Split Root or Seam Best Practices - Intergraph Smart 3D - Help - Hexagon

Intergraph Smart 3D Molded Forms

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Smart 3D Version
13.1

The Split Root Systems or Seams Command (SRS) divides a root plate, a root profile, a seam, or a system folder into multiple root systems. Use the following best practices when working with the command.

Before Using Split Root Systems or Seams

  • Clear the To Do List, fixing any errors. If your To Do List is large, the software might misinterpret split root errors or skip items in the To Do List. See To Do List Command in the Common Help.

  • You should define separate coordinate systems (CS) for SRS locations in case the primary coordinate system is modified during production efforts. Using a separate coordinate system can also make it easier for you to locate the split planes if you need to split a large block into smaller high-level blocks. See Place Coordinate System.

  • Check object boundaries and geometry before splitting the objects. See Boundary Methods.

  • The Connect check box on the Split Root Systems or Seams Ribbon controls the connections between objects during split root operation.

  • The SRS log displays connected status for each operation.

  • If the Connect box is cleared, only reference frames and seams can be used as splitters. The software removes plates and profiles from the splitter list if they were selected before the check box is cleared.

  • Check database integrity for the site, catalog, and model. See Database Integrity in Project Management Help.

  • You must have write access to all permission groups in the select set of SRS objects.

  • Assign Full Control access to one user, and restrict other users from modifying any of the objects that you need to split, or any of their dependents. See Permissions Command in Project Management Help.

  • Back up your model before you split a root system. Before large SRS operations, it is advised that you back up your model before you start the Split Root Systems or Seams Command . This is particularly important if you clear the Undo Enabled check box under Tools > Options > General tab > Undo. See Create a backup to use for restoration in the Drawings and Reports Help.

General Workflow Recommendations

  • Perform the split after the Molded Forms (basic design) stage. Smart 3D only partially supports Split Root Systems or Seams for detailed objects. Because of this, the software could generate a larger number of To Do List messages if your model includes detailed objects.

  • Increase the number of previous actions you can cancel using the Undo command. For smaller SRS operations, it is recommended that the number of undo actions be set to 15 to 20. For larger operations, back up the model, and clear the Undo Enabled check box under Tools > Options > General Tab > Undo. This provides the best performance and helps reduce memory dependence issues during SRS. See General Tab (Options Dialog) in the Common Help.

  • Select the Display On Finish check box to display the log file after the system or seam split is finished. See Split Root Systems or Seams Settings Dialog.

    SHARED Tip If you don't select Display On Finish, Smart 3D still generates the log, but you must use File Explorer to find and open the file. If the log indicates that splitting an item was skipped, that typically means that the item already existed on the To Do List and therefore Smart 3D did not process that object. If the item indicates that an object failed to split, the log should include an error message indicating the problem with that object.

    Split Root System Best Practices_log file

  • Split medium-sized plate systems with a single splitter instead of large plates with multiple splitters. You can avoid some of the manual clean-up if you split multiple smaller plates by a single splitter. This applies particularly to very dense models that have been detailed and manufactured, or to plates that are bounded by the hull and span the entire ship. Reasonable SRS operations should finish in 15 to 30 minutes. If the times exceed this guideline (hours to complete), then the select set and splitters are excessive.

  • When splitting into blocks or zones, split in one direction at a time. For example, create all the X-direction splits first, and then create the Z-direction splits. The following figure illustrates breaking down a large deck plate system into multiple root systems by transverse bulkheads:

  • Clean up the To Do List after each split. You can avoid further confusion in the model by clearing all of the entries from the To Do List before you move on to the next set of splits.

  • If you have several similar splits to create, do one split first and then check the To Do List. This will provide an idea of the number of To Do List messages that the software will generate during the multiple split operation.

  • Create drawings after you split the root system. Drawings that you create before you split the root system become out of date as you split the root system. Because of this, you can avoid updating the drawings by creating them after you split the root system.

Skipped objects

Smart 3D skips objects during Split Root Systems or Seams in the following situations:

  • You do not have write permissions for the plates. In this situation, the split fails to execute, and the software adds an entry to the split root log file.

  • The object is on the To Do List before you run Split Root Systems or Seams .

  • The splitter does not intersect with the object to split. If the splitter object is a boundary to the unsplit object, or if the splitter object is outside the range of the unsplit object, then Split Root Systems or Seams does not execute and Smart 3D adds an entry to the split root log file.

To Do List

  • Objects that go on the To Do List after Split Root Systems or Seams are often cases that are not currently supported. For example, splitting a root system in a way that changes the number of supports for a bracket. This results in the bracket going on the To Do List. Another example is that some manufactured parts could go out of date after a split root operation.

