The UCS (User Coordinate System) in Advance Steel decides where new objects go and which way they face. Plates are drawn in the current XY plane, and beams are oriented by it. The UCS tools are in the Advance Steel Tool Palette (Home tab), in the UCS section. The ones I’d learn first are UCS at object, Move UCS and UCS World.
In Advance Steel, where an object lands and which way it faces depends on the UCS, the User Coordinate System. Advance Steel runs on the AutoCAD platform, so it uses the AutoCAD coordinate system to place and orient everything in 3D. Draw a beam with the UCS rotated and the beam comes out rotated. Place a plate and it lies flat in the current XY plane.
That’s why it pays to know the UCS tools. When something comes out sideways or upside down, nine times out of ten the UCS was in the wrong place.
Where are the UCS tools in Advance Steel?
All the UCS buttons are in the Advance Steel Tool Palette. Open it from the Home tab:
Then go to the UCS section of the palette:
What does each UCS button do?
UCS World: puts the UCS back to the World Coordinate System, at the drawing’s origin. A good reset when you’ve lost track of where your UCS is.
UCS with 3 points: defines a new UCS from three points: the origin, a point on the X axis, and a point in the XY plane.
UCS View: aligns the X and Y axes with the current view, so the XY plane is your screen.
UCS at object: puts the UCS on the object you pick, such as a beam or a plate.
UCS at curved beam: puts the UCS on a curved beam.
UCS at bisecting line: puts the UCS on the line that bisects the angle between two lines or members.
Move UCS: picks a new origin without rotating the X, Y or Z axes.
Define coordinate system: select an object and define the coordinate system from it.
Rotate UCS around X: rotates the UCS around its X axis.
Rotate UCS around Y: rotates the UCS around its Y axis.
Rotate UCS around Z: rotates the UCS around its Z axis.
Which UCS tool should I use?
- To put a plate on a beam face: UCS at object, then pick the beam.
- To cut a member at a point (Shorten at UCS): Move UCS to the cut point, then rotate it so the XY plane lines up with the cut.
- To work on a slope: UCS with 3 points, picking points along the slope.
- When you’re lost: UCS World, then start again.
Why are my members sideways or upside down?
Almost always the UCS. Check where the UCS icon is and which way Z points before you draw. If a plate comes in flat when you wanted it vertical, rotate the UCS 90° around X or Y and draw it again.
What if the UCS icon is missing?
The icon can be turned off. Type UCSICON, then ON.
Related
- All about camera views in Advance Steel
- Create a plane on a slope in Inventor (same idea, different program)
- Advance Steel mini tutorial 10: slanted beams
