Calculate weight

[Ed Jobe]

I have some multiview blocks of w beams. I want to schedule a property that gives the weight of the 3D solid. Does anyone know how to get that from the block?

[Ed Jobe]

I think I've got a plan. I've created a PSD for 3D solids and added properties for the Volume and a manual prop for density and a calculated one that multiplies the two props. I would like to create a material property to replace the density property but when I try to add a material property, I get the following error: "No material definitions exist for the objects this property set definition applies to." I can't find any information on this error. Anyone else know how to fix it?

[dzatto]

Wouldn't it be easier to create a schedule to tag actual structural members instead of multi view blocks? Doesn't the structural catalog list the weights and such for all the beam?

[stelthorst]

Hi Ed

I may be wrong about this but I don't think 3D solids support materials. Try converting the 3D solid to a mass element. You should be able to add material PSD to mass elements.

[Ed Jobe]

Wouldn't it be easier to create a schedule to tag actual structural members instead of multi view blocks? Doesn't the structural catalog list the weights and such for all the beam?

These are not just simple beams, but assemblies of parts welded to a beam.

[Ed Jobe]

Hi Ed

I may be wrong about this but I don't think 3D solids support materials. Try converting the 3D solid to a mass element. You should be able to add material PSD to mass elements.

I found that out Friday. Thanks.

[Ed Jobe]

Wouldn't it be easier to create a schedule to tag actual structural members instead of multi view blocks? Doesn't the structural catalog list the weights and such for all the beam?

The catalog lists the weight/LF, but area, volume and weight are not available as properties to psd's for structural member styles.

I tried using mass elements because they have a volume property and I can calculate the weight base on the mass/cu ft. However, I tried creating a tool for them and the tool ends up just being a square tube. I tried blocking the mass, but then I can't seem to create a psd that is able to extract the props from the nested element. It seems I only have 3 choices if I need the weight (not me personally ).

1. Manually calc the wt and add it as a manual prop to a mvb.
2. Find a way to get an mvb to obtain props from sub entities.
3. Find a way to place mass elements as blocks that doesn't loose the original shape.

Hopefully, someone has an idea?

[stelthorst]

The catalog lists the weight/LF, but area, volume and weight are not available as properties to psd's for structural member styles.

I tried using mass elements because they have a volume property and I can calculate the weight base on the mass/cu ft. However, I tried creating a tool for them and the tool ends up just being a square tube. I tried blocking the mass, but then I can't seem to create a psd that is able to extract the props from the nested element. It seems I only have 3 choices if I need the weight (not me personally ).

1. Manually calc the wt and add it as a manual prop to a mvb.
2. Find a way to get an mvb to obtain props from sub entities.
3. Find a way to place mass elements as blocks that doesn't loose the original shape.

Hopefully, someone has an idea?

Hi Ed,

This sounds like an intriguing/fun endeavor. Could you post an example drawing with one of the MvBlocks you are trying to schedule? Also, if you would add text indicating the PSDs you want and the formula you are using for weight.

I'd like to play with this and see what I can come up with.

[Ed Jobe]

Hi Ed,

This sounds like an intriguing/fun endeavor. Could you post an example drawing with one of the MvBlocks you are trying to schedule? Also, if you would add text indicating the PSDs you want and the formula you are using for weight.

I'd like to play with this and see what I can come up with.

Thanks Scott
Here is the drawing, Structural Steel for use in substation structures. It is intended to be a repository, either in Design Center or a catalog/tool palette. So it only contains what is related to the steel. Therefore there are only a few psd's and their names are self-explanatory.

Hope you can come up with something, cause I'm still banging my head.

[HeribertoOlivo]

Hey, I want to take a look at that dwg and when I go and click the link it says that it is a invalid attachment. Can somebody tell me what's going on?