Cross Bolting - Geometry tab

Setting	Description
Insertion Options	Allows setting one of the methods and offsets of selecting insertion point; as Centerline, Center of gravity of shape or picked manually in the view. The Centerline and COG options are only available when all the valid members in the selection are shapes, and only Select Point insertion ia available when a valid plate is in the selection.
Centerline	Applies the bolting pattern according to the intersection of the centerlines of the valid shapes.
COG	Similar to the centerline option except the crossbolting is done according to the intersection of the center of gravity of the shapes.
Select Point	You can optionally define an insertion point, by specifying the base point for the bolt distribution calculations. Applicable when a connecting shape has the same Z orientation as the supporting shape and that their centerlines are aligned. Tip: Restrain from wireframe display mode when selecting a point.
Basepoint Offsets	Sets the insertion point X and Y offsets, respectively.
Process	Based on the selection, one of the process methods is applied. You begin selecting a supporting member followed by one or more connecting member(s) individually with the `<Ctrl>` key pressed or with a crossing window. If the supporting member is selected again as a connecting member, it will be dropped from the selection. Depending upon the selection, the process mode is set to either Pairs or Members. Displaying member that will be dropped upon accepting the connection The members are listed in the group's combo list. If a member in a combo box is displayed with an , the member will be dropped upon accepting the connection. For example, member C5 will be dropped when accepting the connection. Selecting a member with an * will revert the selection to the support member.
Selected Pairs	Set pairs mode of selection, where two members will be paired if they have the same shape, the same size, parallel z orientations and the same trajectory. Paired Mode If any member is a plate it will be dropped from the selection. If any member of a pair does not have one of its ECS orientations parallel to the drilling normal vector within 30° in any direction, it will be dropped from the selection. If any member can’t be a part of a pair it will be dropped from the selection. If one of the members forming a pair does not overlap the supporting member, both members of the pair are dropped. If any subsequent pair to the first valid one does not intersect at the same place as the first valid pair, it will be dropped from the selection. Remember: For Paired mode, the Radial drilling pattern setting on Drilling/Bolting tab is disabled.
Selected Members	In member mode, it is possible to use plates. · The radial pattern is also available. Member Mode After selecting the supporting member, any connecting member that does not overlap the supporting member will be dropped from the selection. If the selection only contains shapes, if any subsequent shape to the first valid one does not intersect at the same place as the first valid shape, it will be dropped from the selection. If any member’s surface normal is not within 30° of the drilling direction, it will be dropped from the selection. Note that a polyplate’s surface normal is always considered its z orientation (thickness orientation).
Shim	When there is a gap between members of the connection, you can optionally add shims in between. There are three options for creating shims: Space, Circular and Rectangular.
Space	When set, shims won't be added.
Circular	When set, you should specify the Outer Diameter. When outer diameter is equal or less than Inner Diameter, the outer diameter value will revert to the inner diameter value and shims will not be created.
Rectangular	When set, you should enter the Length and Width of the shims. Both these values must be greater than the inner diameter. If a smaller value is entered, it will be converted to the inner diameter.
Check Collisions	When set, detects collisions, if any to avoid having shims that would fall i.e. within the flange of a beam. Note: This option slows down the calculations considerably. Generally, members should not collide with each other, but it is still allowed. When members collide with each other, it could result in shims that also collide with the members.
Shim Clearance	Sets a minimal allowable shim clearance to make sure all shims have a minimal thickness. In order to be able to have shims, the members surfaces' on which the crossbolting is applied must have parallel normal vectors and their normal vectors must also be parallel to the drilling direction. Hence, it is possible that some members have shims in between them while others don't within the same crossbolting connection.
Group	Grouping can only be done on the supporting member or the connecting members. You have the option to select the member to which bolts or bolts and shims will be grouped. (Shims cannot be grouped when bolts are not grouped). During the rebuild process, when group member is dropped from the connection, the bolts and possibly shims will be grouped with the supporting member instead.
With Bolts	When set, forms a group with the selected member and adds bolts to it.
With Shims	In case the group is created by the connection, it is disbanded if form group or with bolts is unselected or if the connection is deleted.
(Group List)	Lists currently selected members in connection. If a group already exists, the bolts and shims are added to the existing group. If the group does not exist, it will be created with the supporting member or a connecting member per selected member as the main part and then the bolts and shims will be added to the group.

