How do I place the new Face Based Gussets?

[chad_lueptow]

Can anyone explain how to place the new face based 3D gusset plates as mentioned in this post? Best I can tell they need to be placed in 3D view and then switch to a framing elevation to adjust them. They don't seem to be able to be copied from floor to floor as they loose their associativity with the members that host them. Placing these in 3D view is extremely cumbersome (as it's like voodoo to me how to get these centered on the beam from 3D view) and from what I can tell you have to model and place each and every gusset plate individually (since they are face hosted by structural members).

Another option is to model the gusst plates with an in-place family as shown in the documentation on how to model 3D gusset plates in a truss family on Autodesk's website. These also have problems being copied floor to floor and create an individual framing family for each instance (even if they are simply copied to a new location). Also when the gusset plate size needs to be adjusted you have to re-do the sketch for every instance.

I've resorted to creating a structural framing gusset plate family from the "stock" RS2008 plate family. This gusset plate family can be placed in the framing elevation of the braced frame (where you would assume you'd place them) and have instance parameters for length, height, and thickness. Unfortunately this family only accomodates a simple rectangular gusset plate.

I'm wondering a few things:

1. Can someone better explain how to place the new face based 3D gusset plates? (maybe I'm simply missing something?)
2. Does anyone have any better solutions for easily and accurately modeling gusset plates in 3D (for clash detection purposes)

Thanks.

[dbaldacchino]

Are you referring to a line-based family? Line based families now have the option to be placed on a face (new functionality) or a workplane. If so, you can placce them in elevation. You have to hover over the face that will host them (hit tab to cycle through the options until your face is highlighted, then click to select it) and draw away (or use the pick option). I'm not sure about copying, I'll have to experiment a bit.

EDIT: You can copy the gussets to other beams. Once you copy them somewhere, select the gussets and click "Rehost" and make sure you select the face option on the options bar (icon looks like a cube with a green face). The workplane option is selected by default (blue grid icon beside the face icon).

[chad_lueptow]

Thanks for the reply. Did you try selecting the horizontal (top) of a wide flange beam from a framing elevation view? I don't think it's possible. If you got it to work I'd be interested in hearing how. Here's a screenshot with our custom family used for gusset plates and it'll show you what I'm trying to do....

[dbaldacchino]

Ahh I see now. I was placing stiffners in elevation on a W section. The reason you cannot place those gussets there in a framing elevation is that the plane you need to pick is perpendicular to your view. So you have to go to a 3D or plan view (perhaps in wireframe) to be able to work (in a view parallel or less than perpendicular to the face you want to place the gusset on). You can sketch it roughly in a 3D view and then tweak it to the final location in a plan view to get it in the beam centerline. You can adjust it's final location longitudinally in the framing elevartion or the plan/rcp view.