Steel Engineering - What's New

Service Pack 2 2016 (V 2102)

Important notes

Changed attribute masks when using the default template for Steel/Metal Engineering

If you have selected the ISD default template for Steel/Metal Engineering for the parameter configuration (s.a.), the Part attributes masks in the HiDAD sys directory will be replaced accordingly. These masks have been slightly modified in SP2. For example, these masks now contain the fields Article No.and Standard instead of the fields "Part name" and "Article number". Also, the position of some fields has changed.

Assembly

Beam

Steel Engineering plate

Sheet Metal part

General 3-D part

Options / Settings

STB_PARAMETER.DAT / Configuration Management

Previously, various Steel Engineering settings could be specified in the system file STB_PARAMETER.DAT which is now no longer available. Its setting options have been moved to the Configuration Editor at Steel Engineering.

Templates, Attribute assignment

Use the new Templates, Attribute assignment function to adjust the templates for attribute assignment

• of the Document and Drawing Management in Civil Engineering (Management + BIM) and
• of the DSTV-NC export (see also "Interfaces - What's New?")

Templates, Attribute assignment dialogue window

Please note:

• The BIM templates are used when the parameter PDM > Management + BIM > Production drawings > Create HELiOS atributes from FTD file in the Configuration Editor has been set to Yes (Default). For the generation of the drawing number and the item number, specify the number of digits for the parameter Generate n-digit drawing number in the Configuration Editor at PDM > Management + BIM > Production drawings (or PDM > Management + BIM, respectively).
• The DSTV templates will be considered if the corresponding parameters in the Configuration Editor at Steel Engineering > DSTV-NC have been set to Configuration, and in the DSTV-NC interface the option From templates file has been selected for letterings and the drawing number, part number, item number and order number.

DSTV-NC interface

Configuration of various data in DSTV-NC files

When generating DSTV-NC files the following data:

• Order number,
• Drawing number,
• Item number ,
• Part number and
• Lettering

can be configured via template files (FTD) that have been defined for this purpose. Previously the selection took place via the Configuration Editor. From HiCAD 2016 SP2 onwards this can be done directly in the DSTV-NC interface dialogue window.

DSTV-NC dialogue window

The DSTV templates will only be considered if the From template file option has been for the letterings, the order number, drawing number, item number and part number in the DSTV-NC interface dialogue window.

Adjustment of templates

Use the Templates, Attribute assignment function to adjust the template files.

Railing Configurator

Railings on beams in succession aligned in the same direction

If there are several beams in succession that are aligned in the same direction, the railing elements of these beams will be combined into one segment assembly. As a result, continuous hand rails and knee rails will be formed on these beams.

Left: Before HiCAD 2016 SP2; HiCAD 2016 SP2 or higher

Rectangular plates and Stiffeners

Automatic calculation of stiffener widths

If you selected the automatic calculation, the calculated width will be displayed in the (then greyed out) input field. Previously the value of the last manual width adjustment was shown here.

Forming of assemblies when inserting rectangular plates and stiffeners

When you insert rectangular plates or stiffeners, HiCAD will now proceed as follows for the creation of welded assemblies:

If the reference beam is a main part that does not belong to an assembly, an assembly will be formed, with the beam as assembly main part and the plate as sub-part.

If the reference beam belongs to an assembly, the plate will also be assigned to this assembly as a sub-part.

Connections

Front plate connection to flange (2330)

If you use the All equal button on the Stiffeners tab to apply the settings to all stiffeners in the Front plate connection (2330), please note that the placing of the stiffeners will be automatically mirrored in the process. For instance, if you have placed the 1st stiffener on the Front side, the 2nd stiffener will be placed on the Back side when you call theAll equal function.

Filler plates with Usage

For the

• Front plate connection to web/flange (2320),
• Front plate connection (double-sided) to web (2322),
• Front plate connection to web (2330),
• Purlin joint, 2 plates with mitre cut acc. to DAST IH (2201) and
• End plate (2102)

the Usage Filler plate is now automatically assigned to filler plates. In this way you can, e.g. also create usage-dependent configurations for filler plates, which will then be considered for drawing derivations.

Mounting drawings

Enhanced dialogue and output to external drawings

The dialogue window for the creation or modification of mounting drawings has been revised and enhanced. For example, the bounding boxes for view groups can now be changed subsequently, and mounting drawings can now also be output to external drawings.

