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TS Custom Components Advanced Training
TS Custom Components Advanced Training
Custom Components
Contents
1
Introduction.......................................................................................... 5
2.2
2.3
25
27
28
32
33
34
37
39
40
43
45
46
47
Stiffener detail....................................................................................................................................... 48
Defining a stiffener detail..................................................................................................................
Opening the stiffener detail in custom component editor .................................................................
Creating distance variables to control the stiffener shape ...............................................................
Creating distance variables to control the stiffener position.............................................................
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49
50
51
55
2.5
2.6
2.7
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3.2
3.3
General................................................................................................................................................ 165
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
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Introduction
Tekla Structures contains a set of tools for defining intelligent connections, parts, seams, and
details called custom components. You can create your own components, similar to Tekla
Structures system components.
The following custom component types can be created:
connections
parts
details
seams
Tekla Structures creates a dialog box for the custom component that you can easily customize if
required. You can create custom components either by exploding and modifying an existing
component or by creating the component objects individually. You can also edit custom
components to create intelligent custom components that automatically adjust to changes in the
model.
This advanced training manual consists of ten examples, seven steel detailing and three
concrete detailing, and frequently asked questions. The examples focus on creating intelligent
custom components that adjust to different situations.
The TS_Custom_Components_Advanced_Training.zip file contains example
models that include the necessary model objects so that you can start creating the custom
components right away.
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2.1
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Editing the name and visibility of the distance variables (p. 13)
Testing a distance variable (p. 14)
Creating variables to control the profile and material of the gusset plate and base plate (p.
14)
Creating variables to control bolt size and bolt standard (p. 17)
Testing the lifting bracket detail (p. 18)
Changing a thumbnail image for the lifting bracket (p. 19)
Adding an image to the lifting bracket dialog box (p. 20)
Moving variables onto the image (p. 22)
4.
5.
Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom
Component Wizard.
Select Detail in the Type list.
Enter a name for the detail in the Name box.
Click Next.
Select all the objects that belong to the detail (the two plates, bolts, holes, weld and
beam).
Use area selection (right to left) to select the objects.
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6.
7.
Click Next.
Select the beam as the main part.
8.
9.
Click Next.
Select the middle point of the beam as the insertion point.
10.
Tekla Structures displays a component symbol for the new component and the lifting bracket
detail is added to the component catalog.
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Creating distance variables to control the gusset plate shape and position
Bind the gusset plate handles to the base plate to create distance variables. You can use the
variables to control the shape and position of the gusset plate.
Before you start, ensure that the part representation is set to rendered.
Part surfaces and available planes can be selected only in rendered
views.
10
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2.
Hold down the Alt key and use area selection (from left to right) to select all the gusset
plate handles.
3.
4.
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11
You can select either the Boundary planes or Outline planes option in
the custom component editor toolbar to be able to highlight and select
the base plate face.
12
5.
6.
Select both handles on the left side of the gusset plate and bind them to the left edge of
the base plate.
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7.
Select both handles on the right side of the gusset plate and bind them to the right edge
of the base plate.
You have created the required distance variables for the gusset plate.
You have created the required distance variables for the base plate.
Click the Display variables button in the custom component editor toolbar.
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13
3.
4.
2.
Creating variables to control the profile and material of the gusset plate and
base plate
Create variables to control the profile and the material of the gusset plate and the base plate.
To create the variables:
1.
14
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Right-click Profile in the custom component browser and select Copy Value in the list.
6.
In the Variables dialog box, paste the profile value to Formula of the new variable.
7.
In the custom component browser, right-click gusset plates Profile and select Add
Equation in the list.
Enter P1 in Profile .
8.
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15
16
9.
Create a new variable in the Variables dialog box and link it to the gusset plates and
base plates material in the custom component browser.
10.
Create a new variable and link it to the base plates profile in the custom component
browser.
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You have created the variables that control the profile and the material of the gusset plate and
the base plate.
Click the Add button twice in the Variables dialog box to create two new variables.
