Stair Rails , Pickets and added parts help

[advandes]

Using AS 2019

It may be hard to se in the attached rendering, but I have had to add 1/2" sq bar stock all around the inside of the handrails. I have had to shorten every picket one at a time in order to show this correctly. Every time I update the railing system the trimmed pickets go revert back to the original state (the trims are all removed)

So two questions:

1. Is there a way to trim the pickets as a group instead on one at a time?

2. Is there a way to save the railing so that the pickets do not revert back?

I have attached the file if that helps. Thanks!

[múinteoir]

Had a quick look, there does not seem to be an option to offset the top or bottom of the picket. Not sure if you can save the exact way it is to a library for reuse. It would be a nice option to have in the railing macro. Maybe try the ideastation.

[advandes]

Thanks Jonathon for taking a look. I had tried saving the settings to the library, but unfortunately that didn't work. I wonder if I move all the welds on the pickets down to the new locations if they would stay in place. I'll try that and post my results.

[advandes]

No favorable outcomes with any of the testing. Tried adding welds and that may help as long as no changes are made to the top or bottom rails. Ugh! A picket shortening option would be the answer. I'll add it to the wish list. 

[ChristianBlei]

Besides being welds (representation and data ) welds are connectors. They connect parts to assemblies if used as in shop, they do not preserve "situations" 

You can cut at the UCS. You do not have the option to use a window selection for the pickets, you have to pick them one after another, but at least it is within one command.

HTH,

Christian Blei

[advandes]

I am not familiar with cut beam at UCS, can you be more specific where this command is? Thanks

[mick-CNF]

Is this what you are after?

[advandes]

Yes, What method did you use to cut and weld the pickets to the 1/2" sq bar? Thanks !!

[ChristianBlei]

Hi,

If you look at the drawing that I uploadedf you see how the orientation of the UCS has to be:

XY Plane is cut plane

origin is in the cutplane

Z is pointing towars the side that gets cut off.

Why do you want to weld the pickets? they are already welded an part of the assembly...

HTH,

Christian Blei

[mick-CNF]

Import mine into you library.

Settings are as follows 1.5" top bar is hand rail, 1.5" bottom bar is kick rail offset, two 0.5" mid rails, set distance to meet top and bottom bars and side 0.5" balusters are set to be close to the posts.

You might have to add square bars to be kick rails in MT if its not available?

[mick-CNF · Accepted solution]

Everything was done with the railings macro.

Not perfect on the slope but It is imperial and I'm metric. 😉

You have to keep messing with the numbers.

[advandes]

That's impressive Mick and very creative thinking. Thanks!

[mick-CNF]

I do a fair amount of non standard railings so have to improvise.

[mick-CNF]

There are some really good features in the Stairs and Railings add on by Graitec if you want to pay?

I keep hoping some of it will filter down into the standard AS like some of the PowerPack features have.

https://www.graitec.com/advance-bim-designers/stair-railing-designer/

[advandes]

Thanks Mick.. Hey can you help me add a HSS Tube to the Kickrail options? I figured out how to add a HSS 1.5X1.5X.125 tube to the database, but I am having an issue adding a profile for the kickrail. I want to use your method that you previously described, but I don't currently have the correct kickrail option. I assume this would be under Management Tools - Table editor, but I haven't had any luck figuring it out. Thanks.

[mick-CNF · Accepted solution]

You need to go into MT, go to the Profile Master Table, find the type of profile you want to add as kick rail under type name, scroll across to sub type name and note the letter, any HSS will probably be H.

Then in MT find the JointGUIAllowedSections in AstorRules, if you look at kick rail under joint control you need to add a similar new line with a new key number but the allowed section needs to b H.

You should be able to have any section as any part of railing if you add it to the JointGUIAllowedSections, even user profiles.

[advandes]

Mick, sorry to keep bothering you, but your help has been extremely helpful... I have continued to have issues with the end of top rail. The macro doesn't appear to let me miter the post with the handrail. See attached. I assume this is an easy solution.. Thanks again...8-)

[mick-CNF]

If the post you want to mitre is the last post in the macro on the posts tab change the dist end to last post to 0, if that moves the post from where it needs be change the move end base value. Then on the handrail tab you should be able to change the end of handrail to mitre cut.

[mick-CNF]

Basically if the top rail extends beyond the last post it will not mitre cut.

[advandes]

I've uploaded the file. I can't get it to work...Do you mind taking a look?