CREATE DRAWBEAD

After a drawbead property is defined, the user can continue with generation of drawbead. In the DRAWBEADS field, there are some functions such as New, Modify and Delete, as shown in Figure 10.4.16.

Figure 10.4.16  Drawbeads interface

 

10.4.3.1   NEW DRAWBEAD

This function enables the user to create drawbead using one of the two methods illustrated in Figure 10.4.17. First method is to select the existing geometrical lines in from the current database. Click on Select bead line option and the APPLY button to display the Select Line dialog box illustrated in Figure 10.4.18. The user can select one or multiple lines to define drawbead. The other method is to create new geometrical lines. Click on Create bead line option and the APPLY button to display the Create Line dialog box illustrated in Figure 10.4.19. The user can create lines using the following methods: Node, Point, Cursor on Element and Cursor on Surface.

Figure 10.4.17  Insert drawbead methods

 

Figure 10.4.18  Select Line dialog box

Figure 10.4.19  Create Line dialog box

 

NOTE: Prior to creating a new drawbead, the user has to select a property from the drawbead property field. The selected property is assigned as the property for new drawbead.

 

The DRAWBEAD INPUT dialog box illustrated in Figure 10.4.20 is displayed after a line is selected. The function provided in the dialog box enables the user to set the number of point along each drawbead line.

Figure 10.4.20  Define the number of points along drawbead line

 

 

BY DISTANCE

Define number of points along line by setting the constant distance between two adjacent points on line. The default distance is 15 (mm).

 

UNIFORM

The specified number of points is evenly spread along the line. The default number of points is set as 15 on each line. Refer to Figure 10.4.21a for drawbead line with uniform point distribution.

 

CHORDAL DEVIATION

The number of points along the lines are distributed according to the CHORDAL DEVIATION value. For drawbead line with larger curvature, more points are distributed. If the CHORDAL DEVIATION value is small, more points are created along the drawbead line. The default CHORDAL DEVIATION is set as 0.25. Refer to Figure 10.4.21b for drawbead line using point distribution based on CHORDAL DEVIATION.

 

 

(a)                                        (b)

Figure 10.4.21  The distribution of points on drawbead line (a) Uniform (b) Chordal deviation

 

The user can select more than one drawbead line as drawbead using the same property. Alternatively, the user can define different line using different property.

 

The drawbead is created on each selected line. Each drawbead in the Drawbeads field is identified with a unique name such as Drawbead 1, Drawbead 2 and so on. As illustrated in Figure 10.4.22, the corresponding ID number is displayed next to the drawbead on the display screen.

 

Figure 10.4.22  Drawbead name

 

DRAWBEAD LIST

All defined drawbeads are listed in the Drawbead List illustrated in Figure 10.4.23. Each time a new drawbead is created, it is automatically included in the Drawbead List. The Drawbead List consists two columns. The left column displays the drawbead name while the right column is the property name corresponded to the drawbead. The user can select multiple drawbeads from the list by pressing the SHIFT or the CTRL key while simultaneously clicking the left mouse button to pick drawbeads. The selected drawbeads is highlighted both on the dialog box (in blue) and on the display screen (in white).

Figure 10.4.23  Drawbead List

 

SELECT ALL

Allow the user to select all the drawbeads on the DRAWBEAD LIST.

 

NOTE: If the LIST by PROPERTY option is checked, all the drawbeads sharing the current property are selected.

 

LIST BY PROPERTY

If this option is selected, drawbeads sharing the current property are displayed on the DRAWBEAD LIST. Please see Figure 10.4.24.

 

            

(a)                                        (b)

Figure 10.4.24  List by Property option (a) Check (b) Uncheck

 

 

10.4.3.2   MODIFY

This function allows the user to modify drawbead through EDIT BLINE, RESPACE, COMBINE, SPLIT and TRIM. The user can select drawbead following by clicking on MODIFY button to display a dialog box illustrated in Figure 10.4.25.

Figure 10.4.25  Modify Drawbead

 

l  EDIT BLINE

This function allows the user to edit drawbead line. Select this option and click on APPLY button. The program will pop up Edit Line dialog box for the user to edit line with the corresponding functions. Refer to the relevant sections for detailed description.

 

l  RESPACE

This function allows the user to respace the points along drawbead. After this option is selected, click on APPLY button following by selecting a drawbead. The program displays the DRAWBEAD INPUT dialog box illustrated in Figure 10.4.20.

 

l  COMBINE

    This function enables the user to combine two adjacent drawbeads into one drawbead, without reselect drawbeads.

 

    1. Click on the left mouse button to select a drawbead from the display screen.

    2. Select another drawbead near the first drawbead.

 

An example is illustrated in Figure 10.4.26.

               a)                                                  b)

Figure 10.4.26  Combine drawbead (a) Before (b) After

 

NOTE: This function enables the user to combine two adjacent drawbeads of separate property. If of property the two adjacent drawbeads are the same, the property remains unchanged after drawbeads are combined together. If property of the two adjacent drawbeads are different, the property of FIRST selected drawbead is used for the combined drawbead.

 

l  SPLIT

This function enables the user to divide a drawbead at selected location. Select this option and click on APPLY button. After the function is activated, the user selects a desired location to split the drawbead using the mouse cursor. eta/DYNAFORM identifies the nearest NODE to the selected location and splits the drawbead into two drawbeads. The property drawbeads are similar to the original drawbead. Figure 10.4.27 illustrates SPLIT drawbead operation.

   

(a)                                               (b)

Figure 10.4.27  Split drawbead (a) Before (b) After

 

l  TRIM

This function allows the user to trim drawbead without reselecting drawbead. Firstly, the user can select a trimming location on drawbead. Then, select another node as the trimming direction. If the node on the left side of trimming location is selected, the left side of drawbead is trimmed; if the node on the right side of trimming location is selected, the right side of drawbead is trimmed.

 

10.4.3.3   DELETE

This function enables the user to remove the selected drawbeads. If the user has selected drawbead on the Drawbead list, then all the selected drawbeads are removed after he/she clicks on the DELETE button. If the user hasn’t selected the drawbead, then a message is printed in the message prompt window asking the user to pick drawbead. The user can place the mouse cursor near the drawbead following by clicking on left mouse button to complete the DELETE drawbead operation.