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Introduction.
ScotSim has been created to enable joints in both truss and panel, to be analysed, to ensure joints form
correctly, before they are sent to the roll former. It uses the same analytical code as the roll former, and
requires the same tool settings as the roll forming machine to create an identical joint.

Important note. All settings in ScotSim and the roll former software are required to correctly position the
tool functions. It is important that they be filled in correctly.

Note. While ScotSim is primarily an analytical program, it does have the facility to create and modify
panels and trusses. This ability is mainly used in software development, and it is not recommended for
the normal user.
Trusses cannot be transferred from ScotSim to TrusPlus, therefore any modification to a truss In ScotSim
cannot be engineered, and it is very difficult to create panels to specific sizes. The creation and
modification of panels and trusses will not be covered in this manual.

It is recommended that designers have the roll former software loaded on their computers, and that their
RF software has the same rfs (Settings) files as the production roll former. These settings can be
automatically transferred to ScotSim.

ScotSim is automatically accessed from the panel software, therefore it must be installed in the correct file
location, which is. C Drive Program Files SCS

ScotSim

When installed from an installation CD it will install in the correct location.

ScotSim produces a graphic of the location of all tool functions relating to each joint, and individual items
in a panel or truss can be selected and have the centre positions of all their tool functions displayed.
Updating ScotSim. (Currently unavailable)
Updates to ScotSim can be checked for, online, by selecting the Update Button.

And clicking Check for Update

If an update is available, Get Update will be live. If not, it will be greyed out.

If an update is available, clicking the Self Update button will automatically update ScotSim.

To download the update manually, click Get Zip Update.

The file location where the last update was saved will appear. Change this if necessary.
Click Save. When the download is complete a notification will appear, which briefly describes the
procedure to update your version.

Installing Updates

To update your version, unzip the downloaded file. A password will be asked for. This is available from
your agent.

Enter the password and click OK. The file will unzip to a ScotSim.exe file.
To update your software, open the ScotSim folder, in C drive, Program Files SCS

ScotSim

and overwrite the existing EXE file with the new one.

ScotSim.exe

To download the RTF update, click on the Get Changes file button.( The button is greyed in the
example, but it will be live if an update is available)

It will save to the same file location as the ScotSim Update.

When checking for updates, if you have the current version Get Update will be greyed out. The RTF file
is still available.

Changing ScotSim Language.

ScotSim can be translated to most languages. In the example below Chinese.

Changing the language setting is covered in Chapter 1 Introduction. The explanation is based on
changing the language setting for the Design software, but the procedure is identical for ScotSim, except
that where the Design folder is referred to, substitute ScotSim.

Setting up ScotSim.
ScotSim uses the same jointing code as the ScotRF software, and needs the same tool settings to
produce an identical result.
The tool settings can be automatically accessed from the ScotRF software, for the particular type of roll
former being used, by clicking Settings,
 Mode

Select the mode being used (Truss or Panels)

In the Example, Panels, has been selected.
And clicking on Get ScotRF panel Settings

Using the standard windows menu, locate the ScotRF software being used. (In the example ScotRF
Panel version 2.0.0.31. This may not be your current version. )

Select the RFS file being used by the roll former. (In the example ScotRFPanel 700M.rfs, is being
selected) and click Open.
ScotSim will adopt the same tool settings as the RF Software.

Note. The settings displayed may differ from those in your selected rfs file.

The settings adopted in ScotSim will remain as the default until they are altered, or a new RFS file
is selected.

Settings entries can be manually altered or entered if required.

ScotSim Command and Settings.

Clicking the Application Menu Icon.

Will display the normal Windows, Open and Save Functions.

New.
Selecting New will open a new ScotSim window. This will be blank. No file is selected

Note. If the ScotSim that is already open contains a file, it will close that file, and replace it with the blank
screen. The old file will not be saved.

Open
Selecting Open will enable an ep2 an TXT, or TXnn file to be imported and displayed.
When an ep2, or TXnn, file contains more than 1 panel or truss, all the panels/trusses in the file will be
tested, and the last panel/truss in the file displayed. An analysis summary of all of the panels will display.
Individual panels can be selected from project view and analysed. This is explained later in the chapter.

