Beam Tool

Tool Operation

open tool dialog
(optional) choose beam shape
(optional) adjust beam's settings: height, width, materials etc
click "draw..." command button at the top of the dialog
click at starting point of a beam's contour
move cursor and click to add next beam's contour vertices or type offset value using keyboard and press <Enter>
double-click at ending point or single-click at ending point and press <End> key to finish beam drawing
(optional) finish beam drawing at starting point to create closed contour

Tool Modes Description

Basic modes:

'Default' mode is for selecting existing beam objects. It is possible to reshape and re-adjust properties of selected beam.
'Draw Contour' mode allows to draw a contour of a beam vertex-by-vertex.
'Draw Profile' mode allows to draw a profile of a customly shaped beam vertex-by-vertex.
'Pick Face' mode is for picking any face, that represents a contour of a beam itself or a profile of a customly shaped beam, instead of drawing vertex-by-vertex.
'Pick Curve' mode is for picking any curve, that represents a contour of a beam itself or a profile of a customly shaped beam, instead of drawing vertex-by-vertex.

Note: use active contour radio-buttons to switch between active contour (beam axis line contour or beam's profile contour).

Since version 1.2.3 LSS Arch provides ability to align ends of a beam object to a face, which is located right near object's end in an active model. Auto-alignment is enabled by default, but it can be switched off both globally (using 'Settings' dialog) and for any existing beam object individually using 'Properties' dialog.
It is possible to learn more about auto-alignment from 'Auto Align Ends' chapter.
Version 1.3.0 provides ability to attach sub-objects to a beam object. Learn more about sub-objects from 'Sub-objects' chapter.
Sence version 1.4 it is possible to save complex custom profile shape as a preset in order to reuse it any time later.
Version 1.4 also provides ability for complex tools, which have sub-objects, to save current tool state as a preset as well in order to be able to restore all settings and attached sub-objects if any. Beam tool has a long list of settings and it is possible to attach sub-objects to a beam object, that's why ability to use tool presets is enabled in beam tool as well.