Chapter 31: Using Weldments
FIGURE 31.7Using groups to create the welded frame
Group 2 Group 1 Group 3Group 5 Group 4The main advantage of the groups functionality is that each member within the group is automati-
cally trimmed to other members of the group and the control of gaps within or between groups.
The only trimming you need to take care of separately is the trimming between members of differ-
ent groups.Locating and orienting the profile
When you apply a profile to a path segment in a Structural Member feature, the profile must have
some relationship to the path segment. The default point where the path “pierces” the profile is at
the sketch Origin. To change the pierce point, you can click the Locate Profile button at the bot-
tom of the Structural Member PropertyManager, which zooms the view to present the profile
sketch so that you can select another sketch point to use as the pierce point. You can select any
sketch point on the profile, including endpoints, sketch points, and virtual sharp points if they are
present in the sketch.Profile sketches are generally surrounded by several sketch points, which may seem unnecessary
until you consider that you can use any of the points to position the profile. The Settings panel at
the bottom of the Structural Member PropertyManager is shown in Figure 31.8 and displays a pro-
file sketch with the interface.