Save as

Pausing on Save As displays various save options.

Metric
Selecting Metric, will save a TXT file in Metric format.

Imperial.
Selecting Imperial will save a TXT file in imperial format.

Sim Data.
Selecting Sim Data, will create a Sim file in txt format, of the items in the displayed panel. This can be
saved to any selected location.
This will display the item number, its length, and the centre position of each of the tool functions
performed on that item.
The number of each of the items in the panel can be obtained by right clicking on the item in
Adjust For Joints mode.
Example.

Item 1 details. Item 1 in the example frame below is the bottom plate.

Item
Selected
A dialog. box will display showing the item No, and a summary of the operations performed on that
member.

Item No

The Save Sim Data TXT file of Item 1 shows its length to be 3350.
It has no Notches.

Flats, Item 1 is flattened at 28.0, 577.3, 1135.7, 1694.0, 2252.4, 2810.7, and 3322.1

There are no Swages.

Item 1 has rivet holes at 27.1, 585.4, 1143.8, 1702.1, 2260.5, 2818.8, and 3323.0

Service holes are not reported in a Save Sim Data file.

Note. If ScotSim is operating in Truss mode, then the Sim Data file will display the truss machine tool
functions.
Options.

Selecting Options will display a menu.

Settings.
Selecting Settings, will display the Settings window.

Trusses/Panels.

Select the version appropriate to the application.

Panels.

Flatten tool Length.

Set to the length appropriate to the Rollformer. RF400 (50), RF500 (60), RF700 (60).

Notch tool Length.

Set to the length appropriate to the Rollformer. RF400 (40), RF500 (50), RF700 (50)

Cut Width.

Set to the length appropriate to the Rollformer. RF400 (2), RF500 (5), RF700 (5)

Flat / Notch Tolerance.

This sets the gap between the base of a notch, and the back of the tray.

Note. No allowance need be made for the thickness of the tray base.
 Flat / Notch
Tolerance

Service hole length. Plumbing hole length.

These are greyed out, and controlled from ScotSteel.

Swage Tool length.

Set to the swage tool length. RF 500, and RF 700, has a swage tool length of 65mm

Use Swage tool.

For RF 500, and RF 700, check the Use Swage Tool box to turn the function on.
For RF 400, uncheck the Use Swage Tool box. (RF 400 Roll formers are not fitted with a swage tool)

Joint Gap.

This sets the gap at all non vertical joints. These are joints, where the inserted member is not vertical.
E.G. Braces, Nogs etc.

Note. Joint Gaps are measured from the outside of the tray, and the thickness of the tray bottom profile
must be added the required gap.

Tray thickness

Vertical Joint Gap.

This is the same as Joint Gap, but applies only to vertical items. (Studs Joists etc)

Hole Distance.

The older ScotPanel software had limited intelligence, and there was no control over the amount of metal
left past the rivet holes.
The new ScotRF panel software has the same intelligent code as the truss software and now allows the
minimum to be set.

The Hole Distance is the minimum amount of metal left past the rivet holes.

Note. Fully engineered joints require (1.5x) hole diameters past the hole. (5 x 1.5 = 7.5mm)
Joints at angles around 90 deg, will be formed as per ScotPanel. As joint angles increase, the rivet hole
gets closer to the end of the tray. When the rivet hole reaches the End hole dist Minimum setting, the
software will notch the base of the tray, and forms the joint as per a notched joint. Excess steel must be
trimmed at assembly to fit the joint.

ScotPanel Joint.

ScotRF Panel joint.

Virtual Mitre.

Checking Virtual Mitre turns on the intelligent code.

Unchecked, it reverts to a similar code level that was used in the older ScotPanel roll former software
where no lugs were formed to guarantee the min hole distance. (See ScotPanel, and ScotRF-Panel
joints above.)
Ignore hole distance errors.

If Virtual Mitre is unchecked, all rivet holes that do not have the required min hole distance will display in
a warning box when Adjust for Joints is used

Checking Ignore Hole Distance Errors will not display the warning.

