Create a parametric assembly

Tekla PowerFab
2021
Tekla PowerFab Tekla PowerFab GO

Create a parametric assembly

You can use parametric assemblies in any estimating job, and modify the variable values according to your needs. Tekla EPM calculates the parametric assembly according to the values you have given.

Note that all information entered in the Parametric Assembly dialog box will be added to the estimate when the parametric assembly is selected.

Tip:

To see a concrete example of creating a parametric assembly, see Example parametric assembly: Roof ladder without cage.

To create parametric assemblies, do the following:

1. Create and name the assembly template

  1. Click the Maintenance ribbon tab.
  2. On the menu, select Estimating Maintenance > Parametric Assembly Maintenance.

  3. In the Select Parametric Assembly dialog box, click Add.
  4. Name the parametric assembly.
  5. To use an existing parametric assembly as the basis for the new one, select the parametric assembly in the Template list.

    Copying the information from an existing parametric assembly speeds up creating a parametric assembly. However, you can also create the parametric assembly from scratch.

  6. Click Add.

2. Create variables, items, and formulas

Variables define the parametric calculations to be used.

  1. In the Parametric Assembly dialog box, click the Parametric Assembly ribbon tab.
  2. On the menu, select Parametric Assembly Variables.

  3. In the Parametric Assembly Variables dialog box, click New.
  4. Enter a name and description for the variable.
  5. Select a suitable variable type:
    • Integer Number: a whole number. The Integer Number variable type is normally used for quantity type calculations where no fractions are required.
    • Decimal Number: a decimal number. The Decimal Number variable type has various uses.
    • Length - Feet, Inches, Fractions - Meters: length. The correct input format is determined in the name of the variable type.
    • Length - Inches, Fractions - Millimeters: length. The correct input format is determined in the name of the variable type.
    • Length - Decimal Feet - Meters: length. The correct input format is determined in the name of the variable type.
    • Length - Inches, Fractions - Millimeters: length. The correct input format is determined in the name of the variable type.
    • Dimension: allows you to change the dimension of the material by adding another variable. For example, you can have one material dimension for a short span and one for a long span in the assembly. The length applied to the span variable then determines which dimension variable is used. The dimension variable can also be set when adding the parametric assembly to an estimating job.
    • Property from EST Line Item: uses the selected property of the estimating item that was selected when the parametric assembly was added to the estimating job.
    • Property from Assembly Line Item: uses the selected property of an item within the parametric assembly. Note that you need to select the desired property in the Property list, and type the item number in the From Item # field.
  6. If necessary, define a default value for the variable.
  7. Click Add.

    Repeat steps 3 to 5 to add all necessary variables.

  8. To close the Parametric Assembly Variables dialog box, click the Close button (X) in the upper-right corner.
  9. To add items to the parametric assembly, click New at the bottom of the Parametric Assembly dialog box.
  10. Create a comment as the first item in the parametric assembly:
    1. Set Quantity to 1 and press Enter.
    2. Set Shape to CO and press Enter.
    3. In the Description field, type the parametric assembly name and press Enter.
    4. Click Add.

    Adding a comment as the first item of the parametric assembly makes it easier to recognize the parametric assembly in an estimating job.

  11. To add another item, click New.
  12. Enter properties for the item.
  13. For properties that vary in the assembly, click the Formula button and define a formula using the previously created variables.

    For more information on creating formulas, see Create formulas.

  14. If you need to add additional labor or clips to the item, click Additional Labor & Clips and determine their properties.

    Additional labor operations could be, for example, welding, burning, punching, or drilling. You can either determine the properties manually, or use formulas to use conditions for the additional labor and clips.

    Note that standard clips will be added according to the selected labor code when you add the parametric assembly to an estimate.

  15. Once you have determined all necessary properties for the item, click Add.

    Repeat steps 9 to 12 to add the remaining items to the parametric assembly.

3. Test the parametric assembly

We recommend that you test all parametric assemblies that you have created to verify that the calculations work as expected.

  1. While in the Parametric Assembly dialog box, click the Parametric Assembly ribbon tab.
  2. On the menu, select Test Parametric Assembly.

  3. In the Parametric Assembly - Variables dialog box, enter a value for a variable and click Set Value.

    For example, you could set the Ladder Length variable created in our example to 20'-0 and Ladder Width to 1'-6".

    Repeat step 3 for each variable in the parametric assembly.

  4. Click Calculate Parametric Assembly.

    You can now see the results of the calculations. Verify that the information is correct.

  5. To view the additional labor and clips that were added for the selected item when creating the parametric assembly, click Additional Labor & Clips.
  6. To close the results, click the Close button (X) in the upper-right corner.
  7. Do one of the following:
    • To re-test the calculations, set new values for the variables.
    • To close the Parametric Assembly - Variables dialog box, click the Close button (X) in the upper-right corner.
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