• Output to external drawings

As of SP2, mounting drawings can also be output to external drawings. Please note that mounting drawings in external drawing files can only be updated after modifications in the original model drawing if you use document and drawing management in civil engineering (Management + BIM). In this case you will use the corresponding function in the Management+BIM module for the creation of the mounting drawings. In this way, the mounting drawing will be linked to the original model drawing.

• Mounting drawing: Processing of bounding box

The dimensions of the transparent bounding box for the active view group can be changed via the functions of the

menu. The following functions are available:

Change box dimensions, via facet + point

Here you select a surface of the box and move it to the desired target point. The moving can also be performed dynamically with the cursor.

Change box dimensions, via facet + value

Here you select a surface of a box and determine the value by which the box is to be moved. The surface will be moved by the value that you enter in the input field.

Also new is the option to re-determine the box, namely, via the following functions:

Re-determine box via 2 beams

Re-determine box, via plane

Re-determine box, via grid edge

The deleting of the box is now also possible - use the

Delete box

function for this.

• Extended settings

Clicking the button opens the dialogue window shown below. Here you can determine the size of the boxes by specifying an excess length for different direction, i.e. enlarge the box in this way. Also, you can determine here how external drawings should be handled.

Retain visibility

Via the parameter Include new parts in list views of mounting drawings you can specify whether created new parts are to be shown or hidden in the views of the mounting drawing upon its updating.

No
If a view of the mounting drawing contains hidden parts, the created new parts will also be hidden in these views.

Yes
Created new parts will always be shown in the views of the mounting drawing. This is the default setting. .

Management of mounting drawings via Document and Drawing Management in Civil Engineering (Management + BIM)

Like production drawings, mounting drawings can now be centrally managed with the functions of the Management + BIMmodule.

Production drawings

Alignment of beams and profiles

The Alignment of derived view functions in the context menu for parts (right-click)

• Active view as front view and
• Active view as top view

can now also be applied to beams and profiles. In this way you can specify the alignment of views in workshop drawings.

When you specify the alignment, HiCAD will check whether the new alignment of the beam/profile is actually allowed. Please note the following:

• Front views of beams show either the front side or the rear side of the web.
• Front views of round profiles must run horizontally, while allowing a free rotation about their axes. This enables a rotation of the view-defining coordinate system for trimmed round beams in such a way that the cutting angle can be dimensioned in the workshop drawing.

The result of the check will then be shown in a dialogue window.Here it will be listed for which of the chosen beams/profiles the new alignment was successful, and to which no new alignment could be applied.

Hide boltings

For each usage you can specify whether the boltings in the production drawing are to be shown or hidden. You can find the relevant settings in the Configuration Editor at

Automatic drawing derivation > Production drawing > Usage-dependent > name > Views

with name being the name of the respective usage.

The following options are possible:

Please note:

• These settings do not apply to bolts which are located in a structure assembly (e.g. boltings that have been inserted as loose parts). These bolts will not be shown in the workshop drawing.
• The settings specified in the Configuration Editor when generating the production drawing will not be saved with the model drawing. If a production drawing is updated, the current settings in the Configuration Editor will be used, and not the settings that were active when the drawing was generated.

Sectional views for plate-like attached parts

When generating the production drawing, a sectional view will now not only be created and dimensioned for attached parts of the type "Plate", but also for other, plate-like attached parts, such as flat steels.

Main parts without assembly

Main parts that do not belong to an assembly, e.g. parts on the highest level of a part structure, were previously treated as main part of an assembly when a production drawing was created. This means: If the Main parts as assembly checkbox beneath View groups to be created for: in the Drawing derivation dialogue window was activated, the settings for assemblies were used for these parts. If the Main parts, individually checkbox was activated, the settings for the corresponding part type were used for these parts. If both checkboxes were activated, two drawings (view groups) were created - one for the assembly and one for the individual part.

As of SP2 these parts will only be considered for the production drawing if the Main parts, individually checkbox beneath View groups to be created for: in the Drawing derivation dialogue window was activated. In this way it is assured that only one view group will be created for such a part.

New / expanded dimensioning rules

Parametric dimensions for Sheet Metal parts

You can now also use parametric Sheet Metal dimensions for the automatic dimensioning of Sheet Metal parts in workshop drawings. The following rule are available for this purpose:

Please note that for Rule 136 angles with 90, 180, 270 and 360 degrees will never be shown.

