Linking Sub-structures to Element Installations

The linking of sub-structures to elements installations allows an automatic visualization of the mounting of elements installations to sub-structures in HiCAD.

For instance, bores and suitable fasteners can be applied to the element installations.

To create such a connection, open in the Civil Engineering functions docking window and choose Element installation > Connection. Then, identify the element installation and the sub-structure.

Effects of the processing plane on the connection

To determine at which positions the two selected installations are to be connected, the variants for the installations contain composite edges that define along which positions connections can be made. These c-edges of the two installations will be checked for intersection points. Connections will be inserted where intersection points are found.

The red lines show the c-edges of the installations. Connections were created in the two intersection points.

In a trivial case, this will happen if the sketch planes of the sketches on which the two installations are based are parallel to each other.

If the sketch planes are not parallel to each other, the solution will be less obvious: In this case, the intersection points from the top view will be projected onto the processing plane of the connection. This processing plane is by default the sketch plane of the sketch on which the first selected installation is based.

Here the sketch plane of the element installation is used as the processing plane.

Alternatively, you can checkmark the Select processing plane field and choose any other processing plane.

This function can, for example, be useful if the installed elements are not simply lying flat in one plane, e.g. facade parts that should comprise building corners and are also to be laterally connected with a sub-structure.

To be able to create your own variants that a suitable for a use of the Connection function, these must be prepared accordingly, i.e. they need to be equipped with connection information.

Recalculation of the connection

To be able recalculate the connection, the two parts of the connection (i.e. Element installation and Sub-structure) need to be located in one common assembly. Select this assembly and, in the Feature window of the ICN, right-click and choose Recalculate.

Alternatively, you can also choose Steel Engineering > Variants > Update connections+variants in active part. If you select this function, element installation and sub-structure do not need to be located in the same assembly.

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