Creating Custom Ring Truss from DWG

[Brian K]

I have two different size, custom ring truss sections in a DWG that I am looking to convert into Vectorworks Truss pieces so they snap together appropriately and can have Braceworks analyze the rigging. I know they need to be converted to a symbol and then converted to truss objects in the Rigging/Braceworks tab but I'm running into issues with adding the magnets so they snap together perfectly and was wondering if anyone would have any tips. I've searched the forum about this issue and found my exact issue discussed but the VWX employee told the person to watch a video that I apparently do not have access to since I am not a select member. Does anyone know of any free videos showing how this is done or any PDF's that walk you through the steps? Any and all help is greatly appreciated. 

Custom_RingTruss.vwx

[JustinVanHassel]

I looked at your file but all I see are groups, I do not see any truss symbols. What is the radius of the completed ring and what is the degree of arc for each segment? Once you know those two measurements the magnet setup is very simple and can be done from the Truss Properties window.

[JustinVanHassel]

I setup the 25' radius 15° arc section of truss for you and have attached the file. You can use that as a guide to create your second piece of truss. I changed your units to feet. You must do the following steps:

 

1. Make your geometry a symbol and have the center of the completed ring be the insertion point.
2. Add the Truss Record so that the symbol is now recognized as truss by the truss tool.
3. Insert the truss in the document and the Truss Properties window will appear.
4. Choose the Circular drop down at the top to see the properties for circular truss.
5. Populate the correct fields with name, type, degree of arc, and diameter of completed ring.
6. Populate the height, width, and connects with fields (connects with must match truss type)
7. Make sure 'Insertion Point is at Center' is checked.
8. Click okay.
9. The program will add the magnets using the data in those fields.

 

Custom_RingTruss Working.vwx

[Brian K]

Good morning Justin,

Thank you so much for your reply and instructions. When you say, "...have the center of the completed ring be the insertion point" do you mean, for the 80' diameter for example, I need to line up all of the pieces of truss to create the full 80' ring and then when I go to "create symbol", just title the symbol and insertion point "on next mouse click" and ok, so when it takes me back to the symbol and the mouse has turned into the bullseye, I will need to select the center of the completed 80' ring as the insertion point? 

I know when you type truss record in the resource manager, it populates with a whole bunch of truss records (for all of the truss in the library), am I duplicating just any of the truss records and then inserting the particular information for this piece or is there a blank truss record that I need to find and attach? Thank you so much for your help on this. 

[Brian K]

@JustinVanHassel 

[Brian K]

@JustinVanHassel Also, for that piece of 50' diameter truss that you created, what do I need to do to make sure it connects to a 4-way 12"x12" corner block? I am not seeing the red highlight showing the connection when I try to connect them...thank you again for your help!

RingTruss_CornerBlock.vwx

[Mike Wright]

You need to add cross section data in the 'cutomize truss symbol data' menu to the circle section in order for it to connect with other trusses.  As there is no Tyler cross sections built in to vwx, you can use 'custom' then match the data in 12x12 AV corner block.  Importantly, you need to tell it that it what cross sections it can connect with see below:

 

 

This will work to make the trusses connect 

 

 

 

[Mike Wright]

Note Braceworks will not report accurately without the proper cross section data from the manufacturer

[JustinVanHassel]

4 hours ago, Brian K said:

"...have the center of the completed ring be the insertion point" do you mean, for the 80' diameter for example, I need to line up all of the pieces of truss to create the full 80' ring and then when I go to "create symbol", just title the symbol and insertion point "on next mouse click" and ok, so when it takes me back to the symbol and the mouse has turned into the bullseye, I will need to select the center of the completed 80' ring as the insertion point? 

@Brian KWhat I do when I make the truss symbols that ship(or train others) is to determine the overall diameter of the completed ring, in this case it is 80'. I then place the geometry on the design layer with the outside of the chord on the bottom connection on the (0,0,0) mark on my design layer. Using the move command I then move the geometry 40' (in your case) to the right along the x-axis which places the geometry in the appropriate location on the circle for assembly. From there I then use the 'Create Symbol' command and the Next Mouse Click option and when the cursor turns into the bullseye I click on the (0,0,0) mark on the design layer.