Example- 3-D sheet and detail of production drawing (front view) with dimensioning according to Rules 135, 136 and 137

Expansion of rules for sub-systems

The following rules for sub-systems:

• 71: Sub-system in upper flange area,
• 72: Sub-system in lower flange area,
• 73: Sub-system in web area,
• 74: Sub-system in upper flange and lower flange area and
• 75: Sub-system in upper flange, lower flange and web area

offer further selection options for reference selection:

• System axes
• Beam with attached parts
  Beam start or end without front-mounted attached parts
  
• Beam without attached parts
  Beam start or end with front-mounted attached parts

Attached plates/sheets on relevant beam sub-parts

Sheets and plates in welded assemblies (welded frameworks) do not always refer to the main part of the assembly, but may also refer to the neighbouring beams (defined by contact surfaces). Such beams need not necessarily be main parts.

Based on the Rules 57 - 61, similar rules are now available for attached plates and sheets on relevant beam sub-parts.

Separate chain dimensions for different usages

You have the option to create separate chain dimensions per different usage for chain dimensions describing the fitting situation of parts. To change this behaviour, open the STW_DimSettings.XML (conventional dimensioning settings) file in the HiCAD sys directory and set the parameter SEPERATEDSUBPARTPOSITION to 1:

</PARAM><PARAM Name="SEPERATEDSUBPARTPOSITION" Typ="INT" Value="1">

The image below shows a beam with 4 plates for different usages (1=Front plate, 2=Reinforcement plate, (3) Stiffener) and the front view of the production drawing.

Attached parts - only dimension first contact point

When dimensioning attached sheet/plate parts or plates and beams that border on dimensionally relevant beams, both contact points will always be dimensioned. If only the first contact point in the chain is to be dimensioned, open the STW_DimSettings.XML (conventional dimensioning settings) file in the HiCAD sys directory and set the parameter

</PARAM><PARAM Name="SUBPARTPOSITION" Typ="INT" Value="0">

to 1.

This setting affects the Dimensioning rules 8, 10, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 94,96, 110, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117.

Example - (1) without changing STW_DimSettings.XML ; (2) with change of STW_DimSettings.XML

Steel Engineering BOM in Excel

Shipping list with axonometric representation of assemblies

When generating BOMs using the HiCAD_Stahlbau.RMS template you can display an axonometric representation of the assembly as an image in the Shipping list in Excel format.

For this to happen, the following settings are required in the Excel file HiCAD_Stahlbau.EN.2102.0.xlsx:

Example of a shipping list with assembly images

For image creation HiCAD must be running during Excel output via the Report Manager, and the corresponding drawing must be open.If a different drawing is open, to image will be created.

More information can be found in the News for the Report Manager.

Service Pack 1 2016 (V 2101)

General Design Variants

Bar Configurator

Use the Bar Configurator dialogue window to fill the area between 4 boundary beams, or the area between 4 edges of a sketch with bars. The placing of bars along composite edges is also possible.

Example - (1) Bars between beams; (2) Bars along composite edge

Mounting drawings

Redesigned dialogue window

The dialogue window for the creation and processing of mounting drawings has had a redesign:

New dialogue window

New options

The following new option for the specification of bounding boxes for detail views are available:

	New view group by selection of 2 beams Here the bounding box is determined by the selction of 2 beam ends. HiCAD automatically calculates the smallest possible cuboid that completely covers the two beams, as visualized it as a transparent box in the drawing.   View group 1: Beam (1) and (2); View group 2: Beam (3) and (4)
	New view group by plane selection The bounding box is determined by the selection or definition of a processing plane. For the selection or definition of the processing plane you can use the same options as for the Processing plane function. The bounding box is created by extrusion of the processing surface to the front and to the back.
	New view group by grid edge selection The bounding box is created by the selection of a Steel Engineering grid edge. lThe bounding box is created by extrusion of the edge running perpendicular to the grid edge to the front and to the back.

The transparent box that visualizes the bounding box can be changed via the functions beneath Tools, View groups. The bounding box can also be rotated.

Also new is the option to auto-create grid annotation tags for multi-level grids and add chain dimensions.

