Assemblies allow users to quickly build a pole (or connected line of poles) in SPIDAcalc that utilizes standard construction designs. Multiple standards can be combined within an assembly, including wire framings, support components, and equipment.
The Assemblies tab is located in the Components Panel. Within that tab, assemblies are filtered within sub-tabs by source (client or local) and type (framing or support).
Assemblies can be organized by Group, as determined by the user or client file. A group can be expanded or collapsed by clicking on the group name. Once expanded, the individual assembly codes are listed. Hovering over an assembly code displays an Info icon. Selecting the Info icon will present a preview of the assembly and its properties.
When an assembly is applied to a design, it can be viewed and modified in the Component Properties Panel. Selecting the assembly handle icon will display the attach height, assembly code, and its components.
Assemblies can be stored:
Assemblies can fall into one of two categories, depending upon their components.
Support assemblies include any of the following component combinations:
Framing assemblies include everything that is not a support component, including:
An assembly’s properties specify the following:
An assembly has selection choices that are built into each one. For example, wire owner, size, and tension can be selected before a framing assembly is added to a design. However, if components that are not selection choices are changed or removed from the assembly, the assembly code will display as “modified” in the Component Properties Panel. This allows users to validate whether a design is utilizing an assembly exactly as intended.
Applying an assembly to a single design or to multiple locations is done by dragging the assembly code to the Graphic View.
Side View: Dragging an assembly to the Side View will attach the assembly at a user-defined height and not default to the assembly’s properties. Underbuild properties will not be utilized if subsequent assemblies are dragged to the Side View. Dragging an assembly to the Side View will only apply the assembly to the current location.
Top View: Dragging an assembly in the Top View specifies the WEPs’ distance and direction for the assembly. An assembly with a minimum line angle greater than 0° will always be set to the minimum line angle.
Map or 3D View: DDragging an assembly to the Map or 3D View will attach it at the defined distance from pole top or any preceding assembly. A WEP is set at a distance of 150’ (or 45.7 m) and a bearing of 180°, and any additional WEPs are set relative to this; for example, a tangent assembly would place a second WEP at 150’ (or 45.7 m) and 0°.
If WEPs are present in a design, then dragging the assembly to any of the views will use the selected WEP’s bearing.
Assemblies can be applied to multiple locations within a project in the Map View, thus establishing connectivity. These assemblies can then be modified or replaced on a per-location basis.
When connecting multiple locations, the selection order in Map View is crucial. That order determines both the sequence in which the assembly is applied, as well as the assembly’s wire end points at individual locations.
Multiple assemblies can be applied to a design. When adding a subsequent assembly, it will be placed at the specified Underbuild distance as defined in the previous assembly’s properties.
The Move Wires Dialog box will appear when the first assembly has one of the following utility-owned wire usage groups: Neutral, Secondary, Open Wire, Utility Service, or Messenger. If the previous assembly does not have any of the listed wire usage groups, the dialog will not display.
The Move Wires Dialog has two options:
When the option to lower a wire is selected, a measurable field is enabled. The height entered will determine by how much that wire is lowered.
Assemblies can be created and managed locally by any end user, regardless of whether they are available in the client file. Using the Shift-select functionality, users can select the components in a design that they wish to include in an assembly, then choose New Assembly from the Component Properties Panel.
Local assemblies can be organized by selecting Tools > Manage Local Assemblies. Within the resulting dialog box is a tree that classifies assembly codes by group. Here, local assemblies can be viewed and updated if desired.
Selecting Export Local Assemblies found in the Manage Local Assemblies dialog box allows users to share local assemblies they have created with others.
Local assemblies can be added to a client file by an account admin or user with access to the Client Editor.
In the Client Editor, select Options > Show Source Panel. Next, select the Structures tab > Assemblies tab. Selecting the Local Assemblies button under the Source File section will populate all assemblies located on the local machine. Assemblies can be copied to the client file by selecting “Framing” (all local framing assemblies), “Support” (all local support assemblies), a group (all local assemblies under a shared group name), or a singular assembly code, and then selecting Copy. Multiple groups and/or assembly codes can be copied simultaneously by holding the Ctrl key while selecting each desired name.
Assemblies are displayed in a report under Structure Details. A table lists all the assemblies in a design including the following: Assembly Code, Group, Source, and Attach Height.