Add Existing Material

Adds a material to a member that has previously existed in the model.
  • Step-By-Step
  • Tips and Tricks
  • Related Tools

1 . Click the Add Existing Material icon, which is pictured above. The icon can be found on the Material page > Add section. Select a member you want to add the material to.

Method 2: Preselect a member to enable the Members contextual page and click the Add Existing Material icon found in the Materials/Components section.

Alternative: Invoke Add Existing Material using the Find Tool by searching the command name and clicking the icon, which is pictured above.

2 . The status line prompts, "Add: Material". Select a Locate option, then left-click (Locate) to place two work points that define the X material axis of the existing material. The actual length of the material is its existing length, and that is not changed by the location of the two points.

3 . The submaterial mark selection dialog opens, double-click the material mark of the material you want to add.

Alternative : Press "Cancel" to repeat step 2.

4 . The Rotate Material window opens, and a preview of the to-be-added material is shown in the model. Do one (1) of the following:

Alternative 1 : To accept the material's present rotation, press the "OK" button.

Alternative 2 : Change the material's rotational settings and then press "OK" if you want to rotate the material.

Alternative 3 : Press "Cancel" to back up to step 2. This stops the existing material from being added.

5 . The status line prompts "Add: material". The Locate - Repeat - Return mouse bindings become active.

Alternative 1 : Repeat steps 2-5 if you want to add an existing material that is different than the one you just added.

Alternative 2 : Middle-click (Repeat) if you want to add an existing material that is exactly like the one you just added.

Alternative 3 : Right-click (Return) to add the existing material to the model and end the command.

Note : If the material was added to a member with like members, the Material Add -- Options window appears and gives you the option to add the material to like members. After making your choice here and clicking OK, the material is added to the model and the command ends

  • An existing material can be any material that has been added to the 3D model. An existing material can also be a standard piecemark (defined under Help > Project Settings > Fabricator > Piecemarking ) -- even if that material has not yet been placed in the model. The list of submaterial marks that opens for you to select the existing material includes all materials in the model plus all standard piecemarks.