Staircase and Railing Configurator

Railing Configurator - Lateral post connections

The lateral post connection has been optimized. You can now also choose between 2 bores or 4 bores in fixing plates.

Railing Configurator - Insertion of corner posts

When inserting corner posts, you can now specify on the Corner post - Substructure tab how the post is to be mounted to the substructure.

Railing Configurator - Corner rods

For vertical rods you have the additional options to place one rod in the corner. To do this, activate the Corner rod checkbox on the Infill tab.

Input values for vertical rods with booms

Railing with corner rod

Change/Update stairs and railings

The functions

• Update connection and
• Change connection

can also be applied to stairs and railings that were created with the Staircase/Railing Generator if you have subsequently deleted parts that were created by the corresponding variant. However, these deleted parts will be re-created upon updating if these are required due to the parameters and the geometrical situation.

Boltings

New bolt types

Steel Engineering boltings now also include the new bolt types

• DIN EN 14399-7,
• DIN EN 14399-8 and
• DIN EN 14399-10.

Process beams

Selection of beams

Previously, assembly points could be snapped during selection of beams and profile, causing the confusing error messagePart is no Steel Engineering part. From HiCAD 2016 SP1 onwards, only actual beam and profile-related data will allow the selection of beams.

Handling of article masters during exchanging of semi-finished products

The handling of manually assigned article masters during exchanging of semi-finished products can be specified in the Configuration Editor at System settings > HELiOS.

The following setting options for the parameter Handling of article master are available:

• Query
  If the semi-finished product to be exchanged has a manually assigned article master, a query will be issued:
  

If you choose Yes, the article master of the semi-finished product to be exchanged will be deleted and, if required, replaced with the article master of the semi-finished product to be exchanged. If you choose No, the article master of the semi-finished product to be exchanged will be retained unchanged. This is the default setting.

• Delete
  An article master that is manually assigned to the semi-finished product to be exchanged will be deleted without any further query and, if required, replaced with the article master of the semi-finished product to be exchanged.
• Retain unchanged
  An article master that is manually assigned to the semi-finished product to be exchanged will be retained unchanged in the exchange process. No query will be issued.

At Taking over of semi-finished product attributes you can additionally specify which semi-finished attributes will be assigned to the manually assigned article attributes. The assignment must be defined as follows:

Semi-finished product attribute;Article attribute

Each assignment must be specified in a separate row in the collection, e.g. as follows:

The String Collection Editor is initially empty by default.

Connections

Assigning of boltings

The assigning of bolting has been changed for the following connections:

• Beam to web with 2 Plates + Stiffener (1211),
• Front Plate Connection to Web/Flange (2320)
• Front Plate Connection to Flange (2330)

1211
The bolting is inserted as a Bolting group. Next to Assignment on the Boltings tab you can specify whether this Bolting is to be assigned to the assembly of the 1st beam or whether it is to be inserted as a "Loose part". If you choose the "Loose part" option, the Bolting group will be inserted as a separate assembly on the same level as the assembly of the 1st beam.

2320
The bolting is inserted as a Bolting group. Next to Assignment on the Boltings tab you can choose whether this Bolting group and the reinforcement plates are to be assigned to the assembly of the 1st beam or are to be inserted as Loose parts. If you activate the Assembly (1st beam) option, the Bolting group and the reinforcement plates are assigned to the assembly of the 1st beam. If you activate the Loose partoption, the Bolting group will be inserted as a separate assembly on the same level as the assembly of the 1st beam. The reinforcement plates will be assigned to a structure assembly called Loose parts that also contains filler plates. This structure assembly is also located on the same level as the 1st beam.

2330
The bolting is inserted as a Bolting group. Next to Assignment on the Boltings tab you can specify to which assembly the boltings and the reinforcement plates are to be assigned. If the Assembly 1st beam option is active, the boltings and the reinforcement plates will be assigned to the assembly of the 1st beam. If you activate the Loose partoption, the Bolting group will be inserted as a separate assembly on the same level as the assembly of the 1st beam. The reinforcement plates will be assigned to a structure assembly called Loose parts. If you have also inserted filler plates, reinforcement plates and filler plates will be located in this assembly.

