Structure

Put a frame on the grids, change it by pattern instead of by hand, and let Alien find the connections it needs.

grids.grids ─┬─> beams_columns ─> structure_edit.members ─> connectors.members
levels.levels ┘
section_profile.profile ─> beams_columns / structure_edit (as a section)

Component	What it’s for
Section profile (next beta)	A structural section from the Australian catalogue (UB, UC, PFC, SHS, RHS, CHS, angles, glulam, LVL, sawn, concrete) or your own shape, with its properties and a dimensioned drawing.
Beams and columns	A structural frame on your grids: columns at the intersections, beams along the grids at each level, in real Australian steel, timber or concrete sections.
Structure edit	Change a frame by pattern: resize, move, rotate, remove or extend members picked by id (`B-L02-*`) or filter, several edits at once.
Connectors	The connections your frame needs, found from the members: base plates, splices, end plates, fin plates and cleats, with bolts and a schedule.

Section profile

section_profile

New since 0.02-alpha: arrives in the next beta.

A structural section from the Australian catalogue (UB, UC, PFC, SHS, RHS, CHS, angles, glulam, LVL, sawn, concrete) or your own shape, with its properties and a dimensioned drawing. Cost: Free.

Inputs

Input	Type	On the component	Default	What it does
`family`	Text	Dropdown	`UB`	catalogue family, or custom (shape and sizes below). One of `UB`, `UC`, `PFC`, `SHS`, `RHS`, `CHS`, `EA`, `UA`, `glulam`, `LVL`, `sawn`, `concrete rect`, `concrete round`, `custom`
`size`	Text	Text field	blank	size in the family: UB 310 40.4, UC 250 72.9, PFC 250, SHS 150x9, RHS 200x100x6, CHS 168.3x7.1, EA 75x6, UA 100x75x8, glulam 360x85 (or GL17 360x85), LVL 300x63, sawn 90x45 (or F17 190x45), concrete 600x400, round 600; or a full name like 310UB40.4 (blank: a common size; info lists the family’s sizes)
`shape`	Text	Dropdown	`I`	custom: the section shape. One of `I`, `C`, `T`, `L`, `box`, `tube`, `rect`, `circle`
`d`	Number	Slider 10–2000	`300`	custom: depth (mm)
`b`	Number	Slider 10–2000	`150`	custom: width (mm; circle and tube: ignored)
`t`	Number	Slider 1–100	`6`	custom: wall thickness of box, tube and L (mm)
`tf`	Number	Slider 1–100	`10`	custom: flange thickness of I, C and T (mm)
`tw`	Number	Slider 1–100	`6`	custom: web thickness of I, C and T (mm)
`material`	Text	Dropdown	`steel`	custom: material (sets kg/m and colour). One of `steel`, `aluminium`, `timber`, `concrete`
`name`	Text	Text field	blank	profile name (blank: the catalogue name, or one made from the custom sizes)
`plane`	Plane	Wire	—	where the section drawing lies and the sample stands (default: world XY at the origin)
`save`	Boolean	Button	—	add this type to the Alien library

Outputs

Output	Type	What it gives you
`profile`	Text	profile record: wire into beams_columns’ column or beam, or structure_edit’s section
`name`	Text	profile name
`outline`	list of Curve	the section at true size on the plane: outer edge, then holes
`fill`	list of Brep	the section as a flat surface (for previews)
`hatch`	Data	solid hatch of the section (for baking)
`dims`	list of Curve	dimension lines, ticks and figures (mm) and the name label
`sample`	list of Brep	a 1 m length standing beside the drawing
`colours`	list of Colour	colour per sample solid (also suits the fill)
`info`	Text	what happened: a summary, sources and notes

How it works

Families UB, UC, PFC, SHS, RHS, CHS, EA, UA, glulam, LVL, sawn, concrete rect/round; sizes like ‘310 40.4’, ‘150x9’ or full names.
Custom I, C, T, L, box, tube, rect or circle from d, b, t, tf, tw (mm).
Area, Ix, Iy, Zx, Zy, r computed from the outline (sharp corners: Ix about 2.5% under the catalogue’s for UBs).
beams_columns and structure_edit accept the profile record wherever they take a section name. Save adds it to the library (kind profile).

