Section definition - oval shape column

[skellyRSA2023]

Hi,

I have been trying to define the shape of a column as an oval in the RSA section definition tool by importing a dwg. file into RSA of the shape? however for some reason when I do so the dwg. file does not import with the oval shape? it works fine for a circular column? am I missing something that I need to do first with sort of shape? see attached shape I am looking to create in RSA as a column. any help on this or comments would be most appreciated. @Artur.Kosakowski 

Thanks,

Simon. 

[EduardoMeruvia]

Hi @skellyRSA2023 , 

When you say you are importing a .dwg file in to Robot 'Section Definition' module, do you mean you using/importing a .DXF file?  From memory, Robot's 'Section Definition' tool can only import .dxf files as an import. If not, then maybe try using .dxf files instead of .dwg (save dwg as dxf), that might solve your issue. 

[skellyRSA2023]

Eduardo,

thanks for getting back, I meant to say dxf apologies and yes I have saved it a dxf file, however when I import it into the section definition it does not appear for some reason, however if I import a circular section in it works fine? so not sure what the issue is? I have also tried zooming out etc. to see if it works incase I was zoomed in to much ? see attached dxf file. 

Simon. 

[EduardoMeruvia · Accepted solution]

You are right! It seems that Robot can not handle the (I'm assuming) closed curvature of the oval shape line you have in your .dxf file. This is an interesting issue, as you mentioned, circle section are not a problem but ellipses seems to be. Would be good to have a formal comment from autodesk support and see if there is any other shapes that can't be processed in Robot and we should be aware of. 

A workaround you problem I found is, if you SPLIT your oval "LINE" in Autocad into say 100 interval/segments and then use a POLYLINE to join these segments to create a NEW oval shape (i.e. oval shape made up of small straight lines) then the section appears to come across robot as you would expect. See attached files for reference, you can just open the .SEC file in Section Definition directly or use the DXF attached. 

[Rafal.Gaweda]

Hi @skellyRSA2023 

You may find somewhere or on forum that Robot is capable to import from dwg \ dxf lines, polylines, arcs, circles, faces and meshes as far as I remember.

[skellyRSA2023]

Eduardo,

Thanks, it seems to work OK however how did you split the lines in autocad? what commands did you use?

Simon. 

[EduardoMeruvia]

Hi @skellyRSA2023 , 

I used the 'DIVIDE' command to split the ellipse into small segments. After that I manually link the segments with the POLYLINE tool to create a ellipse (only 1/4 of ellipse required as you can mirror the rest)

[skellyRSA2023]

That's Great, Thanks for your help!