topic Re: Stragegy for movable building parts in Libraries & objects

Stragegy for movable building parts

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:55:50 GMT

I was wondering if there are any thoughts out there on how to manage movable elements in a building model. I'm working on a project with a series of adjustable louver panels. The panels pivot from a hinge to provide shading. I'm trying to find a way have "open" and "closed" versions of these parts so I can generate sections and elevations that show the different conditions. The best I've been able to do so far is simply copy everything into a new layer, but obviously this doesn't update when I make changes to the original objects. Hope this makes sense....

I've attached some views of sketchup model to get the general idea...

Thanks

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 22:56:33 GMT

open...

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

David Larrew — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 23:17:07 GMT

What you are wanting is exactly what GDL is for. You could make 2 static Objects or create a single GDL Object that is scripted to show "Open" and "Closed" versions of your building parts.

Of course if you do not know GDL, you could contract with one of the many freelance GDL developers out there such as myself. If you would like a quote for my services, please PM or e-mail me.

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

Dwight — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 01:20:42 GMT

The problem with the GDL approach is lack of easy shape editing, not to mention the torture of scripting. Of course, if you want to make an animation of the louvres swinging up, ROTX GDL scripting of the final design is the way to go.

I agree that layer combinations are the answer for easily showing basic position alternatives, but by referencing a related complex profile.

To represent any tilting situation, I'd use the complex profile to describe louvre shape and spacing, produced with extruded walls. It is easy to simply cut and paste the different arrangements into a complex profile for each angle.

When you change the initial profile, you merely copy the new shapes to the other complex profiles and use underlying linework to guide the rotation.

If you keep the plan rotating point, the tilting will be hinged.

See the attached image for the kind of matrix I mean.

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:02:16 GMT

Thanks for the ideas.

I'm definitely trying to avoid going the scripting route, not part of my current skill set, although I am curious how one might solve this same problem with existing library parts that have "open/close" functionality. As far as I can tell, there doesn't seem to be a way to show different modes of operability in different drawing views (for example, showing a door/window open in a perspective, but closed in an elevation).

I have been playing around with complex profiles, but I'm not sure if I totally follow your idea Dwight. Would I end up with two different extruded walls, on two different layers? If so, how can I link them together? I'd like to be able to move/edit one unit, and have the associated "open/closed" geometry move all together.

Can I use groups to do this? Or a module?

Thanks

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:05:53 GMT

nick wrote:
Thanks for the ideas.

I'm definitely trying to avoid going the scripting route, not part of my current skill set, although I am curious how one might solve this same problem with existing library parts that have "open/close" functionality. As far as I can tell, there doesn't seem to be a way to show different modes of operability in different drawing views (for example, showing a door/window open in a perspective, but closed in an elevation).

Thanks

Cadimage Door and Window Builder objects do exactly that. See below.

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 20:16:53 GMT

I've been using the CadImage tools. They're great BTW. I guess I should have been more specific in my request though. There's no way (such as layer combinations) to control operability on a view by view basis: open in one section, closed in another for example. As far as I can tell....

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

Anonymous — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:03:03 GMT

The amusing thing about this thread - the original screenshots of the open and closed screen look like they are from Sketchup.

And of course animation is altogether possible in Sketchup..

Another reason why GS better look out for SU 10.0!!!
(Google add wave as a module to SU for teamwork, bundle all the 3rd party apps that add functionality and roll their layout program into SU, and what-do-you-know?!)

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

Dwight — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:31:40 GMT

rwallis wrote:
the original screenshots of the open and closed screen look like they are from Sketchup.

It is said to be so in the original post.

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 02:27:19 GMT

ok - maybe I didn't read that but my point is - the desired outcome can be achieved natively...and it's more than AC can do!

Re: Stragegy for movable building parts

Dwight — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 03:17:57 GMT

Fancy and superficial:

SketchUp might be a good girlfriend but Archicad has spouse potential.