Custom components

Tekla Structures
2021
Tekla Structures

Custom components

You can define customized connections, parts, seams, and details for your project. These are called custom components. You can use custom components in the same way as any Tekla Structures system component. By editing the custom components you can create intelligent, parametric custom components that automatically adjust to changes in the model.

When to use

Define a custom component if you cannot find a predefined system component that meets all your needs. Custom components are useful especially if you need to create a large number of complex model objects and copy them across several projects.

Benefits

Once you define and store a custom component in the Applications & components catalog, you can easily access it from the catalog and use it in another location in the same model. If you must modify the custom component, you only need to make the changes once. When you save the changes, they will be automatically applied to all copies of that custom component in the model. You can also import and export custom components as .uel files between models and share the custom components with your colleagues, or store the custom components in a model template so that they are available with each new model that is based on the used template.

Custom component types

You can create four types of custom components:

Type

Description

Example

Custom part

Creates a group of objects that may contain connections and details.

Note: Unlike other custom components, custom parts are not marked with a component symbol in the model. Custom parts have the same position properties as beams have.

Custom connection

Creates connection objects and connects the secondary parts to the main part. The main part may be continuous at the connection point.

Custom detail

Creates detail objects and connects them to a single part at the location you picked.

Custom seam

Creates seam objects and connects the parts along a line that you create by picking with two points. The parts are usually parallel.

Examples of custom parts

Custom parts may consists of a single part or a group of parts, and they often have a complex composition. The following images show some examples of custom parts:

Steel

Company standard bracing plates

Castellated beam and cell beam

Built-up beams/columns

Built-up beams

Standard glazing fixings

Precast concrete

Sandwich panel

Lifters

Standard embeds/inserts

Standard beams

Examples of custom connections

Custom connections can be used to connect a main part to up to 30 secondary parts. The connection is made between the main part and the ends of the secondary parts. The following images show some examples of custom connections:

Steel

Built-up plate seat

Shear plate

Typical japanese post connections

Precast concrete

Base detail

Double tee to L profile

Column cut-out

Wall panel connections

Examples of custom details

Custom details can be used to add more information to a single part, such as extra plates or cut-outs. The following images show some examples of custom details:

Steel

Backing plates

Cast base

Timber base

Out rigger (stiffeners) and out rigger plate (stiffeners)

Precast concrete

Door and window

Column patterns

Hollow core end details

Lifting details

Mock joint/reveal

Side pocket

Examples of custom seams

Custom seams can be used to connect a main part to up to 30 secondary parts. They can also be used on one main part only. The seam is made along the length of the part. The following images show some examples of custom seams:

Steel

Steel stair step

Turnbuckles

Handrail

Precast concrete

Double tee connection

Panel to panel grout tube connection

Was this helpful?
Previous
Next