AUTO_SELECT Statement
- Last UpdatedNov 28, 2025
- 4 minute read
In most cases the actual bevel type is selected automatically depending on the set, the connection angle and the plate thickness. The rules for how this should be done are set up in the AUTO_SELECT statement.
In general, bevel selection should be set up, covering the whole possible connection angle interval (-90,+90) for all sets and all ranges.
Syntax:
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AUTO_SELECT, |
The attributes have the following interpretation:
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SET |
Defines the set for which the current definition is valid. Must be given if there is more than one set. |
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RANGE |
Defines one or more thickness ranges within the current set for which the current definition should be used. Must be given if there is more than one range in the current set. |
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<gap_selection> |
Specifies the condition that a certain bevel code should be selected (normally simple vertical cutting) because the connection angle creates such a narrow wedge that it can be neglected. |
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The gap selection takes over the selection on angles as long as the gap is smaller than the limit above. |
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<angle_selection> |
Used when the gap condition has not been fulfilled (or not defined). |
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The two selection modes are mutually exclusive in one AUTO_SELECT statement. for further information about the selection criteria, see below. |
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BEVEL |
Bevel code to be chosen if the selection criteria in this statement are fulfilled. The bevel code must already have been defined in a BEVEL statement of its own. |
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The bevel code may be negated, that means, a mirrored version of a bevel code may be selected. This means for example, that the positive side of the bevel should be turned in the direction of the negative w-axis for a plate (or planar panel). |
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When a bevel is mirrored, the connection angle will be negated before being used to calculate the angle(s) of the bevel type. |
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CASE |
This is a customer defined "case" number, uniquely identifying the selection resulting from the condition in this statement. |
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It is used to control which case to select when a varying angle along a certain edge would result in different bevel types along that edge, see the AUTO_PRIORITY Statement below for further information. <case_No> must be unique within a certain range. |
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"Gap selection":
Normally, the main criterion for selection of bevel is the connection angle. Suppose a situation where a tight V-bevel would normally be selected based on the connection angle. Further suppose that the angle is so small and/or the plate is so thin that the bevel wedge becomes very narrow, ('g' in the figure below).
Figure 1:56. Illustration of gap selection.
In such a situation it is possible to select the bevel type based on the width of the wedge gap instead of on the angle. This is the interpretation of "gap selection". Thus, if the wedge gap is smaller than a specified value, then the bevel type according to the "gap selection" should be selected. The gap selection always takes over even if an "angle selection" has been defined for the current angle interval and would have resulted in a different bevel type.
This facility is mainly used to prevent unwanted bevel cutting when the bevel angle is very small. The selected bevel type would then normally be a square bevel, for example, of type 15.
<gap_selection>::= /GAP=<max_gap>
If the gap is smaller than <max_gap> irrespective of direction of the connection angle then the specified bevel code should be selected.
Angle selection:
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The angle selection defines the bevel type that would normally be selected for a given angle interval. It has the following syntax. |
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<angle_selection>::= |
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INTERVAL |
Defines an interval of connection angles for which the current definition should be valid. |
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<low_lim> should be smaller than <up_lim>. |
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Note, that in case of an interval for negative angles then ABS(<low_lim>) > ABS(<up_lim>). |
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For positive angles the upper limit will be included in the interval, the lower limit for negative angles. |
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VAR_ALPHA |
Defines that Alpha should be calculated from CON as described for different bevel types in Varying Fillet Bevel Types . VAR_ALPHA may only be used for bevel types which have this attribute in their BEVEL statement. |
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DIFF |
Is used to define an angular offset to be used when calculating Alpha from CON. Default is 0. See the bevel type survey for its use. |
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MIN |
If the angle as calculated based on the connection angle is smaller than MIN the angle will be replaced by the value assigned to MIN. |
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MAX |
Ditto when larger than MAX it will be replaced by MAX. |
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This may be used to set a "hard limit" for the bevel angle. Suppose for example, that CON varies between -0.5 and +15 degrees and that normally a tight V-bevel is selected. It might not be possible to divide the contour of this angle interval into different "segments" (more details about this will be given in the AUTO_PRIORITY Statement below). Thus, the tight V-bevel will be selected for this whole contour. But a V-bevel must not have a negative opening angle. By setting MIN=0 in this case the connection angle in the interval [-0.5, 0] will be replaced by 0. |
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It might be essential to define these limits in order to protect the burner equipment, for example, not to violate its turning range. |
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DIFF, MIN and MAX are position dependent, that means, must follow directly after VAR_ALPHA (and VAR_BETA, resp , see below). |
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VAR_BETA |
Ditto for the opening in the opposite direction, for example, for X-type bevels. |
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Basically the same rules are valid as for VAR_ALPHA (with DIFF, MIN and MAX). |
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