If Virtual Mitre is checked, the warning, will display joints where collisions occur.

Ignore Duplicate Operations.

Occasionally the software will perform operations in the same place. These can be caused when a stud
has a nog come into it from either side. The hole in the stud, is common for both nogs, therefore it can be
called twice.
These will be reported if Ignore Duplicate Operations is unchecked.
(ScotSim is used as a diagnostic tool in the software development, and duplicate operations are normal.
It is suggested that Ignore Duplicate operations be checked.)

Hole Height.

The new double rivet tool head has 2 hole heights. Each must be measured accurately.
This is the measurement to the centre of the rivet hole from the bottom outside of the tray. This should be
obtained from the roll former settings.

Hole Size.

This is the rivet hole diameter, and should be set to 5mm.

Lip Size.

This is the measured width of the lip, and should be obtained from the roll former settings.
Trusses.

Size of notch Punch tool.

The Notch punch tool is 25mm. Overlaps to ensure that notches are continuous have been allowed for in
the jointing algorithm.

Size of Cope Punch Tool.

The Cope punch tool is 25mm. Overlaps to ensure that copes are continuous have been allowed for in
the jointing algorithm.
.

Cope/Notch Tolerance.

This is the gap left between a cope or a notch at a joint.

Cope notch
tolerance
Joint Gap.

The joint gap is the clearance allowed when one member fits inside another.

Joint Gap
measured
overall base
of section

Min Hole Distance.

The Min Hole Distance, will be imported with the truss TXT, or TXnn file, and should not be altered. It is
normally set at 15mm.

Minimise Lengths for Mitred Ends.

Checking Minimised Mitred Ends shortens the outside member at pitch break joints so that when the
excess material is folded over the points do not overlap creating an extra thickness.

Unchecked. Overlap

Checked.

No Overlap
Require 2 points For Web-Web Joins.

Require 2 points For Web-Web Joins, only affects joins where neither member is a chord.

Point A

Point B

In the example above, point A is outside the sloped web.

Un-checking Require 2 points For Web-Web Joins, will allow the joint to form when Adjust For Joints is
used.

Checking Require 2 points For Web-Web Joins will prevent the webs from joining.
US Jointing.

Because most US roofs are sheathed, they require joints where nothing protrudes above the roof plane
line. To achieve this, the cope on some joints must be extended to the plane intersection.

Standard jointing US Jointing

By default the jointing is set to Standard Jointing. To turn on US jointing, check the US Jointing box.

US jointing is not recommended if the roof is not directly sheathed with OSB, ply etc.

Gauge Exported File Extension TX..

Truss files can be exported directly from ScotSim. If they are to be exported as TXnn files, the gauge is
entered in the box. (EG. If 20 is entered, the file extension will be TX20.)
Jointing Version: Hole auto:

These are reference numbers showing the jointing algorithm version number, and the Holeauto.dll version
number.

Ignore Duplicate Operations.

Frequently TrusPlus exports files with duplicate operations. They will be reported if Ignore Duplicate
Operations is unchecked.
(ScotSim is used as a diagnostic tool in the software development, and duplicate operations are normal.
It is suggested that Ignore Duplicate operations be checked.)

Hole Size.

This is the bolt hole size, and should be set at 10.

Flg Hole Height / Lip hole Height.

These are the flange hole and lip hole height settings from the roll former. There must be a vertical height
difference between the 2 settings of 18mm.

Lip Size.

This is the vertical height of the lip.

Lip Size

Font.

Selecting Font will display a window where the display font can be set.
Font.

As covered above.

Set rectangle width.

The width of rectangles is brought in with any panel or truss being viewed.
If a panel or truss is being drawn from scratch, the rectangle width must be set.
(Panels 38 or 45, Trusses 52).

Snapping.
Checking Snapping will cause any member being drawn, to snap to another member, if it is within a
scaled 25mm of that member.

Angle Snapping.
Checking Snapping will cause any member being drawn, to snap to a multiple of 5 degrees.
Unchecked, items can be drawn at any angle.
Display Options.

Bold Lines.

