Create a Circular-Shaped Platform

The user can create a ‘circular’ platform with any of three basic configurations; round, hexagonal (six sides) or octagonal (eight sides).

Round platforms may form complete circles, or they may comprise segments of any specified angle. Six-sided and eight-sided platforms may be created only in their entirety (although they are made up of six and eight separate floorplates, respectively, any of which may be deleted later if necessary).

Each type of platform can have a circular penetration through its centre and, for round platforms only, this penetration may be protected by a second (inner) handrail. The latter is particularly relevant when for example, a 90o segment of a round platform to form a curved walkway.

Some possible configurations are as follows:

To create any of the above platform types, reselect PLATFORMS as the current element, remove EQUIPRACK from the display (by selecting it and selecting Remove From Draw List from the shortcut menu) and proceed as follows:

1. Select Create > Platform > Circular > type, where type is Round, Six Sides or Eight Sides.

   To display an element creation window similar to the following (the precise format depends on the type of platform specified; the round platform version shown here is the most complex of the three):

   

2. If required, give the new platform a Name.

3. Check that the default settings for Floorplate Thickness and Kickplate Depth are suitable. Change them if necessary.

4. Enter the coordinates of the new platform’s origin (the centre of the circumscribing circle) in the Position text boxes, checking that the Wrt entry refers to the correct reference axis system.

5. For a six-sided or eight-sided platform, enter the platform’s dimensions in the Radius to outside of floor and Radius to inside of floor text boxes (set the latter to zero if the user does not want a central penetration in the floorplate).

6. For a round platform, enter the platform’s dimensions in the Radius to outside of floor and Floor width text boxes (enter the same value for each if the user does not want a central penetration in the floorplate).

7. For a round platform, enter the Angle subtended by the segment (the default setting of 0 gives a full 360° platform) and the Direction of the starting edge (remembering that the angle is measured anticlockwise), thus:

   

8. For a round platform, set the Inside rail option button to specify a rail round the inner penetration (if any).

9. Click OK to create the platform, complete with appropriate handrails and kickplates.

An example Round platform is shown below: