Rule Based Tabbed Opening Lead-In and Out Computation

Not controlling Tabbed Opening Lead In and Lead Out parameters like lengths, number, and width and location of first tab, orientation, burn direction, forces you to review and edit individually. This is a very time consuming process when dealing with thousands of tabbed openings. You can control the tabbed opening parameters according to your required business process.

The following topics discuss:

This page discusses:

Automatic Creation of Tabbed Opening with Required Parameters Using a Business Rule
Properties of Tabbed Opening

Automatic Creation of Tabbed Opening with Required Parameters Using a Business Rule

You can define a business rule in data setup to define the tabbed opening parameters. During Update IPM, this rule is run and based on the output of the business rule defined by you, the tabbed openings automatically create.

Define the below parameters of the tabbed opening as per requirements:

Number of Tabs
Tab width
Tab Length
Burn Direction (Clockwise/Anti-Clockwise)
Lead In Lead Out geometry type (Line/Arc)
Lead In Lead Out Lengths (For Line type geometry)
Lead In Lead Out Radius (For arc type geometry)
Lead In Lead Out Angle

You can define the output parameters as per required requirements in the business rule:

LeadInGeometryType - The geometry type of the LeadI in (Line/Arc).
LeadOutGeometryType - The geometry type of the Lead Out (Line/Arc).
NoOfTabs - Minimum number of tabs
TabWidth - Tab width.
TabLength - Maximum Length of tab.
LeadInLegth - Length of Lead In for Line type geometry.
LeadOutLength - Length of Lead Out for Line type geometry.
LeadInRadius - Radius of Lead In for Arc type geometry.
LeadOutRadius - Radius of Lead Out for Arc’ type geometry.
LeadInAngle - Angle of Lead In.
LeadOutAngle - Angle of Lead Out.
BurnDirection - Direction of burn curve (0 for counterclockwise and 1 for clockwise).

Here is an example business rule for the tabbed opening.

let Process(ElementaryEndItem)
let SDD_Opening(SddOpening)
set Process = Parameters.GetAttributeObject("ProcessItem")
set SDD_Opening = Parameters.GetAttributeObject("SddOpening")

Let ProcessOutput(VPMReference)
Let SDDObject(VPMReference)
Let SDD_ProdMember(Structure_Member)
Let SDD_ProdStiffener(Structure_Stiffener)
Let SDD_ProdPlate(Structure_Plate)
Let SDD_ProdStiffenerOnFreeEdge(Structure_StiffenerOnFreeEdge)
Let SDD_ProdPanel(Structure_Panel)
let SDD_OpeningFeat(MechanicalFeature)
let SDD_OpeningPanel(SddOpeningPanel)
let lThickness(LENGTH)
let LeadInGeometryType(string)
let LeadOutGeometryType(string)
let NoOfTabs(Integer)
let TabWidth(LENGTH)
let TabLength(LENGTH)
let LeadInLength(LENGTH)
let LeadOutLength(LENGTH)
let LeadInRadius(LENGTH)
let LeadOutRadius(LENGTH)
let LeadInAngle(ANGLE)
let LeadOutAngle(ANGLE)
let BurnCurveDirection(Integer)

Set ProcessOutput = Process.GetProcessOutput()
Set SDDObject = ProcessOutput.GetStructureDesignObject()
Set SDD_ProdMember = SDDObject
Set SDD_ProdStiffener = SDDObject
Set SDD_ProdPlate = SDDObject
Set SDD_ProdStiffenerOnFreeEdge = SDDObject
Set SDD_ProdPanel = SDDObject

set SDD_OpeningPanel = Parameters.GetAttributeObject("SddOpening")

