K3-Tent is a specialised software for design of tensile membrane structures design

K3-Tent Software

K3-Tent is a software suite intended for designing tent structures. The software helps speed up the compilation of design documentation and improve the quality of manufacturing order preparation for any tent structure shape. The K3-Tent suite provides highly visual and effective tools for designers to work with surfaces of any complexity. In addition, K3-Tent significantly reduces the time required for finding the shape of the envelope, visualizing the final structure, marking a cutting line, and unfolding pieces. The K3-Tent suite is a further development of the FABRIC CAD System.

What К3-Tent software provides

  • Significantly speeds up the development of new designs and the issue of design and process documentation
  • Reduces the costs of developing design and process documentation
  • Increases the skills of employees and their readiness for future innovations
  • Improves operational efficiency through teamwork using a shared information environment

K3-Tent Software Operating Principle

The K3-Tent Suite provides the ability to draw up architecture, construction, and manufacturing documents required to make tent structures of any complexity. K3-Tent software simulates the shape of a “soap film” surface for a specific frame. K3-Tent software simulates a soap film surface shape for a specific frame when retrieving it from the soap solution. The frame may be composed of rigid or stretchable (rubber) ribs.

  • The designer creates a frame consisting of straight sections and arcs.
  • The designer sets the frame rib boundary conditions (loose, hold fixed, fixed length, etc.).
  • The designer specifies if a facet should or should not be used in creating a surface.
  • The software automatically calculates the shape of the envelope.
  • The designer checks the correctness of the shape by using an isoline plotting tool and a heat normal map.
  • The designer marks cutting lines on the envelope.
  • The software automatically cuts the envelope into pieces and unfolds the pieces.
  • The software can be used to export unfolded pieces to .dxf format.

Step by step instruction

The design process with K3-Tent system can be conventionally subdivided into 6 steps:

Creation of the Frame object on the basis of set of spatial straight lines and circle arcs which defines links and tent constrains.

Definition of boundary conditions for the Frame edges and nodes

Creation the surface of the tent by the system automatically.

Tracing cutting lines on the surface of cloth. The system cuts the tent surface to patches automatically.

Development patches pattern by the system automatically.

Fabric patterning, cutting, welding and tent surface assemblage.

Designing tent structures with the K3-Tent Software consists of three stages

To create a tent structure, the system uses a special object called Frame. A frame is a set of interlinked spatial lines. These lines are straight sections and/or arcs. A frame is a template for the future tent structure. Frame nodes shall correspond to the awning cloth fastening points. Closed topological triangles or squares of the frame are automatically perceived by the system as cloth pieces. Therefore, the designer must make sure that there are no triangles or squares on sections of the structure not to be covered with cloth. The designer’s task is to create a frame. The system automatically finds the cloth surface. The implemented algorithm ensures that the cloth surface has no “bubbles,” folds, etc.

Creating the cutting pattern for the designed awning cloth is one of the most important and critical stages of the design. The cutting pattern means dividing the awning cloth into individual pieces and then generating a flat pattern for each cloth patch. When dividing the cloth into patches, it should be kept in mind that each patch is a part of the surface with double curvature, which cannot usually be unfolded precisely. We call this unfolding procedure “2D mapping,” and it can only be done approximately. The less the cloth circuit’s Gaussian curvature, the higher the accuracy of the 2D mapping. Normally, 2D mapping allows patterns to be generated with linear sizes 1%–2% lower than that of corresponding lines on a curved surface. Therefore, a suitable tolerance must be applied for the cutting pattern. The designer plots mark lines and cutting lines (future seams) on the created 3D model of the awning. Several different line plotting algorithms are implemented in this version of the system, including an algorithm for plotting the shortest path between two arbitrary points.

The K3-Tent suite allows the designer to automatically generate cutting patterns for fabric cloth patches. The designer only needs to specify the required piece or select all pieces of a cloth. The cutting pattern can be exported to .dxf format for future use.

Looking for Training?

We offer authorized training for К3-Tent, get certified locally and recognized globally today.

Types Of License We Offer

Perpetual Licenses
Duration: Lifetime info
See Pricing
  • Customised training
  • Maintenance - Unlimited Support
  • Suitable for in-house design teams
  • Bulk Discounts
  • Long-term investment
  • Perfect for Institutions & Corporates
  • Available for all software we sell
Subscriptions Licenses
Duration: Customisable info
See Pricing
  • Customised training
  • Unlimited Support
  • Suitable for in-house design teams
  • No bulk discounts
  • Less expensive upfront
  • Perfect for MSME's
  • Available for all software we sell

Who Can Benefit

  • Tensile Structure Manufacturers
  • Tensile Structure Designers
  • Academicians

System requirements

  • Processor 3-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo;
  • Computer memory 2 GB;
  • Graphics card NVIDIA Geforce 8600 with 512 Mb memory or more;
  • Monitor diagonal 20″ and more. Screen resolution 1600х1200;
  • CD ROM, two-button mouse with a scrolling wheel;
  • Free 300 Mb of hard disk space;
  • Supported operating systems Windows 7, 8, 10
  • Processor 800 MHz Intel Pentium III;
  • Computer memory 128 Mb;
  • Graphics adapter SVGA with 64 Mb of memory;;
  • CD-ROM;
  • Free 300 Mb of hard disk space;
  • Standard mouse;
  • Supported operating systems Windows 7, 8, 10

Talk With An Expert

Our К3-Tent experts are available round the clock to assist you, go ahead and connect now.

Customer's Feedback

It was really a fun experience using S-FOUNDATION. It is an easy-to-use software especially with an attractive interface (GUI). I have been teaching soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering & foundation engineering courses for the past 17 years in Malaysia with experience in PLAXIS.

Youventharan Duraisamy
University Malaysia Pahang

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Frequently Ask Questions

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