Using Metal Connectors

Metal Connectors

Metal connectors are metal parts that are used to connect timber members to each other (e.g. a joist hanger connecting floor joists to support beams) or to other materials, (e.g. a column base connecting a post to a concrete foundation). There are many types of prefabricated metal connectors made by Simpson-Strongtie, MGA and other companies. Many timber construction companies also design unique metal connectors for their projects and order them from a fabricator.

In the Dietrich´s software, metal connectors fulfil three different tasks:

1. Visualization, e.g. to present a complete image for the customer or to create detail drawings.

2. Processes, e.g. drills or slots, that are necessary to connect them to the members , are attached to the metal connectors. These processes can be transferred to the member and can be processed on the joinery machine.

3. Information about fixtures like nails, bolts and screws are attached to the metal connectors. Metal connector lists containing the number of connectors and the mass of the necessary fasteners can be produced using the project data pro- gram.

The metal connector library

The metal connector library contains the most common metal connectors from the catalogues of BMF, G+H and Bulldog Simpson for the European market.

Insert a metal connector from the library:

1. Insert a beam in a new project in D-CAM

2. Type 1 file >>5 library >> 2 metal connector catalogue

3. Select a connector, e.g. the adjustable, hidden column shoe SF-Vario1 of BMF

1. Press “OK” and select the beam. Edit the selection of fixtures if necessary.

2. Press “OK” and select “single” end.

3. Select the end to insert the connector

Reprocess the beam:

This step is necessary to transfer the necessary processes from the connector to the beam

You have to reprocess only SmartTag connections (type 5) on the beam. This means that the program deletes all processes of type 5 on the beam that you reprocess and examines if the beam is touched by processes of type 4 from another object. These processes are then transferred to the beam, creating processes of type 5 again. The “reprocess” function should never be used on a complete project, but only on individual beams.

Type 3 tools > 1 control > 9 reprocess. Activate the beam.

• Select “SmartTag processes only (type 5)”

The beam contains processes now that can be transferred to the machine. Furthermore, fixtures have been inserted that can be shown in a list:

• In the Single Beam Info, take a look at the processes that have been inserted.

• Store a metal connector/ fixture list and look at it in the Project data program.

When inserting a metal connector you can decide whether it shall be delivered to the site or to the workshop. Different lists for the different designations can be printed.

Creating individual metal connectors

The following steps are necessary to create a metal connector:

1. Gather information about the connector: Producers of metal connectors deliver product information and dxf-drawings of their products on their homepages.

2. Register the new connector in the material data base and enter the available information

3. Create a model of the metal connector by intersecting standard volumes and extruded objects. This model may not contain processes.

4. Insert the sample beams that will be connected by the metal connector at the correct positions and delete all of their processes in the single beam information.

5. Create the processes that the beams will receive due to the metal connector.

6. Insert the fixtures that will be necessary to connect the metal connector to the beams.

7. Use the connector tag editor to create the metal connector

8. You can access the metal connector from the SmartTag library

How to create a model of the metal connector

The model of the metal connector should not contain processes.

You have three possible ways to add bodies to the model:

1. 

2. 2 edit  1 constant section  x shape: When using this function you have to delete the two cut offs in the single beam information

3. 2 edit  2 rotated profile  x shape: Create globes and cones or create rota- tion profiles out of any shape:

2 2  1

1. 2 edit  5 extrude: Extrude any shape. To extrude shapes with internal cut outs, extrude the cut outs separately to intersect with the main shape.

2 5

To form the shape of model you have the following options:

2 edit  7 Intersecting Volumes  1 intersect

This function subtracts the shape of a “hard body” from the shape of a “soft body”

2 7  1

2 edit  7 Intersecting Volumes  2 unite

This function unites the shape of the two bodies.

2 7  2

2 edit  7 Intersecting Volumes  3 combine

This function creates the Volume in which the two bodies penetrate each other

2 7  3

2 edit  9 separate  x plane

This function cuts a body into two pieces.

Note: Keep the objects to be intersected as simple as possible. If the intersected ob- jects are too complex, you may run into problems with these functions.

6.2.1 Lab: Creating the Column Base CB66 in D-CAM

The description and DWG-drawings of the column base CB66 can be found on the homepage of Simpson Strong-Tie. DWG is the file-format of the CAD-software Auto- CAD. To be able to import the drawings into D-CAM you have to use AutoCAD to con- vert drawing files to the DXF-format.

Register the connector in the material data base

• Start the project data programme and type 4 main Dbase  2 material Dbase

• Select the sub group to register the connector by highlighting an object of the sub group. Create a new sub group or group by highlighting the corresponding position in the tree.

• Press “new”. Enter the item number “CB66”, object type “ironmongery”

• Enter the material data as shown in the window below

• Press “OK” and return to D-CAM

Create a simple model of the column base:

The following measurements are given in inches (as the producers usually use inches in their product information)

Drawings:

Enter a U-shaped section

• Type 2 edit  1 constant section  4 u-shape.

• Copy the values from the window shown below

• Press position and select the origin

Enter a constant section:

• Type 2 edit  1 constant section  1 constant section.

• Click on the tree button next to « item number » and select the description of the metal connector from the library.

• Copy the values from the window shown below

• Press position and select the origin

Move the constant section to the correct position:

• Move the centre point of the constant section to the centre point of the bottom of the U shaped section.

• Move the top edge of the constant section up to 8.22 in.

Delete the cut offs of the two objects:

This is to avoid unnecessary processes being added to the timbers.

• Open the single beam info of each beam.

• Highlight the processes of the beams and select “delete”

• Press “OK”

Unite the two sections:

The two parts will become one object and can not be selected individually anymore.

• Type 2 edit  7 Intersecting Volumes  2 unite

• Select the two objects.

• Select the square section to copy the object info from.

• Press “OK”

Insert a sample beam at the correct position:

The relative position of the metal connector and the beam will determine the position in which the metal connector will be inserted.

• Insert a square beam (5.5 x 5.5 in) at the correct position.

• In the single beam info, delete the two cut offs of the beam

Insert the drillings and the bolts:

• Type 3 tools  04 drills  5 perpendicular to side

• Select the beam

• Copy the values from the window shown below

• Press “OK” and select “at point”

• Create a temporary point, 1.31´´ below a reference point at the top edge of the column base.

• Put another drilling 3´´ below the first drilling

Use the connector tag editor:

All necessary information for the metal connector can be entered step by step by using the connector tag editor.

• Type 3 tools  2 SmartTags  7 connector tag editor

• Select the connector

• Select the beam whose processes are to be attached to the connector

• Select the beam whose fixtures are to be attached to the connector

• Select the beam to define the position of the connector

• Select the beam end A as the positioning side

• Confirm the X-positioning axis and the y-positioning axis

• Enter a name for the SmartTag, e.g. “CB66”

• Select a location in the library to store the SmartTag to

• Enter a name for the new SmartTag file, e.g. “CB66”

• Press “OK”

A SmartTag has been created that contains the metal connector, the necessary proc- esses and the fixtures

Insert the metal connector:

• Insert the metal connector by typing 3 tools  2 SmartTags  2 assign.

• Reprocess the beam: Type 3 tools  1 control  9 reprocess  type 5

Now you should have a try with your own metal connectors: Browse the web-pages of metal connector producers for detailed information. But remember: Try and keep it simple!