Stair handrails 5

[hititfaster]

Howdy folks. I'd like to pick your brains. I have to design a staircase: 10mm flat section stringers, flow-forge (open mesh) steps, ball-standard handrail uprights... all very industrial. The handrail is to be made from standard tube with key clamps for joints. On a previous job, I did the handrail in sections, working out angles and centres as I went, but this was a bit laborious, and I spent some time thinking there must be a better way, although I didn't have enough time in the job to play about with a better solution.

So, anyone got any neat suggestions on how to generate the handrail? I was thinking of doing it all as one piece in a 3D sketch, then sweeping the diameter of the handrail along the whole path? If I went down this path, can one use - say - temporary axes in the joints on the ball standards to drive the path?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Have you experimented with the Weldment function?

 

[hititfaster]

I haven't... You think that's the way forward?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

It sounds like it might be suitable, but without seeing exactly what you are trying to do, and experimenting, I can't say for sure.

 

[hititfaster]

Piccy to follow

 

[hititfaster]

Here's a similar instance that we did (ignore the open ends on the handrails - it was rendered as a preview).

I think the handrail is pretty self-explanatory: basically up one flight, onto the landing, 90deg turn left, up second flight, double-back and surrounding the aperture in the first floor. 90deg bends would likely be key-clamps and other angles would be pre-bent tube connected to straights with more key-clamps. Terminations on the ends would be pre-bent tube also.

I've already roughly modelled all the key clamps so they show up in BOM's. Don't think the client is overly fussed as to showing real tube lengths as long as the top/knee rail height is correct and the appropriate standards are adhered to.

Thoughts?

 

[Eltron]

Yeah, I'd say with something like this I would stick to weldments and sweeps. Pattern what you can to speed things up. Weldments will get you your tube cut lengths on the straight sections, but it won't on the bent pieces.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[drawoh]

hititfaster,

How do you plan to fabricate the real handrail? This dominates most of my modeling procedures.

Routinely, when I am designing something, I model the configuration as a transparent, light-as-possible blob. In your case, I would work out where the stairs, handrails and other stuff all go. Once I have a satisfactor layout, I would populate the thing with fabricatable parts.

The blob can be set to not appear in the BOM. Eventually, you should suppress or delete it. My blob is the SolidWorks equivalent of a sketch with a 5H[ ]pencil.

JHG

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Doesn't that damage the screen?

 

[drawoh]

CorBlimeyLimey,

The old CRT screens are pretty much invulnerable to 5H pencils. I have to be careful with the new LCD screens.

JHG

 

[hititfaster]

Drawoh - it'll be mostly straight sections of tube, with Kee-Klamps (apologies for earlier spelling - only lately realised it's actually a trade name!) as joints. The sections requiring bends (e.g. the returns at the start and end of the handrail, and the transitions between flight and landing) will probably be bought in, as you can spec. a couple of CL's and dim's then have them made by the supplier.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

At the SolidWorks forums (

https://forum.solidworks.com/thread/27547)

there is a person called Greg Hynd. He also deals with balustrades and handrails, and may be willing to explain his methods.

 

[GregHynd]

Hi !

I create my handrails using weldments. I start off by creating a virtual part within my assembly called handrails or whatever. I then create planes all the way up my staircase to create 2d sketch's on.

I create the 2d sketch's all the way up on each plane, creating coincident relations etc between each end point etc, so if you have to change the height on any of the sketch's it doesnt stuff the whole lot up. I use construction lines for this, advantage being you can show this in your drawing and use for dimensioning.

Once the 2d sketch is done, i then do a 3d sketch on the 2d sketch, and dimension up any joins or gaps etc to allow for fittings. once this is done, I create a weldment of it by just selecting the 3d sketch in the feature tree.

You can obviosly use the sketch fillet tool on the 3d sketch to create the bends, and the weldment will follow this too when you create it.

I dont have any experiance with key clamp fittings, but you should be able to apply the same technique.

Hope this is clear and helps, if not let me know.

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Hi Greg, Welcome to E-T.

 

[hititfaster]

Fantastic tips, thanks Greg. On this occasion, I have done a simple 3D sketch and swept the diameter of the handrail along it. It was a great deal faster than trying to work out individual parts and bends then assemble them, I'll put it that way! Once we're done with this one, I'll find some time to play with weldments, as it'll definitely be useful for other aspects of my job as well.