Generating Structure Fasteners

You can generate unified bead fasteners between plates, and plates and profiles.

Before you begin:
  • Ensure that the Expose Split Plate operation is performed on the structure panels and structure plates are generated for the split plates.
  • Set the Structure Fastener Catalog or the Structure Fastener Library resource in Data Setup.
See Also
Defining the Fastener Template
Breaking Structure Fasteners
Managing Useless References
  1. From the Operation section of the action bar, click Structure Fastener .
  2. At the upper right of the Structure Fastener panel, click Show Preferences and specify the following options:
    1. Structure Fastener Reference: A fastener catalog or library set in Data Setup appears in the Reference box. If no catalog or library is set in Data Setup, you can click or to select a catalog or a library.
    2. Default Template Management: Specify default fastener templates for different pilot-joined part combinations. Click the required cell under the Candidate column and select a template from the list.
    3. Optional: Structure Fastener Rules Management: Specify the following rules:

      • Computation management rule: Specifies the default template, and pilot and joined parts, and computes the fastener geometry. For more information, see Fastener Computation Rule.
      • Attribute management rule: Sets attributes on the structure fastener during fastener generation. For more information, see Fastener Attributes Management Rule.

    4. User Attribute Management: Select the Show joint attribute check box to display the joint attribute information of each fastener under the Joint column.
  3. Under Input Objects, select one of the following options and select the products accordingly:
    OptionDescription
    Inside Group Mode The fasteners are generated between the objects in the selected products.
    Across Group Mode The fasteners are generated between the objects of different groups.
  4. Click Compute .
    The computation management rule is run. Under Fasteners, a list of possible pilot-joined part combinations is generated. A default fastener template is applied to every combination. The columns are updated as follows:
    TemplateFastenerTo DoDescription
    Candidate Template-GenerationNo fastener exists. A new fastener will be generated.
    Candidate TemplateName of the existing fastener.GenerationThe existing fastener is not compatible with the candidate template. The existing fastener will be removed and a new compatible fastener will be generated.
    Candidate TemplateName of the existing fastener.-The existing fastener is compatible with the template. No action is required.
    Candidate Template Name of the existing fastener or empty. Check the rule The computation management rule is failed.
    Candidate TemplateName of the existing fastener.Check error.The existing fastener update error.
  5. Select the check boxes of the required rows and click Generate .
    The fastener generation process starts. The attribute management rule is run for every combination. The Fastener and To Do columns are updated as follows:
    Template Fastener To Do Description
    Candidate Template Name of the fastener. - A fastener is generated successfully.
    Candidate Template Name of the fastener. Check the rule A fastener is generated, but the attribute management rule is broken. Check the rule.
    Candidate Template Name of the fastener. Check attributes of the fastener A fastener is generated, but the output of the attribute management rule is broken. Check the fastener and the Fastening app preference related to the user-defined attribute.
    Candidate Template Name of the fastener. Check error The generated fastener has an error. Check the error.
    Note: You can perform the following operations on the pilot part, joined part, and fastener cells in the Structure Fastener panel:
    • Select a cell to highlight the object in the 3D area and in the tree.
    • Select a cell and click to use the following contextual commands: Center Tree, Hide/Show, Reframe On, and Change Pilot Part and Joined Part.
  6. On the progress bar, click or to check the fastener generation report.
  7. Optional: To break fasteners, select the check boxes of the required rows and click Break Structure Fastener .

    When a fastener is broken, there are multiple fasteners for a particular combination of pilot and joined parts. In this case, the number of fasteners is displayed under the Fastener column. You can select the row of such combination and click Element List to manage the individual fasteners.

  8. Optional: To delete fasteners, select the required rows and click Delete .

Notes:
  • The Structure Fastener command manages only its own generated unified bead fasteners.
  • A fastener is generated only when there is a contact or a clash between the pilot and joined parts. When there is a design error, a point contact or a clash for example, the result is not guaranteed.
  • If the input geometry is modified after fastener generation, you need to regenerate the fastener.