Set Value type of the first variable to Bolt size.
Set Value type of the second variable to Bolt standard.
Copy bolt size and bolt standard values from the custom component browser to the
corresponding Formulas in the Variables dialog box.
Edit the variable names to have the same prefix in Name.
The bolt size and bolt standard variables must always have the same
prefix, otherwise they do not work. In this example, the prefix is P4 for
both.
6.
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17
7.
Link the variables to the bolt size and bolt standard in the custom component browser.
You have created the variables that control the bolt size and bolt standard.
18
1.
2.
3.
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4.
Change the properties in the lifting bracket dialog box and click Modify to see the
changes in the model.
Adjust the view and hide unnecessary objects to have a clear view of the lifting bracket.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Click Tools > Screenshot > Custom... to open the Screenshot dialog box.
Click Pick view and select the view of the detail.
Select Print to file.
Click Options... to open the Screenshot Options dialog box.
Select White background and click OK.
Click Capture in the Screenshot dialog box.
Click File > Open Model Folder to open the model folder.
Browse to the screenshots folder under the model folder.
Convert the image into the 24-bit bitmap format by using an image editor.
Press Ctrl + F to open the component catalog.
Right-click the lifting bracket detail in the component catalog.
Select Change picture....
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19
14.
Browse to the screenshots folder, select the bitmap image and click OK.
Click File > Open Model Folder to open the model folder.
Go to the CustomComponentDialogFiles folder.
Open the .inp file with a text editor.
The input (.inp) file controls the contents of the dialog box.
4.
Use the example image (in the images_for_dialog_box folder under the model
folder) or create a new image and save the image to the ..\Tekla
Structures\<version>\nt\bitmaps folder.
The image must be in the bitmap format.
20
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5.
6.
Save the .inp file and then close and reopen the model to see the changes in the lifting
bracket dialog box.
To make the image visible, you need to edit the parameter rows to move them
downwards in the dialog box.
7.
Edit the first parameter in the .inp file to look like this: parameter("Gusset plate
profile", "P1", profile, text, 10)
The last value (10) in the parameter row is the line number. One line is approximately 25
pixels high.
8.
Save the .inp file and then close and reopen the model to see the changes in the lifting
bracket dialog box.
9.
Change the line number for each parameter in the .inp file.
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21
10.
Save the .inp file and then close and reopen the model to see the changes in the lifting
bracket dialog box.
22
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Click File > Open Model Folder to open the model folder.
Go to the CustomComponentDialogFiles folder.
Open the .inp file.
4.
Remove the label and change the position of the Dim 1 distance variable:
parameter("", "D1", distance, number, 80,140,80)
Label
X coordinate
Y coordinate
Length of text box
5.
Save the .inp file and then close and reopen the model to see the changes in the lifting
bracket dialog box.
6.
In the .inp file, remove the label and change the position of the Dim 2 distance
variable: parameter("", "D3", distance, number, 450,140,80)
Save the .inp file and then close and reopen the model to see the changes in the lifting
bracket dialog box.
7.
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23
2.2
24
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Creating variables to control the end plate width and thickness (p. 37)
Defining the end plate material (p. 39)
Adjusting the end plate to a new beam size (p. 40)
Creating variables to control the bolts (p. 43)
Defining bolt size and bolt standard (p. 45)
Defining bolt distances (p. 46)
Testing the end plate connection (p. 47)
Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom
Component Wizard.
Select Connection in the Type list.
Enter a name for the connection in the Name box.
4.
5.
Click Next.
Select all the objects that belong to the connection.
Use area selection (left to right) to select the objects.
Make sure you select all the cuts and fittings and so on that you want to
include in the component.
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25
26
6.
7.
Click Next.
Select the first beam as the main part.
8.
9.
Click Next.
Select the second beam as the secondary part.
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10.
Click Finish.
Tekla Structures displays a component symbol for the new component and the end plate
connection is added to the component catalog.
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27
Before you start, ensure that the part representation is set to rendered.
