Handrails

Overview

Handrails is a component that you can use to create multiple railings, having the possibility to set different properties for each railing. You can create the railings and the stanchions by using different input methods:

• beams selection only
• beams and points selection
• picked points only.

Each of the support beams and/or each two picked points will create independent sections that will form the Handrails component.

Using the Handrails extension you can create the stanchions, base connections for stanchions, top rails, middle rails and the bottom rails.

Installing Handrails

Download and install the Handrails extension from Tekla Warehouse. For more information please visit the Download content from Tekla Warehouse page.

Demo Videos

The following video shows how to create a Handrails and set its properties.

Using Handrails

Handrails Creation

1. In the Applications & Components catalog search for 

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   Handrails and click on it. The Handrails properties will open in the side pane.

2. The bottom left corner message informs the user to select the support beams.
3. In the side pane set the Handrails properties and then click Modify.
4. In the model select all the beams you want the handrails to create for, if any.
5. Skip to the next step by clicking the middle mouse button.
6. The bottom left corner message informs the user to pick the points the handrails will go through.
7. In the model pick the points you want the handrails to go through, if any.
8. Finish the Handrails creation by clicking the middle mouse button.

Handrails Modification

1. Enable the 

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   Direct modification and 

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   Select components switches.

2. In the model select any part of the Handrails extension to open its properties in the side pane.
3. In the side pane set the Handrails properties.
4. Click Modify to apply.

• Note: Having the 

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  Direct modification switch disabled, enable it by double click on any part of the Handrails extension.

Handrails - Settings

Use the settings in the side pane UI and the DM features in the model to set the Handrails properties.

Handrails - Side Pane Settings

By creating or modeling the extension in the model, use the side pane UI of the Handrails to set its properties:

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Stanchions Tab

Use the Stanchions tab to set the stanchions properties for the selected sections or for the entire extension.

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	Description	Default Value
11	General group - set the general properties for stanchions: Name - define the name of the stanchions. Profile - list to set the profile of the stanchions. Material - list to set the material of the stanchions. Finish - define the finish of the stanchions. Class - define the class number of the stanchions.	STANCHION PD48.3*3.2 Steel_Undefined - 5
12	Button to select the profile from the profile catalog	-
13	Button to select the material from the material catalog	-
14	Numbering series group -  set the numbering settings for stanchions: Part prefix - set the part prefix of the stanchions Part start number - set the part start number of the stanchions Assembly prefix - set the assembly prefix of the stanchions Assembly start number - set the assembly start number of the stanchions	P 1   A 1
15	On plane - set the on plane position of the stanchions. Options are: - Middle - set the reference line in the middle of the stanchions. - Left - set the stanchions position above the reference line. - Right - set the stanchions position underneath the reference line. Note:  The Left and Right options depend on the section direction.	Middle
16	On plane offset - set the on plane offset position of the stanchions.	0.00
17	Rotation - set the rotation of the stanchions. Options are:  - Front - Top - Back - Below	Front
18	Direction - set the direction of the stanchions. Options are: Image Vertical - creates vertical stanchions. Image Perpendicular - creates perpendicular stanchions to the line between the insertion points of the section. Note: For multiple stanchions directions it will display the Image button.	Image
19	Height - set the height of the stanchions	1000.00
20	Spacing type - set the distance between the stanchions. Options are: - Exact - creates stanchions spacing using the input values from the Distance box. - Maximum - creates as many equal stanchion distances as they fit in the section. The Distance box value defines the maximum distance between the stanchions.  - Autofill - creates equal stanchions spacing using the input value from the Distance box. - Single - creates one stanchion only. for this option the Distance box is disabled. Note: The Spacing type option depends on the Distance, Start offset and End offset box values. For all the options except the Maximum option, you can define one offset only.	Maximum
21	Distance - set the distance between the stanchions.	1000.00
22	Start offset - set the offset for the first stanchion.	350.00
23	End offset - set the offset for the last stanchion.	350.00
24	Connection - display the connection name for the base of the stanchions.
25	Browse button - set the connection for the base of the stanchions.	-
26	Attribute - attributes list for the base stanchions connection set in the Connection box.
27	Modify - button to apply all the side pane UI settings of the Handrails in the model.	-

Rails Tab

Use the Rails tab to set the rails properties for the selected sections or for the entire extension.

