HiCAD 2012 - New in Steel Engineering

Fit/Process beams
Connections + Variants
Stairs + Railings
Workshop Drawing /Derived Drawing
Itemisation / Identical Part Search
Grid and Grid annotations
Glass Insertion
Other new features and enhancements

Fit/Process beams

Profiles from sketches

Multi-part standard beams can now also be derived from sketches. To do this, select Steel Engineering > New > Standard > Multi-part beam from sketch.

Multi-part beam derived from a sketch

The moving of points in a defined rectangle crosswise to the beam axis is also possible for beams derived from sketches (this option is not possible for other beams).

Placing beams/profiles

When placing beams or profiles along a composite edge, the selected composite edge must exclusively consist of straight lines and arcs. If the composite edge consist other elements such as, for instance, ellipses or B-spline edges, HiCAD displays the message C-edge contains invalid edges!. You can then select a different composite edge or cancel the identification.

New standard bemas series

The new standard beam series VHP by Voestalpine is now available. You can find this beam series in the catalogue FACTORY BEAMS > Voest Profile .

Grid steps

Grid steps can be exchanged against other steps in the HiCAD catalogues. To do this, select Further functions > Exchange > Grating step. Alternatively, you can also select this function from the context menu for grating steps. (SP1)

Connections + Variants

Front plate connections

The previous functions for girder connections according to DAST IS/IH, one-sided and double-sided (221, 222) are no longer available. These connections can now be realised via the Design Variants 1320 and 1322.
The flexible Front plate connection (1320) has been enhanced and now also allows the insertion and annotation of weld seams. Furthermore, the connection can either be fitted as a user-defined configuration, or as a configuration on the basis of predefined DAST tables integrated in HiCAD. An appropriate Design Variant is available for double-sided front plate connections (1322).
The previous Design Variant for Purlin joints with 2 plates and mitre cut according to DAST IH has been replaced by the Design Variant 1201. This Design Variant also allows the insertion and annotation of weld seams. Furthermore, the connection can either be fitted as a user-defined configuration, or as a configuration on the basis of predefined DAST tables integrated in HiCAD.
The variant 1 plate with mitre cut (201) has been replaced with the variant Purlin joint with mitre cut (1202). This variant also uses the new dialogue. (SP1)
For the design variant Purlin joint with mitre cut (1202), weld seams at flanges and webs can now be generated. (SP2)

Pipe connections

Also new are the design variants for pipe connections. Weld seams for stiffeners (SP1) , and connecting plates on the beam can also be fitted.

Example

The Connect pipes function is now available as a design variant in the Civil Engineering functions docking window. Please note that you can currently only use the material S235JRG2. (SP2)

Cross-bracing

The design variant Cross-bracing (1501) has been renamed to Cross-bracing (1601). (SP1)
In the dialogue window of the design variant Cross-bracing with turnbuckle/tensioning element (1602), go to Set > General > Distance from beam end to... and specify how the distance entered on the Plates tab should be interpreted: (SP2)
New is the design variant Cross-bracing with turnbuckle/tensioning element (1602) (SP1).
as the distance between beam end and plate start, or
or the distance between beam end and the crossing point between the axes

Other new features/enhancements

Connections can now be deleted via the Ribbon. To do this, select Steel Engineering > Variants > Delete .
The Copy connection function allows a multiple fitting of the selected connection / Design Variant, without having to re-identify the original variant several times.
The design variant Base plate + Anchor plate (1101) has been switched to the new dialogue ands has been enhanced significantly. For example, it is now possible to define additional stiffeners in web and flange direction (SP1)
The Strap joint (1310) has been enhanced and now also allows the insertion and annotation of weld seams. Furthermore, the connection can also be applied to double-T- and double-U-beams. Depending on the fitting situation, the beam to be connected will be notched automatically. The corresponding settings can be specified in the Notch tab. (SP1)

Stairs and Railings

Stairs and railings can now only be called via the Civil Engineering functions docking window.
A new stair type, Concrete stairs, is now available.

Concrete stairs dialogue window

The boltings that are available for straight stairs are defined in the configuration file Stairs Screw Joint.ini (in the HiCAD subdirectory KATALOGE\SYS\CONFIGS). In this file, configurations for
bolts of the type DIN 7990 and a strength of 5.6, and
bolts of the type DIN EN 14399-4 and a strength of 10.9

are pre-defined.

To change these default configurations, activate the 3-D Standard tab and select Standard Parts > New bolting .

