Creating End Plates

task target This task shows how to create a special type of plate called an end plate.
scenario 1. With your product open, click the End-Plate I_EndPlateStructureP2.gif (920 bytes) button.

The End Plate dialog box appears.
2. Click the Material & Orientation tab and select material, grade and thickness. See Material Management for more information.

Material, grade and thickness are defined in the specifications catalog.
3. Define the length and width of the plate using arrows to change the values or entering values directly in the fields.
endplate01NLS.gif (1766 bytes) The length and width are defined with respect to the local axis system of the shape, for example, in the case of an I shape, the width is defined along the x-axis parallel to the flange and the length along the y-axis parallel to the web.
4. Select the end of the shape at which you want to place the end plate: 

A preview appears. An arrow identifies the direction of extrusion. 
  • To reverse the direction of extrusion, click the arrow or click Reverse Direction in the dialog box. 
  • You can adjust all plate characteristics in the dialog box, then click Apply to preview the results.
  5. Click the Custom Attributes tab to change the values of attributes added by the user. See Adding/Modifying Custom Attributes.

These attributes can also be browsed and edited via the Properties dialog box.
6. Click OK when satisfied.

The end plate is created as defined and is added to the specification tree.
scenario

Creating Several Identical End Plates by Multiple Selection

Simply Cntrl-click to select more than one shape end and have several identical end plates created in one go.

Changing the direction of extrusion or other plate characteristics applies to all end plates.

end of task