# Optimise cross section \[SOLVED\]

**URL:** <https://femdesign.discourse.group/t/optimise-cross-section-solved/501>\
**Category:** Grasshopper\
**Tags:** solved\
**Created:** [4 May 2025 17:39 UTC](https://femdesign.discourse.group/t/optimise-cross-section-solved/501 "2025-05-04T17:39:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Magnindre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@Magnindre](https://femdesign.discourse.group/u/Magnindre)\
**Post date:** [4 May 2025 17:39 UTC](https://femdesign.discourse.group/t/optimise-cross-section-solved/501/1 "2025-05-04T17:39:16Z")

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I’m using Grasshopper to create a model and using Desig.Define to optimize the cross-sections. When I use this function, it only selects from HEA sections. I want it to go through several types of cross-sections—not all, but the ones I choose. How can I get the setting from the Bar design parameters into grasshopper?

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**Author:** ![anLor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@anLor](https://femdesign.discourse.group/u/anLor)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2025 16:43 UTC](https://femdesign.discourse.group/t/optimise-cross-section-solved/501/2 "2025-05-06T16:43:01Z")

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Hi! 👋

Try using the `Config` component from the ‘Calculate’ tab and the `FEM-Design.SetConfigurations` component from the ‘StruSoft - LiveLink’ tab. In `Config` select the ‘SteelBarDesignParameters’ option from the dropdown and then you can specify the utilization limit and the sections for the design.

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/femdesign_api/original/1X/e4d65ac5697c90e82f243423d0012fbb97d8bbb9.png)

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/femdesign_api/original/1X/5b5495f80af6a61648408a9a244f14c8c6f211d8.png)

I’ve attached a sample file to explain better.  
[sample.gh](https://femdesign.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/zOJWMbeg8xnYejhRnWDyc2FvaIp.gh) (23.6 KB)

Let me know if you have further questions.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Magnindre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@Magnindre](https://femdesign.discourse.group/u/Magnindre)\
**Post date:** [6 May 2025 22:18 UTC](https://femdesign.discourse.group/t/optimise-cross-section-solved/501/3 "2025-05-06T22:18:06Z")

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That worked thank you! Is there a way to check off the “Consider deflections, if available”?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![anLor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aca169/32.png) [@anLor](https://femdesign.discourse.group/u/anLor)\
**Post date:** [7 May 2025 09:36 UTC](https://femdesign.discourse.group/t/optimise-cross-section-solved/501/4 "2025-05-07T09:36:37Z")

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This parameter is not yet implemented in our API. We also need to update the design configuration file (cfg.xml).

There are two ways to set these configurations for the design. One is to use the `Configs` component, and the other is to use the configuration file (cfg.xml). For more details, see the documentation here: [LiveLink | FEM-Design API](https://femdesign-api-docs.onstrusoft.com/docs/grasshopper/basics/livelink#set-design-configurations)

Until we implement this checkbox, please use this file:  
[cfg\_cons-defl.xml](https://femdesign.discourse.group/uploads/short-url/h2G7ugq89XOgrlzleYTMD0Dql1a.xml) (133 Bytes)

This file contains the `fConsiderDeflection` parameter, which you need to set to true if you want to enable the ‘Consider deflection if available’ checkbox.

 ![image](https://europe1.discourse-cdn.com/flex017/uploads/femdesign_api/original/1X/c7715656bdc65d5444f2d0506742b9c0b318005b.png)

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Magnindre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/87869e/32.png) [@Magnindre](https://femdesign.discourse.group/u/Magnindre)\
**Post date:** [13 May 2025 07:51 UTC](https://femdesign.discourse.group/t/optimise-cross-section-solved/501/5 "2025-05-13T07:51:08Z")

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thank you, that worked 🙂