Part surfaces and available planes can be selected only in rendered
views.
28
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2.
Hold down the Alt key and use area selection (from left to right) to select all the handles
of the cut.
3.
4.
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29
You can select either the Boundary planes or Outline planes option in
the custom component editor toolbar to be able to highlight and select
the planes.
5.
30
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6.
Select both front handles and bind them to the edge of the beam flange.
7.
Select both rear handles and bind them to the beam web.
Make sure you have set the plane type as Outline planes.
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31
Click the Display variables button in the custom component editor toolbar.
The Variables dialog box opens and shows the distance variables that you have created
by binding the planes.
2.
32
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Click the Add button twice in the Variables dialog box to create two new variables.
The variables created by the user get the prefix P (parameter).
2.
3.
4.
5.
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33
6.
34
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2.
3.
Select the end plate bottom handle and bind the handle to the underside of the beam.
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35
36
4.
Open the Variables dialog box and change Visibility of the new variables to Hide.
5.
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The plate upper side now automatically follows the notch depth and the plate underside
follows the beam depth.
Add new variables P3 and P4 for Plate Width and Plate Thickness.
Copy the plate width and plate thickness values from the custom component browser to
the corresponding Formula.
3.
4.
5.
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37
38
6.
Select the end plate in the model to highlight it in the custom component browser.
7.
To link variable P5 to Profile in the custom component browser, right-click Profile and
select Add Equation.
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8.
4.
5.
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39
40
1.
2.
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3.
Select the plate to link the end plate to the main beam.
4.
Hold down the Alt key and use area selection (from left to right) to select both the end
plate handles.
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41
5.
42
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6.
7.
To make the variables follow the end plate thickness, change Formula to =P4.
Change Visibility of variables D12 and D13 to Hide.
2.
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43
44
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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45
Bolt size and bolt standard variables must always have the same prefix,
otherwise they do not work. In this example, the prefix is P8 for both.
6.
Link the variables to Size and Bolt standard in the custom component browser.
6.
46
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Link variable P9 to Bolt group distance x and variable P10 to Bolt group distance y in
the custom component browser.
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47
3.
2.3
Change the properties in the end plate dialog box and click Modify to see the changes in
the model.
Stiffener detail
In this example you create a stiffener detail and edit its dialog box to make it easier to adjust the
stiffener for various situations.
48
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Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom
Component Wizard.
Select Detail in the Type list.
Enter a name for the detail in the Name box.
4.
5.
Click Next.
Select the stiffeners and the beam as the objects that form the custom component.
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49
6.
7.
8.
9.
Click Next.
Select the beam as the main part.
Click Next.
Select the middle point of the beam as the reference point.
Switch to the plane view to select the middle point more easily.
10.
50
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51
Hold down the Alt key and use area selection (left to right) to select the
handles.
3.
4.
5.
6.
52
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7.
8.
9.
10.
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53
11.
12.
Select the stiffener on the left and create distance variables for the stiffener as in steps 3
to 10.
Open the Variables dialog box in the custom component editor.
Click Add to create a new variable.
13.
14.
54
15.
16.
17.
18.
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You have now created distance variables that control the stiffener shape.
2.
Bind the handles to the vertical plane using the Component planes option.
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55
You have now created distance variables that control the position of the stiffeners.
4.
Select the beam in the custom component editor to highlight the beam (primary part) in
the custom component browser.
Right-click Web thickness of the primary part in the custom component browser and
select Copy Reference.
5.
56
TEKLA STRUCTURES 17
6.
7.
8.
This means that if P2 is less than 12 and greater than 10 then the thickness is 12. If P2 is
greater than 12 then the thickness is 16. If none of these conditions is met, the thickness
is 10.
9.
Link variable P3 to Profile of both contour plates in the custom component browser.
You have now created and linked the required variables to control the stiffener thickness
according to the web thickness.
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57
3.
Test the stiffener with different values in the stiffener dialog box and by changing the
beam profile.
3.