Checking Bold Lines, will cause the outline and tool function lines to become bolder.

Unchecked Checked.

Show 1m Grid.

Checking Show 1m Grid will display a 1 metre grid as a background on the screen.

Show Lip.

Checking Show Lip will display lip lines on Truss items.

Lip Line
Show Flattened lip.

Checking Show Flattened Lip will display flattened lip lines on Panel items.

Flattened Lip Line

Help,

Help.

Clicking Help will display basic help files that assist with drawing panels and trusses in ScotSim.

Mouse.
Diagram.

Keys.

Update.

Clicking Update will begin the process of updating ScotSim as explained at the beginning of the chapter.
About.

Clicking About displays the splash screen where the ScotSim version is displayed.

ScotSim
version
Number

To close the splash screen, click anywhere on the splash screen.

ScotSim Tool Bar.

Options.

Settings

Clicking the cog will display the settings screen, as explained above.
Clicking the word Settings, will display the settings menu as explained above.

Clicking the options menu arrow will display the settings Screen.

Editing.
Draw.

The Draw tool is only active in Just Rectangles mode.

To draw a rectangle, click on the Draw tool, and then click on the ScotSim display window where the
item is to start.
Draw the cursor to the finish point of the item, and click again.
Drawing the cursor from left to right will draw the item facing down, and from right to left, facing up.

Items can be flipped by right clicking on them to select their Rectangle Properties, and using the Flip
option.
Edit.

Left click on a rectangle to select it, click again on an end to grab it, move it to the desired location, and
then click again to release.

Make Horizontal

The Make Horizontal tool only becomes active when an item has been selected.
Select the item at the end that is to remain stationary

Click on the Make horizontal tool.

The item will snap to the horizontal.
Make Parallel

The Make Parallel tool only becomes active when an item has been selected.

Note. The item that is to be moved must be oriented the same way as the one it is to become parallel to.
In the example above they are oriented opposite ways, therefore the one to be moved will rotate approx
180 deg to match the original.

Before making the item parallel, change its orientation by selecting it with a right mouse click, which will
display its properties, and clicking the Flip tool, and then OK
 Right mouse
select

Select the item at the end that is to remain stationary.

 Select here

Make parallel to

Click on the Make parallel tool, then click on the item it is to be parallel to.

The item moved, can now be flipped back to the desired orientation.
Lock.

Clicking lock will lock all current items. The items will turn red.

Additional items may be added to the project, and these will be unlocked, and able to be edited.

To unlock the project, click the lock tool again.

If the lock tool is clicked for the third time, the complete project will lock.
Find.

Clicking the Find button will produce a box, where the name or number of the item to find is entered.

Enter the item identification, (in the example below 7). Click OK, and the item being sought will move to
the centre of the screen.

Item 7

Measure.

To create a measurement, click on the Measure tool, and then click on the first measurement point.
Move the cursor to the second point, and click again. The measurement will display.
NOTE. Measurement points must be the end of lines.
To move an item using the measurement, select the item to be moved, by clicking on it, click on the
measurement. A new entry distance box will appear.

Enter the new distance.

Click OK and the selected item will move to its new position.

Add Operation.

Note. Add operation is only active for trusses.

To add any of the tool functions to a truss, In Just Rectangles mode, select the item the functions are to
be added to.
Click on the Add operations tool. A window will appear where the added operations can be entered.

To add an operation, select the operation by clicking on the operation name, and then enter the operation
centre position from the start end of the item, in the Position box.

Click Add, and the operation will be added to the operations list.

Note. To find the start end of an item, look along its length from a position at one end. If the red flange
line is on the left, the end then you are at the start end.
 Start end

Multiple functions can be added to an item.

Note. The slotted hole is a special tool, and not fitted to standard Truss roll Formers.

The added functions will display their names in their positions on the graphic.

Items that already contain extra functions, can be edited by selecting them, and clicking the Add
Operation tool. The add an operation list for that item will appear, where it can be modified as necessary.
Update ScotSteel

Update ScotSteel only becomes active when ScotSteel is also open, and only works when a truss has
been selected.

