MPanel
all about tension structures

Frequently Asked Questions

General  FAQ’s

Is MPanel an Autodesk product?
What versions of AutoCAD will MPanel work with?
What version of Rhino does MPanel work with?
Do you offer a demo version of MPanel?
Can I use your MPanel demo version on more than one computer?
I don't use a cutting table. Can I still use MPanel for my design work and output my patterns in another format?
Do you have an educational version that our University can purchase?
Can I purchase MPanel from this website?

MPanel Toolbar

I am a new MPanel user….will you please explain the toolbar?
How can I find out which tool to use?

Formfinding

How do I know if I have a fixed, cabled, or joined edge mesh. In other words, which relaxation tool do I use?
I am modeling a cone tent structure. Your Model Builder built it with no fixed edges.
Is there an easy way to make the edges fixed?
I need some edges fixed and some as cables. How do I do that?
If my cone tent is fixed on one edge and has cables on the others,what relaxation tool do I use?
Can I change the shape of a cone tent after I have drawn it using the MPanel Model Builder?
I am modeling a double conical and I want to raise the saddle height while leaving the sides unchanged. How do I do this?
How do I know what Msurf and Nsurf to use for modeling?
How do the Msurf and Nsurf affect the paneling?
How can I use MPanel on drawings that are built with entities that MPanel doesn’t use?
The tutorials that I have studied on your website are quite clear but I’m not sure about the input of the values. Is it in millimeters?
I am modeling a cone tent with one corner attached to a guy. Can you show me how MPanel deals with this situation?
I am using guys on the corner of an asymmetric structure? Why isn't the guy bisecting the corner angle?
When I relax my model it collapses...why?
I have built a cone tent with the MPanel Model Builder, but when I relax it the top half of the tent 'necks'. Why?
I would like to get a little more droop, sweep, or sag in the fabric between the center pole and the edges on my cone tent model.  I have tried adjusting all the cable tensions and warp/weft ratios and have not been able to move it.  Do you have any suggestions?
When  trying to join meshes on my drawings, I keep getting a poor connectivity error.  What causes this?  It appears all my points match up yet I continue getting this error.

Paneling

When I do my paneling, I get a shear strain error. What does this mean and what can I do to fix it?
When I panel between polylines I sometimes get funny shapes, like butterfly wings…  what am I doing wrong?
Can I use triangular panels?
When I merge panels, I sometimes get funny shapes….what am I doing wrong?
How and why do I use the function for adding extra lines when using the cross section tool?
Where can I input the roll width so I have less waste in materials?
Can I use any entities other than lines for cross sections?

Production

Can I make panels with one straight edge?
How do I decide on the compensation in the panel depending on the type of fabric?
How do I decide the end detail for the fabric where it is attached to anchor points and tensioning devices?
How do I get the panels from the CAD drawing to my cutter?
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