The definition of screw/bolt types below the block Schrauben Typ [Screw type] in the file ..\Kataloge\Stahlbau\ElementProfil.dat is no longer used! (SP2)

The boltings that are available for railings are defined in the file Railing Screw Joint.ini (in the HiCAD subdirectory KATALOGE\SYS\CONFIGS). In this file, configurations for
bolts of the type DIN 7990 and a strength of 5.6, with a flat washer, a wedge disc 5%, a wedge disc 8%, and a wedge disc 14%, and
bolts of the type DIN EN 14399-4 and a strength of 10.9, with a flat washer, a wedge disc 5% and a wedge disc 8%

are pre-defined.

To change these default configurations, activate the 3-D Standard tab and select Standard Parts > New bolting . The definition of screw/bolt types below the block Schraube [Screw] in the file ..\Kataloge\Stahlbau\ElementProfil.dat is no longer used! (SP2)

Workshop drawing/Derived Drawing

The Steel Engineering workshop drawing functionality has been expanded to a function for general drawing derivation, which can now also be applied to general parts, e.g. mechanical engineering parts. The function can be found, just as the function for itemisation and detail drawing creation, on the Drawing tab.

Drawing > Itemisation/Detailing

Settings

You can now choose between a representation with and without hidden edges for metal sheets in derived drawings. Default setting is Without hidden edges.
For sheet selection you can now use a new drawing sheet for each drawing frame.
In the Settings for view groups you can now define the visualisation separately for standard views, sectional views and axonometric views. Default values are as follows:
Standard views: Hidden Line dashed
Sectional views: Hidden Line
Axonometric views: Shaded with edges
In den Settings for view groups you can now specify that beams in axonometric views will be displayed in shortened representation. Default setting is no.
For each view group creation, whether for a part or an assembly, the assigned type of use will be evaluated.
The loading of view groups created as a result of drawing derivations has been accelerated significantly.
The Derive > Change Settings, Active view group function enables a subsequent specification of the views to be created.
When adding view groups to sheets that already contain views from derived drawings, it is now possible to switch off the automatic rearranging of views. You specify this setting via the Configuration Editor. Select GENERAL > DRAWINGS > CREATE > REARRANGE EXISTING VIEWS WHEN ADDING VIEW GROUPS to change the setting. The default setting is 2, i.e. you will be asked whether you want the views to be rearranged.

Changed dimensioning rules in Configuration Management

In the Configuration Management (ISDconfigeditor.exe) the dimensioning rules Common > Drawings > Generation > Usage_Dependent > COLUMN > WSD_DiMRULESET have been changed as follows:
STWDIMRULE_7: Position 2 (formerly 1)
STWDIMRULE_9: Position 2 (formerly 1)
STWDIMRULE_45: Value for all views = 0
STWDIMRULE_46: Value for view 1 = 1, Value for view 2 = 2
STWDIMRULE_47: Value for all views = 0
STWDIMRULE_50: Value for view 1 = 2, Value for view 2 = 1
STWDIMRULE_61: Value for view 1 =2
The dimensioning rule 10, direction "perpendicular to beam axis" has been modified. During dimensioning of attached parts, an individual dimension for each part will be created in its vicinity.
The dimensioning rules 8 and 10 dimension sheet metal sub-parts even if the sheet surface runs parallel to the view and the part contains bores.
As of HiCAD 2011, the new weld seam annotations are also used in workshop (derived) drawings.
The length of a mitre is no longer dimensioned via the rules 21 or 23. If desired, you can dimension the length of mitres via the rules 64 or 65. By default, these rules have been entered in the configuration management, but have been deactivated for all views.
If you use the drawing parameters of a configuration, the part environment will not be displayed by default. To change this, open the Configuration Editor (ISDConfigEditor.exe) and select GENERAL > DRAWINGS > CREATE > USE CASE-DEPENDENT > TEMPLATE > VIEWS > PART ENVIRONMENT. Set the parameter Part environment (0: no, 1:yes) to 1. (SP1)
You can specify either HiCAD or Windows paths for drawing frames via the Configuration Management: In the Configuration Editor, select GENERAL > DRAWINGS > CREATION > DRAWING FRAMES > DIN... > FIGURE NAME. In the Value field, the figure name can be prefixed by the path. (SP1)

Examples:

DINA4
File DINA4.FIG from the HiCAD file group C: (this is the path entered for C: in the system file Filegrup.dat)
X:DINA4
File DINA4.FIG from the HiCAD file group X (this is the path entered for C: in the system file Filegrup.dat)
C:\TEST\DINA4
File DINA4.FIG in the Windows folder C:\TEST
You can now enter the value 6 for the Position parameter of the dimensioning rules ( GENERAL > DRAWINGS > CREATION > USE-CASE DEPENDENT > COLUMN > SET OF DIMENSIONING RULES). For chain dimensions, the position of the drawing will then be selected in such a way that the chain dimension is located as closely as possible to the 2nd base point. This possibility exists for all chain dimensions, but not for individual dimensions such as length, height, width, diameter or angle. (SP1).