  • Volumes that cross a split location lose their bounding geometry. This situation causes the volumes to go on the To Do List.

  • Splitting a plate system so that it interferes with a bracket or a tripping stiffener results in the dependent object going on the To Do List.

Object Properties after Split

  • Each new root system that Smart 3D creates has its own root, leaf, part, and appropriate logical connections.

  • Each root plate system formed has its own set of properties. You can modify these properties independently of other root plate systems. The initial properties are inherited from the split root plate system.

Plate Systems

Behavior:

  • Plate system split by another plate system

    When you split a plate system by another plate system, the software forms two new root plate systems which it automatically bounds to the splitting plate. Smart 3D copies all properties of the original plate system to the new root plates.

Limitations:

  • The following objects cannot be split into root systems:

    • Bracket plate systems

    • Advanced plate systems (APS)

      The software can only split planar, linear, non-linear. imported plates (hull), revolved plate systems, ruled plate systems and plates using geometric constructions (excluding APSs).

  • The split cannot coincide with a boundary of the object to split, nor can the splitter be tangential to the plate. For example, a revolved plate cannot be split by a reference frame that is tangential to the plate. In these situations, the split root operation does not start and the log indicates that nothing was processed.

  • Smart 3D does not support using a sketched boundary to divide the plate into more than two root plates. The following figures show sketched boundaries that are not supported.

  • If you are creating a plate by ambiguity with the hull as a boundary and disconnected sketched boundary lines, extend the sketched boundaries beyond the hull surface. This lets the software create the correct root systems and proper boundaries if such a plate is later split into multiple root systems. If you do not extend the sketched boundary lines beyond the hull, you might miss some root plates after splitting the root.

    This technique should provide output similar to the following figure:

  • If a plate system is split into two plates resulting in a plate system bounded to the plate edges and you place a sketched boundary on one of the plates, you may need to modify the plate to get the results you need.

    If you then split plate A into root systems by a reference frame in a direction that splits its plate edge, plate B loses its plate edge boundary from plate A.

    If you modify plate B to use the edge created by the sketched boundary, and then split plate A into root systems by a reference frame cutting across its edge, plate B does not lose any boundaries.

    When you run Split Root Systems or Seams on plate A, the software rebounds plate B to the new plates. You can then modify the boundaries of plate B to recover its original shape.

Hull Plate Systems

Due to the complex nature of hull forms, it is advised that you follow these guidelines for the best results:

  • Split all internal structures first when splitting hull plate systems.

  • Split with a single reference plane or seam in a single transaction.

  • Split in the following order: X, Z, and then Y splits.

  • All internal structure is rebound for every execution of hull SRS operations.

Profile Systems

Behavior:

  • When you use the Connect option, Smart 3D automatically bounds profiles to the splitter object when you split profiles into root systems by plate systems or other profile systems. The software creates a manual logical connection between consecutive new root profiles for profile systems split by a reference plane.

  • When the base curve of the split connected profiles is modified, the automatically generated manual logical connection between the profiles goes on the To Do List. You must delete this connection to clear the To Do List record.

Limitations:

  • You cannot split tripping stiffeners into root systems. If you attempt this, the software generates a To Do List record so that you can correct the model after the SRS operation.

  • Profiles by sketch:

    • If you split a plate by placing dimension constraints between two profiles, the software only preserves those dimension constraints if they are between root profiles.

    • If you place constraints between profile landing curves (such as during creation), then place a split that cuts across those constraints, the software does not preserve the constraints after split root.

  • Profiles by offset:

    • Split Root Systems or Seams does not support splitting between profiles by offset if the base curve is on a different plate after the split. In this case, the profile goes on the To Do List because its base curve is lost. You must change the geometry type of the profile to profile by sketch or profile by intersection.

    • If you use a structure port as a base curve to create profiles by offset, all of those profiles go to the To Do List. Reselect the structure port as the base curve to resolve the To Do List messages.

Seams

Behavior:

  • If you create the split at a design seam, the software associates a design seam to each new root plate. You must manually delete these design seams.

Openings

Behavior:

  • If the split crosses a sketched opening, the software divides the opening into parts and migrates the parts to the corresponding new root plates. Smart 3D retains the original sketch for each new part. Modification of the original or copied opening will not change the geometry of the other opening.

  • If the split crosses a geometric construction opening, each new opening migrates to the corresponding root plate, and the openings on all of the new root plates acquire the original supports.

Limitations:

  • The software deletes 3S openings created with profile inputs if you split the plate between the profile inputs.

    A - Do not split the plate with this bulkhead because it lies between the supports of the opening.

    B - You can split the plate with this bulkhead because it lies outside of the opening supports.

After using Split Root Systems or Seams