plane. 7. Repeat for outer panel's start point.

8. Repeat for the end points of all three panels. The distances appear in the "Variables" dialog

9. Close the editor and save the component.

6.2 Test the bindings by creating a new Sandwich

panel

1. Select the Sandwich_Panel in the component catalog

2. Pick start point. 3. Pick end point.

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All panels of the Sandwich should start and end at the component's definition points.

6.3 Parameterize the Panel Thicknesses

Panel locations must follow the thickness changes. Therefore we must set controls for the definition points. First bind the inner panels' definition points to the component plane. 1. Set the plane to "Component plane" in the Custom component editor toolbar.

2. Select the start point of the inner panel.

3. Bind it to the component plane which is parallel to the panel's long side.

4. Repeat for the end point.

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2. Modify the inner panel's height so, that it can be picked from the outer side. 3. Select the start point of the insulation panel.

4. Right-click > Bind to plane

5. Pick the outer plane of the inner panel.

6. Interrupt the command.

7. Repeat for insulation panel's end point.

Now the insulation panel follows if the inner panel's thickness changes. Next bind the outer panel's definition points to the outer side of the insulation panel.

1. Modify the outer panel's height so, that the insulation panel can be picked from outer side.

2. Select the start point of the outer panel and bind it to the outer plane of the insulation panel.

3. Repeat for the end points of outer panel.

The outer panel now follows the insulation panel. The distances appear in the "Variables" dialog. Hide all parameters by setting the visibility to "Hide".

Define next the panel thicknesses to the Variables dialog. 1. In the Variables dialog press the Add… button 2. Change the Value type to "Profile"

3. Give a label "Outer panel"

4. In the Custom component browser open the outer panel's Part > General properties and right-click > Copy value over the Profile field.

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5. Paste the profile value into the corresponding Formula field in the Variable dialog 6. Repeat for the insulation and inner panel.

We have now defined parameters for all profiles. Next we will map these parameters into the custom component parts.

1. In the Custom component browser open the outer panel's Part > General properties and right-click > Add equation over the Profile field.

2. Type the parameter's name into the field.

3. Repeat for insulation and the inner panel.

Next separate the thickness and height into two individual parameters for each panel. 1. In the Variables dialog press the Add… button 6 times.

2. Write the labels as shown below:

3. Copy the corresponding values from the profile parameters into the "Formula" field