The "Twin profile" tool is used for modeling braces, trusses,
There are two basic methods for modeling a twin profile object.
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Braces composed of twin profiles.
The first method
Create a beam by indicating its starting and endpoints.
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Set the profile type to any L-steel option available with the “Profile
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Set up the "Position on plane" value to 5mm and apply it to
the consecutively created beams as well. The beam shifted as it is shown
below:
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Each beam has a starting point marked with yellow and an endpoint marked
with red color. Create one more similar beam opposite to the direction
of the initial one: where the first beam has its end, the new one has its
starting point and vice versa.
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The beams possess the same properties but have opposite directions as
well as the end offset orientation.
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Note that the beams' coordinates coincide, though there is a setup
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Copy/paste the beams upwards at 600mm distance, as it is shown below:
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Choose the upper beams and using the Alt key, select their left side points.
Make sure that two objects are selected. Move the selected points
by using the Ctrl+M key combination as it is shown below:
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Copy/paste the twin profiles at 2000mm horizontally.
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Choose the left side twin profiles, select their left side angular points,
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The result is the typical modeling braces scheme.
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Refer to the below and copy/paste the twin profiles at 2000mm upwards.
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Select a twin profile beam and go to its “Properties” dialog
window, “Position“ section, and specify the field values as
shown according to the below:
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Proceed the same way for the second beam of the twin profile, paying attention
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Compare your results to those presented hereunder:
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The second method - stands for using the “Twin profile” tool.
This tool does not create a new object type, such as a twin profile. It
creates simple beams with the preconfigured “Position” fields.
You can make sure of it by opening the “Beam properties” window
and examining the contents.
The “Twin profile” tool, in its essence, is just an add-in
configuring the selected objects in a required way, which is very useful
in practice, as it does not require setting up the beams’ properties
separately.
You simply choose the twin profile type and the TS automatically configures
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Create twin profiles employing this instrument. Go to the “Twin
Profile Properties” window. ( You can access the window by holding
on the “Shift” key pressed and executing a double left-click
on the tool's icon.)
Specify the twin profile type field and set up the clearance value between
the members. Now draw up the beams.
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Try out changing the twin profile type to another one and create the objects
on the view. Compare the results.
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Exercise changing the profile type of the first twin profile beams to
the last applied one by selecting the objects and setting up the respective
values.
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In the new TS versions changing the twin profiles types is not available,
as the “ Modify” button will be disabled and the software considers
the objects as the simple beams.
In essence, twin profiles are simple beams with preconfigured settings.
Also, it is possible to save the settings of a twin profile under a title,
though it is just an add-in, not a complex tool. Try out saving a couple
of sets. Note that they do not intersect with the respective pre-saved
beam sets.