Using MPanel Shade Designer A step by step tutorial on how to use MPanel Shade Designer

Start Page Enter job description including client and project name, quantity of sails required and date required Useful where more than one sail is required Enter project number, date, and user Job description ie special requirements Choose Units and precision Select ‘Next’ to move on

Materials Page Select Edge Style Select Fabric Brand Select Fabric Type Select Fabric Color Review Hem Size Review Fabric Roll Width and Stretch Values (1) Select Default Corner Hardware (1) Fabric Warp direction is along the length of the fabric (i.e. if roll is 50m long then the 50m direction). Typical Warp stretch for shadecloth is between 2% and 6%. Weft is the width of the fabric (i.e. if fabric width is 3m wide then the 3m direction). Typical Weft stretch for shadecloth is between 0.5% and 3%. Note stretch values vary depending on applied stress – you may need to override default values - smaller sails require less tension and will therefore stretch less than large sails. Review Corner Hardware sizes Select ‘Next’ to move on

Measurements Page Sail measurements should be taken from the actual connection points for most accurate results – if this is not possible, ground measurements may be used with caution Enter distances between connection points using the sketch on left as a guide (shows which corner is labelled A and B etc.. Select Number of connections 3,4,5 or 6 Diagonal dimensions Enter sails connection point heights Enter sail connection link lengths – i.e. the distance between corner hardware and connection point. Choose warp direction Choose 1 or 2 panels Specify the curve depth Select ‘Next’ to move on If the cable runs around the corners, then you must specify even tension on all sides

Select ‘Next’ to move on Calculations Page After clicking ‘Submit Design’, program will build and test the model and dimensions in the background and report the results in this screen. Example of feedback for opportunities to improve design – in this case we are being advised we have forgotten to include link lengths in our design. MPanel Shade Designer will abandon the calculations if measurement errors are 3% or over, or if our formfinding algorithm finds it unbuildable with the current settings. OR Remember to save your project for future use if required! Select ‘Next’ to move on

Visualization Page This page allows you to review your design and make sure the sail is as expected and will suit customers needs. You can also choose to pan, orbit, or zoom using our navigation buttons or mouse buttons. Sail can be rotated using normal CAD views. Here you can show potential clients what their sail will look like in the color they have chosen

Patterns Page Fully dimensioned Panels are created…ready for you to take to the shop floor to be cut. Hems and seams have been added and panels have been shrunk according to fabric specs. Patterns may be exported as a dxf to be used by a cutting machine or taken directly into a CAD program.

Estimations Page This screen provides estimates of fabric and material fittings and quantities. Cable length details are provided here for individual edges. You can calculate costs using roll length cost or fabric area cost.

Production Report This page provides the final pattern output report, giving the option to setup the page and print out the pattern. Pattern detail printed out along with warp direction Space to allow production staff to record names and dates of personnel involved in completing the fabrication

Databases With our Custom Databases you can make a library of your own fabrics, edge hardware, and corner hardware Edge Hardware is easy to customize for any type, be it webbing, cable, or straight edges. Names, sizes, and costs of frequently used Corner Hardware are easily added to your database. It is fast and easy to add all the iinformation you need about a fabric…available colors, roll width, %stretch factor, and even cost can be added…making your cost estimates automatic!

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