IgentForm - Innovative parametric modeler

[Pawel.Kociolek]

This thread is a continuation of thread "IntelForm - Innovative parametric modeler" due to change of the name from IntelForm to IgentForm (with a new webpage www.igentform.com)

26.09.2017 at the Cracow University of Technology was presented and defended diploma thesis by Mrs Marta Tluscik entitled "Application of IgentForm program in the practice of parametric design and structural optimisation using BIM technology", led by Dr.Eng. Jacek Magiera. In attachment is a brief outline of a selected piece of work connected with modeling of one of the towers of Absolute Towers complex in Canada.

[Pawel.Kociolek]

A short film available at https://youtu.be/j2_CULbydM0 shows how to model a structure basing on DXF background from real design practice, how to perform Load TakeDown calculations and finally export model to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis for FEM calculations. Thanks to its unique functionalities, like automatic adjustement of elements to axes, IgentForm software helps to create a correct calculation model and can accelerate significantly design tasks thanks to possibilities, which are complementary to Robot.

Version with last enhancements is available on www.igentform.com website.

[Pawel.Kociolek]

IgentForm software is constantly developed to help users to significantly improve their design workflows. Currently, at the request of one of the users, possibility to quick creation of typical facades with subsequent export to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis program has been added. This functionality saves a lot of time during modeling and can be seen on IgentForm channel at https://youtu.be/-Xt0UcPW-vg

[Pawel.Kociolek]

New advanced features of IgentForm software ( like automatic recognition of openings widths and heights or automatic selection of all wall lines) enable to create nontrivial, "ready for calculations" 3D models from DXF background just in few minutes and export them to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis program or to IFC format to connect with BIM workflow.

Enjoy this amazing functionality at https://youtu.be/Zf31WlSmm1Q

[Pawel.Kociolek]

As IFC is a standard file format for data exchange for BIM applications, IgentForm software is constantly improved in this area and now is able to export colors into IFC file, what enhances significantly the 3D visualisation. Moreover, it is also possible to export a model in architectural mode (lower slab is assigned to a story, in opposition to structural mode, where upper slab is assigned to a story)

[Pawel.Kociolek]

New very cool functionality is available in IgentForm software. Just using a set of several parameters it is now possible to create in a few minutes a telecommunications tower, well adapted to design practice. Structure is visualised in real time after change of any parameter. Geometry with the possible addition of a wind load cases created by built-in wind generator can be at any time exported to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis. 

Do you design other structures, which can be described by a set of parameters? Let us know (www.igentform.com) - thanks to powerful parametric engine they can be easily added as a new type for structure generator without additional cost and thanks to direct connection to RTD and IFC format can significantly reduce time for model creation for Robot and Revit users.

[Pawel.Kociolek]

With pleasure I would like to inform that IgentForm software has been accepted as a tool which can help Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis and Autodesk Revit users in design process and is now available on ADSK AppStore. 

Please, contact us in case of any questions, problems or remarks (www.igentform.com)

[Pawel.Kociolek]

Creating a 3D model using a 2D drawing as a background is still a very common practice among engineers. Program IgentForm is also intensively developed in this direction, taking into account users' remarks. The possibility to add automatically a lintel when creating a wall has been added recently. In conjunction with the already existing possibility of automatically proposing opening dimensions based on information from a 2D drawing, it allows to save a lot of time when creating a structure - it takes only a few minutes to create a model as below. The generated model can be easily imported into Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis using the API interface

[Pawel.Kociolek]

What in the situation when elevation is composed of walls, columns, ceiling beams and corner openings? With currently added functionality IgentForm is able to restore 3D model form DXF background even then. Correct calculation model is automatically created, so the structure can be later exported and smoothly calculated in Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis.

[Pawel.Kociolek]

To facilitate orientation in the model, selection on 3D view has been implemented in IgentForm program. Now by chosing selection mode and simple click it is easy to select required mass, contour line or internal line and modify parametrisation. This significantly improves the comfort of work, especially in situation, when structure is composed of many masses or masses contours are composed of many points.

[Pawel.Kociolek]

And finally in addition to mass and structural line selection mode on 3D view, structural elements selection mode has been implemented in IgentForm. Thanks to highlighting of selected element on 3D view and associated group of parameters in inspector window it significantly improves orientation in 3D model.

Short film presenting this functionality can be seen at  https://youtu.be/mfQr6PclVgo

[Pawel.Kociolek]

Possibility to display structure axes on 3D view has been added to IgentForm software. Axes are generated automatically at characteristic points of structural elements. The option significantly improves the general orientation in the model, and is especially useful when creating a model from a DXF background. These files very frequently are not of good quality, so this feature enables quick detection of inaccuracies that may cause calculation problems in Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis.

