You can add, edit and delete openings in frames while you are in the Frame Properties dialog box. To add a Frame opening

Ø        Click on the Add button.

The following dialog box will appear:

In this dialog you specify the type of opening you wish to be added to the frame.  If you choose any of the first 5 opening options the following dialog box will appear.

In this dialog you specify the shape and location of openings in the current frame(s).  If the dialog box is opened using the Add button the existing fields will be set.  The values of these fields will be the same as those of the opening highlighted in the Openings field of the Frame Properties dialog box when the Add… button was clicked.

Opening Location defines where the opening will be situated in the frame.  The opening insertion point is defined by an Offset and Height and also where the opening insertion point is in relation to the opening. This insertion point is referred to as the anchor point.

The Shape radio buttons define the shape of the opening to be added.  Five shapes are available and an unlimited number of shapes may be added to a frame.

The dimensions fields are relative to the opening and the fields required (for the particular shape chosen) are editable, while those not required are greyed.

See Adding a Rider Bar to a Frame Opening below if you wish to add a rider bar (also called a Face Plate) to your opening.

If you chose to add a Variable Web-Depth opening in the opening type dialog, the following dialog will appear:

The preview in the right hand side of the dialog will display the opening you are currently working on. It can display just the opening or the entire frame. To view the entire frame, check the View frame extents box.

The general process when defining a Variable Web Depth (VWD) opening is to define the web depth at a number of key points around the opening. You do this by following the tab sheets from left to right.  When the opening is first created, a number of key points will be displayed at the centreline and at any corner points on the opening. Next, you can optionally add additional key points  These points are defined from the intersection of Key Pt Lines and the frame contour.  To enter a Key Pt Line

Ø        Click on the Key Pt Lines tab and then click the Add button. 

Ø        Define the kind of the line (vertical or horizontal) and the numerical position (height or offset)

Once entered the line will appear in the preview on the right.  Key points will also appear at the intersection of the line and the frame. 

Next, you can review the key points in the Key Pts tab.

Ø        Click on the Key Pts tab to bring it to the front

If there are any redundant key points you can delete them from the Key Pts tab sheet using the Delete button.

Next, click on the Segments tab where you can review and modify the web depth along each segment of the opening. Each segment runs between two key points.

Ø        Enter the web depths at the start and end of each segment

Note: If you set the ‘type’ to ‘smooth’, the web depth will vary linearly along the segment from the start depth to the end depth.  If ‘linear’ is chosen, then a straight line will be drawn from the start point to the end point of the segment.

Finally you can set the radius at each of the corner points around the opening.  Hard points in the opening will automatically be marked with a R1,R2 ….etc.  You can set a fillet radius at these points.  Hard points are defined at intersections of line segments that form an angle greater than 15 degrees. To view the radii

Ø        Click on the Radii tab to bring it to the front

Ø        Fill in the value of the radius required at each of the corners

In the same way that you can use clipping to define the extents of a frame, you can use clipping to define the limits of your opening. Turn on the check boxes beside the clipping limits you wish to set and enter a value for the clipping location.

An opening may also be mirrored about the centreline. To create an identical opening on the opposite side of the vessel centreline,

Ø        check the Symmetrical box

You can optionally generate rider bars on the openings in your frames. Rider bars form a flange on the web of the frame. If you turn on the rider bar check box and enter dimensions for the forward and aft dimensions of the rider bar, it will be generated along with the frame when you use the Calc Frames command. If you select a material for the rider bar, the weight of the rider bar will be included in the weight of the frame listed in the parts table in the Data window.

Datum Waterline

Rider Bar Part

Frame Part