StruCad Tilt Panels

Required Files

Strucad/bin/TPDPS.exe

Strucad/bin/PanelShape.exe

Strucad/par_<dataset>/tltpdps.par

Strucad/dwgs_<dataset>/tpla1.ctl

Strucad/dwgs_<dataset>/tpla1.spf

Strucad/dwgs_<dataset>/tppa1.ctl

Strucad/dwgs_<dataset>/tppa1.spf

Strucad/cadcro/tpdef.cro

Strucad/cadcro/tpdefins.cro

Strucad/cadcro/tpins.cro

Strucad/cadcro/tpdraw.cro

Strucad/cadcro/tpents.cro

Strucad/dwgcro/rundim.cro

Strucad/dwgcro/edrdim.cro

Strucad/dwgcro/tprebar.cro

Defining a Panel
Define a new panel with TPDef or TPDefIns.
Panels are defined by selecting a set of line or member entities that correspond to the outline of the
panel. The set of entities selected must form a set of unambiguous closed loops, without any
overlapping entities.
Example:
To create a simple rectangular panel, select the lines that make up the edges of the panel.

After the panel outline is selected, pick a point in front of the panel to indicate the front side (panel
drawings will be drawn viewed from the back side).

Enter the name you would like to call the panel. The name must be a valid shape name, because
each time a panel is created a new shape with the same name is created in the model. If there is
already a shape in the model with the same name, the macro will ask if you would like to choose
another name. If you select no, then the macro will ask if you want to overwrite the existing shape
file.

Unlike TPDef, TPDefIns also inserts the panel in place in the wireframe. Enter the panel thickness
when prompted.
Insert a previously defined panel with TPIns. Choose the origin, the direction of the panel and the
thickness. The panel will be inserted into the wireframe with the appropriate global offsets.

UDS
When defining panels, it can be useful to set up a UDS.

Panels with Openings

To define a panel with an openings, include the openings in the set of entities that define the panel.

Associating Lines and Blocks with a Panel Mark

Add the the lines and blocks you want to associate into the model.

Run the tpents macro, and select the panel then the entities to be associated with the panel mark.
Entities are associated by mark, so if the panel mark changes you will need to re-associate the
entities with the new mark. (Ensure that stale associated entity files aren't used if marks are reused).
N.B. Any blocks that are associated with the panel mark must exist in the base drawing the panel
drawn on.

Panel Weight and Grade Density

Panels that are inserted will use the material grade from the member menu. To get correct weights
on Panel drawings panels must use a grade with the right density. By default there are no concrete
grades, so a new grade with the desired density must be added to grades.dat and property.dat.

Tilt Panel Drawings

Create a drawing by running tpdraw and select the panels to be drawn.

Tilt Panel Drawing Parameters

Set up Tilt Panel drawing parameters in tpdps.par.

Tilt Panel Base Drawing CTL Codes

The Tilt Panel drawings support the following codes in the CTL file:
Code

Output

[TPT]

Thickness

[TPV]

Volume

[TPA]

Area of the the largest face

[TPBLKCNT:<Block1>:<Block2>...] The total number of the listed blocks. E.g.

[TPBLKCNT:CSKNS:CSKFS]
It's recommended that other panel properties, such as mesh, are applied to the panel as user
attributes, and output in the drawing using the user user attribute codes in the CTL file.

Running Dimensions
New macros for inserting and adjusting the position of running dimensions have been added.
To add a running dimension, use the rundim macro.

Select Datum Point.

Select all points to be dimensioned.

End selection with Enter, Escape or middle mouse button.

Select a point that the dimension lines should be extended to.

Select if the running dimensions are Horizontal or Vertical if the macro is not able to
determine this automatically.

Adjusting Running Dimensions

Close running dimension labels may overlap each other.

Use edrdim to adjust the position of the running dimension labels so they don't overlap.

Select the running dimension to be adjusted

Use the arrow keys to adjust the position of the label up and down or left and right.

Press escape to exit the macro.

Reinforcing Bars
Add reinforcing bars around openings with the TPRebar macro.
Select the rebar properties from the menu.

Select the lines adjacent to each corner to receive a reinforcing bar.

TPRebar will insert the reinforcing bars into the drawing.