As for beams and profiles, the configuration management now also provides dimensioning rules for attached sheets and plates per side. One distinguishes between "Web, front" (BEFORE_WEB) and "Web, back" (BEHIND_WEB) as the side for the attachment. (SP2)
66 = ATTACHING_SHEET_UPPERSIDE
67 = ATTACHING_SHEET_LOWERSIDE
68 = ATTACHING_SHEET_BEFORE_WEB
69 = ATTACHING_SHEET_BEHIND_WEB
Similar to dimensioning rule 10, which dimensions all sheet/plate sub-parts in a chain, the dimensioning rule 57 (ATTACHING_SHEETS_SEPARATELY) enables an alignment of the chain direction to individual sheets, thus also supporting the direction parallel to the sheet/plate surface. For rule 57 you can specify the value 4 (VERTIKALSHEETAXIS) instead of the value 2 (VERTIKALPROFILAXIS) for the direction (DIM_DIRECTION). For the position (DIM_CHAIN_POSITION) the value 5 (POS_INSIDE) should be set. (SP2)

Fillets on outer and inner contours are now dimensioned as radius dimensions. For outer diameters the rule for length/width is used, for inner diameters the rule for the bore diameter in the main part (see screenshot) is used. (SP2)

Example

Update / Add

When updating workshop drawings you have now the option to switch off the automatic rearranging of views. This makes sense, for instance, if you want to retain your own, user-defined position of views when you update them.
When adding view groups to sheets that already contain views from derived drawings, it is now possible to switch off the automatic rearranging of views. You specify this setting via the Configuration Editor. Select GENERAL > DRAWINGS > CREATE > REARRANGE EXISTING VIEWS WHEN ADDING VIEW GROUPS to change the setting. The default setting is 2, i.e. you will be asked whether you want the views to be rearranged. (SP1)

For external PDM-managed drawings you can now specify in the configuration management whether missing sectional views are to be created in case of an updating of derived drawings. In the Configuration Editor, select GENERAL > DRAWINGS > CREATE > CREATE MISSING SECTIONAL VIEWS WHEN UPDATING PDM-MANAGED DRAWINGS. Default setting is 0 (do not rearrange).

Furthermore, it is now possible to switch off the automatic rearranging of views in PDM-managed drawings. You specify this setting via the Configuration Editor. Select GENERAL > DRAWINGS > CREATE > REARRANGE VIEWS WHEN UPDATING DRAWINGS MANAGED VIA PDM. The default setting is 1 (rearrange). (SP1)

The Create missing sectional views checkbox has been replaced with the AutoSync sectional views checkbox. This checkbox enables you to specify how to proceed with sectional views that are still missing or have become superfluous. (SP2)

If you activate the checkbox, the following will happen:

After the adding of new attached parts in the model drawing, the corresponding missing sectional views will be generated automatically.
After the deletion of attached parts in the model drawing, the corresponding superfluous sectional views will be deleted automatically.

Update derived drawings dialogue window

Others

If you move a view from one sheet of the workshop drawing to another (via Drag & Drop), HiCAD will issue the following message:

After performing the action, the corresponding views will no longer be considered for the updating of the workshop drawing.

Besides the sheet number and the main scale of the drawing, you can use the $VIEWSCALE key to enter the view scale in the title block of the drawing frame. The assignment for drawing derivationis made in the file wsd.titleblock.dat. (SP2)

Itemisation / Identical part search

For identical part search, the production type for bores can now be considered. In the parameter settings for itemisation, activate the Production type for bores (workshop, site...) checkbox. In this way you can, for instance, deactivate bores for assembly boltings during NC export

Production types of bores during identical part search

In the file STB_PARAMETER.DAT in the HiCAD SYS directory, the default setting for geometrically identical part search has been changed. The default setting for the entry

Bei der geometrischen Gleichteilerkennung alle Teile berücksichtigen [Consider all parts for geometrical identical part search] (0=no; 1=yes)

is now 1, i.e. all parts will be considered.

Grid and Grid annotations

Axis annotations are assigned to the grid main part 3DGRID . This enables you to hide the grid part while retaining the grid annotations.

Glass insertion

The dialogue of the Glass from sketch function has changed. The dialogue enables you to load and save configurations for glass panes, taking also the type of coating into account. (SP2)

Glass details dialogue

Other new features and enhancements

Steel Engineering BOMs now also transfer avoirdupois weights to the ReportManager.
A new template for civil engineering, Hicad_stahlbau_02.Rms is now available for Steel Engineering BOMs.

During dimensioning of parts, the annotations will be placed in such a way that they do not overlap the processings. (SP2)

Automatic dimensioning