Wall Panels
In model-based wall panels, you can edit all the parts of a wall
panel directly in the framing model or the floor plan drawing. You
can start designing the wall panels in the product model generated
in the architectural planning. This model is used for generating
the framing model.
After finishing the wall panels, you can use them to create
panel drawings. You can import different views of a wall panel into
one drawing. The changes to the model are updated to the panel
drawing when you open the drawing next.
The alternative method is Classic
Wall Panels. Using this method, an individual panel drawing for
editing a wall panel is generated for each wall panel. All the wall
panel data is saved in the panel drawing. Based on the panel
drawings, you can create a 3D frame model. However, the changes
made in the model are not updated to the panel drawings.
Wall Panel Design Rules
The wall panels are designed according to customer-specific
design rules that are defined in several different sources:
- Project Parameters
In the project parameters, you can define default values such as
the default lengths for wall panels, the default corner details,
the default starting point of stud positioning, etc.
Determining the Wall
Panel Length
Editing
Project Parameters: Wall Framing Parameters
- Architectural Model
The height of a wall in the architectural model determines the
height of a wall panel. The height of the wall, in turn, is
determined by the wall properties and the height levels:
- The bottom and top height are determined for each structural
layer of the wall in the wall properties.
- The bottom and top edge position of a wall are attached to the
nearest height levels in the model. When moving the height levels,
the bottom and top edge of the wall are adjusted accordingly.
Determining the Wall
Panel Height
- Wall Structure Parameters
The structure parameters are defined separately for the frame,
sheathing, horizontal batten, sub frame and siding layers. A
framing tool that defines the design rules has been determined for
each layer in the wall library. You can change the framing tool of
a wall layer before creating the panel breaks by editing the wall
properties. Once you have generated the panel breaks, you can
change the tool and edit its parameters. Always recreate the panel
pieces when you have changed or edited a tool. The framing tool
parameters override the default values defined in the project
parameters.
Edit the Framing Tools
of More than One Structure
Edit the Framing
Tool of a Layer
Framing
Tool Libraries
Until version 18.0, the software utilized a method in which the
panel design rules were defined for the entire wall structure as a
whole. You can still open projects designed with version 18.0 or
older and continue the design process. You can use either the old,
non-layered method or the layer-specific method for designing the
wall panels:
- When you open a project with wall panels designed with version
18.0 or previous versions, the old, non-layered panel design method
will be used.
- You can enable the new, layer-specific method by defining
framing tools for the layers. This requires that the walls are
layered walls (the layered wall library was implemented in version
16.0). If you define a framing tool for a layer other than the
frame layer, the layer-specific method will be enabled for the
entire panel. In this case, the old sheathing and sub frame
specifications will not work. They must be defined for each layer
specifically, using the framing tools. If the layered method is
enabled, the wall panels can no longer be designed with the old
method.
- Framing Pieces of a Trapezoid Window
You can frame pieces around a trapezoid window in two ways:
according to the actual points of the opening or in the shape of a
rectangle around the opening. The method to be used is defined in
the system settings.
Framing Pieces of a
Trapezoid Window
Framing Model
In most cases, the wall panels are created in the framing model.
You can open the framing model from the project document browser,
for example.
Opening a
Drawing-Model Pair of a Frame
Panel Macros
You can prepare the walls for panel design by adding parametric
macros to the walls, such as break points, extra studs, beam
pockets and electrical symbols.
Adding a Panel
Macro
Panel Layout
When you add the panel breaks, the program generates the
geometry defining the shape of the panels, or the space
reservations, to the framing model. After generating the panel
breaks, you can still rotate corners, change corner details, move
wall panel break points and create an individual wall panel.
Generate Wall Panel
Breaks
Wall Panel Numbering
Panel Label Offset From Wall
In the Floor Plan
Create an Individual Wall
Panel
Flip a Corner
Move the Break Point of a
Panel
Stud Spacing to Floor Plan
Drawing
Check the Size of the
Panels
You can edit the shape of a wall panel or an individual
structural layer in the framing model before generating parts. You
can edit the layers in the framing model by using the same
functions you can use for editing horizontal structures. You can,
for example, move the edge of a structural layer, cut the edge, add
points to the edge or move the edge points. You can merge two
panels with the function for merging areas, or divide a panel into
two parts with the function for clipping horizontal structures.
Move an Edge
Add a
Point to an Edge
Move a
Corner Point
Delete an
Edge Point
Delete an
Edge
Cut a Wall Panel
Merge
Structures
You can renumber the panels.
Renumbering
Panels
Wall Panel Parts
After finishing the panel breaks and shaping the wall panels,
you can generate the panel parts: studs, nailers, sheathings,
sidings. There are several ways of hiding and showing wall panels
and their parts in the framing model.
Add
Parts
Hiding and
Showing a Panel in a Framing Model
Wall Panel Part Detail
Edit Parts
You can stretch the studs and nailers generated in the framing
model by dragging the grip points at their end points. You can move
the edge of a sheet by moving the mid-point grip, or change the
shape of a sheet by moving the corner point grips.
Grip
Points
Moving a Sheet
Edge by the Grip Point
You can move, copy and delete parts in a framing model using
general object editing functions. The changes will be updated
automatically in the floor plan drawing.
Copy
Move
Delete
Studs and nailers are profile structures that can be edited
using profile editing tools as well. You can add a new profile from
the profile library, or you can cut and trim profiles.
Add a
Profile to a Structure
Trim
a Profile to a Surface
Cut a
Profile
Move
the End of a Profile by a Grip Point
Profile
Connections
Edit the framing tools to change the stud spacing and sheathing
sheet size, for example. Always recreate the panel pieces when you
have changed or edited a tool.
Edit Wall Panel
Data
If you move a window, door or electrical symbol from one wall
panel to another, the change is not updated in the floor plan
drawing, framing model or wall panel drawing automatically. To
update the change, connect the opening or the electrical symbol to
the new panel, regenerate the parts and create or update the panel
drawing.
Updating Connected
Parts
Other editing functions include:
Selecting a Special
Framing of an Opening
Adding Extra Studs under
Trusses
Adding Framing Data to a
Macro
Setting Stud Positions
Updating Stud Presentation
Method
Panel Drawings
A panel drawing shows different views of the panel and schedules
of the panel parts. The panel drawing is based on the selected
template drawing. By editing the properties of the panel drawing
view, you can change the scale of the view as well as choose which
parts are shown in the view and the drawing properties. You can add
new views and dimension lines to the panel drawing.
Wall Panel Drawings
Panel Drawing
Views
Changing the Panel Viewing
Direction
Wall Panel Weight to a
Panel Drawing
Panel Stacking
You can create stack diagrams and stack diagram drawings of
panels.
Panel
Stacking