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	Description	Default Value
28	Creates on - list to set the way the rails are created. Options are: Image Plane - creates continuous rails for all the selected sections. To use this option create the sections in the same vertical plane. Image Sections - creates separate rails for each of the selected sections.	Image
29	Rail component - by default the Handrails extension uses the Railings (S77) component to create all the rails. Currently the list is disabled.	Railings (S77)
30	Attribute - attributes list for the Railings (S77) component.	Default
31	Modify attribute - click this button to create a new attribute file of the Railings (S77) component. By clicking the Modify attribute button it will open the Railings (S77) UI with the settings of the attribute file.	-
32	Modify - button to apply all the side pane UI settings of the Handrails in the model.	-

Handrails Direct Manipulation Features

To use the DM features enable the

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 Direct Modification switch.

• DM Stanchions position handles

Use this DM feature to set the position of the stanchions in the model. The DM Stanchions position handles option is available for component selection or for section selection in the model. There are three available positions: on the left side, on the right side or in the middle of the support beam width. For each DM handle you can set separate connection in the Connection box from the side pane UI.

Note:

• This option is available for components that have at least one section created using beams selection or beams and points selection input method.
• This option is available for sections created using the beams selection or beams and points selection input method.

          Component selection

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Having a component selected in the model, by selecting one of the three handle it will set the position of the stanchions for the entire component.

Note: Changes will apply to the stanchions belonging to all the sections defined on support beams or beams and points selection input method. 

1. In the model select the component. To do this select any part of the component.
2. After the component selection it will highlight all the sections in blue color and it will display the DM Stanchions position handles.
3. Select one of the three handles to set the stanchions position according to the handle selection.​​​​

          Section selection

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Having a section selected in the model, by selecting one of the three handle it will set the position of the stanchions for the selected section.

1. ​​In the model select the component. To do this select any part of the component. By selecting the component it will display the handles of the sections highlighted in blue color.
2. Select the section. To do this select the section face handle or any part belonging to the section.
3. After you finish the selection it will highlight the section face handle in yellow color and it will display the DM Stanchions position handles.
4. Select one of the three handles to set the position of the section stanchions accordingly.

• DM Stanchions height

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Use this feature to define the height of the selected section in the model by typing the height value in the DM Stanchions height box.

1. In the model select the component. To do this select any part of the component.
2. Select the section. To do this select the section face handle highlighted in blue color or any part belonging to the section.
3. After you finish the selection it will highlight the section face handle in yellow color and it will display the DM Stanchions height.
4. Select the DM Stanchions height box.
5. In the DM Stanchions height box input the height value and click Enter.

• DM Stanchions spacing

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Use this feature to define the distance between the middle stanchions in the model. The stanchions spacing measures the horizontal or inclined distance between the stanchions, depending on the Direction set in the side pane UI.

Note:

• For any input value that should move the stanchion into the next spacing there will be no change in the model.
• This option is not available for the first and the last section stanchions. To modify the position of the first and the last stanchions use the Start offset and the End offset from the side pane UI.

1. In the model select the component. To do this select any part of the component.
2. Select the section the stanchions belong to. To do this select the section face handle highlighted in blue color or any part belonging to the section.
3. After you finish the selection it will highlight the section face handle in yellow color and it will display the DM Stanchions spacing.
4. Select the DM Stanchions spacing box and then input the distance value.

Limitations

• For a Handrail defined using the picked points input method there is no DM Stanchion position handles features.
• Both of the Start offset and End offset boxes can be set in the same time for Maximum option only.