Link variables P5 and RightC to the right stiffener plate in the custom component
browser.
4.
Link variables P6 and LeftC to the left stiffener plate in the custom component browser.
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Click File > Open Model Folder to open the folder that contains the model folders.
Go to the CustomComponentDialogFiles folder.
Open the .inp file with a text editor.
The input (.inp) file controls the contents of the dialog box.
4.
This means that the label Stiffener Type is displayed in the stiffener dialog box.
5.
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59
This means that the list contains three options, and Both is the default value. The list
options are linked to variable P4 that controls the creation of the stiffener plates.
6.
60
7.
Edit the line numbers so that there are no empty rows between the variables in the dialog
box.
8.
9.
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Use the example images (in the images_for_dialog_box folder under the model
folder) or create new images and save the images in the ..\Tekla
Structures\<version>\nt\bitmaps folder.
The images that are used in custom component dialog boxes must be in
the bitmap (.bmp) format.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Click File > Open Model Folder to open the model folder.
Go to the CustomComponetDialogFiles folder.
Open the .inp file with a text editor.
Change the option texts of the list to the filenames of the images.
6.
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61
7.
To see the changes in the stiffener dialog box, re-open the model and double-click the
stiffener.
4.
Click File > Open Model Folder to open the model folder.
Go to the CustomComponentDialogFiles folder.
Open the .inp file with a text editor.
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Click File > Open Model Folder to open the model folder.
Go to the CustomComponentDialogFiles folder.
Open the .inp file.
Add the following line to the end of the attribute P4 line:
"toggle_field:!RightC=0;!LeftC=1"
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63
5.
6.
2.4
64
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65
Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom
Component Wizard.
Select Part in the Type list.
Enter a name for the custom part in the Name box.
4.
5.
Click Next.
Select all the objects that belong to the part.
Use area selection (right to left) to select the objects.
66
TEKLA STRUCTURES 17
6.
7.
Click Next.
Select the grid intersection as the first position and the second position 4200 mm above
the first.
Use relative coordinates to select the second position.
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67
8.
68
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69
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
70
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Click the Display variables button to open the Variables dialog box.
2.
3.
Rename the new variables, change their visibility and change the Value type to Number
for variable P4.
4.
Right-click one of the stringers in the custom component editor and select Inquire in the
list.
Copy the stringer ID value in the Inquire Object dialog box.
Change Formula to =fTpl("LENGTH",<stringer ID>) for variable Stringer
Length.
5.
6.
Always check the ID number of the object that you use with the
reference function.
7.
8.
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71
The formula counts the number of rungs. First, the rung spacing and distance to the first
rung is subtracted from the stringer length. Then the remaining value is divided by the
rung spacing and rounded down by using the floor() function.
9.
Link variables P3 and P4 to the properties of the Array of objects component in the
custom component browser.
You have created the variables that control the number and spacing of the rungs.
72
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3.
Bind the handles to the component plane at the bottom of the stringers.
4.
Change Formula to =P2 for the two new variables and hide both variables.
You have created the variables that control the bottom rung offset.
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73
4.
5.
Select both the stringers and the bottom rung in the custom component editor.
Hold-down the Alt key and use area selection (left to right) to select the handles.
6.
74
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Change Formula to =P5/2 for all the new variables and change their Visibility to Hide.
You have created the variables that control the ladder width.
3.
Copy the rung and stringer profile values from the custom component browser and paste
them to corresponding Formula of the new variables.
4.
Link variable P6 to both stringers and variable P7 to the bottom rung in the custom
component browser.
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75
You have created the variables that control the stringer and rung profiles.
The variable automatically receives the suffix _name when Value type
is set to Component name.
76
4.
Right-click Name under Connection in the custom component browser and select Copy
Value in the list.
5.
6.
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You have created the variable that controls the connections between the stringers and rungs.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Change values in the ladder dialog box and click Modify to see the changes in the ladder
part.
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77
3.
The first pixel in the top left corner of a bitmap must be of the same color
(gray) as the background of the dialog box.
