Ⅰ. Overview

In actual production, you may encounter cases where the drawing specifies T-Section parts, but the raw material is an I-Beam. In this scenario, the I-Beam material needs to be processed into two T-Section parts.

Starting from TubesT v7.1.51, the Merge as I-Beam function is supported. This function allows you to merge T-Section parts with the same cross-section into a single I-Beam.

Ⅱ. How to use

1. Special notice

(1) Only T-Section parts with the same cross-section can be merged into an I-Beam.

(2) At least two T-Section parts with the same cross-section can be merged into an I-Beam.

(3) After T-Section parts are merged into an I-Beam, the grouped part cannot be edited. If you want to edit it, you need first delete the group and then edit the original T-Section parts.

2. Steps

① Import the parts.

② Right-click any T-Section part in the part list and select Merge as I-Beam.

TubesT will automatically select two parts with similar lengths as a group (parts with equal length are prioritized) and merge them into an I-Beam.

 After that, the corresponding I-Beam cross-section will appear in the part list.

③ Add microjoints to the middle cutoff line of the I-Beam.

Processing Tip:

When two T-Section parts are merged into an I-Beam, microjoints are typically added at the middle cutoff line to prevent collision with the machine caused by material deformation during long straight cuts.

3. Delete the Group

If the merged I-Beam does not meet your requirements, you can delete the group using one of the following methods:

(1) Delete the Group

In the part list, select the grouped part and click the red “—” button at the top.

(2) Undo the Group

Method ①: Right-click an empty area near the I-Beam in the main interface and select UndoParts Combination

Method ②: Press Ctrl + Z

Method ③: Click the Undo(U) button in the toolbar

Ⅲ. FAQs

1.How do I cut two asymmetrical T-Section parts from an I-Beam?

You need first create an I-Beam part and then draw the cutting area directly on the part. There are two available methods:

Method ①: Convert marking layer to cutting layer (Applicable when drawing in the nesting software)

Draw the cutting area as a straight line and enable Marking. After returning to the main interface, change the marking layer to the cutting layer.

For details, refer to TubesT - Tutorial on Toolpaths for Processing Sheet Metal Parts.

Method ②: Replace slot with line (Applicable when drawing in external software or nesting software)

Draw the cutting area as a thin slot. After importing the part, use the Replace Slot with Line function.

For details, refer to Replace as Line.

2. How can I quickly add microjoints in batch to the middle cutoff line of an I-Beam?

Select the cutoff line and click Batch Set Microjoint. 

Note: Under the Select parameter, please select Tube Holes.