Axes positions can be easily changed with automatic alignement of structural elements.

[Pawel.Kociolek]

Vertical walls with openings can be modelised in two ways, depending on required analysis (f.ex. shear walls calculations) - as a whole panel with openings or separate panels without opening. IgentForm enables now easy way to choose between these two types by clicking an appropriate option during export to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis program. With this approach it is now possible to automatically get both models, what for bigger structures, if these models are needed, helps to save a lot of time during modelisation.

[Pawel.Kociolek]

IgentForm company has just released a new tool, called IgentBeam for multi-span beams calculations. It continues parametric approach, delivering results after each modification. It has a unique feature, which can be very useful for Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis users, namely possibility to define tendons. IgentBeam enables optimization of tendon curve, automatic creation of loads induced by this tendon and export to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis program. This feature significantly enhances Robot possibilities to design prestressed structures, as directly in Robot it is possible only to define simple tendon for one-span beam.

A short film which presents this functionality can be seen at https://youtu.be/NZJQ_988YA0 

Demo version can be freely downloaded from www.igentform.com website

[pawel.kociolek21]

As a continuation of previous possibility to define tendons in beams, IgentForm now provides the possibility to define tendons, optimize them and take them into account during plates calculations. Directly in IgentForm they are taken into account during LTD calculations, with possibility to export the whole model with loads from optimized tendons to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis for FEM calculations. This possibility is a great added value for Robot users as prestressed plates are increasingly used in design practise.

A short film showing this feature can be viewed at https://youtu.be/orEco--Jl4g

A simple example showing the results of deflection optimisation (plate self-weight balancing by tendons) in Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis can be seen in attachment

Free demo versions of IgentForm software are available at www.igentform.com website

[Pawel.Kociolek]

IgentForm software is constantly been developping and currently all programs are digitally signed to enhance users security. Also a few new options which can be beneficial for Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis users have been lately implemented:

- Possibility to export beams and columns to Autodek Robot Structural Analysis RC dimensioning modules after Load Take Down calculations

- Possiblity to take seismic into account during Load Take Down calculations. (This functionality is critical for LTD method in areas where seismic is obligatory)

- Automatic 3D model creation from DXF background (when elements are defined in axes) with further elements predimensioning possibility.

- Model export to IgentDraw (program for parametric creation of reinforcement drawings with automatic creation od 3D rebars and possibility to export them via IFC format to BIM containers like Autodesk Revit

- And many others which can be continuously tracked at http://igentform.com/en/strefa-uzytkownika/

[Pawel.Kociolek]

It's a pleasure to inform that current version of IgentForm has been accepted by Autodesk as a tool that gives an added value to design process and is available in ADSK AppStore at this link

[Pawel.Kociolek]

IgentForm program is now even more user friendly thanks to implementation of ribbon, which give quick acces to most commonly used features.

Moreover, it is nice for me to inform, that IgentForm has been recently accepted as recommended tool for cooperation with Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis program

[klarciochaa]

IgentForm software is constantly developped to facilitate design process. Now it can work in two modes namely <Solid construction> where structure is composed of any number of solids (short film showing how to design an advanced form is available at https://youtu.be/m7nsvw5Iswo) and <Building> where multi-storeys typical buildings can be quickly designed, analysed and finally connected with Robot Structural Analysis environment

[Pawel.Kociolek]

A new short film showing modelisation of simple typical building with geometry defintion (including advanced windows shapes in walls), loads and code combinations definition, Load TakeDown calculations and results presentation in calculation note is available at https://youtu.be/yLcq1eo-4SI

Thanks to parametric approach, design process is significantly accelerated.

Each model designed in IgentForm can be easily exported to Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis via API

[Pawel.Kociolek]

IgentForm program is constantly developed to help users in their design process. 

Here are some new recently added options:

Possibility to perform FEM calculations using Autodesk Robot

Predimensioning of elements

Display of internal forces on 3D view

Structure verification

Easy definition of  releases for the edges of slabs connected with export to Autodesk Robot

Context menu in 3D view and Inspector window

Possibility to select work units

Possibility to calculate the carbon footprint of materials

Possibility to define a spiral and elliptical grid

Possibility to work on several DXF files assigned to different floors

Significant improvements in conversion DXF file into structural elements

Seismic calculations according to RPS 2011 code

Integrated calculator for reinforcement theoretical  surfaces

And several dozens of other options ( https://igentform.com/en/strefa-uzytkownika/)

IgentForm software is now successfully presented  and distributed in French-speaking markets by RoboBAT Maroc (https://robobatmaroc.com), the largest software supplier in Africa