Step joint end

A step joint end shapes the end of a strut so it presses into a receiving step notch.

Step joint end. Drawn by the editor's own geometry code; right: the carved part in 3D.

When to use it

Use it on the strut side of a step joint, for example a rafter foot or a brace. Put the matching receiving step notch on the other member.

Fields

Field	Unit	Range or options	Default	What it changes
Position X	mm	from 0	17	Start of the joint along the part, as the machine file writes it.
Face		Top, Bottom, Front, Back	Front	The side of the part the processing is on.
Orientation		start, end	start	The part end that gets the joint.
Profile		Step, Heel, Double	Step	Step, heel or both (double).
Strut inclination	°	0.1 to 179.9	45	Angle between the strut and the receiving member. 90° is not supported.
Step depth	mm	0.1 to 50000	15	Depth of the step, measured into the receiving member.
Heel depth	mm	0.1 to 50000	15	Depth of the heel, measured into the receiving member. Shown only for some settings of the other fields.
Splinter-free		Machine default, Off, Tool path	Machine default	Machining that keeps the edges from splintering. Machine default writes what each file normally has for that operation. BVX and BVN carry an explicit choice where the operation has the setting, and the export says so where it does not. BTLx has no such setting.

Default: what Add fills in on a 3000 mm part of 120 x 120 mm.

Add a step joint end

1. Select the part in the Parts list.
2. Under Extra processings, click Add.
3. Type step joint in the search field and pick Step joint end.
4. Set Face and Orientation, the part end that gets the joint.
5. Pick the Profile, then set Strut inclination and the depths.
6. Check that the part shows a green check. If not, open the Issues tab.

Caution

The step joint owns its part end: that end gets no other end cut. The whole joint must fit within the nominal part length. Add greys it out when neither end is free.

Machine export

Format	Status	Details
BTLx	Partly supported	StepJoint: plain step, heel or double strut end. It owns the part end.
BVN (Hundegger)	Partly supported	Step ends only, as one saw cut (0100) per face. Heel and double ends are experimental and included with a warning unless you leave them out. Operation 1001 for them is experimental and included with a warning.
BVX2 (Hundegger)	Partly supported	Step ends only, as one SawCut per face, as CAMBIUM writes them. Heel and double ends are experimental and included with a warning unless you leave them out. A SawCut with two Steps for them is experimental and included with a warning.
BTL 10.6	Supported	080 step, heel and double joints. Known receiver omissions produce a warning.

BTL status describes what the specification can represent. CAMBIUM imported our earlier BTL test files; confirmation applies to the tested forms and build. See BTL coverage for representation and receiver caveats.

Related pages

• Receiving step notch: Cut the receiving notch for a strut: step, heel or double profile. Fields, limits and machine export for the step joint notch.
• Tenon: Add a tenon to the end of a part to fit a mortise, square or at any angle for a brace or a rafter. Fields, handles, defaults and machine export.
• Queen post roof truss: A 7.2 m queen post truss at 40 degrees. Rafters and struts step into the tie beam and posts with heel step joints.
• Conic chamfer: Turn one end of a part into a cone, so the corners run out in a smooth taper. End, diameter, flank angle and machine export.
• Dovetail tail: A dovetail tail on the end of a joist that drops into a dovetail socket, square or at an angle. Fields, card, handles, Fitting and machine export.
• Profiled end: Shape the end of a part to a curve in one face, as a rafter tail: a hollow, a rounding or a cambered line. Fields, defaults and machine export.