Purlin joint, 2 plates with mitre cut acc. to DAST-IH (2201)

Use this new function to connect two beams by means of two rigid front plates that are bolted together. These can either be flush or with excess length to the top, the bottom or the sides. The bolting can be aligned symmetrical or unsymmetrical. If required, the beams can be automatically shortened, lengthened or mitre cut. Furthermore, weld seams or filler plates can be directly inserted.

The connection can be made either to the web or to the flange. Allowed beam types are I-beams, U-beams, L-beams, T-beams, Z-profiles, pipes and hollow profiles.

The connection can either be user-defined or configured via predefined DAST tables integrated in HiCAD.

This connection replaces the previous Purlin joint 1201.

Example 1 - FRont plate connection (1) with non-pre-planned filler plate (2)

End plate (2102)

Use this function to connect an end plate to a beam. The plate can be inserted with a bolting, pre-drilled, with or without filler plates, and with or without base. If desired, weld seams can be directly inserted.

Possible beam types are I-beams, U-beams, L-beams, T-beams, Z-profiles, pipes and hollow profiles.

Allowed semi-finished products for the plate are simple Plates, Flat steels, FLUTZ profiles, A3 Steel bars by Frankstahl or C3 Stainless steel bars.

The Design Variant 2102 replaces the previous Design Variant End plate 1102.

Example - End plate

Front plate connection (double-sided) to web (2322)

Use this function to connect two beams via front plate connections to a third beam. The connection can be made to the web or to the flange - with or without filler plates.

Depending on the fitting situation, the connected beam will be automatically notched appropriately. Furthermore, weld seams can also be directly inserted and annotated.

The connection can be a user-defined connection or configured via predefined DAST tables supplied with HiCAD.

Supported beam and profile types are I-beams, U-beams, T-beams, Z-profiles, pipes and hollow profiles.

(1) 1st beam to be connected, (2) 2nd beam to be connected, (3) Target beam to which the connection is to be made

Workshop drawing

Sheet Metal

The following sectional views can now be selected for Sheet Metal parts in the Views for sheets dialogue window:

• Cut perpendicular to longest edge

This sectional view is only created id a bend zone exists.

• Cut parallel to longest edge

This sectional view is only created if a bend zone running perpendicular to the section path exists.

Hide boltings

Bolts in workshop drawings can be hidden if desired. This is currently only possible via the Windows_Registry. To do this, select

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\ISD Software und Systeme\HiCAD 2016

and create a new key:

These settings do not apply to bolts and screws that are located in a structure assembly (e.g. to Boltings inserted as "Loose parts"). These bolts and screws are not shown in the workshop drawing.

Aligning of Steel Engineering plates

The functions beneath Alignment of derived drawings in the context menu for parts:

• Active view as front view and
• Active view as top view

can now also be applied to Steel Engineering plates. This allows you to specify the alignment of plates in Workshop drawings. HiCAD will check whether the new alignment of the plate is actually allowed. The top view must be perpendicular to the upper or lower plate side!

The result of the check will then be shown in a dialogue window. Here it will be listed for which of the chosen plates the new alignment was successful, and to which no new alignment could be applied.

New/changed dimensioning rules

Separate dimensioning of beam sub-parts which are not vertical to main part axis

The following new rule allow a dimensioning of beam sub-parts that are not vertical to the main part axis.

If you select the direction Parallel to beam axis you can, depending on the respective position, create a chain of dimensions for the beam sub-parts.

If you select the direction Vertical to beam axis, a separate chain of dimensions will be created - vertical to the main part axis - for each beam sub-part.

Example 1 - 113 -116 parallel to beam axis

Dimensioning of bores with intersecting axes

Use the new dimensioning rule

123: Angle between bore axes (BORE_ANGLES)

to dimension bores with intersecting axes - this rule is of particular importance for machine-controlled drilling. This rule dimensions bores in beams and profiles with circular cross-sections (round steels, steel pipes), but only if the bore axes are running in the direction of the beam/profile axis.

Example - Side view, from left

Dimensioning rules for various bore types

When creating production drawings, different dimensioning rules are now available for different bore types:

Only bores with bore axis in viewing direction will be considered. For circular bores, a separate chain of dimensions will be created for each bore diameter;

Example

Dimensioning rules for stairs

For staircases you can now use the following dimensioning rules:

Other new features and enhancements

Adding of 3-D parts to Steel Engineering parts

The adding of 3-D parts to a Steel Engineering parts may cause problems with subsequently called functions, e.g. mitre cuts, Steel Engineering connections, NC/NCX export, deriving of drawings, etc. Attributes (e.g. weight, length, etc.) may also be calculated incorrectly.

