Define part orientation in drawing views

Tekla Structures
2022
Tekla Structures

Define part orientation in drawing views

In single-part, assembly, and cast unit drawings, you can adjust the orientation of the parts in the drawing views by selecting the appropriate coordinate system and by rotating the parts. You can also separately set the viewing direction for columns, beams, and bracings in assembly drawings. The project north setting also affects part orientation.

You can:

  • change the angle from which the part, assembly, or cast unit is viewed, how the part, assembly, or cast unit is rotated, and how the dimensions in the drawing view are oriented

  • Rotate a part, assembly, or cast unit in a drawing view around its local axes.

  • Select which side of a steel or timber part is always shown in the drawing main view.
  • Define the front view direction separately for columns, beams, and bracings.
  • Change the plate orientation in drawing views.

There are also many ways available for indicating the part orientation in drawings. For more information, see Indicate part orientation.

Change the coordinate system

You change the angle from which objects are viewed, how the object is rotated, and how the dimensions in the drawing view are oriented.

The coordinate system defines:

  • The angle from which the part, assembly, or cast unit is viewed.

  • How the part, assembly, or cast unit is rotated.

  • The orientation of the dimensions in the drawing view.

To change the coordinate system:

  1. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties and select the drawing type.
  2. Load the drawing properties that you want to change.
  3. Click View creation and go to the Attributes tab.

    The settings affect all views in a drawing.

  4. In Coordinate system, select one of the available coordinate systems:
    • local

      Tekla Structures uses the local coordinate system of the main part. The x axis of the part is parallel to the x axis of the drawing, and the start point (the end point created first) of the part is on the left. The start point is marked with yellow, and the end point created second is marked with pink.

    • model

      Tekla Structures uses the global coordinate system. The part has the same position in the drawing as it has in the model. This is one option when you want to show columns vertically. You can also use this option to display sloping parts in position. Tekla Structures cannot display horizontally skewed parts.

    • oriented

      Tekla Structures uses the local coordinate system of the main part, but the coordinate system is oriented so that the x axis of the part points to the right even if the part was created from right to left.

    • horizontal brace

      Tekla Structures automatically rotates the drawing views so that the front view is from the top of the model. This is used for skewed braces. It automatically rotates the front view around the x axis.

    • vertical brace

      Tekla Structures automatically rotates the drawing views so that the front view is in the same plane as the brace in the model. This is used for skewed braces. It automatically rotates the front view around the x axis.

    • For concrete parts, the option Fixed rotates the front view so that it shows the casting direction (the face that is top in form) of the concrete part, if it is defined in the model.

  5. To save the changes, click Save.
  6. Click OK and create the drawing.

Rotate parts in drawing views

You can rotate a part, assembly, or cast unit in a drawing view around its local axes.

  1. On the Drawings & reports tab, click Drawing properties and select the drawing type.
  2. Load the drawing properties that you want to change.
  3. Click View creation and go to the Attributes tab.

    The settings affect all views in a drawing.

  4. In Rotate coordinate system, specify the angle:
    • With the Around X, you can rotate in steps of 90 degrees (0, 90, 180, 270).

    • With the Around Y, you can rotate in steps of 180 degrees (0, 180).

    • With the Around Z, you can specify any angle.

  5. To save the changes, click Save.
  6. Click OK and create the drawing.

Examples

Below there are some examples of rotating an object around the x axis:

  1. 0 degrees
  2. 90 degrees
  3. 180 degrees
  4. 270 degrees

Below is an example of rotating the same part 180 degrees around the y axis:

Below is an example of rotating the same part 30 degrees around the z axis:

Select the steel or timber part face that is shown in front drawing view

You can select which face of a steel or timber part is shown in the drawing main (front) view by using the user-defined attribute Fixed drawing main view.

The user-defined attribute Fixed drawing main view controls the drawing coordinate system for steel and timber parts. This UDA is only taken into account when you use the coordinate system Fixed in drawing properties. When the fixed coordinate system is used, the part is rotated so that the front view shows the part face that has been selected with the Fixed drawing main view UDA.

