xFrame makes creating weldment features like plates, gussets, and end caps easy. Below we will go over situations where each of these would be needed and how to create such features using the xApp, xFrame.

Plates

Plates are used at the base or bottom of a structural member or as a connector between different structural members. When using plates in a weldment structure, you can use standard plates (stored in the library) or create a plate from a standard profile.

1. Using a standard plate

Directions:

1. Choose the plate icon under the structures tab
2. In the Dialog Box:

• Placement:
  • Axis System: Creates plate along predefined axis system
  • Supporting Entities: Creates plate along a selected entity
    • *You must select a face where plate will be added
• Profile: Choose from profile library
• Contour Details:
  • Distance Ratio: ranges between 0 and 1 (0 indicates plate will be located at the beginning of the member where numbers closer to one indicate the plate will be located closer to the end of the member.
  • D1/D2: indicate plate dimensions.
• Thickness:
  • Overall thickness: indicates depth of plate.
  • You can also indicate whether you want a midplane thickness or blind.
• Other optional settings:
  • Swap placement: swaps plate from one end of number to other.
  • Perpendicular to member axis: orient plate at location normal to member axis.

      2. Creating a plate from a custom profile

Uses a user sketch as profile rather than pulling from standard profile library

Directions:

1. Choose the plate icon under the structures tab
2. In the Dialog Box:

• • Choose Custom profile and select the sketch in the select profile field.
  • Name profile for custom profile, in destination list select the collaborative space to save profile (so it can be reused).
  • Click add cutouts to specify contours for cutouts.
  • Select Define custom origin to specify plate origin location.
  • Choose next to create custom profile.

Gussets

Gussets are used to connect intersecting structural members or connect faces (intersecting, nonintersecting, circular, circular to planar).

1. Along Faces or Axis System

Directions:

1. Under the structure tab, select the gusset icon
2. In the Dialog Box:

• Placement:
  • Supporting Entities: creates gusset along selected entity.
  • Axis System: creates gusset along a predefined axis system.
• Supporting Face: select faces that intersect that will house gusset.
• Change Orientation: swaps x-axis alignment of profile with secondary face.

End Caps

End caps are used to close open ended structural members.

1. Along a Face or Axis System

Directions:

1. From structure tab, select the end cap icon
2. In the Dialog Box:

• Placement List:
  • Supporting Entities: creates end cap along selected entity.
  • Axis System: creates end cap along a predefined axis system.
• Swap Placement: swaps placement from one of member to the other end.
• Perpendicular to member axis: changes location to normal to member axis.
• Contour Details: Specify dimensions of end cap
• Thickness:
  • overall thickness: indicates depth of plate
  • indicate direction of thickness
• Distance Ratio: ranges between 0 and 1 (0 indicates plate will be located at the beginning of the member where numbers closer to one indicate the plate will be located closer to the end of the member).