Member Styles

Also see :

YouTube video: Stick form and the three solid forms are the four different member styles that are available in Modeling . (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v2020i)

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Examples :

VIDEO

The various stick and solid forms are introduced. The default keyboard shortcut sa is used to change all members to solid opaque, then another keyboard shortcut changes them back to stick. Some members are selected by area box , then turned to solid by right-clicking and choosing " Solid Opaque " on the shorcut menu. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v7.2.)


The same model with members shown in stick form (left) and solid opaque form (right). Two other forms are also available for solid display.

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Three solid member styles :

VIDEO Members are changed to various display forms. (Recorded in SDS2 Detailing , v7.2.)

solid opaque
solid transparent
solid transparent main

Solid opaque = opaque main material & connection material.

Solid transparent = transparent main material & connection material.

Solid transparent main = transparent main material, opaque connection material.

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Tools for changing member styles :

The following tools can be used to change the form of members in the 3D model:

Note: Once you have changed the form of a member, that member will remain in that form even if you change views.

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Reasons to display members in solid form :

  • To use any of the Surface tools (for instance, Snap to Surface ) a display must be displayed in one of the three solid forms .
  • To review a material window (using Review Material ), the material must first be displayed in one of the three solid forms .
  • If you are checking work in sections, it may be advantageous for you to show the part of the 3D model in solid form while the rest remains in stick form. Members changed to solid form will remain in solid form when you open a different view.

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Reasons members are displayed in stick form :

  • When the user of a full-featured SDS2 program first lays out new beams, columns and braces, those members can be displayed in stick form only until they undergo Process and Create Solids (in a full-featured SDS2 program ).
  • Any member can be displayed in one of the three solid forms so long as that member has undergone Create Solids . Members which have not undergone Create Solids can only be shown in stick form.
  • Sometimes the best way to see the shape of a structure is to display it in an isometric view in stick form.
  • The member workline of a column in stick form is drawn along the neutral axis of the member. For a beam, the workline is drawn along the center of the beam's top flange.

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