Creating Objects
This guide covers how to create each type of structural object in Calculus. Every creation command follows the same general pattern:
- Activate the tool (click the toolbar button or press the shortcut key)
- Pick points or select objects as prompted by the hint panel
- Adjust properties in the sidebar if needed (changes apply immediately)
- Press Esc to finish, or keep picking to create more objects
TIP
Calculus remembers the last properties you used for each object type. When you create your next beam, it will use the same profile and material as the last one you created or edited. This speeds up repetitive modeling.
Beams
Shortcut: 1
Beams are linear structural members (beams, columns, braces, purlins — any member defined by two points and a cross-section).
How to create a beam
- Press 1 or click Beam in the toolbar
- Click in the viewport to place the start point — use snap points for precision
- Click to place the end point
- The beam appears between the two points
- Keep clicking to create more beams (each new click becomes the end point, with the previous end becoming the new start), or press Esc to stop
Key properties
| Property | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | Cross-section shape (e.g., IPE300, HEA200, CHS168.3x5) | IPE300 |
| Material | Structural material (e.g., S355J2, S235) | S355J2 |
| Class | Color classification (0–14) | 6 (red) |
| Angle | Rotation around the beam axis in degrees | 0° |
| Y Position | Horizontal positioning: Left, Center, or Right | Center |
| Z Position | Vertical positioning: Top, Center, or Bottom | Bottom |
| Y/Z Offset | Additional offset in mm | 0 |
| Start/End Offset | Move start or end point inward/outward | (0, 0, 0) |
Positioning explained
The Y Position and Z Position control where the beam's cross-section is placed relative to the axis line:
- Bottom means the beam sits on top of its axis line (typical for floor beams)
- Center means the axis line goes through the middle of the cross-section
- Top means the beam hangs below its axis line
The same logic applies to Y (left/center/right). This is the same positioning system used in Tekla Structures.
TIP
To make a column, simply create a beam with a vertical axis — pick a bottom point first, then a top point. Calculus treats columns as vertical beams.
Plates
Shortcut: 2
Plates are flat structural parts defined by a polygon outline (gusset plates, base plates, stiffeners, etc.).
How to create a plate
- Press 2 or click Plate in the toolbar
- Click points in the viewport to define the plate's outline — each click adds a corner
- When all corners are placed, press Enter to complete the polygon
- The plate appears with the defined shape
Key properties
| Property | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Profile (thickness) | Plate thickness in mm (e.g., "10", "PL20") | 10 |
| Material | Structural material | S355J2 |
| Class | Color classification (0–14) | 1 (cyan) |
| Z Position | Position relative to the work plane: Top, Center, or Bottom | Center |
| Z Offset | Additional offset perpendicular to the plate surface | 0 |
Chamfers
After creating a plate, you can add chamfers to its corners by selecting the plate, then editing the vertex chamfer properties in the sidebar. Available chamfer types include:
- Line — Straight 45° cut
- Round — Circular fillet
- Arc — Elliptical curve
- Square — Rectangular notch
Cut Parts
Shortcut: 3
Cut parts create openings, notches, and copes in beams and plates by subtracting a shape from the target part (boolean subtraction).
How to create a cut part
- Select the part(s) you want to cut
- Press 3 or click Cut Part in the toolbar
- Follow the prompts to define the cut shape:
- For a beam-shaped cut (rectangular or profiled opening): pick start and end points
- For a plate-shaped cut (through-thickness cut): pick polygon vertices and press Enter
- The material is removed from the target part(s)
Common uses
- Rectangular openings in beam webs for MEP routing
- Cope cuts at beam ends for connections
- Complex polygon cutouts in plates for bolt hole patterns or access holes
Cut Planes
Shortcut: 4
Cut planes trim parts along a flat plane, removing everything on one side.
How to create a cut plane
- Select the part(s) you want to trim
- Press 4 or click Cut Plane in the toolbar
- Click three points to define the cutting plane
- Material on one side of the plane is removed
Common uses
- Trimming beam ends to match a slope
- Creating angled cuts at column splices
- Cutting plates to fit around other members
Bolts
Shortcut: 5
Bolts represent bolt groups — one or more bolts arranged in a pattern to fasten structural parts together.
How to create a bolt group
- Select the parts to be connected
- Press 5 or click Bolt in the toolbar
- Click three points to define the bolt group position and orientation:
- Point 1: Origin of the bolt group
- Point 2: Direction of the X-axis (determines bolt row direction)
- Point 3: Direction of the Y-axis (determines bolt column direction)
- The bolt group appears with default properties
Key properties
| Property | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Bolt standard (e.g., DIN933, ISO4014) | DIN933 |
| Size | Bolt diameter (e.g., M16, M20, M24) | M20 |
| Grade | Strength grade (e.g., 4.6, 8.8, 10.9) | 8.8 |
| Length | Bolt length in mm | Auto |
| Tolerance | Bolt hole oversize in mm | 2 |
Bolt group layouts
| Layout | Description |
|---|---|
| Array | Regular rectangular grid — set number of bolts in X/Y, spacing, and edge distances |
| Circle | Bolts arranged on a circle — set count and diameter |
| List | Custom positions — specify exact 2D coordinates for each bolt |
Assembly components
Each bolt group defines which components are included:
- Bolt — The fastener
- Washer 1 — Under the bolt head
- Washer 2 — Above the nut
- Washer 3 — Additional washer (if needed)
- Nut — Primary nut
- Nut 2 — Lock nut (if needed)
You can configure which components are present and their standards/sizes in the property sidebar.
