Bent Panels

Bent panels are created by the combination of two or more planar panels.

Planar panels must be selected in the correct order to define the final shape of the panel and the planes defined by two adjacent planar panels cannot be parallel. Holes and fittings in the original panels are not copied into the new bent panel.

Bent panels can be selected to be elements of type BPANEL (recommended) or Panel (for legacy reasons).

To create a bent panel

1. Select Create > Bent Panel from the main menu to display the Create Bent Panel window.

2. Click Bent Panel on the Steelwork Utilities toolbar to display the Create Bent Panel window.

   

3. You can optionally add a name and a description for the bent panel in the Name and Description fields.

   Autonaming can be selected from the Name drop-down list.

   In case BPANEL is selected, the mould line definition shall be specified. Mould line definition is saved in attribute WJUSLINE.

   You are prompted to select the first planar panel element in the 3D Graphical view or Design Explorer which defines the position, orientation and thickness of the bent panel.

   Note: The first panel must be rectangular.

   

4. Select the first panel.

   The Create Bent Panel window displays the plate thickness and activates the Define Bends options.

   

5. In the Bend Radius field, enter the bent radius.

   You are prompted to select the second panel. The Create Bent Panel window is populated with the attributes of the second panel which defines the first bend line.

   If the specified bend radius is too large to fit into the bent panel shape, or if the shape is impossible to model (if the shape curves back on itself - self-intersecting), the Panels and Plates application reports an error.

   In the 3D view, an outline of the bent panel to be created is displayed.

   

6. You can click Remove Last Edge to undo the last selection.

7. Click OK to create a bent panel with one bend or click Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Create Bent Panel window.

8. You can then select more panels in a logical sequence to define more bends.

   In the 3D view the outline of the panel is displayed.

   The second and subsequent selections do not have to be panel elements. The selections can be elements that define a plane that can be used to define the curved path at the centre of the bent panel thickness.

   If the extent of a selected element cannot be calculated by the software, the path is completed up to the last defined bend line, and the extent of the current part of the bent panel is defined when the next selection is made which defines the next bend line.

   

   You are prompted with the question ‘Do you want to delete the original planar panels?’.

9. Click Yes to delete the panels, click No to keep the panels or click Cancel to close the Question window.

   Note: Only panels that you have permission to delete are removed.