Can't keep handrail from splicing over beam connections

[Anonymous]

Hi, when I draw handrail connecting to more than one beam it is adding splices over each beam connection, along with a field weld.  I don't see anything in the joint properties to get around this.  I don't remember this issue in AS2015/16, but we have recently upgraded to 2018 and I can't figure it out.

Attached is a screenshot of the isolated beams/handrail, with arrows pointing at the splices.

Thank you for any help.

[múinteoir · Accepted solution]

When adding the railing, only select one of the beams, then select the start and end points.

[Anonymous]

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@múinteoir wrote:
When adding the railing, only select one of the beams, then select the start and end points.

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Thank you.

Sure seems like I made a rookie mistake.  I just don't remember this being an issue on AS2015/16.

I assumed you had to choose all beams that would be connecting.

Much appreciated.

[johnjmbennett]

You will then need to use the railing base connections that are outside the main railing. The ones inside will only apply fixings/holes in the first beam selected.

When you run a fab detail the holes will then appear of the beam in space.

Just something to watch for

[Anonymous]

After redoing the 20+ handrails, I noticed the holes were missing then gave up and moved onto something else.

So when the railing macro says "pick base beams", I can only pick one if I want my railing welded the normal way, in one piece.   But if I only pick one, I don't get connector holes in the other beams.....

I don't get the reasoning sometimes.

Seems like there could be a setting to let you pick all the beams you are connecting to, but not break each piece of pipe at every beam connection.  Polybeam overrides it (for the top rail only), but this isn't bent railing.  

I think once I get the rails in, I'll just remove the joint boxes and manually add all the holes via "add objects to connection".... assuming it'll let me.

Had I known it wouldn't create holes, I would have just removed joint boxes and merged the pieces of pipe instead of redoing it all.

Thanks John, I appreciate the help.

[mick-CNF]

What you can do is have no post fixing in the railing macro then add the base plate to one post then copy it to the others, the holes will appear in the beams and they will move if you alter the dimension between posts.

However if you add more posts you need to copy the base plate to the new posts and if you reduce number of posts you have to delete the remaining base plates.

[mick-CNF]

Last image.

[Anonymous]

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@mick-CNF wrote:

What you can do is have no post fixing in the railing macro then add the base plate to one post then copy it to the others, the holes will appear in the beams and they will move if you alter the dimension between posts.

However if you add more posts you need to copy the base plate to the new posts and if you reduce number of posts you have to delete the remaining base plates.

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Yeah, I understand and appreciate that.  It's just that I did the connector plates within the railing macro and everything is done.  If I had time in this project I would probably do that because I prefer to leave joint boxes intact.

As it is will probably wait until I start the detailing of the handrail to just remove joint boxes and make the connections.

But thanks Mick, I do appreciate the help.

[johnjmbennett]

Hi, you just need to turn off the connections inside the main railing macro, then got to the connections palette and select the ones associated with railing Base plates:

use the one with bolts,  then use the Joint Copy single/ multi tools to copy it along.  (create by template command)

attach a model to help out, for next time.

[dcubbedge]

This works except if I need a side plate with bolts, the end cap plate on the pipe is gone because in the handrail macro I selected 'nothing' for a base connection. Trying to put a cap plate using the 'end plate' macro doesn't work either because no matter where I put the UCS, the cap appears at the top of supporting steel and can't be moved.... So, looks like I'll be doing it a different way, I need those cap plates and I don't have all day to model them. 

I have a love/hate affair with AS handrails...….