Automatic Steelwork Orientation

MDS can automatically orientate the support structure steel members of a framework type support, dependant on the orientation of identified stiffeners. This function is available when you create a framework using the Create by Cursor method within the framework creation process. A typical example of a support frame (FT08) is shown in Figure 2:55 below.

Figure 2:55. Example of Steelwork Orientation

The correct orientation is achieved by utilizing appropriate templates. Each standard template has four alternatives as depicted above. The names of the alternative templates are followed by a suffix, which is a configuration code based on the orientation of the stiffeners as depicted. Only templates that are built up from angle profiles have oriented alternatives.

The MDS Template Catalogue has left and right hand versions of a template. The left hand version is used when the orientation of the stiffeners is found to be pointing in the same direction as port, and the right hand version is used for starboard.

To use this feature proceed as follows:

1. On the MDS Framework form, click on the Create by Cursor icon .

   A prompt is displayed at the bottom of the main window asking you to identify the first stiffener, then the second stiffener.

2. Identify the stiffeners by clicking on them.

   MDS then checks that their gtype is angle. If so, the orientation of the stiffener is stored as a number in user-defined attribute (uda) :MdsTmplOri at STRU level. The system then checks for the existence of an oriented template with this number; if found, this is used instead of the standard template.

   Notes: Subsequent modifications of the support by the clearance/dimensions method will always try to select the oriented template first.
   
   All settings (number of bars, min/max bore, etc) are always obtained from the standard template, except the value stored in uda :MDSBuildStyl, that is copied from the alternative.

Limitations

Currently, only DIN frames have oriented alternatives, stored in database MDS/DESITMPL-DIN-ORI of project MDS. These are as follows: