Bar Factory Settings dialog

Used to set bar markings assigned to a given shape.

Accessed from:
  • Dialog: Positionflags and Positioning > Concrete Positioning tab > Bar Factory Settings tool icon

For the purpose of reducing fabrication costs, bars that are of sufficiently large length and/or* radius can be shipped as a straight bar and then “draped” or flexed and tied into place on site. All radii of the bar must exceed the Prefab Radius.

Rebar [Building] Codes define the maximum prefab length and/or* radius for bars that are to be pre-fabricated for each Bar Size. Any bar that exceeds the prefab length and/or* radius may be Shipped As Straight.

*and/or: The ACI Rebar Code considers Length AND Radius to determine whether a bar can be shipped straight. Other Rebar Codes consider Radius ONLY.

The installed RebarCode_*.xml files contain MaximumRadiusForBending values for maximum prefab radius of each Bar Size. The installed RebarCode_ACI_xx.xml files NOW contain the NEW value: MaximumLengthForBending for maximum prefab length of each Bar Size.

For simplicity, these abbreviations are used:

  • STR = Actual Straight bar.
  • SAS = a bar that exceeds the limits of prefab and can be Shipped As Straight and then draped or flexed in placement.

Dialog Controls

Setting Description
Shape Definition File Indicates the path of the shape (.rfs) file. Use the Browse button to set the path.
Alpha Code Indicate an alpha character used in macro string.
Bar Mark Macro Displays the currently defined macro string.
  • Build Macro ? Opens the Macro Builder dialog where a macro string is defined.
Example Displays the bar mark value derived from the macro.
Mark Straight Bars When checked, the straight bars are taken for bar markings.
Mark Straight Vary Bars When checked, all straight bar variants are taken for bar markings.
Drape Process Sets draping process:
  • As Actual STR ? Radial Bars exceeding prefabricated limits will be treated as actual STR bars. Handles SAS bars as though they are Actual STR bars.

    Can be used with or without Marking STR bars.

    • With Mark STR On: SAS bars that are the same length (within Tolerance) as other STR bars will all acquire the same BarMark.
    • With Mark STR Off: will have no BarMark and will be subject to the same overall length Tolerance as other STR bars.
  • As Managed STRRadial Bars exceeding prefabricated limits will be listed as STR bars with unique Bar Marks and their shapes will be managed in the Bar Factory. The BarFactory knows the bars are actually bent bars, but passes them along to down flow apps as though they are straight ? without a ShapeName* or bending. Can ONLY be used with Mark STR On.

    No SAS bar will ever acquire the same BarMark as a STR bar, BarMarks among SAS bars will be dependent on whether bars match in length and radius.

    • For instance, If you have three size 4 bars that are all 30?-0, one is STR, another one has a 12? radius, and the third has a 12?-6 radius, they will be assigned three distinct BarMarks, but none of them will have a ShapeName* or bending.
  • No Draping ? All radial bars will be prefabricated. All bent bars are considered "Prefab" , no bars will be deemed SAS.
OK Closes the dialog and save your changes.
Cancel Closes the dialog without saving changes.
Help Opens online help.

To Use:

This BarFactory setting replaces the SHIP_AS_STR_PROCESS_TYPE Configuration Variable. If the Config Var is defined, older drawings that have an older BarFactory will acquire this value from the old Config Var when the BarFactory is updated.

  • If they are using an ACI code, they need to consider both Length and Radius, a new value has been added to the RebarCodes_ACIxx.xml files.
  • If they are NOT using ACI code AND they need to consider both Length and Radius, a new value will need to be added to their RebarCodes file. It would be best if someone here at aSa assists with this process. We will likely need to make them a “personal” RebarCodes file.
  • If they are using a Rebar Code that only consider Radius, they should be fine because the MaximumRadiusForBending values should already exist.