Creating User-Defined Antenna Bracket for RF-/TOWER Equipment

This article describes how to create a user-defined antenna bracket to be used in RF-/TOWER Equipment.

In general, the following points are particularly important when you create the antenna bracket:

• The first node that will be connected to the tower is node number 1.
• A member with cross-section 2 connects to this node. All other members that are connected to the tower must also have cross-section 2.
• Members to which antennas are to be attached have the cross-section number 1.
• General members without special properties have the cross-section 3.

First, you create a new model and define the cross-sections 1 to 3.

Image 01 - Creating Cross-Sections

Afterwards, you create two members with cross-section 2, which will later be connected to two legs. The dimensions are not relevant, but should be based on a common tower.

Image 02 - Setting Connecting Members with Cross-Section 2

The next three members are general members without a special function and, therefore, have the cross-section number 3.

Image 03 - Setting Transverse Bars with Cross-Section 3

Copy all members to the top and create six members according to the following figure, to which antennas can be defined. These members are, therefore, cross-section 1.

Image 04 - Antenna Bracket with all Members

Since the antenna support should be used for any towers and masts with different dimensions, it is necessary to parameterize the nodes. To do so, create all the parameters in the first step. To open the corresponding dialog box, click the [Edit Parameters] button above the table. It is important that you do not use the parameters a and b, because they are already being used for the platforms and the basic geometry of the tower. It is not necessary to parameterize all the nodes. Assign five parameters for this antenna bracket.

Image 05 - Creating Parameters

Assign the parameters by selecting single or multiple nodes and assign the parameters to the coordinates or a formula that uses the parameters.

Image 06 - Selecting all Nodes in Plane

Image 07 - Assigning Parameter a1 for all Nodes in Plane

All coordinates that are parameterized have a yellow triangle in the respective cell, which makes the parametrization clearly visible. Thus, you can see in the table

to what extent the parameters have been assigned and, if necessary, correct errors more quickly.

Image 09 - Overview of all Parameterized Nodes

The following figure shows how the parameters are assigned.

Image 08 - Assigning Parameters

In the last step, select the entire model and save it as a block in the directory of the antenna brackets, either in 2D or 3D.

Image 10 - Saving Model as Block

You can now open the antenna bracket and add it in the RF-/TOWER Equipment add-on module. You can adjust the parameters easily. You can also assign the antennas to the members with the cross-section 1 in the corresponding input window.

Image 11 - Adding to RF-/TOWER Equipment

Image 12 - Completed Mast with User-Defined Antenna Bracket