/* output value : Set default to NONE*/
let OpeningPrepType(String)
OpeningPrepType = "NONE"
if (NULL <> SDD_ProdMember)
{
  let strMemberCategory(String)
    set strMemberCategory = SDD_ProdMember.V_StrCategory
    let StrMemberMaterial(String)
    set StrMemberMaterial = SDD_ProdMember.V_StrMaterial
    if (strMemberCategory == "Member" OR strMemberCategory == "Beam" OR strMemberCategory == "Column")
    {
      let StrCutOutType(String)
        set StrCutOutType = SDD_Opening.CutOutType
        let StrOpeningCategory(String)
        set StrOpeningCategory = SDD_Opening.Category
        if ((StrMemberMaterial.SearchPattern("Steel") == "Steel") OR(StrMemberMaterial.SearchPattern("STEEL") == "STEEL"))
        {
          if (StrCutOutType == "catStrOpeningOutputProfile" and StrOpeningCategory == "SddOpening")
          {
            OpeningPrepType = "MARKED"
          }
          else if (StrCutOutType == "catStrOpeningStandard" and StrOpeningCategory == "LighteningHole")
          {
            let StrContourType(String)
              set StrContourType = SDD_Opening.ContourType
              if (StrContourType == "Str_Rect")
              {
                OpeningPrepType = "CUT"
              }
              else if (StrContourType == "Str_Round")
              {
                OpeningPrepType = "MARKED"
              }
          }
        }
    }
}
else if (NULL <> SDD_ProdStiffener)
{
  let strStiffenerCategory(String)
    set strStiffenerCategory = SDD_ProdStiffener.V_StrCategory
    let StrStiffenerMaterial(String)
    set StrStiffenerMaterial = SDD_ProdStiffener.V_StrMaterial
    if (strStiffenerCategory == "Stiffener" OR strStiffenerCategory == "Deck Stiffener"
      OR strStiffenerCategory == "Deck Longitudinal Stiffener" OR strStiffenerCategory == "Deck Transverse Stiffener")
    {
      let StrCutOutType(String)
        set StrCutOutType = SDD_Opening.CutOutType
        let StrOpeningCategory(String)
        set StrOpeningCategory = SDD_Opening.Category
        if ((StrStiffenerMaterial.SearchPattern("Steel") == "Steel") OR(StrStiffenerMaterial.SearchPattern("STEEL") == "STEEL"))
        {
          if (StrCutOutType == "catStrOpeningOutputProfile" and StrOpeningCategory == "SddOpening")
          {
            OpeningPrepType = "MARKED"
          }
          else if (StrCutOutType == "catStrOpeningStandard" and StrOpeningCategory == "LighteningHole")
          {
            let StrContourType(String)
              set StrContourType = SDD_Opening.ContourType
              if (StrContourType == "Str_Rect")
              {
                OpeningPrepType = "CUT"
              }
              else if (StrContourType == "Str_Round")
              {
                OpeningPrepType = "MARKED"
              }
          }
        }
    }
}
else if (NULL <> SDD_ProdPlate)
{
  let StrPlateMaterial(String)
    set StrPlateMaterial = SDD_ProdPlate.V_StrMaterial
    set lThickness = SDD_ProdPlate.V_StrThickness
    if ((StrPlateMaterial.SearchPattern("Steel") == "Steel") OR(StrPlateMaterial.SearchPattern("STEEL") == "STEEL"))
    {
      if (lThickness <0.4in   and lThickness > 0.1in)
      {
        OpeningPrepType = "TABBED"
          set LeadInGeometryType = "Line"
          set LeadOutGeometryType = "Line"
          set NoOfTabs = 6
          set TabWidth = 25in
          set TabLength = 400in
          set LeadInLength = 80in
          set LeadOutLength = 40in
          set LeadInRadius = 80in
          set LeadOutRadius = 40in
          set LeadInAngle = 45deg
          set LeadOutAngle = 90deg
          set BurnCurveDirection = 1
          Parameters.SetAttributeString("LeadInGeometryType", LeadInGeometryType)
          Parameters.SetAttributeString("LeadOutGeometryType", LeadOutGeometryType)
          Parameters.SetAttributeInteger("NoOfTabs", NoOfTabs)
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("TabWidth", TabWidth, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("TabLength", TabLength, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadInLength", LeadInLength, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadOutLength", LeadOutLength, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadInRadius", LeadInRadius, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadOutRadius", LeadOutRadius, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadInAngle", LeadInAngle, "ANGLE")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadOutAngle", LeadOutAngle, "ANGLE")
