SpaceClaim Online Help

Beams

A beam is a long, thin object with a constant cross-section. Defining objects as beams, rather than modeling them as solid geometry, simplifies the model and analysis.

To create a beam

1. Create objects to define the beam path

   One or more of the following methods can be used in the same design:

   • Sketch curves: Use any of SpaceClaim's sketching tools to create straight or curved segments and then assign beam profiles to them. These sketch curve beams can then be modified just like any curve in SpaceClaim using the MoveA tool used to translate or rotate geometry., PullTool used to distort or deform geometry. Use the Pull tool to offset, extrude, revolve, sweep, draft, and blend faces; or to round, chamfer, or extrude edges. When converting a sketch to 3D, pulling a line creates a surface and pulling a surface creates a solid., Select, ScaleSolidObject that encloses volume. A surface becomes a solid if it encloses volume. or surface: Change the size of the selected object using the Pull tool. You can scale dynamically or by entering a scale value. Drawing sheet or cross-section views: Magnify or shrink the view by selecting a ViewOrientation settings that you can apply to your design, including spin, pan, and zoom. You can adjust these settings individually or you can apply one of the following preconfigured views: Trimetric, Isometric, Top, Bottom, Front, Back, Right, Left. You can also select Snap View and click a face to view it head-on. in the Structure tree and editing the Properties panel., Bend, Extend, and Trim tools. This method is a straightforward, lightweight way to create beam structures.

   • Edges of a solid or surface: Use this method when you have solid geometry that you want to reference for the beams. For example, to create a simple rectangular cage of beams, sketch a rectangle, pull it into a solid, and assign beams to all of the edges. If you change the solid, then the beams will dynamically update to match the location and length of the edges. Any of SpaceClaim's modeling tools can be used to create sophisticated geometry changes that drive changes to the beam structure.

     For example, beams are assigned to the edges of the rectangular part shown below, and then the edges are bent. The beams are automatically updated when the solid is changed.

     

   • Two points or midpoints in a model: You can use any two points in a model to define a straight beam segment. Planes can be used to create "stages" or additional locations for defining beams to or from. A beam can be created to the intersection point of any plane with any edge. When a defining plane is moved, any associated beams dynamically update their locations. You can create sophisticated tower and truss structures using this method, and the structures will be easily adaptable to unforeseen design changes.

     In the example below, one end of each diagonal beam was created at the intersection of the plane and the solid. The beams change when the plane is moved.

     

2. Click Profiles in the Beams group on the Prepare tab.

   This tool enables you to add a profile to your structure.

3. Select a profile from the library or click More Profiles to load a profile that is saved as an SCDOC fileFile format for SpaceClaim files (.scdoc). Files comply with the Microsoft Open Packaging Convention, which is also used by Microsoft Office 2007. These files are actually zip archives with a special structure, the contents of which are primarily XML data..

   See Changing beam profiles.

    

   More than one beam can reference the same profile, so the characteristics of all beams that use that profile will change if you edit the profile.

    

4. Click Create in the Beams group on the Prepare tab.

   The Create tool is enabled when you select a profile, which adds the profile to your design document. This tool enables you to create the beam path.

5. Select edges or points to define the path:

   • Click the Select PointSingle location in the sketch grid. 2-D object that has no height, width, or length. The origin, an axis, and a vertex are examples of points. Use the Point tool to sketch a point on the sketch grid. Points are useful as a dimensional reference, for splitting, and for creating a point on a line or curve through which you want to draw a three-point circle. Chain tool guide and then select an edge or curve, or click on a series of points to create the path.
   • Click the Select Point Pairs tool guide and then select a beginning and end point for the path.

     You can use intersection points and midpoints on edges and other beams. Click on the small triangles on the ends and midpoint when you hover over an edge or beam.

   See Creating a beam.

A Beams folder is created for the beams and a Beam Profiles folder is created for the profiles in the Structure treeDisplay in the Structure panel that shows you each of the objects in your design. You can expand or collapse the nodes of the tree to view the objects. You can rename objects, create, modify, replace, and delete objects, as well as work with components.:

The profile name is displayed in parentheses after the beam name in the Structure tree.

Extracting beams from solids

If you have already modeled the beam you can convert it to a beam object. See Extracting a beam from a solid.

Beams and ANSYS

If you send a design with beams to ANSYS, the following is sent for each beam object:

• ProfileLineA straight line, arc, or spline drawn in Sketch mode or on a layout plane. Lines have length but no area. When you pull a sketch into 3D with the Pull tool, lines become edges. in space; outline of an object; used to describe objects when sweeping or blending. and path

• Beam properties

• Profile properties

• MaterialProperty that you can assign to an object, consisting of material name and attributes such as density and tensile strength. properties

You can import groups from a beam profile into your design document, which makes them available to drive changes within ANSYS. The groups are named based on the profile name, as <profile name>_<group name>.

Beams and shared topology

Beams can share topology with surfaces when

• The end point of the beam lies on the surface:

  

• The path of the beam lies in the surface.

• The beam intersects a surface at a point.

The beams and surfaces must be in the same component, the component must be set to share, and the mixed import option in Workbench must be set to lines and surfaces. See Shared topology in ANSYS for more information about shared topology.

Beam highlighting

The following table shows how beams, sketch lines, and edges look when they are highlighted and selected:

ObjectAnything recognizable by the tools. 3D objects include vertices, edges, faces, surfaces, solids, layouts, planes, axes, and origins. 2D objects include points and lines.	Highlighted	Selected	Selected and highlighted
Beam
Sketch
Edge3D object composed of a single outside boundary of a feature. A line sketched in 2D becomes an edge when you pull your sketch into 3D.

Copying beams

You can use Copy and Paste to make copies of beams.

• In the same document, copies are pasted on top of the originals.
  • To move a copied beam, make sure that Maintain sketch connectivity is checked OFF in the Selection tool's Sketch Options.
  • You can then use the Move tool to move the entire beam or use VertexPoint that terminates a line; point at which two or more lines or edges intersect. Vertices can be selected for sketching, dimensioning, and other operations. Dragging to move an endpoint.
• You Copy beams in one document and Paste them in another.

Beams can also be copied in the same way a Curves, by using Ctrl+Alt when dragging the endpoint.