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MPanel, the Industry’s Most Versatile Software |
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MPanel continues to be the easiest to use fabric design software on the market, whether you are producing tension structures, tents, awnings, shade sails, or trade show exhibits. Following the release of v 11, we have had questions about using specified width panels, one of the new features in this version., so we are devoting this newsletter to an explanation of the operation of the fixed width panel feature. |
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Making Specified Width Panels with MPanel v11 |
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Fixed width panels are needed to minimize fabric waste, but it's not just a question of selecting a model and splitting it into fixed widths. Often some seams will have to line up with edges, center lines or poles for aesthetic or structural reasons. |
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In MPanel we start with the seams that are fixed in position such as the edge seam shown in Blue, and then work from those to create panels that have a specified width. We draw a provisional line, shown in Red, to identify roughly where the new seam should be. The program takes this as a starting point and corrects the seam position till it produces a geodesic seam for a specified width panel, drawn in Cyan. |
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Repeating the process will create a series of seams. If there are other fixed seams, we can work up to those. Additionally MPanel will create extra "dummy" seams, to be used by the panelling process to achieve end curve definition, these are shown in Black.
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Finally the seams are paneled in sets, producing panels that have the specified width, and good end definition, in just one mouse click. MPanel also reports on the shear strain needed to make these panels, an important figure to watch during the design. These panels are ready for the next steps of compensation, seaming and stamping. |
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the US & Americas contact: Timothy Akes CAD Effects, LLC 10805 Sunset Office Drive, Ste 300 St. Louis, Missouri 63127 USA (314) 631-6300 voice (314) 754-9388 fax |
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Australia contact: Alan Stewart Structureflex 280 Bay Road Cheltenham, 3192 Victoria, AU (03)9581 6150 voice (03) 9581 6177 fax
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In the UK, Europe, & Asia contact: Andrew Askwith Meliar Design Lower Cwm Barns Llanafan Fawr Builth Wells, Powys, Wales, UK LD2 3SG +44 (0)1597 860291 andrew@meliar.com |
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