The function of the Update ScotSteel tool, is the transfer any changes made to a truss in ScotSim, back
to ScotSteel. This is primarily for SCS development purposes, and should not be used, because
TrusPlus cannot accept some of the exports that can be created.

Once a truss has been altered in ScotSim, click on the Update ScotSteel button, and the alterations will
be mirrored in ScotSteel.

Truss in ScotSteel.

Truss opened in ScotSim.

And altered.

Click on Update ScotSteel

Debug.

Hide Adjusted Item.

Each item has a number. To find an item number in Rect. Mode, right click on the item.
Its Properties will display showing its item number.

Item Item
Selected Number
(Item 1)

In Adjust for Joints mode, right clicking on an item will display its details and its item number.

Item
Item Number
Selected.
(Item 1)

Click Hide Adjusted Item and enter the item number of the item to be hidden (In the Example Item 1)

Click OK and the item will hide.

Note. Only 1 item may be hidden at one time.

To show all items, enter 0 in the Hide Item box.

Hole Auto Coords.

This is a SCS development tool, and not for general use.

Show Debug Circle.

This is a SCS development tool, and not for general use.

Show Notches.

Show Copes.

Show Swages.
In Adjust for Joints mode, the positions of the various tool functions are displayed on the graphic.

Un-checking any of the boxes will turn off the display of that tool function.
Note. Functions not relevant to the ScotSim mode, (Truss/Panel) will be greyed out.

Version

Help.

Clicking Help will display 3 help screens.

Mouse.
Diagram.

Keys.

Update.

This has been dealt with previously.

About.

Clicking About will display the Logo splash screen showing the version Number.

In the example 376

Version
Number.
376

To close the splash screen, click on one of the corner rivets.

Adjustments.

Just Rectangles.

This mode displays rectangles without joint adjustments. It is used for drawing and adjusting/modifying
items.
Adjust for Joints.

This is the analysis mode, where joints can be analysed.

Quick access tool bar.

A user configurable, quick access tool bar. Click on the menu arrow for options.
Opening files in ScotSim.

ScotSteel Files.
ScotSim is designed to read ep2 files, as explained previously under open, or directly from Project view.

Ep2 Files.

To import an ep2 roll former file into ScotSim, the application menu icon, and select Open.

A list of recently opened files will appear in the right. Clicking on any of the files on the list will open it, or
use the standard windows file find system.

and select the ep2 file. (In the example Extra panels.ep2)
Open the file.

When the ep2 file contains more than 1 panel, all the panels in the file will be tested, and the last panel
in the epf file displayed. An analysis summary of all of the panels will display.

Importing panels and trusses from ScotSteel project view.

In Project mode, when a panel is selected, the right mouse menu has, Open the Selected Frame in
ScotSim, in the menu.

Clicking on Open the Selected Frame in ScotSim will import the selected frame into ScotSim and display
it in Rectangles mode.

Note. Occasionally the software will have difficulty recognising the file path to ScotSim, and ScotSim may
not open. With the frame selected, click File, Export to RF, Open Selected Frame in ScotSim
ScotSim will open and display the frame. The file path is now registered and future visits can be accessed
through the right mouse menu.

If multiple frames are selected when ScotSim is accessed, the last frame selected will display.
No analysis of the other selected frames will be done.

Note. Trusses imported into ScotSim from project View, contain only the truss envelopes. Webbing of
trusses is done in TrusPlus. After engineering in TrusPlus, if the webs are displayed in ScotSteel, they will
not transfer to ScotSim because they are a shadow reference only

Truss Files.

Truss TXT files can be opened in ScotSim, by selecting the required file and clicking Open

Truss TXnn files can also be selected, but because these normally contain more than 1 truss, all the
trusses in the file will be tested for errors, but only the last truss will display.

A test summary of all the trusses will display.

Using ScotSim from TrusPlus.

ScotSim that is part of TrusPlus is currently called Truss Sim.

A direct link icon is on the TrusPlus tool bar.

In TrusPlus, after a truss has been engineered, clicking on the Truss Sim, (ScotSim) icon will open that
truss in ScotSim.

Truss Sim
Icon

Using ScotSim.

