With the Connection Assembler, it is possible to send the connections from any model directly to PowerConnect. Provided of course that the connection type is supported by PowerConnect. The user creates to connections to be calculated in the 3D BIM Expert model.
Let us look at an example model : a frame structure in BIM Expert.
In BIM Expert you export now to PowerConnect. BIM Expert has not found any connections, like from Tekla Structures components. You can now make your own connections by clicking ‘Modify’.
In the next window, you see on the left hand side the BIM Expert model. In this window you see the regular scroll, 3D orbit and pan functions.
On the right hand side, there is on top an overview of created connections and at the bottom, the Create button to make new connections.
In the next step you choose the connection type
- Moment connections: beam-column, beam-beam or splice
- Shear connections: beam-column or beam-beam
- Column base connections
- Tubular connections
After selecting for example ‘Beam to column’ you select the column and next the beam element from the 3D image on the left hand side.
BIM Expert will list and indicate which connections are possible
- Beam to column flange > possible, and marked with
- Beam to column web > not possible, and not marked – you can click the orange arrow at the end to fold out the details and see why this connection is not possible.
On clicking ‘Create’, the connection is added to the list of connections on top. Having selected the beam-column type, you can now continue making this type of connections, until you click ‘Change pattern’.
When the connection definition is finished, you click ‘Close’ and ‘Accept’ to continue to PowerConnect. In the case of multiple connections, and you have chosen to write to file, BIM Expert will create a folder with PowerConnect files of the created connections.