  1. In the model, double-click a steel or timber part to open part properties, and click the User-defined attributes button.
  2. On the Parameters tab, click Fixed drawing main view, and select one of the options:
    • Top
    • Back
    • Bottom
    • Start
    • End
    • Front
  3. Click Drawings & reports > Drawing properties, and select assembly or single part drawing properties.
  4. Click View creation in the options tree, go to the Attributes tab, and set Coordinate system to Fixed.
  5. Click OK to activate the settings, and create the drawing using the current settings.
Note:

If you set the advanced option XS_SET_FIXEDMAINVIEW_UDA_TO_AFFECT_NUMBERING to STEEL, TIMBER or MISC, and if identical steel, timber or miscellaneous material parts have different options selected for Fixed drawing main view, they get different assembly position numbers.

If you set this advanced option, the Top in form face command is available also for non-concrete material in the model.

Set viewing direction for columns in assembly drawings

In assembly drawings, you can define the front view viewing direction separately for columns.

Note:

Do not change the viewing direction settings in the middle of the project. If you change the settings, some drawings may disappear.

  1. On the File menu, click Settings > Options and go to the Orientation marks settings.
  2. Under Viewing direction, use the Columns in assembly drawing option to set the front view direction of columns:
    • The values are As beam and bracing, North, East, South and West. Select As beam and bracing to use the same viewing direction as you use for beams and bracings. This is the default value.
    • If you have set the coordinate system to local in View creation properties, Tekla Structures uses the coordinate system of the column when setting the viewing direction of the front view.

    • If you have set the coordinate system to oriented, the column is in a horizontal position, and the viewing direction of the front view is the option you select (North, East, South or West).

    • If you have set the coordinate system to model, the column is in a vertical position, and the viewing direction of the front view is the option you select (North,East, South or West).

  3. Click OK.

Set viewing direction for beams and bracings in assembly drawings

In assembly drawings, you can define the front view viewing direction separately for beams and bracings.

Note:

Do not change the viewing direction settings in the middle of the project. If you change the settings, some drawings may disappear.

  1. On the File menu, click Settings > Options and go to the Orientation marks settings.
  2. Under Viewing direction, use the Beams and bracings in assembly drawing option to set the front view direction:
    • The values are North or east, North or west, South or east, and South or west. The default value is North or east.
    • If the beam or bracing is parallel to the X axis of the model, it is also parallel to the X axis in the drawing.

    • If you have set the coordinate system to model, and the beam or bracing is sloped, it is also sloped in the drawing.

  3. Click OK.

Change plate orientation in drawings

Plates created with the Plate command are automatically oriented in drawings. The longest side of the plate always faces downwards in the drawing. You can affect this orientation.

Automatic plate orientation:

Example

Description

Contour plate in the model view:

  1. First creation point
  2. Second creation point

The same contour plate in a single-part drawing

Instead of using automatic plate orientation, you can set the plate main axis to follow the line created by the first and second points you pick, regardless of the plate dimensions. This enables you to define the plate orientation in drawings or reports.

To define the contour plate orientation with first and second picked points:

  1. Create the contour plate.

    The first and second points you pick also define the plate’s main axis.

  2. Double-click the plate to open the contour plate properties.
  3. Click User-defined attributes, and click the Orientation tab.
  4. Select From 1st to 2nd creation point in the Main axis direction list.
  5. Click Modify, and close the dialog box.
  6. Click Drawings & reports > Perform numbering > Number modified objects to update numbering.
  7. To view the orientation of the plate, create a single-part drawing of the plate.

Example

Description

Contour plate in the model view:

  1. First creation point
  2. Second creation point

Single-part drawing of the plate. The user-defined attribute Main axis direction is set to From 1st to 2nd creation point.

Note:

You can also affect the orientation of the plates using the advanced options XS_POLYGON_SQUARE_CORNER_PREFERENCE_FACTOR and XS_POLYGON_PERPENDICULAR_EDGE_PREFERENCE_FACTOR.

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