Command handling

Prof is a command line (cli) program. We think that is the most efficient way to create profiles.

Because there are many options:

• Reminders are written on the command line, get used to read the command line (cli), drag up cli to get a few more lines and or toggle F2 during the command when needed.
• For specific profiles there are commands acting as short-cut.
• Be aware of pressing ENTER for defaults, they make life easier.

Steps

Every new shape you create is made in a number of steps. These steps are more or less standardized. In summary:

• Choose from Shapes

  • Direct input like "UNP 100*50" or "RLC 40" or "L 2*2*1/4".
  • Choose main group like "warm rolled" or "math". Then choose subgroup like "IPE" or "Reuleaux".

• Enter UCS for Positioning

• Enter Geometry and let program generate curve(s) for your shape.

• You can accept this shape or Modify it: Change position, extrude with options as solid.

• Let program finish restoring settings and UCS prior to command start.

Shapes

This program is able to draw many shapes - and that is a lot! To be able to enter shapes fast and easy, a good structure is needed. On the other hand, nomenclature is very different internationally, though tempting, we cannot always use it directly. A warm rolled L-profile is designated the same but has different standard sizes as defined in the international standards.

Defining main groups:

• W, Warm rolled: Deformed products like channels and I-beams.
• C, Cold rolled: Sheet based products with constant thickness like pipes and HSS.
• E, Extruded: Products with sharp corners like aluminum L-profiles.
• I, Infrequent: All other products, except:
• S, Splines: Several standards.
• G, Gears: Involute shapes.
• M, Math: Closed and open mathematical shapes.

Defining standard types:

• Profiles with table drive parameters, like warm rolled beams.
• Profiles with free parameters.

Defining regions for standards:

• EN, Europe
• BS, Britain
• IS, India
• JIS, Japan
• GOST, Russia
• ASTM, US
• ... and more.

Positioning

PROF works both 2D and 3D. To place a profile in 2D, an insertion point and angle is required. 3D users are used to make a UCS first and or use Dynamic UCS. How to serve both groups?

• 2D insertion point equals point 0,0 in 3D
• 2D angle equals x-axis in 3D

On the cli you'll see this as the solution:

Shapes are inserted on 0,0 and aligned to X-axis of the active UCS.
Specify new UCS origin or [Origin only / X-axis only] <Press ENTER to continue with current UCS>:

This boils down to four options for insertion:

• Create new UCS for insertion, with origin and angle of X-axis.
• Just move origin (0,0) of running UCS.
• Just rotate X-axis of running UCS.
• Accept running UCS for placement.

About units

Basic principle: Everything works unitless. So if you work in inches and insert an imperial product or if you work in mm and insert a metric product, everything is okay.

Problems arise when you work in inches and insert a metric product or, when you work in mm and insert an imperial product. How do we deal with that?

• The program makes an educated guess for units.
• You are given the options to set units.
• As a last resort, you can always scale things manually.

Educated guess for units

• First, INSUNITS is examined. If this drawing setting is set to "1" (Inches) or "4" (mm), the decision is made. This means that units are converted without intervention.
• If INSUNITS has another value, but not "0" (Unitless), inserted shapes are scaled. For example, if INSUNITS is "6" (meters), a metric profile will be scaled with factor 0.001 and an imperial profile will be scaled 0.001*25.4.
• If INSUNITS equals "0" it becomes harder. If, in this order, INSUNITSDEFTARGET and INSUNITSDEFSOURCE provide a means to do a scale calculation, it is done.
• If everything is set to "0" (Unitless), then no scaling is done and shapes are inserted "as is".

Options to set units

During execution you can change settings. When settings are detected, other than "0", "1" and "4", suggestions are made.