Welds
Shortcut: 6
Welds define welded connections between two structural parts.
How to create a weld
- Press 6 or click Weld in the toolbar
- Click on the first part (the part being welded to)
- Click on the second part (the part being attached)
- The weld appears at the connection edge
Key properties
| Property | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Fillet, groove, bevel, V, J, U, plug, flare, etc. | Fillet |
| Size | Throat thickness in mm | 5 |
| Length | Weld length in mm | — |
| Contour | Flush, convex, or concave | — |
| Finish | Grinding, machining, chipping, etc. | — |
| Workshop / Site | Shop weld or field weld | Workshop |
| Continuous / Intermittent | Continuous or intermittent welding | Continuous |
| All-around | All-around weld symbol | No |
Properties can be set separately for the above-line and below-line portions of the weld symbol.
Reinforcement Bars (Rebar)
Shortcut: 7
Rebar represents reinforcing bars or bar groups placed in concrete parts.
How to create rebar
- Select the concrete part that will contain the rebar
- Press 7 or click Rebar in the toolbar
- Click points to define the rebar shape/path
- The reinforcement bars appear inside the part
Key properties
| Property | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| Grade | Rebar steel grade (e.g., B500B, B500C) | B500B |
| Size | Bar designation (e.g., Ø8, Ø12, Ø16, Ø20, Ø25, Ø32) | Ø16 |
| Diameter | Actual bar diameter in mm | 16 |
| Bending radius | Minimum bending radius in mm | 32 |
| Cover | Concrete cover in mm | — |
| Hooks | Start and end hook specifications | — |
Distribution methods
Rebar can be distributed in three ways:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Count | Fixed number of bars at equal spacing |
| Spacing | Bars at a fixed center-to-center distance |
| List | Explicit position list for irregular layouts |
Grids
Shortcut: 8
Grids are structural reference grids with labeled axes and levels, used to organize your model.
How to create a grid
- Press 8 or click Grid in the toolbar
- The grid is placed at the work plane origin
Key properties
| Property | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
| X Axes | Horizontal grid lines with spacing and labels | 1, 2, 3, 4 at 7200 mm |
| Y Axes | Vertical grid lines with spacing and labels | A, B, C, D at 6000 mm |
| Z Levels | Height levels with spacing and labels | — |
You can add, remove, and rename axes in the property sidebar. Grid intersections serve as snap points for precise object placement.
Lines
Shortcut: L
Construction and reference lines for layout and detailing.
How to create a line
- Press L or click Line in the toolbar
- Click the start point
- Click the end point
- Keep clicking to create more lines, or press Esc to stop
Comments
Shortcut: 9
Text annotations placed in 3D space for notes and documentation.
How to create a comment
- Press 9 or click Comment in the toolbar
- Click a point in the viewport to place the comment
- Type your text in the property sidebar
Marks
Shortcut: M
Labels attached to the model, typically used for part marks and annotations.
How to create a mark
- Press M or click Mark in the toolbar
- Click on the object you want to label (leader start point)
- Click where you want the label text to appear (leader end point)
- Edit the text in the property sidebar
Dimensions
Shortcut: D
Measurement annotations showing distances between points.
How to create a dimension
- Press D or click Dimension in the toolbar
- Click the first measurement point
- Click the second measurement point
- Click to position the dimension line (offset from the measured points)
Typing Exact Distances
During any point-picking command (creating or editing objects), you can type a number to place the next point at an exact distance from the previous point. The distance is applied along the current direction.
This is useful for placing objects at precise spacing without needing to snap to existing geometry.
Object Classes (Colors)
Every object has a class number (0–14) that determines its display color. This follows the same convention as Tekla Structures:
| Class | Color | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Dark gray | Default/unclassified |
| 1 | Cyan | Plates |
| 2 | Green | — |
| 3 | Blue | — |
| 4 | Yellow | — |
| 5 | Purple | — |
| 6 | Red | Beams (default) |
| 7 | Orange | — |
| 8 | Brown | — |
| 9 | Light green | — |
| 10 | Pink | — |
| 11 | Navy | — |
| 12 | Olive | — |
| 13 | Teal | — |
| 14 | Light gray | — |
You can assign any class to any object. Use classes to visually organize your model — for example, main beams in one color, secondary beams in another, and plates in a third.