Spiral staircase 2.0

Purpose and description

Use Spiral staircase to create and model a spiral staircase.

System requirements

Tekla Structures version: 2017i, 2018
Environments: All

Installing Spiral staircase

To install the extension:

1. Download the SpiralStaircase_2.0 installer package from Tekla Warehouse.
   For more information see Downloading an application from Tekla Warehouse.
2. Install the file package.

Using Spiral staircase

To use the application:

1. Open a Tekla model.
2. Click the Applications & components button
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    in the side pane to open the Applications & components catalog.
3. Search for Spiral staircase
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     and then double-click to open it.
4. The Spiral staircase dialog will open.

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Field	Description
(1)	Attribute file - shows a list of saved attribute files
(2)	Parts tab - defines the parts
(3)	Step tab - defines the steps
(4)	Stringer tab - defines the stringer
(5)	Save button - saves the attribute file
(6)	Delete button - deletes the attribute file
(7)	Help button - opens the help file
(8)	Overview window- when opened, additional information is displayed.   Image   Field Description Default (1) Extra column height  - (2) Height - (3) Step length - (4) Picture with dimensions of the staircase updated with the values from the user interface - (5) Calculated tread rise - (6) Picture with rotation direction of stairs Clockwise rotation (7) Information about the staircase - tread run, outer width, inner width, number of steps and angle values are calculated and displayed -
(9)	Live update settings - when clicked, live update settings window opens, from here slider increments can be set with the desired values. Image   Field Description Default (1) Height increment - the increment for stair height slider 10.00 (2) Step length increment - the increment for step length slider 10.00 (3) Inner radius increment - the increment for inner radius 10.00 (4) Tread rise increment - the increment for tread rise 10.00 (5) OK button - Saves the increment values and closes the Live update settings window - Note: Sliders are shown only when Live update (10) is activated.
(10)	Live update   Options are: Default -  Live update not activated   Image -  Live update activated   Image - values from interface are updated in the model as you drag sliders  Live update not activated Image
(11)	Get button - gets the values of the selected spiral staircase from the model and shows it on the interface
(12)	Cancel button - closes the  Spiral staircase window
(13)	Modify button - modifies the selected spiral staircases
(14)	Apply button - applies values to the selected spiral staircases
(15)	OK - Saves the changes and closes Spiral staircase window

5. Make desired modifications and then press the OK (15) button.
6. Pick the origin point.
7. Pick the X axis direction.
8. The spiral staircase is created.

General tab

1.  Column-Stringer option 
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   is selected:

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Field	Description	Default
(1)	Spiral staircase type - defines what type of spiral staircase will be created Options are: - Column-Stringer option - creates a spiral staircase with a column and one stringer - Double-Stringer option - creates a spiral staircase with double stringers	Column-Stringer
(2)	Extra height - extra height of the column Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed: Image	0.00
(3)	Height - The height of the stair Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed: Image	3100.00
(4)	Step lenght- defines the lenght of the step. Limitations: Items and Custom components lenght is defined when they are created. Items and Custom components lenght  needs to be the same as the step lenght in order to get the desired results. Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed: Image	1000.00
(5)	Tread rise - defines the maximum vertical distance between two consecutive steps Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed: Image	175.00
(6)	Tread run - defines the horizontal distance between two consecutive steps, measured as an arc length	175.00
(7)	Rotation - the rotation direction of the steps Options are: - Clockwise  Image  - creates the spiral staircase in clockwise rotation direction - Counterclockwise  Image  - creates the spiral staircase in counterclockwise rotation direction	Image Clockwise
(8)	Remove first step - removes first step from the staircase	Image First step not removed
(9)	Remove last step - removes last step from the staircase	Image Last step not removed
(10)	Remove stringer - removes stringer from the staircase	Image Stringer not removed

When Live update is activated, the interface looks like this:
 

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Modify and Get buttons are unavailable.. Slider increments can be set from Live update settings window.

2.  Double-Stringer option  
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   is selected

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Field	Description	Default
(1)	Spiral staircase type - defines what type of spiral staircase will be created Options are: - Column-Stringer option - creates a spiral staircase with a column and one stringer - Double-Stringer option - creates a spiral staircase with double stringers	Column-Stringer
(2)	Height - The height of the stair Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed: Image	3100.00
(3)	Inner diameter- inner diameter of the stair Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed: Image	900.00
(4)	Outer diameter - outer diameter of the stair Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed: Image	1000.00
(5)	Tread rise - defines the maximum vertical distance between two consecutive steps Note: when mouse hovers the box, the following information thumbnail is displayed: Image	175.00
(6)	Tread run - defines the horizontal distance between two consecutive steps, measured as an arc length	175.00
(7)	Rotation - the rotation direction of the steps Options are: - Clockwise  Image - creates the spiral staircase in clockwise rotation direction - Counterclockwise  Image - creates the spiral staircase in counterclockwise rotation direction	Image Clockwise
(8)	Remove first step - removes first step from the staircase	Image First step not removed
(9)	Remove last step - removes last step from the staircase	Image Last step not removed
(10)	Remove outer stringer - removes outer stringer from the staircase	Image Outer stringer not removed
(11)	Remove inner stringer - removes inner stringer from the staircase	Image Inner stringer not removed

When Live update is activated, the interface looks like this:

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 Modify and Get buttons are unavailable. Slider increments can be set from Live update settings window.

