I have been working on creating custom supports (dummy legs) made from structural members. I am having trouble getting the members aligned correctly. The direction and alignment vectors are very confusing to me and I can never get it to line up correctly. Is there an easier way to do this? In this example I am trying to get a WT2x2.5 member to connect to an elbow to where the bottom of steel is the same as bottom of pipe.

TRY:

From a side view align your UCS X,Y and selcet your

OSNAP "_from Base point:"

and choose the pipes quadrant AKA BOP you want the dummy leg's shoe to align with...

this should acheave your goal

Coody, do you have a picture or sketch of this support ?

This particular support is just a Tee shape member that a client uses for dummy legs. Trying to set it up at a generic length such as 3' where we can pop them in on elbows and then adjust the length accordingly. I am trying to get it to come in correctly having the bottom of steel match the BOP.

How is this ? Was pretty quick to setup, the trick is to select the correct insertion point on the elbow.

http://screencast.com/t/8GKaOw5iV

Or not what you are looking for?

Vanman,

My apologies I have been on vacation. Is there another way I can see your attachment? My company network does not allow me to use screencast.com.
If not I can look this evening when I get home.
Thanks!

Not sure if there is another way TBH. Check it out this evening, then if it is what you are looking for I can talk you through it.

That looks good Vanman that is what I am trying to do. One thing I am wondering though if there is a trick to getting the support rotated correctly? If you look at the screenshot I attached the flat part of the tee shape is not on the bottom like I want. I am having trouble figuring out the vector and alignment to get it rotated properly where it comes in like yours did in your video. I can't seem to figure out the pattern.

Thanks for the help!

Sorry for the late Reply Coody. This is what I did. I also sometimes struggle with the correct direction and alignment vectors.

The vid should be able to guide you

http://screencast.com/t/KchSRk9Bhb

Pro tip. If you want the steel stretchable, once the support is built, change the length to -1 in the speceditor.

This will then prompt for an onscreen length and also allow you to adjust with grips later on.

Only 2017 and greater

How did you get the dummy made of WT shape to align with BOP? I am doing this now, but support will only connect to the centerline of the elbow. When I choose points A or B during placement it still goes to the center.

I also tried setting the length of my custom steel shape to -1, but it does not prompt me for a length, Using CADWorx 2019.

I got this all working, but my iso symbol comes in backward - going into the elbow instead of away from it. Is this also controlled by vector values?

The connections are super picky about direction. Same if you create a support and want it to detect Steel/Concrete, that connection has to be going in that direction or it will not detect, this likely will apply to the support direction.