 

4 hours ago, Brian K said:

I know when you type truss record in the resource manager, it populates with a whole bunch of truss records (for all of the truss in the library), am I duplicating just any of the truss records and then inserting the particular information for this piece or is there a blank truss record that I need to find and attach? Thank you so much for your help on this. 

I would advise against using the search to find the record because odds are you will find one that is already populated instead of the blank version that you populate yourself. All of the records are shipped in the Defaults section of the Resource Manager. You will find the truss record in the following location Defaults>Record Formats>Spotlight.vwx. Just look in the records folder of the Spotlight.vwx file and import the Truss Record.

 

[Brian K]

@JustinVanHassel @Mike Wright Thank you so much for your help guys!

@JustinVanHassel I think I understand what you're explaining above but I'm a little lost on the move command along the x-axis. I've attached the first steps file below, as you have explained, but I'm not exactly following the later steps. If there's anyway at all you would be able to do what you did for the 25' radius truss for this piece I would be really indebted to you as I have a deadline fast approaching? I understand if not, but, although I have passed the Spotlight Certifications course, its this type of custom work that I just don't have a ton of experience with and have been waiting for your "Advanced Certifications" to offer some more in depth classes for this type of custom work. Any and all help is really appreciated! Thanks again. 

80'RingTruss.vwx

[JustinVanHassel]

Here you go. I moved the geometry for you but I did not setup the symbol.

80'RingTruss Setup Help.vwx

[Brian K]

@JustinVanHassel Awesome, thanks man. Is the diameter just 80'? I'm asking because the picture shows (D)/2 (which would really just be the radius right?) And for the angle, do you just select both ends of the inside chords to determine angle? Thank you again so much man!

[JustinVanHassel]

The diagram is confusing but it is showing how to lay out the symbol based on the insertion point which is why it is showing radius. For the Diameter field you want the entire 80' as the code is looking for the entire circle. Angle is degree of arc of the truss segment. If you have a circle with four segments that value would be 90°, if the circle required 8 pieces it would be 45° and so on. I did not check the degree of arc for your symbol so I don't know exactly what is should be.

[Brian K]

Awesome thank you so much again for all of your time and help, @JustinVanHassel!!

[Brian K]

@Mike Wright @JustinVanHassel Gentlemen, Final question (I hope) as it relates to this, when I change the cross section data to what you suggested above, it will indeed connect to the corner block and appear to become one truss "system" but the magnet seems to move above the truss (so that the ring truss sits 12" below the corner block). When I modify the magnet to the appropriate, center position of the ring truss so it appears to connect properly, when I click "select system objects" the corner block is no longer associated with the ring truss. Suggestions? Thank you again for your assistance. 

CrossSection_RingTruss_12x12.vwx

[JustinVanHassel]

@Brian KYour circular arcs are not setup properly in the 3D component. The geometry must have the bottom places at a Z height of 0. In your symbols the top of your geometry is placed at Z=0 so the program thinks your truss is actually below the floor. The magnet location is measured from Z=0 and the height is placed at the halfway point of the truss height.

[Brian K]

@Mike Wright Good morning Mike, Just a quick question for you as it relates to the topic above with connecting my custom ring truss to Tyler 12" x 12" corner block. I was wondering where you found the information to create the cross section data so it populates with "User 12x12 AV". I have attached a screenshot of all of the information it is asking for but I am not completely sure on the "Cross Section Area" and all of the fields below that on what I need to input there to make sure it connects properly. Your help has been greatly appreciated! Hope you had a great weekend man. 

[Brian K]

@JustinVanHassel Hey Justin, do you possibly know the answer to my question above? Thank you again for your help man!

[JustinVanHassel]

@Brian KI do not know how to calculate the lxx, lyy, and lzz as those are the deflection forces and those are calculated from the load charts and a structural engineer or certified rigger. It is some sort of crazy math that I do not know and it is unique to each truss product line. The cross section area is simpler math and it is just asking for the total area of the material in the main chords if you were to take a slice of them perpendicular to the direction of their length. It is the area of the whole pipe diameter minus the area of the hollow portion of the tube times the number of chords.

 

Keep in mind though that you only need this data in order to perform calculations with Braceworks. If you just want things to connect with other things and form a system you just need to make sure that the truss type fields match across all symbols and that the same name is in the connects with field. The truss will be rigid and provide no deflection data; just hoist loading data, but it will connect.

[Brian K]

Sounds good. Thank you so much!