Parts tab

1. Column-Stringer option 
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   is selected:

1. Column properties

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2.  Stringer properties

• Stringer type is a Bent plate

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• Stringer type is a Spiral beam

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2. Double-Stringer option 
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     is selected

1. Stringer properties

• Stringer is a Bent plate

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• Stringer is a Spiral beam

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3. Column Stringer and Double Stringer common properties

1. Step properties

• Step is a Contour plate.

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• Step is an Item

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To import items follow these steps:

1. On the File menu, click Catalogs > Shape catalog .
2. The Shape Catalog dialog box opens.
3. Click Import.
4. Select the import file.
5. Click OK.

- supported shape file types are: .tsc; .skp; .dxf; .dwg; .ifc; .ifcZIP; .ifcXML; .igs; .iges; .dgn; .stp; .step
- see also: About items
- see also: Shapes

• Step is a Custom component

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The Custom component used as a step should be defined as a Part with 2 input points to work as expected.

- see also Create a custom component

Step tab

When from Parts tab => Step properties => Contour plate option is selected the interface looks like this:

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Field	Description	Default
(1)	Step shape - defines what is the shape of the steps Options are:   Image - Inner width straight, outer width straight   Image - Inner width rounded, outer width rounded   Image - Inner width rounded, outer width straight	Image Inner width rounded, outer width rounded
(2)	Step position - position from where the step position is calculated Options are:   Image - Edge   Image  - Center	Image   Edge
(3)	Defines the position of the step at depth Options are: - MIDDLE - FRONT - BEHIND	MIDDLE
(4)	Depth offset	0.00
(5)	Inner width of the edge of the steps, straight dimension in the case of a straight edge and circle length in the case of a round one	150.00
(6)	Outer width of the edge of the steps, straight dimension in the case of a straight edge and circle length in the case of a round one	400.00

When from Parts tab => Step properties => Item option is selected, Step tab looks like this:

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When from Step tab the Custom component option is selected the Step tab is not shown. 

Stringer tab

• Column-Stringer option 
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  is selected:

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Field	Description	Default
(1)	Top angle stringer offset	0.00
(2)	Stringer offsets Options are: - Horizontal Image Field Description Default (1) Stringer offset in horizontal direction 0.00 - Vertical Image Field Description Default (1) Stringer offset in vertical direction 0.00 - Inclined Image Field Description Default (1) Stringer offset inclined 0.0	Vertical
(3)	Bottom angle stringer offset	0.00

When from Parts tab => Stringer properties => Spiral beam option is selected, Position is displayed:

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• Double-Stringer option 
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    is selected, the interface looks like this:

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Field	Description	Default
(1)	Top angle stringer offset	0.00
(2)	Stringer offsets Options are: - Horizontal   Image Field Description Default (1) Inner stringer horizontal offset 0.00 (2) Outer stringer horizontal stringer 0.00 (3) Activates the horizontal outer stringer Options are: - Enables the horizontal outer stringer  Image - Disables the horizontal outer stringer  Image   Image - Vertical   Image Field Description Default (1) Inner stringer vertical offset 0.00 (2) Outer stringer vertical offset 0.00 (3) Activates the horizontal outer stringer Options are: - Enables the horizontal outer stringer  Image - Disables the horizontal outer stringer  Image   Image - Inclined   Image Field Description Default (1) Inner stringer inclined offset 0.00 (2) Outer stringer inclined offset 0.00 (3) Activates the horizontal outer stringer Options are: - Enables the horizontal outer stringer  Image - Disables the horizontal outer stringer  Image   Image	Vertical
(3)	Bottom angle stringer offset	0.00

When from Parts tab => Stringer properties => Spiral beam option is selected, Position is displayed:

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Using direct modification

You can resize, reshape and move the spiral staircase objects by using direct modification handles and the direct modification toolbar.

To use direct modification:

1. Ensure that Direct modification is switched on.
2.  Click on the Spiral staircase.
3. The  following icon 
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   appears.
4. Click on it.
5. The direct modification toolbar for Spiral staircase opens.
6. Click on the desired icon, the changes are applied instantly in the model. Also you can use the direct modification handles to make changes.

• Column Stringer option is active the Spiral staircase direct modification toolbar looks like this:

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Field	Description	Default
(1)	Step type - Column Stringer
(2)	Rotation Options are: - Clockwise - Counterclockwise	Clockwise
(3)	Extra column height   Image  - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	0.00
(4)	Tread rise  Image  - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	175.00
(5)	Tread run Image  - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	175.00
(6)	Remove first step - when pressed removes the first step	Do not remove first step
(7)	Remove last step - when pressed last step is removed	Do not remove last step
(8)	Remove stringer - when pressed stringer is removed	Do not remove stringer
(9)	Move in perpendicular direction - moves the stair in perpendicular direction Option are: - Move in 3D - Move in parallel direction - Move in perpendicular direction Drag the staircase in the desired position.

• Double Stringer option is active the Spiral staircase direct modification toolbar looks like this:

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Field	Description	Default
(1)	Step type - Double Stringer
(2)	Rotation Options are: - Clockwise - Counterclockwise	Clockwise
(3)	Tread rise  Image - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	175.00
(4)	Tread run  Image - enter the desired value in the box and press Enter.	175.00
(5)	Remove first step - when pressed removes the first step	Do not remove first step
(6)	Remove last step - when pressed last step is removed	Do no remove last step
(7)	Remove inner stringer - when pressed inner stringer is removed	Do not remove inner stringer
(8)	Remove outer stringer -  when pressed outer stringer is removed	Do not remove outer stringer
(9)	Move in perpendicular direction - moves the stair in perpendicular direction Option are: - Move in 3D - Move in parallel direction - Move in perpendicular direction Drag the staircase in the desired position.	-