Processes in Dietrich´s D-CAM
Processes in Dietrich´s D-CAM
To be able to use the Dietrich´s CAD software properly and to become faster and more efficient in designing your structures, it is important to know how the Software works and how different parameters influence the design of the objects in the structure model.
How to create processes
There are four possibilities to create connections and processes in the Dietrich’s construction program. They are all based upon the basic processes in the single beam information:
Full automatic connection of timbers in the wall design, ceiling design and roof design
Connecting and processing of groups and single beams using the commands in the “tools”-menu of D-CAM and wall-, ceiling- and roof design
The usage of SmartTags for company-specific processes that are regularly used.
Direct adding and editing of processes and parameters in the single beam in- formation
The Single Beam Information
Whenever changes are made to a beam, the information about these changes (or “processes”) is stored in a list, the so called single beam information.
The single beam information is available by typing 3 tools >> 1 control >> 1 single beam information or by using the command in the middle mouse button menu.
In this list, you can create, delete, copy and edit processes.
The first line contains general information about the beam: Sorting number, description, width height and length and the rough length (in brackets) which is the length that the beam has without processes.
In front of each process you can find one of the following symbols:
$: Connectivity information:
Processes that connect one beam to another beam contain connectivity information if they are created using either the processes in the tool menu of D- CAM or the automatic connection function in one of the other program parts. That means that if you move, edit or delete this process the associated process will be moved, edited or deleted as well. The connected beam is lengthened or shortened as indicated in the picture. If you want to avoid reconnecting of a process you have to highlight the process in the “single beam info” and select “explode”.
>: Process Group:
Processes can be combined in groups. This is indicated by a “$”-Sign in front of the group name and a “>” -Sign in front of each process that belongs to the group. Use the “explode” function to break up these groups and to edit the processes individually. If you delete the header of the group, the complete group will be deleted.
=: SmartTag process:
This process belongs to a SmartTag
Space: Standard processing
Reprocessing code of beams
When beams or processes are copied or if metal connectors are inserted it may be necessary to reprocess the beams. The number in front of the coma is the reprocessing code of the process. This number indicates the type of the process when it is re- processed:
Neutral process: A process with the code number 0 will not be considered when reprocessing the beam. It will not be modified and it will not create any other processes
Male process: when reprocessing a beam that is touched by a male process (e.g. a tenon), a female process (e.g. a mortise) is created
Female process: when reprocessing a beam that contains female processes, these processes are deleted first. After this, new female processes, caused by adjacent male processes, are created.
Metal connector process: This process is not displayed and it is not transferred to the machine. It can be transferred to other volumes, creating a process of type 5. (The metal connector adds a process to the beam)
These processes have been transferred from another object, e.g. a SmartTag or metal connector, by using the reprocessing function (5).
Please see video below:
Exercise: Reprocessing codes
Take a closer look at the different types of processes and reprocessing codes.
The text in the grey boxes leads you through the hands on part of the tutorial step by step:
Male and female processes:
Insert two beams and connect them with mortise and tenon in D-CAM
Take a look at the single beam info of the two beams
In the single beam info, delete the tenon and observe what happens to the mortise.
Connect the two beams with mortise and tenon again
Explode the tenon and observe what happens to the reprocessing codes of the tenon and the mortise.
Delete the tenon again and observe what happens to the mortise.
Metal connector processes:
Insert a beam
Insert a metal connector at the beam (as described in chapter 6.1)
Take a look at the single beam info of the beam and the metal connector
Reprocess the beam (type 5)
Take a look at the single beam info of the beam
Process groups:
Enter a purlin.
Assign the SmartTag “bridle scarf” to both ends of the purlin
Take a look at the process group in the single beam info of the beam
Delete the process (bridle scarf) and observe what happens to the other processes of the group
Use the function “explode” on the other bridle scarf
Observe what happens to the other processes of the group
Transferring processes:
It is possible to “copy” a process from one beam to another. This is done by transferring the process to a “ghost object” which is only used to transport the process. This ghost object can then be moved to another beam and the process can be transferred by reprocessing this beam.
The following processes can be transferred:
Cut (4001,1)
Bird’s mouth (4002,1)
Free lap joint (4003,2)
Notch (4006,3)
Perpendicular drilling (4101,1)
Go through the following steps to transfer processes from one beam to another:
Insert a beam with one or any number of the listed processes
Insert a “ghost beam” that touches the beam near
Change the item number of the beam to “auxiliaries: plastic” in the object info (to avoid it to be listed in timber lists)
In the single beam info, highlight the process and press “transfer” in the bot- tom right corner of the object info.
Select the “ghost beam” to transfer the processes to
Insert the ghost beam so that it touches another beam
Reprocess the other beam (type 5)
Properties of the Basic Processes:
When creating machine files, SmartTags or metal connectors it is useful to know the basic processes that are used in the program.
Type 3 tools > 2 SmartTags > 2 assign
Click on the + sign in front of the SmartTag file “processes (mm)”
Browse through the processes and find out how they are defined by looking on the helping pictures.
It is important to keep the available processes in mind and to use them “properly”: As soon as you use a CNC machine you may get into trouble, for instance if you create a lap joint by using a notch!
Take into account these points when you use processes in SmartTags or in the single beam information:
Tenon and Mortise / Dovetail-Tenon and Dovetail mortise
In the single beam information, the mortise has the same parameters or measurements as the tenon. When they are processed on the machine, the mortise is slightly longer and deeper than the tenon so that they do not jam: The operator has the possibility to enter an offset in the machine data for the length and the depth of the mortise.
Attention: This offset will not have an effect if you use a notch instead of a mortise.
Keep Ground:
In some processes there is a parameter called “keep ground”. If you select “no” the machine software decides whether to use the chainsaw (uneven ground) or the End mill (smooth ground). If you select “yes” the machine will use the End Mill if possible
Keep Corner:
If the negative radius of the End Mill (e.g. -20mm) is entered here, the machine creates a “relief cut” in the notch. The cut does not have a square shape anymore and cannot be used for an exposed connection, but you can insert a square tenon without having to cut away the corners with hand tools.
Without relief cut With relief cut
Saw Cut: The saw cut, unlike the cut off, does not cut completely through the beam. The width of the saw cut is defined by the width of the saw blade. You must indicate the relative position of the saw blade to the point where you enter the cut.
Drilling direction: Select “user” if you do not want to define the direction. Select “side” if the drill is supposed to penetrate from the reference side. This side stays clean and splinter free.
Resawing Cut: If you use a Resawing cut instead of a cut off the remnant will not be removed but will become an individual beam
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