In such cases, HiCAD will display the following warning message after selecting 3-D-Standard > Process > Add function :

You can then decide whether you want to execute the function or not.

If you do no longer want this message to be displayed, activate the Suppress message checkbox. In this case, the adding will either be accepted or refused, depending on your last choice in the message window.

Please remember that the checkbox status applies only to the current HiCAD session!

Major Release 2016 (V 2100)

Please note:
When creating boltings via Design Variants as accessory parts (Staircase/Railing Configurator) or loose parts (Connections 2320, 2322, 2330, 1305, 1306, 1211) in a non-BOM-relevant assembly, no DSTV BOM can be written, because the superordinate part is missing. This can be avoided for the mentioned connections by activating the Assignment: Assembly option on the Boltings tab of the corresponding dialogue window. Bolting structures created by the Staircase and Railing Configurator must currently be adjusted manually.

Mounting planning - Basic functionality

Create mounting drawing

You can now create, modify and expand Steel Engineering Mounting drawings in only a few steps.

These mounting drawings have the following properties:

• The drawings show a section through the drawing. The drawing views are cuboid detail views, the size of these cuboids can be individually adjusted in the dialogue.
• The essential parts can be automatically annotated.
• Grids can also be automatically annotated.
• The drawings contain one or several views which are arranged in view groups.
• The drawings are saved in the drawing, i.e. HiCAD will create corresponding Sheet areas

For the creation, changing and updating of mounting drawings the functions

• Mounting drawing and
• Update mounting drawing

are now available at Drawing > Itemisation/Detailing.

Mounting drawing dialogue window

Please note that the mounting planning functionality supplied with the Major Release HiCAD 2016 (V. 2100.0) is only a basic functionality, which will be continually enhanced in future versions.

Settings for mounting drawings in the Configuration Editor

As with production drawings, you can specify various settings for mounting drawings in the Configuration Editor. You can find these settings at er Automatic drawing derivation > Mounting drawings:

Additional settings in the 'Part annotation templates'* function

The Part annotation templates function has been expanded for mounting drawings. There, you can now specify the representation of annotations for main parts, sub-parts, standard parts and boltings:

Connections

Front plate connection - New functions

New front plate connections are available, replacing the previous connections 1320 and 1322 and providing significantly more flexibility during insertion.

Front plate connection to web/flange (2320)

Use this function to connect 2 beams via a bolted front plate connection. The connection can be made to the web or to the flange - with or without filler plates. Depending on the fitting situation, the connected beam will be automatically notched appropriately. Furthermore, weld seams can also be directly inserted and annotated.

The connection can be a user-defined connection or configured via predefined DAST tables supplied with HiCAD.

Supported beam and profile types are I-beams, U-beams, T-beams, Z-profiles, pipes and hollow profiles.

(1) Beam to be connected, (2) Target beam to which the connection is to be made, (3) Created connection, (4) With filler plates

Front plate connection to flange (2330)

Use this function to connect two beams via a bolted front plate connection. The connection can be made to the web or to the flange - with or without filler plates. In contrast to the connection 2320 the connected beam will not be automatically notched. Furthermore, you have the option to insert stiffeners between the flanges of the beam to which the connection is to be made.

The connection can be a user-defined connection or configured via predefined DAST tables supplied with HiCAD.

Supported beam and profile types are I-beams, U-beams, T-beams, Z-profiles, pipes and hollow profiles.

(1) (1) Beam to be connected, (2) Target beam to which the connection is to be made, (3) Created connection with stiffeners

Front plate connection to web, double-sided (2322)

Use this function to connect two beams via front plate connections to a third beam. The connection can be made to the web or to the flange - with or without filler plates.

Depending on the fitting situation, the connected beam will be automatically notched appropriately. Furthermore, weld seams can also be directly inserted and annotated.

The connection can be a user-defined connection or configured via predefined DAST tables supplied with HiCAD.

Supported beam and profile types are I-beams, U-beams, T-beams, Z-profiles, pipes and hollow profiles.

