Framing Tools: Cladding

Framer

Tool for the cladding or cover layer (COVER) of a wall panel, horizontal structure or horizontal structure panel. Select Tool from the list. The parameters are set according to the selected tool. If necessary, edit the parameters in the dialog box.

Siding

Description
Description text for the tool.
Cross section
Select the cross section of the boards with the Select button. Select the profile library and cross section in the Piece Properties dialog box.
Piece Properties
Spacing
Enter the board spacing (S) in the field.
Offset
The installation of the cladding starts either from the default edge (the bottom edge of the layer for horizontal cladding, the left edge of the layer when viewed from the outside for vertical cladding) or another alignment method may have been defined for the cladding. See Cladding Alignment.
In this field, you can specify an offset to the start of cladding. The value can be positive or negative. A positive value moves the start in the direction of the male tongue.
In the example figure: A horizontal cladding, B vertical cladding.
Note: The offset does not affect cladding layers where the starting edge of the installation direction is defined using an edge detail. See Edit the Edge Detail of a Cladding.
Position angle
The default position angle, which depends on the profile's cross section, is defined in the cladding library and does not usually need to be changed. If the cross section is placed in the wrong position in the cladding, determine how much the cross section needs to be rotated and add the angle to the default position angle.
Direction angle
Defines the direction of the boarding.
  • AUTO - The direction is defined automatically according to the material of the layer. For example, the vertical or horizontal siding of a wall.
  • AUTO_R - Same as AUTO, but the installation of the wall's vertical siding is begun from the opposite direction.
Max. notch
Enter the maximum size of a notch (D) made to a board next to an opening. If the notch is larger, the board will be cut at the opening.
Minimum width
Enter the minimum width of a board (W) next to an opening. If the width is smaller, the board will be cut at the opening.
Cut top board
The property is relevant in a situation where the tongue of the top board of the horizontal cladding or part of it extends above the frame layer.
  • When the property is not selected, the board is not cut if only the tongue or part of it extends above the frame layer. If the rest of the board also extends above the frame layer, the board is cut.

  • When the property is selected, the board is always cut.

Opening offsets
Enter the distances of the boards from the opening edges in this field.
  • Left (DL)
  • Right (DR)
  • Bottom (DB)
  • Top (DT)

Automatic cut

Automatic cut
You can select an automatic cut for the siding boards in the cladding tool. The boards will be cut at battens. You can stagger the cut-off points on different board courses by entering the number of overlapping courses in the field Overlapping rows.
Overlapping rows = 2 Overlapping rows = 3
Enter the Max length and Min length for a board.
You can enter the minimum overlap for the cut-off points in the Min distance (DMIN) field.
You can define a protection area above and below the openings (on the left and right sides of an opening in a vertical siding) where the board is not cut. The protection area is determined by multiplying the height of the board (width of the board in a vertical siding) with the factor in the Full boards above and below openings field.

Mount

Mount
Select the mounting method of the cladding boards from the menu. All boards added with the tool will receive the same mounting method.
  • Loose part - A part to be mounted at the building site.
  • Mount manually - A part to be manually placed and mounted in the factory.
  • Manually placed - A part to be manually placed but automatically mounted in the factory. You can use this mounting method for parts that the production line cannot automatically position due to the size or shape of the part, but over which the nailing and glue lines must continue.

For a wall panel, you can specify the mounting method for only the edge boards by editing the edge detail. See Edit the Edge Detail of a Cladding.

You can highlight loose parts and parts to be mounted or placed manually in the model. See Mark Exceptional Parts.

Note: A profile defined as a loose part is not included in the weight of a wall panel.