Beams and columns

beams_columns A structural frame on your grids: columns at the intersections, beams along the grids at each level, in real Australian steel, timber or concrete sections. Cost: Free.

Inputs

Input	Type	On the component	Default	What it does
`grids`	list of Data	Wire	—	grid records (from grids); sample grids when unwired
`levels`	list of Data	Wire	—	level records (from levels); sample levels when unwired
`column`	Text	Text field	blank	column section: 310UC96.8, SHS 150x9, CHS 168.3x7.1, GL18 360x360, concrete 450x450, or a profile record from section_profile (blank: the material’s default)
`beam`	Text	Text field	blank	beam section: 410UB53.7, 250PFC, RHS 200x100x6, LVL 360x63, concrete 600x400, or a profile record from section_profile (blank: the material’s default)
`material`	Text	Dropdown	`steel`	frame material: picks the default sections and reads bare sizes like 400x400. One of `steel`, `timber`, `concrete`
`columns_at`	Text	Dropdown	`all intersections`	where columns go. One of `all intersections`, `perimeter`, `none`
`skip`	Text	Text field	blank	intersections left without a column, e.g. ‘B/2, C/3’
`beams_on`	Text	Dropdown	`both`	grid lines that get beams. One of `both`, `letters`, `numbers`, `none`
`from_level`	Text	Text field	blank	lowest level: name, code or index (blank: the lowest)
`to_level`	Text	Text field	blank	top level (blank: the highest)
`rotation`	Number	Slider -180–180	`0`	column rotation (degrees) on top of the grid’s angle
`top_offset`	Number	Slider 0–1.5	`0.15`	beam tops below each level (m), e.g. the slab thickness
`site`	Data	Wire	—	site record (optional): unwired sample grids sit on its origin and rotation

Outputs

Output	Type	What it gives you
`members`	list of Text	member records: wire into structure_edit or connectors
`solids`	list of Brep	every member, in member order
`columns`	list of Brep	column solids
`beams`	list of Brep	beam solids
`axes`	list of Curve	member centrelines
`names`	list of Text	member ids, e.g. C-A/1-GF, B-L01-A-1/2
`sections`	list of Text	section name per member
`colours`	list of Colour	preview colour per member (wire with solids into Custom Preview)
`info`	Text	what happened: a summary, sources and notes

How it works

Sections read forgivingly from alien_sections’ catalogue: 193 steel sizes (UB, UC, PFC, SHS, RHS, CHS, EA, UA), glulam, LVL, sawn and concrete (‘310 UB 40.4’, ‘SHS 150x9’, ‘600 dia’); steel snaps to the nearest catalogue size with a note; junk falls back to the material’s default.
Columns at all intersections, the perimeter or none, less a skip list (‘B/2, C/3’); they turn with their grid.
Beams on both, lettered or numbered grids, top_offset below each level, stopping 12 mm off the face they meet (flange, web or flange tips); where no column stands, the continuous beams are primary.
Member records carry the exact centreline, section spec and name, level, grid and kg (info sums steel tonnes).

Structure edit

structure_edit Change a frame by pattern: resize, move, rotate, remove or extend members picked by id (B-L02-*) or filter, several edits at once. Cost: Free.

Inputs

Input	Type	On the component	Default	What it does
`members`	list of Data	Wire	—	member records (from beams_columns or another structure_edit); a sample frame when unwired
`select`	Text	Text field	blank	members to edit: ids with * wildcards (C-A/, B-L02-) and/or filters level=L02 grid=A role=beam section=310UC* material=steel; blank = none, * = all
`action`	Text	Dropdown	`resize`	what to do to the selection. One of `resize`, `move`, `rotate`, `remove`, `extend`
`section`	Text	Text field	blank	resize to: a section name (460UB67.1, SHS 200x9, GL18 450x135), a profile record from section_profile, or up / down a size
`offset`	Text	Text field	`0, 0, 0`	move by: dx, dy, dz (m)
`rotation`	Number	Slider -180–180	`0`	rotate by (degrees) about each member’s own axis
`extend`	Number	Slider -3–3	`0`	extend both ends by (m); negative shortens
`edits`	list of Text	Text field	—	more edits, one per line, in order: ‘B-L02-: section=460UB67.1’, ‘C-B/2-: remove’, ‘level=RF role=beam: move=0,0,0.1 rotate=5’, ‘C-A/1-GF: extend=0.5,0’

