Sometimes you need to use a profile that is not available in the Advance Steel library. The good news is that you can create your own profile and use it. The process of how it is done is described below.
Define a User Section Beam
To define your new, custom User Section open a new Advance Steel drawing and set a Top View on the cube:
On the Ribbon > Extended Modeling tab > User Section panel > use the Change Layer flyout to activate the corresponding layer and the tools drop-down to draw the section components:
Define a User Section Frame
On the change Current Layer drop-down menu, click Frame. The section Frame Layer will be activated.
On the tools drop-down menu, click Rectangle:
Specify the first corner point of the frame and then, specify the diagonally opposite corner of the frame.
Define a User Section Outer Contour
The Outer Contour defines the standard representation of the section in the model. It should not be too detailed to avoid a complex representation in the model, slowing down the computer.
On the Change Current Layer drop-down, click Outer Contour. The section’s outer contour layer will be activated:
Using the tools on the drop-down, draw the outer contour.
The outer contour must be a closed polyline, a circle or a rectangle.
Define a User Section Inner Contour
If your custom section is hollow inside, use the inner contour tool.
On the Change Current Layer drop-down, choose Inner contour icon. The section’s inner contour layer will be activated.
Using the tools on the tools drop-down, define the inner contour inside the exact outer contour.
Define the User Section Class and Name
On the change current layer drop-down, click Section class or Section Name. The text for the section class name will appear on the Section & Material tab in the Advance Properties dialog box.
Using the tools on the tools drop-down, select Single Line Text to define the appropriate texts.
HINT!
The User Section Class and Name MUST BE contained inside of the User Section Frame, otherwise, you will get an error message while generating the custom section profile.
Add System Coordinates and Reference Axis
To define the coordinate system that represents the local axis select the outer contour. To access the Add coordinates command, select Add Coordinates from the Extended Modeling tab, User Section panel:
For example, to position the reference axis in the top-left, select the command and when the “Snap on the outer contour at the point to insert a reference axis message appears, click to place, using the snap points. If you do not click the point where the reference axis should be inserted, then the axis will be positioned where the point is selected on the outer contour.
If the Coordinate System is not placed on the section outline it will be ignored while using this section later on.
Save a User Section
Verify that all contours and the section properties are inside the frame.
To save the section, use one of the following methods:
On the Extended Modeling tab User Section panel, click (Generate selected section).
On the Extended Modeling tab User Section panel, click (Generate all sections).
Note: A message will inform you that the section was successfully created.
Draw a Custom Profile Beam
When you want to draw a beam using a custom profile you need to use an Other Sections command. To access the command – go to Home panel > Objects tab > Beams drop-down and select Other Sections:
Alternatively, you can write a comand in the Command line: _astm4crbeambyclass A
To draw a beam using a custom profile, first, you will be asked to specify the start point of the beam. Enter the coordinates or specify a point on the screen.
Then you need to specify the endpoint of the beam and press Enter. The straight beam will be created, and the properties dialog box appears. You can modify its properties further.
From the Section drop-down list select the user section and the desired size.
System Coordinates
and the system coordinate works too:
Categorization
Custom Panel is categorized correctly in Advance Steel:
Custom Section quantities generated properly by Advance Steel:
Modifications
Modifying the lenght of the custom Panels when drawn:
and the result of the lenghten command:
Features
It is possible to make openings and other standard features available in Advance Steel Tool Palette:
Saving CAD Drawing
If you choose to save your CAD drawing as a regular CAD file, you can reuse it later or you can share it with somebody else. Tha person you are sharing this with, will be able to generate the same section for his/her Library.