Insertion Options

Allows setting one of the methods and offsets of selecting insertion point; as Centerline, Center of gravity of shape or picked manually in the view. The Centerline and COG options are only available when all the valid members in the selection are shapes, and only Select Point insertion ia available when a valid plate is in the selection.

Centerline

Applies the bolting pattern according to the intersection of the centerlines of the valid shapes.

COG

Similar to the centerline option except the crossbolting is done according to the intersection of the center of gravity of the shapes.

Select Point

You can optionally define an insertion point, by specifying the base point for the bolt distribution calculations. Applicable when a connecting shape has the same Z orientation as the supporting shape and that their centerlines are aligned.

Tip: Restrain from wireframe display mode when selecting a point.

Basepoint Offsets

Sets the insertion point X and Y offsets, respectively.

Process

Based on the selection, one of the process methods is applied.

You begin selecting a supporting member followed by one or more connecting member(s) individually with the <Ctrl> key pressed or with a crossing window. If the supporting member is selected again as a connecting member, it will be dropped from the selection. Depending upon the selection, the process mode is set to either Pairs or Members.

Displaying member that will be dropped upon accepting the connection

The members are listed in the group's combo list. If a member in a combo box is displayed with an *, the member will be dropped upon accepting the connection. For example, member C5* will be dropped when accepting the connection. Selecting a member with an * will revert the selection to the support member.

Selected Pairs

Set pairs mode of selection, where two members will be paired if they have the same shape, the same size, parallel z orientations and the same trajectory.

Paired Mode

If any member is a plate it will be dropped from the selection.
If any member of a pair does not have one of its ECS orientations parallel to the drilling normal vector within 30° in any direction, it will be dropped from the selection.
If any member can’t be a part of a pair it will be dropped from the selection.
If one of the members forming a pair does not overlap the supporting member, both members of the pair are dropped.
If any subsequent pair to the first valid one does not intersect at the same place as the first valid pair, it will be dropped from the selection.

Remember: For Paired mode, the Radial drilling pattern setting on Drilling/Bolting tab is disabled.

Selected Members

In member mode, it is possible to use plates. · The radial pattern is also available.

Member Mode

After selecting the supporting member, any connecting member that does not overlap the supporting member will be dropped from the selection.
If the selection only contains shapes, if any subsequent shape to the first valid one does not intersect at the same place as the first valid shape, it will be dropped from the selection.
If any member’s surface normal is not within 30° of the drilling direction, it will be dropped from the selection. Note that a polyplate’s surface normal is always considered its z orientation (thickness orientation).

Shim

When there is a gap between members of the connection, you can optionally add shims in between. There are three options for creating shims: Space, Circular and Rectangular.

Space

When set, shims won't be added.

Circular

When set, you should specify the Outer Diameter. When outer diameter is equal or less than Inner Diameter, the outer diameter value will revert to the inner diameter value and shims will not be created.

Rectangular

When set, you should enter the Length and Width of the shims. Both these values must be greater than the inner diameter. If a smaller value is entered, it will be converted to the inner diameter.

Check Collisions

When set, detects collisions, if any to avoid having shims that would fall i.e. within the flange of a beam.

Note: This option slows down the calculations considerably.

Generally, members should not collide with each other, but it is still allowed. When members collide with each other, it could result in shims that also collide with the members.

Shim Clearance

Sets a minimal allowable shim clearance to make sure all shims have a minimal thickness. In order to be able to have shims, the members surfaces' on which the crossbolting is applied must have parallel normal vectors and their normal vectors must also be parallel to the drilling direction. Hence, it is possible that some members have shims in between them while others don't within the same crossbolting connection.

Group

Grouping can only be done on the supporting member or the connecting members. You have the option to select the member to which bolts or bolts and shims will be grouped. (Shims cannot be grouped when bolts are not grouped). During the rebuild process, when group member is dropped from the connection, the bolts and possibly shims will be grouped with the supporting member instead.

With Bolts

When set, forms a group with the selected member and adds bolts to it.

With Shims

In case the group is created by the connection, it is disbanded if form group or with bolts is unselected or if the connection is deleted.

(Group List)

Lists currently selected members in connection.

If a group already exists, the bolts and shims are added to the existing group. If the group does not exist, it will be created with the supporting member or a connecting member per selected member as the main part and then the bolts and shims will be added to the group.