Outputs

Output	Type	What it gives you
`members`	list of Text	member records, ids kept (wire into connectors)
`solids`	list of Brep	every member, in member order
`columns`	list of Brep	column solids after the edits
`beams`	list of Brep	beam solids after the edits
`colours`	list of Colour	preview colour per solid: edited members green
`changed`	list of Text	ids of members that changed (edited, or beams refitted to an edited support)
`info`	Text	what happened: a summary, sources and notes

How it works

select: ‘C-A/*’, ‘B-L02-*’, or filters level=L02 grid=A role=beam section=310UC* material=steel; * = all.
edits: one ‘pattern: key=value …’ line per edit, applied in order (section=, remove, move=dx,dy,dz, rotate=, extend=).
Resize takes a section name or up/down a size; beams keep their tops.
Beams framing into a changed member are re-trimmed to its new face; edited members preview green and are listed in changed.

Connectors

connectors The connections your frame needs, found from the members: base plates, splices, end plates, fin plates and cleats, with bolts and a schedule. Cost: Free.

Inputs

Input	Type	On the component	Default	What it does
`members`	list of Data	Wire	—	member records (from beams_columns or structure_edit); a sample frame when unwired
`type`	Text	Dropdown	`auto`	connector: auto picks one per joint; any other makes only that kind (every beam end as an end plate, fin plate or cleat). One of `auto`, `base plate`, `cap plate`, `end plate`, `fin plate`, `cleat`
`thickness`	Number	Slider 0–60	`0`	plate thickness (mm); 0 = by joint: base 25, cap 16, end 12, fin 10, cleat 10, splice 12
`bolt`	Text	Dropdown	`M20`	bolt size (and anchor size at base plates). One of `M16`, `M20`, `M24`
`rows`	Integer	Slider 0–12	`0`	bolt rows (0 = as many as fit)
`cols`	Integer	Slider 0–6	`0`	bolt columns (0 = by joint: 2 across end and base plates, 1 along fin plates and cleats)
`edge`	Number	Slider 20–100	`40`	bolt edge distance (mm)
`margin`	Number	Slider 0–300	`100`	base plate beyond the column (mm)
`welds`	Boolean	Switch	off	preview fillet welds

Outputs

Output	Type	What it gives you
`plates`	list of Brep	plates, cleats and stiffeners
`bolts`	list of Brep	bolts and anchors
`welds`	list of Brep	fillet welds (with welds on)
`solids`	list of Brep	plates, bolts and welds together, for one Custom Preview
`joints`	list of Text	joint records: id, kind, members, plate, bolts
`schedule`	list of Text	one line per joint, e.g. BP A/1 GF: PL 505x508x25, 4 M24 anchors
`colours`	list of Colour	preview colour per solid
`info`	Text	what happened: a summary, sources and notes

How it works

auto picks per joint: end plates on column flanges, fin plates on webs and between beams; or one type for all.
Hollow, channel and angle sections, CHS columns, timber knife plates and T-brackets on timber/concrete supports.
Bolt rows/columns fit the plate (or as given); edge distance and base-plate margin grow when bolts wouldn’t fit.
joints records and a schedule line per joint (‘BP A/1 GF: PL 505x508x25, 4 M24 anchors’).

Get started

Using Alien

Ready-made components

Reference

Section profile

Inputs

Outputs

Beams and columns

Inputs

Outputs

Structure edit

Inputs

Outputs

Connectors

Inputs

Outputs

​Section profile

​Inputs

​Outputs

​Beams and columns

​Inputs

​Outputs

​Structure edit

​Inputs

​Outputs

​Connectors

​Inputs

​Outputs

Section profile

Inputs

Outputs

Beams and columns

Inputs

Outputs

Structure edit

Inputs

Outputs

Connectors

Inputs

Outputs