Question
What is the function of the Independent Space in Assembly Unit mode?
Answer
In the Assembly Unit, Independent Space refers to a self-contained, free space that is matched and allocated during the sub-layout path assignment process. It is an independent space from the default space of the Assembly Unit, which allows the inclusion of Skew and tilt applied to the sub-layout when placing bridge girders.
Independent Space Create
For each additional Independent Space, it has its own settings for Unit Length and Align Type. By specifying the starting point (Start Point) of the space and clicking the Apply button, a space of Unit Length length is generated from the starting point.
| Figure 1. Dialog box for adding/deleting Independent Space. |
With the provision of such space, space settings have been added to the UI of the following functions, and only constrained objects belonging to the set space are selected.
(For example, in the case of the Main Constraint Path function, only the Constraint Plane belonging to the set space is selected.)
Plane
Constraint Plane
Path
Main Constraint Path / Rigid Constraint Path / Sub Constraint Path
Point
Constraint Point / Constraint Array Point
Entity
Path Linked Entity / Point Linked Entity
Library
Assign Point Library / Assign Curve Library
Drawing View (By Plane)
| Figure 2. Example: Selecting Space in Main Constraint Path. |
Assigned to layout
To consider Independent Space when assigning an Assembly Unit to an alignment, an additional 1:1 matching process between Independent Space and Sub-Layout Path must be carried out. The selected Assembly Unit in the video below has two Independent Spaces. If an Assembly Unit with Independent Space is selected, the "Match Independent Space to Sub-Layout" option is activated, and the matching process can be carried out through the UI that appears when the option is turned on.
Figure 3. Layout arrangement of Independent Space
An Independent Space can only be matched to one Sub-Layout Path. Any Independent Space that is not matched to a Sub-Layout Path will be excluded from the allocation result of the Assembly Unit.
Applying Skew to Independent Space
- The Skew of Independent Space is applied based on the matched Sub-Layout Path.
- The Start Point and End Point of Sub-Layout Path are used as the Skew reference points for Constraint Plane.
- The Skew value entered in Sub-Layout Path is applied.
| Figure 4. Setting Constraint Plane Skew for Independent Space |
Figure 5. Changing the Skew value of a Sub-Layout Path