Beam Extruder

8/11/2019 Beam Extruder

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Copyright 2014 Tekla Corporation

Beam Extruder

1. Purpose and description

This tool creates consecutive beams with any profile and can be used for bridge modelling.

The tool uses an external excel spreadsheet where you define start points for the beamsegments and which profile to use. Custom profiles can be created in Tekla Structures.

A sample model (ExtrusionTestModel) is attached to the installation package. The samplemodel contains extension presets with a couple of sample profiles and two samplespreadsheets (these are located in the folder excelin the sample model folder).

The extension can create layout points along all part edges. To create layout points alongspecific part edges, the extension comes bundled with a plugin called EdgeMeasurement.

2. System requirements

Environments: Default, Finnish, UK, US. For others, see Installation.

Languages: English

3. Installation

To install the application:

1. Install the Beam Extruder msi file. Follow the installer instructions.

a. If you arent using the Default, Finnish, UK or US environment, you need tocopy the BeamExtruder.cs macro from the common/macros/modeling folderand place it into the appropriate environment/role macro/modeling folder.

2. Restart Tekla Structures.


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3. Theres an example model with example presets provided with the installationpackage. If you desire to use this, copy the model to your model folder (preferably

C:\TeklaStructuresModels) and open it in Tekla Structures.

4. Usage

1. Inside Tekla Structures, go to Tools> Macros, select Beam Extruderand press the Runbutton. The NodeAdder interface should appear.

a. When you restart TeklaStructures, you should see anicon on a new toolbar in whichyou can launch the BeamExtruder as well.

2. If you have opened the test model,

you can loadone of the presets andhit Extrude Beamsto create a testbridge.

a. Note: If your model folder issomething else than C:\TeklaStructuresModels you need to change the excelfile path in the dialog.

Otherwise:

3. Define an excel sheet to use as input on the dialog field. Check the option Showexcelto show the sheet. On the excel sheet there should be columns withcoordinates X Y Z, a column with the profile string and a column that will contain theGUID numbers returned from the model. Please see the sample sheets in the sample

model folder provided.

4. On the application dialog, map the columnsand specify the number of headerrows.When you enter a column or row, the corresponding column will show up in redon the excel sheet (if its open).

5. Part attributes can be changed on the Part attributes tab.

6. Insert beams into the model by pressing Extrude beams.The excel sheet will getupdated with the GUID numbers. In case the column references are mapped wrongnothing might get created.

7. Once beams are created, they can be updated by the button Update beams.Updating is based on the GUID numbers returned on the excel sheet


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8. To use a single polybeam instead of consecutive beams, check the option Usepolybeams.With complex profiles this might produce simplified results.

9. On the Layout Pointstab you can choose to create layout points along all partedges.

10. The extension comes bundled with the EdgeMeasuerementplugin, which can beused to create layout points along specific edges only. The plugin has a launch iconon the Beam Extruder toolbar as well.

11. When closing the Beam Extruder, Excel might ask you if you want to save thechanges since the ID numbers have been updated. Click yes to be able to update thebeams next time (rather than recreating them).

Documents

Beam Extruder