Bearing Envelopes

Creating Bearings Overview

Video Transcript:

Welcome! In this video, we'll be creating Bearings for a basic layout in the Paragon Design App.

For this demo will be referring to Training Plan 1, which is a 30 foot by 20 foot rectangular structure with a four twelve roof slope and gables on both ends.

For reference, a copy of the completed Training Plan 1 project is accessible from Choose Create Project and then under Open Sample

Let's begin with creating a bearing envelope. A bearing envelope represents elements in the layout that can carry loads. Such as walls, beams, or columns.

To add a bearing envelope, click Create from the Actions Toolbar and select Bearing Envelope. This opens the Bearing Envelope Creation dialog in the right sidebar where you can define bearing properties. For additional information on creating Bearing Envelopes visit our Paragon Documentation site.

Set the top of the bearing to 8 feet. Next we will set the thickness to three and a half inches. The four walls will be structural, so make sure this is selected. We’ll keep the justification to the front edge since we’ll be inputting the bearings in a counterclockwise fashion, though clockwise input is perfectly acceptable. While you have the option to insert roof planes during bearing creation, we’ll leave this unchecked for now.

Once everything is set, you're ready to insert the first bearing.

There are two methods for creating bearings, Direction plus Length and Point Selection.

Let’s start with the Direction plus Length method. Here we will provide the direction using the arrow keys and the length by entering it into the Length box and then clicking Insert and Repeat to continue adding bearings or Insert & Close if you have completed the needed bearings. When adding the lengths pay attention to how you enter them. Here are few examples 30 dash 0 dash 0 or 30 and a period would represent 30 feet.

Here we will start by pressing the Right Arrow and entering 30 feet.

Because we’ll be creating additional bearings, we will select Insert and Repeat.

You’ll notice that dimensions are automatically placed along with the bearing.

Continue with the remaining bearings.

On your keyboard Press the Up arrow, and then enter 20 feet. Next click on Insert & Repeat.

Press the Left arrow with your mouse or keyboard, and enter 30 feet. This time, let's press the Enter key which executes Insert & Repeat. Which reduces mouse movement and saves a click.

For the final wall, let’s change the input method to Point Selection to demonstrate this alternative input method. With Point Selection, you can simply click a point on the layout to place the bearing. To aid in point selection, the Active Snaps dialog appears which acts as a filter for available snaps.

We’ll be Snapping to a Bearing Envelope, so make sure Bearing Envelopes is checked.

Select the snap point, then click on Insert and Close to complete the process.

And that does it for an introduction to creating Bearing Envelopes. Thanks for watching, and see you in the next one!

Add Bearing Envelopes

Step 1 - Create Bearing Envelope

Start by clicking the + Create button, right-clicking in empty space, or using the Ctrl + Q keyboard shortcut and selecting Bearing Envelope

Tip

You can use the Ctrl + Q + B keyboard shortcut to begin inserting a bearing envelope.

Step 2 - Insert Bearing Envelopes

Use the Bearing Envelope Creation subpanel to insert your walls. This can be done in two ways:

Direction + Length

Enter a length, then use the buttons or the arrow keys on your keyboard to indicate direction. For more precise control over this bearing, switch to point selection mode.

Tip

Use INSERT & REPEAT to quickly insert multiple connect bearings and INSERT & CLOSE to finish.

Point Selection

Use the inputs and mouse to specify your walls and bearings. Use the Active Snaps menu to modify mouse snapping behavior.

Note

When inserting bearings, make a note of their Justification. The Front justification assumes you will be inserting walls counter-clockwise.

Delete Bearing Envelopes

You can delete bearing envelopes one at a time by right-clicking them and selecting Delete Bearing Envelope or you can use Multi-select to delete multiple at once.

Edit Bearing Envelope Properties

Step 1 - Open the Bearing Envelope Properties Subpanel

Select the bearing envelope and open the Right Sidebar or right-click the envelope and select Edit Properties.

The properties below can be modified during insertion as well as after in the Bearing Envelope Properties subpanel.

Step 2 - Adjust Bearing Envelope Properties

Top, Bottom, and Thickness

Use the Top, Bottom, and Thickness inputs to modify the wall dimensions.

Structural vs Non-Structural

Use the Structural/Non-Structural toggle to determine whether or not components will include that bearing surface when generated from a Truss Envelope.

Justification

Use this tool to modify how a bearing is justified on its defining line. Front is selected by default but you can change this to Centeror Backas needed.

Endpoints

Use the coordinate inputs to modify the Left Point or Right Point or use the PICK button to choose a new location with your mouse in the scene.

Move Left or Right Point

Use this tool to set the length of the bearing and choose whether you want to adjust the left or right end.

Flip Bearing Envelopes

Right-click the bearing and click Flip Bearing Envelope to flip the left and right points.

Mirror Bearing Envelopes

Right-click a bearing and select Mirror Bearing Envelope.

Select an existing line to mirror upon.

Note

Refer to Tools and Features for additional information on mirroring selected Layout objects.