4.
Save the image as a bitmap file (file extension .bmp) in the ..\Tekla
Structures\<version>\nt\bitmaps folder.
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Click File > Open Model Folder to open the folder that contains the model files.
Go to the CustomComponentDialogFiles folder.
Open the .inp file with a text editor.
The input (.inp) file controls the contents of the dialog box.
4.
Image name
Image width
Image height
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79
The number of parameter rows affects the size of the dialog box. A tab
page can contain 25 parameter rows. If there are more than 25 visible
parameter rows, Tekla Structures creates another tab page.
80
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X coordinate
Y coordinate
Length of text box
4.
5.
6.
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81
3.
82
4.
5.
Move variables P6, P7 and P8_name inside the parentheses under the new tab page.
Change the row number for variables P6, P7 and P8_name.
6.
7.
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2.5
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83
3.
4.
Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom
Component Wizard.
Change Type to Connection and enter a name for the connection.
Click Next.
Select all the objects (plates, bolts, weld, fitting and beams) that belong to the
component.
Use area selection (right to left) to select the objects.
84
TEKLA STRUCTURES 17
5.
6.
Click Next.
Select the first beam as the main part.
7.
8.
Click Next.
Select the second beam as the secondary part.
9.
Tekla Structures displays a component symbol for the new component and the skewed beam
connection is added to the component catalog.
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85
86
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Before you start, ensure that the part representation is set to rendered.
Part surfaces and available planes can be selected only in rendered
views.
2.
Hold down the Alt key and use area selection (left to right) to select all the fitting
handles.
3.
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87
4.
5.
Move the pointer over the main beam face to highlight it.
6.
7.
Click the Display variables button to open the Variables dialog box.
8.
9.
10.
88
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Change Formula to 10 and enter Clearance in Label in dialog box for the new
variable.
11.
Change Formula to =P1 for the three distance variables to link them to variable P1.
You have created the variables that control the beam flange clearance.
4.
Select the plate in the custom component editor to highlight it in the custom component
browser.
5.
6.
Browse to Profile under Part (the plate) in the custom component browser.
Right-click Profile and select Add Equation in the list.
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89
7.
You have created the variable that controls the plate profile.
Creating variables to control the vertical position of the plate and bolts
To create the variables:
90
1.
2.
3.
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You have created the variables that control the vertical position of the plate.
8.
9.
10.
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91
11.
92
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3.
Select both plate handles and bind them to the outline plane of the secondary beam web.
There are now three new distance variables in the Variables dialog box.
4.
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93
5.
6.
7.
A warning about cycle may appear. You can ignore the warning.
You have created the variables that fix the plate on the beams. The plate now maintains its
position relative to the face of both beams, even if the slope of the beam or the thickness of the
plate changes.
94
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1.
2.
Bind both handles of the concrete beam to the web of the secondary beam.
3.
Bind both handles of the concrete beam to the flange of the main beam.
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95
96
4.
5.
6.
Click Refresh in the custom component browser to show the dummy part in the
browser.
7.
Set Creation to =0 for the concrete beam in the custom component browser.
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Hide the main beam to see the start face of the concrete beam.
10.
11.
12.
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97
98
13.
Change Formula values for distance variables D15, D16 and D17 to link the distance
variables to variables P4, P5 and P6.
14.
Link the Bolt Spacing variable to the bolt group in the custom component browser.
15.
16.
17.
18.
Link the three new variables to the bolt properties in the custom component browser.
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You have created the dummy part and the variables that control the beam length.
2.
3.
4.
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99
2.6
100
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Before you start, ensure that you have the example model Cell_Beam
open.
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101
102
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First column is the beam profile, second column is the hole diameter and third column is
the hole spacing.
Enter a space at the end of each row. Otherwise the information is not
read correctly.
3.
Save the data file with the extension .dat in the model folder.
Click the Display variables button to open the Variables dialog box.
Click Add three times to create three variables.
