IES Component Modeller

8/9/2019 IES Component Modeller

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Component Modeller User Guide

6.0


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Contents

1. Introduction.......................................................................................................31.1. What is the Component Modeller?....................................................................................... 31.2. Using This Guide.................................................................................................................. 3

2. Fundamentals ...................................................................................................42.1. Projects ................................................................................................................................ 42.2. The Component Modeller Workspace ................................................................................. 5

2.2.1. Pull-down Menu Bar .................................................................................................... 52.2.2. Model Toolbar.............................................................................................................. 52.2.3. Edit Toolbar ................................................................................................................. 62.2.4. Viewport....................................................................................................................... 62.2.5. View Toolbar................................................................................................................ 62.2.6. Object Bar.................................................................................................................... 7

2.3. Levels of Decomposition ...................................................................................................... 72.4. Toolbars ............................................................................................................................... 7

2.4.1. Model Toolbar.............................................................................................................. 72.4.2. Edit Toolbar ................................................................................................................. 8

2.5. Object Bar ............................................................................................................................ 82.6. Component Browser .......................................................................................................... 10

2.6.1. Create New Component ............................................................................................ 102.6.2. Copy Component....................................................................................................... 112.6.3. Remove Component.................................................................................................. 112.6.4. Add Component From Library ................................................................................... 122.6.5. Properties .................................................................................................................. 12

3. Model Functions .............................................................................................143.1. Draw Extruded Shape ........................................................................................................ 14

3.2. Draw Plane......................................................................................................................... 153.3. Draw Prism......................................................................................................................... 153.4. Draw Pyramid..................................................................................................................... 163.5. Draw Sphere ...................................................................................................................... 173.6. Draw Hemisphere............................................................................................................... 183.7. Draw Cylinder..................................................................................................................... 193.8. Component Handle ............................................................................................................ 193.9. Component Viewer............................................................................................................. 20

4. Edit Functions.................................................................................................214.1. Divide Space ...................................................................................................................... 214.2. Edit Vertices ....................................................................................................................... 22

5. View Functions ...............................................................................................226. File Functions .................................................................................................23

6.1. Import GEM File ................................................................................................................. 236.2. Export GEM File ................................................................................................................. 23

7. Component Libraries......................................................................................23


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1. Introduction

1. 1. W hat is t he Com ponent M odeller ?

The Component Modeller is a model building element in the . It allows the user to create a library of components which canthen be placed within the model. Components are geometrical entities and canbe used to model things such as desks, chairs, computers, etc. These can thenbe placed in the model by ModelIT. The Component Modeller uses many of thesame drawing and editing tools that are used in ModelIT.

Components can be created by the Component Modeller, imported from astandard library or from another project. IES provide a number of libraries withcommonly used components. At present the defined colours (RGB) of theobjects within a component are read into Radiance.

1. 2. Us ing T his G uide

This guide introduces the terminology used to describe the Component

Modeller and includes a description of all the features i.e. toolbars, pull-downmenu items and pop-up windows.

This document is intended as a Reference Manual and users may find theComponent Modeller Tutorial Manual an easier introduction to running thesoftware.


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2. Fundamentals

2.1. Projects

When the is started up a blank project is initialised andthe ModelIT workspace is activated. To enter the Component Modeller clickon the CompLib button in the ModelBuilder tab. This can be activated at anypoint in the creation/editing of the model. For more details ofcreating/opening/saving projects see the document General Help Topicssection 3.

The viewport area may be white, with the grid in black, or in any other colour ofthe users choice.


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2 .2 . T h e C o m p o n e n t M o d e l l e r W o r k s p a c e

The sub-window you are now looking at is the Component Modellerworkspace.

The workspace is divided as follows:

2.2.1. Pull-down Menu Bar

This provides an alternative method of accessing the functions available on thevarious toolbars.

2.2.2. Model Toolbar

This contains functions mainly associated with creating components.


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2.2.3. Edit Toolbar

This contains functions mainly associated with editing components.

2.2.4. Viewport

The viewport window can also be used to show two or four viewports, see theModelIT documentation for more information.

