Beam/column/complex prof cutting planes in 10?

[Anonymous]

Is there a way to alter the cutting plane at the end of a beam that you have angled upwards with version 10? At the moment the cutting planes at the ends are always vertical and with angled columns they are always horizontal. This is fine some of the time but sometimes I would like the cutting planes to be at 90degrees to the beam, like the options you get with the roof tool where its either vertical cuts, 90degree cuts or custom.

The only work around I have found is doing a solid element op but thats not always practical.

Cheers, Rob

[Thomas Holm]

It IS possible.
This is not what I do every day, but when I did it last time (AC10), I was experimenting with the delivered beam varieties, I found that it depends on the object type wether this is possible or not. You'll have to look around and see what parameters are allowed for each type, cos that I don't remember.

[Anonymous]

Hmm still can't find anything. Im looking to angle a custom complex profile rather than a standard library part. I know this can be GDL scripted easily so surely there must be a cutting plane option like there is with the roof tool, it's quite a basic request really. Anyone....

[TomWaltz]

Just because objects can do it does not mean every other tool can. If you haven't noticed, there is a pretty major disparity between a lot of the tools' abilitys.

I don't know of any way to cut off the end of a beam tool like you want without either using SEOs or making an object out of the whole thing.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Tom for clearing that up. Seems like an oversight from GS, IMO all it would take is a variable rotx parameter in the script at the start of each object. Its just a real bind to do this manually by creating or editing an object each time. They have added a 'roll' function in to tilt the whole object on its side so why not do the other axis? I suppose it could be difficult to draft with in 2D as it can be hard to tell where the edge is using the roof tool sometimes but surely they could give you the option. Do people from GS read this forum?

Cheers