The variables created by the user get the prefix P (parameter).
3.
4.
5.
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103
The value is read from the data file automatically. The logic is the following:
6.
7.
Select the part cut in the custom component editor to highlight it in the custom
component browser.
Right-click Profile under Part cut in the custom component browser and select Add
Equation in the list.
8.
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9.
Enter "D"+P1.
Variable P1 is now linked to the part cut profile (cell diameter).
This means that the profile gets value D150 with the current variable values.
10.
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105
106
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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8.
3.
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107
The value is P4-1, because the total number of cells is the number of
arrays + the original part cut.
You have created the variable that controls the number of cells.
108
1.
2.
3.
4.
Change the beam profile and click Modify to see the changes.
The cell diameter and spacing should change automatically.
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You can also enter values for the cell diameter and cell spacing in the
dialog box to overwrite the values that are read from the data file.
2.7
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109
3.
Create a dummy concrete beam as a temporary connection between the steel beam and
column.
The dummy part is needed because you can not create a custom
connection directly from another connection. You can later replace the
dummy part with a system component.
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Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom
Component Wizard.
Select Connection in the Type list.
Enter a name for the custom connection in the Name box.
4.
5.
Click Next.
Select the column and the two beams.
6.
7.
Click Next.
Select the column as the main part.
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8.
9.
Click Next.
Select the steel beam as the secondary part.
10.
Click Finish.
Tekla Structures displays a component symbol for the new connection and the custom
connection is added to the component catalog.
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114
3.
4.
5.
6.
Click Refresh to see the nested connection in the custom component browser.
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7.
Creating variables
Create variables that you want to show in the nested custom connection dialog box.
To create the variables:
1.
Click the Display variables button in the custom component editor toolbar to open the
Variables dialog box.
2.
3.
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You added the end plate connection using the default properties, because
they are not shown in the custom component browser. You can now
change the properties of the nested system component one by one and
check the changes in the custom component browser. This way it is
easier to link the variables to the correct component properties.
To link the variables:
116
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Click Modify.
Check General properties under Connection in the custom component browser.
Click Refresh.
Look for the newly visible property under General properties.
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8.
9.
Enter P1.
Variable P1 is now linked to the plate thickness property of the nested system
component.
10.
Change the end plate width in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
11.
12.
Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
Link variable P2 to bpl1.
Variable P2 is now linked to the plate width property of the nested system component.
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118
1.
2.
3.
4.
Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
Link variable P3_diameter to diameter.
5.
Change Bolt standard in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
6.
7.
Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
Link variable P3_screwdin to screwdin.
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8.
Change the bolt distance to the beam top and bolt distance to the plate top in the End
plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
9.
10.
Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
Link variable P4 to rb1 and lba.
11.
Change the bolt horizontal spacing in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
12.
13.
Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
Link variable P5 to lwd.
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120
14.
Change the number of bolts in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
15.
16.
Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
Link variable P6 to nb.
17.
Change the bolt vertical spacing in the End plate (144) dialog box and click Modify.
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18.
19.
Refresh the custom component browser and look for the newly visible property.
Link variable P7 to lbd.
2.
3.
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4.
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Change the values in the dialog box and click Modify to see the changes in the model.
3.1
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Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom
Component Wizard.
Select Part in the Type list.
Enter a name for the part in the Name box.
4.
5.
Click Next.
Select all the objects that belong to the custom part.
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6.
7.
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Click Next.
Select the midpoint at one end of the middle layer.
8.
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9.
Click Finish.
Tekla Structures displays a component symbol for the new component and the sandwich
panel custom part is added to the component catalog.
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The custom component editor opens showing the custom component editor toolbar, the
component browser and four views of the custom component.
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130
1.
Select the Component planes option in the custom component editor toolbar.
2.
3.
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4.
5.
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132
2.
3.
4.
5.
Select the outer panel in the model to highlight it in the custom component browser.
Copy the profile value of the outer panel from the custom component browser, and add it
to Formula of P1.
6.
