About Rule-Based Fasteners

You can create engineering rules to define fastener parameters.

The Enterprise Knowledge Language (EKL) allows the 3DX platform to use rules and relationships that improve product development. Benefits include the ability to make use of embedded specifications, automate the definition of design parameters, and enforce compliance with standards.

See Also
Defining Rule-Based Fasteners
Creating Action Rules

In the Structural Model Creation app, you can use EKL to define certain fastener parameters such that the values depend on the properties of the connected layers. For example, you can have the diameter of a point fastener depend on the thickness of one or more of the attached layers.

You can use engineering rules to define the following fastener parameters:

  • Spot weld diameter
  • Spot weld cross section
  • Seam weld T and lap joint offsets
  • Seam weld width, penetration thickness, and fillet thickness

You can define engineering rules in the Engineering Rules Capture app to set parameters for point and line fasteners.

While defining fastener relations, you use proxy parameters to represent the properties of the connected layers. These proxies act as stand-in variables for model parameters that are not available in EKL. During model build or model update, the app dynamically evaluates the proxy parameters. The true values of the proxy parameters are found by determining which layers a particular fastener connects, and using thickness data for each layer from its section definition.

You can use the following proxy parameters when defining rules for fasteners:

Proxy parameter Data Type Description
StackingThicknessList CATIList Serves as a proxy parameter for the list of stacking thicknesses.
AdjacentThicknessList CATIList Serves as a proxy parameter for the thicknesses of two adjacent layers.
Index of Connecting Edge Part integer Serves as a proxy parameter for the index of a support used in an edge connection.
Index of Base Part integer Serves as a proxy parameter indicating the index of the support that is the base part in a layer stacking.