2.2.5. View Toolbar

This contains functions mainly associated with viewing models. For moreinformation on this tool bar please refer to General help topics user guidesection 2.3.4.


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2.2.6. Object Bar

This contains information associated with the current object.

The Object Bar and toolbars can be switched on/off and the viewport optionsselected from the View pull-down menu. Please refer to ModelIT user guidesection 2.4 for more information.

2. 3. Lev els of Dec om pos it ion

This works in a similar but more restricted way to what is available in ModelIT.Please refer to ModelIT user guide section 2.6 for more information.

2.4. Toolbars

The toolbars save you time by enabling you to select some of the mostfrequently used commands, without having to select them from the pull-downmenus at the top of the ModelIT window. Each toolbar is described below fromleft to right.

2.4.1. Model Toolbar

Colour

Grid Settings

Grid Origin

Locks

Draw Arc

Draw Extruded Shape

Plane

Draw Prism


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The "Component Name" can be edited by double clicking on the field.

At the Body level the object bar displays details of the selected object:

The Colour can be edited by double clicking on the field.

At the Surface level the object bar displays adjacency details of the selectedsurface:


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2 .6 . C o m p o n e n t B r o w s e r

When the Component Modeller is entered for the first time a default componentis created with no geometry as yet:

The four functions available are:

Create New Component

Copy Component

Remove Component

Add Component from Library

2.6.1. Create New Component

When this button is clicked a new component is created:

Note that this new component also has the default name Component, it isadvisable to change this to a more meaningful name.


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2.6.2. Copy Component

When this button is clicked a copy is made of the current component:

This is useful where minor variations of a component are required e.g. the samecomponent with different colours applied. Again it is important to change the name ofthe component to fit its definition and avoid confusion.

2.6.3. Remove Component

This will delete the current component from the library. A warning message isdisplayed:

Note that the last component cannot be deleted i.e. the library must contain at leastone component.


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2.6.4. Add Component From Librar

This is probably the most useful of the options. It allows the user to get an existingcomponent from another model or from a standard library. The following window ispopped-up:

By clicking the File button the user can browse to find an existing componentlibrary. Components can be selected and added to the current component library.

Components can be customised to the requirements of the current model, either bychanging the geometry or by editing the colours.

2.6.5. Properties

If you right click a component in the Component Browser and select Properties you


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can change the name and Category of the component.

Standard means the component can be placed in ModelIt using the PlaceComponent button.

CFD means the component can be used in CFD analysis.

Opening adds the component to the Add Opening dialog that is displayed in ModelITwhen an opening is placed at model level.The Component Modeller Tutorial details how to create an Opening Component foruse in ModelIT.


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3. Model Functions

This section looks at functions associated with the Model toolbar. We shalldescribe only those options which differ from ModelIT.

3.1. Dr aw E x t r u ded S hape

(Draw Extruded Shape)

Pops-up the following window:

Selecting this command allows you to create an extruded shape as a series ofstraight-line segments. Select each point of the shape in turn, in eitherclockwise or anti-clockwise order. To close the shape, click on the CloseShape button which is active while you are drawing the shape. If you make amistake and need to undo a point, click on the right mouse button. The currentlock settings will apply and key-in values can also be used. The extrudedshape will be created with the defined Plane (m) and Depth (m) values as

currently set in the Shape Settings dialogue box. An extruded shape can becreated along any axis.

Note that you cannot cross a segment with another segment and you cannotplace a perimeter point on an existing perimeter point unless it is the first pointin which case this will close the shape.

The relevant key-ins for the extruded shape are: x=, dx= andp=.


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3.2. Draw Plane

(Draw Plane)


Creates a plane at the given height. This function is not available in ModelIT.

The relevant key-ins for the prism are: x=, dx= and p=.

3.3. Draw Prism

(Draw Prism)


Selecting this command allows you to create a prism shape. Select the point


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where one corner of the prism is to be located, then select the point that is atthe opposite corner of the prism. A new prism will then be created with the

defined Plane (m) and Depth (m) values as currently set in the Shape Settingsdialogue box. A prism can be created along any axis.

The relevant key-ins for the prism are: x=, dx= and p=.