Copy the profile values of the insulation and inner panel from the custom component
browser, and add them to Formula of P2 and P3.
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7.
8.
To link the variables of outer, inner and insulation layers to the appropriate profiles in
the custom component browser, right-click Profile and select Add Equation.
Depending on the variable, set Profile to =P1, =P2 or =P3.
5.
To link variables of outer, inner and insulation layers to the appropriate materials in the
custom component browser, right-click Material and select Add Equation.
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6.
134
1.
2.
Save the custom part and close the custom component editor.
Double-click the sandwich panel in the model.
The sandwich panel dialog box opens.
3.
4.
On the Position tab, set At depth to Front and remove any offset values.
Save the values as Standard.
5.
Change the properties in the sandwich panel dialog box and click Modify to see the
changes in the model.
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3.2
Panel-to-panel seam
In this example you create a panel-to-panel custom seam.
A custom seam creates seam objects and connects parts along their
length and along a line picked with two points.
The component symbol is green.
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1.
136
2.
3.
Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom
Component Wizard.
Select Seam in the Type list.
Enter a name for the part in the Name box.
4.
5.
Click Next.
Select all the objects that belong to the custom seam.
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6.
7.
Click Next.
Select the bottom panel as the main part.
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8.
9.
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Click Next.
Select the top panel as the secondary part.
10.
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11.
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12.
Click Finish.
Tekla Structures displays a component symbol for the new component and the panel-topanel seam is added to the component catalog.
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The custom component editor opens showing the custom component editor toolbar, the
component browser and four views of the custom component.
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Creating distance variables to control the tubes, reinforcing bars and cuts
Before you start, ensure that the part representation is set to rendered.
Part surfaces and available planes can be selected only in rendered
views.
To create distance variables to control the tubes, reinforcing bars and cuts:
1.
2.
Select the tube, reinforcing bar and cuts at one end of the panel.
Hold down the Alt key and use area selection (from left to right) to select all the end
handles.
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144
3.
4.
5.
6.
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Click the Add button in the Variables dialog box to create a new variable.
The variables created by the user get the prefix P (parameter).
2.
3.
4.
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5.
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6.
To control the tube position at the end of the panel, bind the end handles in the same
ways as in the start of the panel, and modify the variables accordingly.
Save the custom seam and close the custom component editor.
Double-click the custom component.
The panel-to-panel seam dialog box opens.
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3.
3.3
Change the properties in the seam dialog box and click Modify to see the changes in the
model.
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4.
5.
Click Detailing > Component > Define Custom Component... to open the Custom
Component Wizard.
Select Connection in the Type list.
Enter a name for the connection in the Name box.
Click Next.
Select all the objects that belong to the precast base connection, including fittings and
cuts.
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6.
7.
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Click Next.
Select the pad footing as the main part.
8.
9.
Click Next.
Select the column as the secondary part.
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10.
Click Finish.
Tekla Structures displays a component symbol for the new component and the precast
base connection is added to the component catalog.
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The custom component editor opens showing the custom component editor toolbar, the
component browser and four views of the custom component.
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3.
4.
Add the bolt components to the pad footing in the same way.
Before you start, ensure that the part representation is set to rendered.
Part surfaces and available planes can be selected only in rendered
views.
Select the column shoe, anchor bolt and cut at one corner in the custom component
editor.
Hold down the Alt key and use area selection (left to right) to select the handles.
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156
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
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8.
You now have 18 distance variables that control the positioning of the column shoe,
anchor bolt and cut at the corner.
9.
Click the Display variables button in the custom component editor toolbar to open the
Variables dialog box.
10.
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The variables are now not shown in the custom component dialog box.
2.
Change Value type and Label in dialog box for the new variable.
3.
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Select the column shoe at the corner for which you created the distance variables.
The column shoe (component) is highlighted in the custom component browser.
4.
Right-click Name under Component in the custom component browser and select Copy
Value in the list.
5.
6.
Right-click Name under Component in the custom component browser and select Add
Equation in the list.
