Automatic Light Gauge Steel Frame Creator And Panelizer macro

[thschrader]

Hi Humberto,
from a construction point of view you are right, but there is a problem with FEM.
Please see the two examples:
In case A there is absolutely no gap between the horizontal/vertical beam.
You get a compliant mesh, that means the structure reacts under loading as one body.
In case 2 there is a tiny gap (0,1 mm) between the bodies. You get a noncompliant mesh,
in fact two bodies. The horizontal beam deflects into the column. You can eliminate this
behaviour by running a contact analysis. For that you must know where all gaps are located.
A better way: eleminate all gaps.

caseA1.JPG (103.76 KiB) Viewed 1631 times

caseA2.JPG (76.67 KiB) Viewed 1631 times

caseB1.JPG (114.92 KiB) Viewed 1631 times

caseB2.JPG (72.49 KiB) Viewed 1631 times

[hhassey]

Hi Humberto,
from a construction point of view you are right, but there is a problem with FEM.

I know exactly what you are saying, I have dealt with this so many times.

as of now, the steel posts are smaller by exactly the thickness of the track, I made this to you get pretty drawings of the sections, and better renders. It should not be so difficult to set a FEM switch that when chosen it draws the tracks and studs with the exactly same dimension and thus overlapping, fusing such a piece should be no problem.

What are your thoughts?

[paullee]

This error that was reported has been fixed !!!

Code: Select all

Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/run/media/paullee/80G_Data/FreeCAD_Macro/FreeCAD_Hhassey/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame-master-942ec7a62468a731fc893daf6f5ebc268bdc9e43/Steel_Frame_Creator_to Macro.FCMacro", line 321, in onChanged
    vt=a.Shape.Volume
<type 'exceptions.RuntimeError'>: shape is invalid

Error Fixed!! , please grab a copy of the new version on Gitlab https://gitlab.com/Oriond/FreeCAD-Steel_Frame.git

Seem a lot of development after a while Would further try, thanks.

In addition to my earlier suggestions, maybe later installation like conduits and junction box for electricity, plumbing pipes etc. would be incorporated in the wall!

[thschrader]

Hi Humberto,
from a construction point of view you are right, but there is a problem with FEM.

I know exactly what you are saying, I have dealt with this so many times.

as of now, the steel posts are smaller by exactly the thickness of the track, I made this to you get pretty drawings of the sections, and better renders. It should not be so difficult to set a FEM switch that when chosen it draws the tracks and studs with the exactly same dimension and thus overlapping, fusing such a piece should be no problem.

What are your thoughts?

That is exactly what we need for FEM.
Another intersting addition would be:
Generate the 2d-lines (center of gravity of U-shapes) to get a 2-D model
for running a calculation with beam elements.
regards Thomas

[thschrader]

Allright, I can import the frame sketch into my commercial statics-program
via dxf. Filtering does not work properly, but basically it works.
As an engineer I would prefer a beam analisys instead 3-D-FEM.
If you have possible hinges in the frame it is far easier to model the hinges
with beams.

FrameSketch.JPG (62.51 KiB) Viewed 1587 times

statics.JPG (40.73 KiB) Viewed 1587 times

[thschrader]

beamAnalysis.JPG (72.06 KiB) Viewed 1582 times

[bernd]

in FreeCAD Arch is some tool to define the analytical axis of a Arch Structure.

[thschrader]

in FreeCAD Arch is some tool to define the analytical axis of a Arch Structure.

Hi Bernd, do you mean the axis-tools?

axisTools.JPG (7.92 KiB) Viewed 1560 times

@Humberto:
I found a way to import complex sketches/wires into my statics-program without errors.
Even B-splines are accepted...
Creating the sketches and importing goes fast. I think there is no need to waste time
on programming a sketch-generator in your macro. In "normal" building-construction it doesnt
matter when the static-system has a little difference to the real geometry.
regards Thomas

importSketch.JPG (68.87 KiB) Viewed 1560 times

[bernd]

no much more smarter, in Arch_Structure the Structural nodes.

[thschrader]

no much more smarter, in Arch_Structure the Structural nodes.

Aaah..structural nodes. Yes, know I remember Yoriks thread:
https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=17909

@Humberto, an idea:
Can you define each member of the frame as a structure and after
that merge all parts together? When upgradung the frame to a structure,
I get only one structural point, but no lines.
When importing two beam-structures in arch-wb and do the fusion command
in part wb, the structural nodes/lines remain. And it is fully parametric.
Thomas

structuralNodes.JPG (62.16 KiB) Viewed 1542 times