3.4. Dr aw P y r am id

(Draw Pyramid)

Pyramids are created in a very similar way to extruded shapes except that aftercompleting the perimeter, you will enter a point to define the apex of thepyramid.


Selecting this command allows you to create a pyramid shape. To createpyramids, you must first define the shape of the base of the pyramid and thenposition the top of the pyramid. To define the pyramid base, select each pointon the perimeter of the base in turn, in either clockwise or anti-clockwise order.To close the shape, click on the "Close Shape" button on the Shape Settingsdialogue box which is active while you are drawing the shape. Next, select theposition of the top of the pyramid. A new pyramid will be created with the baseat the defined Plane (m) value as currently set, and the top point at the Plane +Depth (m) values as currently set. A pyramid can be created along any axis.

The relevant key-ins for the pyramid are: x=, dx= and p=.


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3.5. Draw Sphere

(Draw Sphere)


Selecting this command allows you to create a spherical shape. To create asphere, first select the centre of the sphere and then select a point whichdefines the radius of the sphere. A new sphere will be created with its centre at

the defined Plane (m) level that is currently set in the Shape Settings dialoguebox which is active while you are drawing the shape. The number of chordsegments which make up the sphere is defined in the Shape Settings dialoguebox. A sphere can be created along any axis.

The relevant key-ins for the sphere are: x=, dx= and p=.


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3.6. Dr aw Hem is pher e

(Draw Hemisphere)

Hemispheres are created in exactly the same way as spheres.


Selecting this command allows you to create a hemispherical shape. To create

a hemisphere, first select the centre of the hemisphere and then select a pointwhich defines the radius of the hemisphere. A new hemisphere will be createdwith its base at the defined Plane (m) level that is currently set in the ShapeSettings dialogue box which is active while you are drawing the shape. Thenumber of chord segments which make up the hemisphere is defined in theShape Settings dialogue box. A hemisphere can be created along any axis.

The relevant key-ins for the hemisphere are: x=, dx= andp=.


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3.7. Dr aw Cy l inder

(Draw Cylinder)

Cylinders are created in a similar way to spheres and hemispheres.


Selecting this command allows you to create a cylindrical shape. To create a

cylinder, first select the centre of the cylinder and then select a point thatdefines the radius of the cylinder. A new object will be created with the definedPlane (m) and Height/Depth (m) at the values currently set in the ShapeSettings dialogue box which is active while you are drawing the shape. Thenumber of chord segments which make up the cylinder is defined in the ShapeSettings dialogue box. A cylinder can be created along any axis.

The relevant key-ins for the cylinder are: x=, dx= and p=.

3. 8. Com ponent Handle

This sets the handle point of the component.Note: the option to move the component handle is no longer supported inComponent Modeller, the default handle used in when placing anycomponent is at the origin point (0,0,0).


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3. 9. Com ponent V iewer


For details of how to use the functions in the component viewer please refer to

theModelITUser Guide.
http://www.iesve.com/downloads/help/ModelBuilder/ModelIT.pdfhttp://www.iesve.com/downloads/help/ModelBuilder/ModelIT.pdf


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4. Edit Functions

This section looks at functions associated with the Edit toolbar. Again most ofthese operate in exactly the same way as in ModelIT.

4.1. Div ide S pac e

This is the first tab option in the "Edit Space" window.

This works in exactly the same way as in ModelIT.


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4.2. Edit Vert ices

This is the second tab option in the "Edit Space" window.

This works in exactly the same way as in ModelIT.

5. View Functions

All these functions associated with the View toolbar work in exactly the same

way as in ModelIT. For more information on this tool bar please refer toGeneral help topics user guide section 2.3.4.


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6. File Functions

6.1. Import GEM File

Imports a geometry file in the GEM file format into the Component Modellerand assigns default attributes to the geometry.

6.2. E x por t G E M F i le

This option exports the geometry created by the Component Modeller, to theGEM file format.

7. Component Libraries

There are a few basic components that you can use or edit in the default library.

These standard libraries are installed (by default) at the following location:

\Program Files\IES\apps\Components\

Documents

IES Component Modeller