Overview
The torque tube and the pile layout decide how long a tracker table is, how high its modules sit and how far each pile stands out of the ground. PVX.AI models them on every tracker type (single row, multi-row and terrain-following), so pile reveals, clearances, sections, the BoQ and the pile export match the hardware. This guide explains each setting in Tracker Settings and when to change it.
Prerequisites
A tracker spec open in Tracker Settings (Database > Products > Racks > Create Tracker, or an existing tracker). The vendor’s tube dimensions and pile drawing.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Model the torque tube
In the Torque Tube section, tick Model torque tube. It is off by default, and then the tube is treated as a line on the rotation axis. Turn it on whenever you know the tube dimensions:
- Diameter: outer diameter of the tube.
- Bottom Gap: from the pile top to the bottom of the tube (the bearing or saddle height).
- Top Gap: from the top of the tube to the underside of the modules (rails and clamps).
The rotation axis then sits at pile top + Bottom Gap + half the Diameter. Clearances and pile reveals are measured against this real geometry, and cross-sections draw the tube and the pile-head bearings.
2. Set the tube extensions
Tube Extension, Left and Tube Extension, Right are how far the tube runs past the first and last module. Together with the modules they give the frame length, which is the length Build Layout uses to space tables in a row. While the two values are equal, typing the left one updates the right one too, so a symmetric tube stays symmetric. Enter a different right value only when the vendor’s tube is longer at one end.
3. Set the height
- Rigid trackers (single row and multi-row): Ground Clearance is the lowest module edge above flat ground at the maximum rotation angle.
- Terrain-following trackers: Reference Height is the design height of the lowest frame edge on perfectly flat ground. The form shows the above-ground pile length this implies right next to it. Reference Height is not a guaranteed minimum clearance on real terrain; the ground clearance band in Mechanical Constraints checks that.
4. Lay out the piles
On Automatic, enter Number of Piles and Distance Between Piles and the piles stay on the frame, evenly spaced. On Manual, click Pile Schedule to enter the vendor layout: Left overhang from the frame end to pile 1, every Pile span, Motor gap and TFT joint rows at their positions, and the derived Trailing margin. Set All, Paste distances, + Pile, + Motor gap and + TFT joint build the table quickly. The full walkthrough is in Creating Trackers: Detailed Design.
A rigid tracker is anchored at the tube end, not at the module edge, so its left overhang is measured from the frame end and cannot be 0.
5. Piles at joints and breaks (terrain-following)
- Place piles at joints: puts a pile under every articulation joint, and spaces the segment’s piles between them. Clear it only for hardware that carries its joints between supports.
- Piles per Segment: supporting piles under each segment. With 2, every pile shares the segment’s straight line; with 3 or more, each pile reveal follows the terrain on its own.
- Add pile at each break (motor pier): adds one pile at the centre of every break, where the motor or cardan sits, on top of the per-segment piles. Nine per segment with one break gives 9 + 1 + 9 = 19 piles.
6. Save and check in the drawing
Click Save, place the trackers, then check them with Generate Cross-Section and Collision Analysis. Terrain-following torque tubes are drawn on the PVXAI_Racks_TorqueTube layer, purple where the frame meets its constraints and red where it is flagged indicative.
Tips & Recommendations
- Tube settings change pile reveals by the whole tube stack. If reveals in the field differ from the drawing by a constant amount, check Diameter, Bottom Gap and Top Gap first.
- Where two tables meet end to end at different heights, level the joints with Row Adjustment: Level Rows rather than editing the spec.
- Mirroring a tracker also mirrors its tube extensions and motor position.