About the Pre Configurator

The Pre Configurator is used to pre-determine the components and properties of a pallet rack. The benefits of using the Pre Configurator include:

• Create multiple pallet rack configurations
• Customize a pallet rack before placing it in the drawing
• Ability to save and reuse template configurations

The types of components included in the Pre Configurator are Clearance, Compartment, Bay, Frame, Racking, and Flue Gap. More information on each component is listed further down in this article. 

Using the Pre Configurator

To open, click Pre Configurator in the Settings component section.

1. The Add New, Duplicate, Remove, and Rename tools are used to create and edit the tabs (or types) of configurations in the Pre Configurator.
   • Add New will add a new tab/type.
   • Duplicate will add a copy of the selected tab/type.
   • Remove will delete the selected tab/type.
   • Rename will make the tab/type name editable.
   • Remove and Rename does not work with the Default tab.
2. This is where the tabs/types are located. Each tab represents a new configuration. The selected tab will be the configuration used when placing the product in the drawing.
3. There are five Types of Components listed in this section: Clearance, Compartment, Bay, Frame, Racking, and Flue Gap. Each has a specific set of properties used to create a configuration.
4. The Properties for the Types of Components are viewed and edited in this section. 
5. The Preview Window allows you to zoom by scrolling in and out or you can click and hold to rotate the object. These objects reflect the current properties and will update with any changes.
6. The Save button will save just the selected tab/type. If you have multiple tabs/types, you will need to save each one individually. Because these files are saved locally, they can be moved or shared. The Load button will allow you to browse for a previously saved configuration.

Types of Components

Clearance

The Clearance is the distance between two parts or components.

1. Aisle: Load to Load is the distance between one row to another.
2. Flue Space: Load to Load is the depth of the Flue Gap.
3. Beam: Frame/Load to Load is the distance between the Unit Load and the Frame.
4. Load to Beam is the distance between a Unit Load and the Beam above it.

Compartment and Bay

A Compartment is a space where pallets are stored and consist of the horizontal (beam) and vertical (upright) components. A Bay is a set of stacked Compartments between two uprights.

Frame

A Frame is the vertical upright component of a racking system that transfers the weight of the stored load to the ground. Typically, a frame consists of two uprights, struts that brace the two verticals, and footplates.

• A Foot Bolt is an anchor located at the bottom of the frame. Bolts are used to secure the rack to the floor for better stability. You can choose to have either two bolts per foot or four bolts per foot.
• Material gives you the option to add color to your frame!
• There are four Bracing Types available. The type of brace used depends on the racking support requirements. The four types are D-Bracing, K-Bracing, X-Bracing, and Z-Bracing.
• Bottom Storage Level: distance between the first beam and the first frame hole.
• Hole Pitch: distance between two frame hole.
• First Hole Height: distance between the first frame hole and the floor.
• Inner Frame Height: total height of inner frame.

Outer Frames are on the outer edges of the system.

Inner Frames are on the inner parts of the system.

1. Outer frame height difference: distance between the bottom of pallet to topmost part of the outer frame.

2. Outer frame height: total height of outer frame.

3. Upright Depth: depth of the upright of the frame.

4. Foot: The square base at the bottom of frame

Racking

• The Row Layout options are Single End, All Single, or All Double. 
  • Single End indicates a set of rows will start and/or end as singles. 
  • All Single indicates all rack sets are singles only.
  • All Double indicates all rack sets are doubles only.

This image visualizes the different Row Layout options.

Flue Gap

A Flue Gap gives space in between racks in the event of a fire for the fire to vent upwards. It also allows a sprinkler system to extinguish the fire or keep it from spreading.

• You can specify the thickness of the Frame Spacer as well as add an offset measurement from the top of the frame from within the Flue Gap tab in the Pre-Configurator.
  
  
• Frame Spacer Offset from Top: distance between the Frame Spacers and the topmost height of the Frame.
  
• You can also set the desired number of Flue Spacers in a racking configuration.