Panels.

Viewing a panel in ScotSim, shows the orientation of the components and positions of all of the tool
functions, and enables the designer to check that joints will form correctly, and what altering certain roll
former settings will produce.

The orange line represents the base of the tray, and if Show lip is checked, a light grey line representing
the lip will display.

Lip line Base of the tray

Different tool functions, are designated by different colours.

Flatten (Pink)

Flatten

Swage (Blue)

Swage

Notch (Green)

Notch

The length and position of the coloured line, represents the exact length and position of the operation.
The green Notch line extends past the end of the member by 7mm. In the example RF700 settings have
been used with a sheer blade width of 5mm, plus the 2mm hard coded residual notch left in the next
member to prevent the sheer blade clipping the edge of the notch.
 Notch extends
2mm into next item

The notch line also has a black dot at the centre of each notch function.

Examining the indicated joint in the panel below.

Joint
Hide Item 33.

Joint Gap
Brace item notched to
create lug. Excess to be
trimmed at assembly

Brace item swaged

to fit inside nog

Nog flattened to
accept brace item

Hide item 34.

Flat/Notch tolerance

Brace item
notched over nog

Brace item
flattened over Flatten in nog for lower
nog brace item (Hidden)
Example Stud Plate joint.

Vertical Joint
Gap

Stud swaged to Plate flattened to

fit inside plate accept stud

Angled Joints.

The current Hole Distance set is 7.5mm

If the angled items were cut square at the Joint Gap distance (5mm), there would be less than the
required 7.5mm past the rivet hole.
 If angled items
cut square
5mm joint gap

Looking at the details of Item 17 below. The example shows the member to be 429.8 long, and the top
end hole has been punched at 420.3, which is the measurement to the centre of the hole.

Item length 429.8

Item 17
Top hole position,
420.3 to centre

429.8 minus 420.3 equals 9.5 minus 2.5mm (being half the hole dia.) equals 7mm.
With the current settings there would be only 7mm past the hole therefore the software has created the
lugs.
To remove the lugs an additional .5mm is required. This can be achieved by reducing the Joint Gap
from 5 to 4.5.

Reduce from 5 to 4.5

or, if the engineering of the frame is not critical, the minimum amount of steel required past the hole can
be reduced from 7.5 to 7mm.

Reduce from
7.500 to 7mm

Trusses.

Viewing a truss in ScotSim, shows the orientation of the components, and positions of all of the tool
functions, and enables the designer to check that joints will form correctly, and what altering certain roll
former settings will produce.

The orange line represents the base of the tray, and if Show lip is checked, a light grey line representing
the lip will display.

Base of the tray

Lip line

Different tool functions, are designated by different colours.

Cope. (Pink)

Joint Gap

Copes
Notch (Green)

Notch

The length and position of the coloured line, represents the exact length and position of the operation.
The green Notch line extends past the end of the member by 7mm. The Truss Rollformer has a sheer
blade width of 5mm, plus the 2mm hard coded residual notch left in the next member to prevent the sheer
blade clipping the edge of the notch.

Notch extends 2mm

into next item

The notch line also has a black dot at the centre of each notch function.

Checking for Collisions and overlaps.

The Roll Former software will attempt join any 2 members that are touching. Frames where close joints
occur should be checked in ScotSim, and altered if necessary before the panel or truss is sent for
production.
Trusses.

In the example below, the apex joint has close members.

Checking the joint in ScotSim, (Truss Sim) shows that the members in the joint will not join correctly.

By default, apex joints form to the left. In the example the right hand raking top chord is being blocked by
the left hand web member.
The left hand web member is also trying to join to the right hand top chord. (Producing the extra hole).

Return to TrusPlus, and move the top of the left hand web member to the left enough to avoid the
collision. In the example 20mm.
Re-engineer the truss, and view it again.

The joint is now OK.

Panels.

In the example below, the brace item is too close to the stud.

Brace too close

Viewing the joint in ScotSim will display the problem.

The stud has extended to attempt to join to the brace.

In ScotSteel, move the brace to the right away from the stud. (Approx 30mm).