Start end of beam

[Aaron485]

I know that it matters if you input a beam left to right or right to left.

1.) How can you tell how the beam was entered, how can you tell which end is the start end?  Other programs have the start/end nodes colored differently.

2.) If you want the ends swapped, how can you do that easily?

[johnjmbennett]

Yes , try the define coordinate system on the advance steel palette. https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/advance-steel/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2017/ENU... If you start a new model, if you start to model a beam , type 0,0,0, if you the go in a negative direction and enter a length , you will see the start point being at the zero point on the model. This can also influence the drawing output. https://youtu.be/dxE_9_inVV8 Also you can use the change detail direction, to get round these issues; https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.graitec.ca/en-ca/blog/entry/how-to-change-the-direction-of-a-beam...

[Aaron485]

So, there is no easy way to see that someone entered the beam the correct way, let's say I was checking the  model to make sure they did it correctly?  I don't want to define the coordinate system just want to make sure it's modeled correctly before we get to the drawing stage.

[johnjmbennett]

Unfortunately I am not aware of any other way, wish there was a toggle to show start end points.

You also have to bear in mind that the detail direction tool can be used after the assembly/part drawings have been created to correct which is the front view.

Also for parts and assemblies it will group them together is the object geometry and overall assemble config is the same, so even if different orientation but same length it will group them the same.

It’s just a good practice to try and model the beams correctly, but this is not always possible, during the course of a project.

[Aaron485]

Is there some trick to getting the "Define Coordinate System" to work, I watched the video you showed in the link but after I activate the command and click on the beam nothing happens.

It ask for some CS to pick.  I thought it would just show the coordinate system of the beam.

[johnjmbennett]

So what that means is select a couple-ordinate system axis.  On the end there should be a series of lines appear projecting from the system start point.   These are the  x y z of that point.   Selection of one will change you ucs to the end of the beam and you will be able to see the Z direction of the beam and the start end.

the use of the UCS and associated commands if one of the keys to advance steel.

[AleckGiles]

Hi,

Further to John's comments the command "Define Coordinate System" has a misleading name. It DOES NOT change or define anything. It is simply a way to find the internal UCs of a selected part. It is not possible to change this in any way. As John said the Detailing Direction commands can be used to get the drawing view you want instead.

[Anonymous]

I just found this topic recently. It's really pretty simple. Just create a lisp command that marks the start ends of the beams. You can apply these to all selected beams in one command. Here is a sample code. In this code I used nodes to show the beam start point.