(1) 1st beam to be connected, (2) 2nd beam to be connected, (3) Target beam to which the connection is to be made

Beam to web, with 2 plates and stiffener (1211)

This function now offers the option to define whether the bolting is to be assigned to the assembly of the 1st beam or if it is to be inserted as a "loose part". The Bolting tab has been expanded for this purpose.

Bolting assignment

Angle connection, one sided (1305) and double-sided (1306)

The assigning of boltings has changed here. The Bolting tab has been expanded for this purpose.

• If you have selected the production type Workshop for one of the beams, you can specify beneath Assignment by activating the corresponding radio button whether the boltings are to be assigned to the assembly of this beam, or if they are to be inserted as a structure assembly called "Loose parts".
• If you have selected the production type Site, all parts of the connection will be combined into one structure assembly called "Loose parts".

Example - Assignment of boltings

Gratings

Calculation of net weight and net surface area

Previously, gratings were handled like plates with regard to the calculation of their weights and surface areas. It is now possible to specify the surface area per square metres of installation area for Gratings according to DIN 24537. For this purpose, the NETOBERFL column is available in the corresponding table of the Catalogue Editor.

The default setting is the value 0. For the calculation of the net weight and the net surface area, enter the desired value here and save the table.

When inserting gratings, the value specified in the table will be considered for the calculation of the net surface area. In addition, subtractions and chamfers are also taken into account when weights and surface areas are calculated.

(1) Grating insertion with value 0, (2) Grating insertion with value 5.5, (3) Grating with chamfer

Cut beams

New part attribute: Trimmed length

When beams are trimmed, the value assigned to the part attribute Length will be the total length of the trimmed beam. If two trimmings are applied to a beam, the calculated length will be the smaller of the two individual total lengths after applying the trimming. The beam length and the trimmed length will then be identical.

Line for 1st trimming; (2) Line for 2nd trimming

Exceptions are cases where one of the trimmings is performed at a 90° angle. In such cases, the length resulting from the 90° trimming will not be considered for the calculation of the minimum (the reason for this are processing steps with a saw). Use the part attribute

Trimmed length (§24)

for a correct calculation of the trimmed length. This attribute can, for instance, be used for annotations, in part attribute masks or in BOMs.

BOMs in Excel

Use of residual lengths for bar optimisation

For bar optimisations ("bars"=bar-shaped symbolic representations of beams) you have now the option to shorten a particular number of bars by specifying the number of residual lengths. This can be done with waste minimisation or with a preference of residual pieces.

The specification of the bars and the number of residual pieces must be entered manually into the Excel template before creating the BOM.

For this purpose, the Bar settings sheet has been added in the HiCAD_Stahlbau.xlsx template for the output of BOMs to Excel.

• New is the Qty. column. Here you can enter the number of residual pieces. During the placement, a semi-finished products/lengths combination with quantity (=Residual pieces > 0) will be used, together with an unlimited number of bars.

• At the bottom of the Bar settings sheet you will find the Prefer residual lengths switch. The default setting is false. In this case the bars will be used in such a way that the amount of waste is as small as possible. If the switch is set to true, the bars with a quantity of > o will be preferably used. The amount of waste, however, can be greater here.

An example:

The drawing shown below consists of three beams of the type HEA 340 and a length of 5500 each.

Profiles with a length of 6000 and 6500 are to be used. When using the length of 6500, however, not more than one residual piece is to be created. For this to happen, the default settings on the Bar settings sheet in the file HiCAD_Stahlbau.xlsx must be changed as follows:

The amount of waste is to be as small as possible; therefore, the Prefer residual lengths switch must remain on false.

If you generate the Excel file with this setting, three bars with a length of 6000 mm will be used. The amount of waste will be 1500 mm here.

In contrast, if you set the Prefer residual lengths switch to true, two 6000 mm bars and one 6500 mm bar (because of Qty. = 1). Here, the amount of waste will be 2 x 1000 mm.

If the quantity of the 6500 mm bars was 2, one 6000 mm bar and two 6500 mm bars would be used etc.

Further information on the output of BOMs can be found here.

Staircase configurator

Stringers tab changed

The Stringers tab of the Staircase Configurator has been changed. Here, you now have different dialogues for stringers made of Sheet Metal U and Sheet Metal C.

Railing Configurator

Selectable bore grid in Post - Substructure tab

The Post - Substructure tab has been expanded.