7.
Enter P1_name.
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Variable P1_name and the column shoe component are now linked together.
160
1.
2.
3.
Select the anchor bolt at the corner for which you created the distance variables.
The anchor bolt (component) is highlighted in the custom component browser.
4.
Right-click Name under Component in the custom component browser and select Copy
Value in the list.
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5.
6.
Link variable P2_name to the anchor bolt name in the custom component browser.
3.
Change Formula to =P3 for the variable with the longer distance between the cut handle
and the pad footing.
Select a distance variable in the Variables dialog box to show the related
distance in the custom component editor views.
You have created the variable that controls the height of the cut.
4.
5.
6.
Select the cut at the corner to highlight the cut in the custom component browser.
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161
7.
3.
Change Formula to =P5 for the two variables that control the distance between the bolt
handles and the pad footing.
You have created the variable that controls the anchor bolt height.
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2.
Link the column shoe component as instructed in Creating a variable to control the
component type of the column shoe (p. 158).
You do not need to create a new variable, just do the linking.
3.
Link the anchor bolt component as instructed in Creating a variable to control the
component type of the anchor bolt (p. 160).
You do not need to create a new variable, just do the linking.
4.
Link the cut profile and height as instructed in Creating variables to control the cut
size (p. 161).
You do not need to create new variables, just do the linking.
5.
Link the bolt height as instructed in Creating a variable to control the anchor bolt
height (p. 162).
2.
3.
4.
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164
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Frequently asked
questions
This section contains answers to frequently asked questions about custom components. The
questions and answers are divided to the following categories:
General (p. 165)
Creating distance variables (binding) (p. 166)
Editing variables (p. 167)
Custom component browser (p. 169)
Editing an input file (p. 170)
4.1
Question 1
General
Are there "best methods" how to create custom components?
Not really. However, multiplication is faster than division. For example, P1*0.5 is faster than
P1/2.
Question 2
Question 3
custom_object_editor_front_view
custom_object_editor_end_view
custom_object_editor_top_view
custom_object_editor_perspective_view
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165
Question 4
I am unable to create two components between the same parts. I have selected the Allow
multiple instances of connection between same parts checkbox in the custom component
settings. Why does this not work with my custom component?
You also need to change Position in relation to secondary part in the custom component
dialog box to be different from the center option. Then you can create two components between
the same parts.
4.2
Question 1
Question 2
Question 3
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Outline planes
Boundary planes
Boundary planes work for most profile types, so try to use them rather
than outline planes whenever you can.
Question 4
Question 5
What does the Add fixed distance command do on the custom component editor toolbar?
With the command you select the plane first and then the handle or chamfer to bind.
Question 6
What does the Create distance variables automatically command do on the custom
component editor toolbar?
The command automatically binds the selected part to their handles contact planes. Tekla
Structures selects planes in the following order:
1.
2.
4.3
Question 1
construction planes
planes of main and secondary parts
Editing variables
Are there any reserved variable names?
Yes, the following parametric variables must have the same prefix:
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167
The suffixes are automatically added when you change Value type in the Variables dialog box:
Question 3
Is there a limit to the length of the variable label (Label in dialog box)?
Yes, the limit is 30 characters. You can add more characters in an input file, if required.
Question 4
I want to have two separate values for the plate width and plate thickness. How can I use these
values to make a profile name, for example PLT200*100? How do I stop the values from
having decimals?
Use the int() function to convert decimal numbers to integers.
In the example below, P2 is the plate width and P3 is the plate thickness. Use the following
formula to make the profile:
="PLT"+int(P2)+"*"+int(P3)"
Question 5
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Distance lists are treated as text in Tekla Structures so you must use quotation marks. For
example, P1 + " " + P5
4.4
Question 1
Question 2
Is there any way to show user-defined attributes in the custom component browser?
Yes, you need to change the required value from the default setting. The default values are not
shown in the custom component browser.
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169
4.5
Question 1
1.
2.
Question 2
170
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