          Parameters.SetAttributeInteger("BurnDirection", BurnCurveDirection)
      }
      else
        OpeningPrepType = "MARKED"
    }
}
else if (NULL <> SDD_ProdStiffenerOnFreeEdge)
{
  let StrSFEMaterial(String)
    set StrSFEMaterial = SDD_ProdStiffenerOnFreeEdge.V_StrMaterial
    if ((StrSFEMaterial.SearchPattern("Steel") == "Steel") OR(StrSFEMaterial.SearchPattern("STEEL") == "STEEL"))
    {
      OpeningPrepType = "MARKED"
    }
}
else if (NULL <> SDD_ProdPanel)
{
   let StrPanelMaterial(String)
   set StrPanelMaterial = SDD_ProdPanel.V_StrMaterial
   set lThickness = SDD_ProdPanel.V_StrThickness
    let OpeningCutPerimeter(LENGTH)
    let OpeningProfile(feature)
    let OpeningProfileCrv(Curve)
    SDD_OpeningPanel->GetIntersectingElement(OpeningProfile)
    set OpeningProfileCrv = OpeningProfile
    set OpeningCutPerimeter = length(OpeningProfileCrv)
    if ((StrPanelMaterial.SearchPattern("Steel") == "Steel") OR(StrPanelMaterial.SearchPattern("STEEL") == "STEEL"))
   {
      if (OpeningCutPerimeter <250in  and lThickness < 1in)
      {
        OpeningPrepType = "TABBED"
          set LeadInGeometryType = "Line"
          set LeadOutGeometryType = "Line"
          set NoOfTabs = 6
          set TabWidth = 5in
          set TabLength = 40in
          set LeadInLength = 10in
          set LeadOutLength = 5in
          set LeadInRadius = 10in
          set LeadOutRadius = 5in
          set LeadInAngle = 90deg
          set LeadOutAngle = 75deg
          set BurnCurveDirection = 1
          Parameters.SetAttributeString("LeadInGeometryType", LeadInGeometryType)
          Parameters.SetAttributeString("LeadOutGeometryType", LeadOutGeometryType)
          Parameters.SetAttributeInteger("NoOfTabs", NoOfTabs)
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("TabWidth", TabWidth, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("TabLength", TabLength, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadInLength", LeadInLength, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadOutLength", LeadOutLength, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadInRadius", LeadInRadius, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadOutRadius", LeadOutRadius, "LENGTH")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadInAngle", LeadInAngle, "ANGLE")
          Parameters.SetAttributeDimension("LeadOutAngle", LeadOutAngle, "ANGLE")
          Parameters.SetAttributeInteger("BurnDirection", BurnCurveDirection)
     }
      else
        OpeningPrepType = "MARKED"
   }
}
Parameters.SetAttributeString("oOpeningPrepType", OpeningPrepType)

During Update IPM and Synchronization, the above business rule runs and based on the output parameters of the rule, the tabbed openings create accordingly.

Not defining any of the attributes in the rule then the values defined in the power copy considers for tabbed opening creation.

Using Edit Features of the tabbed opening, you can edit;

Start point of the first tab of the tabbed opening.
The Burn curve direction of the tabbed opening (Clockwise/anticlockwise).

Properties of Tabbed Opening

You can edit the properties of a tabbed opening.

Direction of Burn Curve

In Administrator mode, you can define default properties of the Tabbed Opening.

The direction of the burn curve can be changed from Edit Lead In Lead Out panel.

The default value specify for the burn direction is from the opening business rule. If not defining in the rule, then the value defined in the power copy displays as the default value.

The Lead In Lead Out angle is measured in a clockwise direction with reference to the tangent line along the curve.

The direction of the burn curve tool path (clockwise/anticlockwise) is computed with reference to the BSU - Z direction.

The orientation value has no effect in admin mode because in admin mode there is no BSU direction created. But, appears in your mode when you create the tabbed opening.

Not selecting Clockwise then the burn curve direction is counterclockwise.

Selecting Clockwise then the burn direction is clockwise.