If you select the Post connection, top variant, you can choose a bore grid. You have now the following options:

• No bores,
• 2 bores
• 4 bores

Derived drawings

Usage-dependent settings

In the Configuration Editor, the assigning of usage-dependent settings has been simplified and enhanced.

• The selection of the usage row takes no longer place via a key name, but via plain text.
• The assigning can be limited to particular part types. For example, if you want to assign the usage-dependent setting STRINGER only to handrails of the type "Flat steel", select the same-named entry beneath Part type.
• The usages can be neatly arranged in groups. Predefined are the groups Railing, Metal Engineering, Steel Engineering and Others.
• The creation of new assignments, and also the definition of new usage settings can take place directly ion the list of assignments.

Shortened view

Previously, only views of beams and profiles could be shortened. This is now also possible for other views, e.g. views of Sheet Metal parts etc. For this purpose, the Settings for views dialogue window has been modified. There you can specify beneath Shortened view which views are to be shortened.

If you also want to shorten other views , e.g. views of the Sheet Metal parts, activate the Show other views as shortened views checkbox, enter the minimum width of the area to be removed by the shortening, and the distance of th shortening to the relevant geometry.

(1) Distance of shortening to relevant geometry

If the settings for drawing derivation are loaded from a configuration, the settings specified in the Configuration Editor at Automatic drawing derivation > Production drawing > Usage-dependent > name > Views > Shortened view will be evaluated. name denotes the name of the corresponding usage.

Sectional views for flat steels

You can now also create sectional views for standard beams of the category Flat steel for derived drawings, if this was correspondingly specified at View groups.

Setting: Standard part annotation

In HiCAD 2015, standard parts were annotated if you explicitly activated the annotation of sub-parts or (as of SP1) the annotation of boltings. As of HiCAD 2016 the annotation of standard parts can be switched on or off, independent of other annotation types.

If the settings for drawing derivation are loaded from a configuration, the settings specified in the Configuration Editor at Automatic drawing derivation > Production drawing > Usage-dependent > name > Views > Shortened view will be evaluated. name denotes the name of the corresponding usage.

New dimensioning rules for trussed rafters

The following new dimensioning rules are available for workshop drawings:

• 90: Diagonal total dimensions of an assembly
  Use this rule to create diagonal individual dimensions (shipped dimensions) between the outer corners of an assembly.
  
• 111: Angle between beam main part and connected sub-part beams /
  112: Angles between relevant beams and connected sub-part beams
  Here, angles between directly connected beams the angles to each other of which are not 90° or180° are dimensioned. Angles which are not displayable in the corresponding view will not be created either. Important: The dimensioned angle is not necessarily located in the screen plane, put can be located anywhere in space. Rule 111 dimensions only angles between the beam main part and the beam sub-parts connected to it. Rule 112 dimensions all relevant beams and the beam sub-parts connected to them.

• 80: Connected sub-part beams on relevant beams
  Here, all beams which are directly connected to another beam are dimensioned in a chain. Clear distances between the beams will also be considered. The already existing Rule 77: Connected beam sub-parts only considers the beam sub-parts which are not connected to the beam main part. The new Rule 80, in contrast, also considers all relevant beams and the beam sub-parts connected to them.

Plate-like profiles in sectional views

Previously, sectional views were only created for Steel Engineering plates. This is now also possible for plate-like profiles. Therefore, the dimensioning rules for plates now also apply to plate-like profiles in sectional views.

View groups - Frames, alignment, visualisation

A new listbox for frames and view groups offers the following selection options:

• Do not insert
• Always insert
• Insert, if there are multiple view groups

The default setting is Always insert. This presetting can be changed in the usage-dependent templates in the Configuration Editor at: Automatisc drawing derivation > Production drawing > Usage-dependent > ... > View groups > Frames around view groups.

If a drawing frame contains only one view group, it will be centred in the drawing frame. This behaviour, too, can be changed in the Configuration Editor, at Automatic drawing derivation > Production drawing > Drawing > Centre individual view group. If you deactivate the checkbox, individual view groups will be placed at the top left of the drawing frame instead.

Colour, layer and line type of the frames can be specified in the Configuration Editor at System settings > Visualisation > View group.

If the centring leads to collisions with locked areas (e.g. the title block), the view group will be placed at the top left.

 Related Topics

Steel Engineering Functions