how to create and use custom or user defined connections

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  • 7/23/2019 How to Create and Use Custom or User Defined Connections

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    Chempute Software (Pty) LtdP.O.Box 856, Kloof, 3640, South Africa

    Tel : Intl +27-31-7646840 Fax : Intl +27-31-7645934 Email :[email protected]

    How to Create and Use Custom or User Defined Connections FAQ

    Question:

    How are Custom or User Defined Connections created and reused in Advance Steel?

    Answer:

    Custom or User Defined Connections were introduced to into the list of available Advance

    Steel features with later releases. This feature allows Users to save Manually CreatedConnections, that have characteristics not available in the Connection Vault, to a librarywhere they can be reused at similar connection points on any model.

    To add a User Defined Connection the Custom Connections Library, the connection will firstto be modeled in Advance Steel. Create a new drawing and model the connection similar tothe one seen below.

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    This Manual Connection type can be built up of Manually Added Objects such as Bolts,Welds, Plates and Beams. The Connection type can simultaneously be built up with objectsfrom Intelligent Connections available in the Connection Vault.

    To assist in modeling the template connection, Advance Steel contains a number ofintelligent Building Bricks allowing the User to insert objects with simple intelligence. Thisintelligence, for example, the distance between the stiffener and the edge of the beam

    seen below, will also be saved to the Custom Connection library. Some of these intelligentfields will update the relevant object when this connection is used on sections of a differentsize, and also allow for Users to quickly modify the connection once it has been reused.

    Before adding the User Defined Connection to the Custom Connection library, ensure thatall objects have been given the correct attributes such as Bolt Sizes and Types, PlateThicknesses and Weld Types are correctly set, placed, sized, etc. More importantly, ensure

    that all Model Roles of the connection objects, are set as all this information is saved to theCustom Connections library.

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    Also ensure that all Joint Boxes and Feature Boxes are visible before adding the UserDefined Connection to the Custom Connection library as seen below.

    Click on the Create Connection Template command on the Advance Steel Tool Paletteas seen below.

    The next option will depend entirely on the preferences of the Custom Connection that theUser is trying to create. In this case we are adding a connection between two beams asseen below

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    The User will now be prompted to select the Input Beams on the Command Line. Theselection needs to be done exactly the way a User would normally use an intelligentconnection. In this case the Main Beam needs to be selected first and then press Enter.Then the connecting beam and press Enter as seen below.

    Next specify a name for the Custom Connection and click on the Reselect Driven/OutputObjects button as seen below.

    Select all the objects relating to the connection including the Beams, Plates, Features,Welds, Bolts and Joint Boxes as seen below.

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    A blue box will now surround the Connection Objects. The Driver Selection Prompts cannow be customized as seen below. These are the names produced on the command linewhen prompted to select a particular Beam. For example, the first prompt will read, Pleaseselect the Welded Channel.

    Once renamed, close the User Template dialogue box using the usual X button in the topright hand corner of the Window. The Connection Template now needs to be saved to thefollowing file location so that Advance Steel can reference the objects from the DWG.

    C:\ProgramData\Graitec\Advance Steel\2013\Shared\ConnectionTemplates

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    Once saved close the Connection Template drawing. To reuse this Custom Connection inanother model, click on the Insert Connection Template command on the Advance SteelTool Palette as seen below.

    Select the relevant Custom Connection from the Connection Template Explorer menu andclick OK.

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    The Template Connection can now be inserted into the model by first selecting the MainBeam (Welded Beam) followed by the Secondary Beam (Bolted Beam) as seen below. Notethat Enter does not need to be pressed after selecting each beam.

    Chempute Software (Durban)Tel: 031-764 6840Fax: 031 764 5934

    Chempute Software (Johannesburg)Tel: 011 803 6559Fax: 011 803 6569

    www.chempute.com