Frame

Use Frame Wizard to auto-generate a 2-D plane grid frame composed of Beam Elements in 3-D.

From the Main Menu select Model > Structure Wizard > Frame.

Select Geometry > Structure Wizard > Frame from the Menu tab of the Tree Menu.

Shortcut key: [Ctrl]+[Shift]+X

      Input dialog box

 Input tab

Distance
Enter the distance between the nodes.

Repeat
Enter the number of repetitions to create multiple beam elements in a grid pattern.

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Create nodes as per the entered distances between nodes and the number of repetitions.

,
Delete a grid in the corresponding coordinate direction.

Show Dimensions
Display the dimensions entered in the Wizard Window.

Edit dialog box

 Edit tab

Use the entered nodes to generate the basic elements.

Delete the selected elements. After eliminating the elements, the elements are automatically renumbered.

Show Element No.
Display the element numbers of the generated plane frame.

Beta Ang.
Select the Beta Angles for the generated elements.

to add a new material property or modify an existing material property.

Material
Enter the material property to be used.

Click to add a new material property or modify an existing material property.

Section
Enter the section to be used.

Click to add a new section or modify an existing section.

Insert dialog box

 Insert tab

Insert Point

Enter the coordinates of the insert point where the origin point of the generated grid frame will be located in the existing model with respect to the GCS(UCS).

Alternatively, click the entry field and click the position of the insert point in the working window to enter the desired coordinates rather than typing in the entry field.

Rotations
Enter the rotational angles, Alpha, Beta and Gamma, that will define the orientation of the frame in GCS X, Y and Z respectively.

Merge Duplicate Nodes
Select the option whether to merge overlapping nodes between the existing model and the nodes pertaining to the newly created grid frame.

 : Set a tolerance for merging nodes.

Intersect Frame Elements
Select the option whether to divide the existing elements at the nodes pertaining to the newly created frame, which are in contact with the existing elements in the existing model.

 : Set an intersecting tolerance to allow for the division of elements.

Origin Point
Set the origin point of the newly created frame. This point is displayed in red in the Wizard Window.

Show No.: Display the node numbers making up the created frame.