topic Re: Concrete balusters in Libraries & objects

Concrete balusters

Anonymous — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:27:02 GMT

I must create automatically with AC 12 an entire stair (with a non-regular planimetric form) having marble/concrete balusters with a personal section profile. I think that's possible modifing some existing free add on or plug in about stairs, but I use AC 12 for a very short time so I'am yet unable to make this modifications on my own !
I have attached a file to be more clear .
Thank you.

Re: Concrete balusters

Ralph Wessel — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:08:57 GMT

spinamike wrote:
I must create automatically with AC 12 an entire stair (with a non-regular planimetric form) having marble/concrete balusters with a personal section profile. I think that's possible modifing some existing free add on or plug in about stairs, but I use AC 12 for a very short time so I'am yet unable to make this modifications on my own !
I have attached a file to be more clear .
Thank you.

I don't know a way to create the entire stair automatically - that might be asking too much. But you could model it from individual components with OBJECTiVE.

For an example modelling the balusters, take a look at this post. Note that you can cut the top of the balusters to a raking angle as required using OBJECTiVE's Split tool.

You could also make the other posts using OBJECTiVE's profiling, Split, and Rotate tools:

1) Place a Regular Profile object with the bounding size set to the column cap. Use the Split tool to cut off the chamfers, rotate it 90 degrees with the Rotate tool, and use Split to cut off the chamfers on the other edges. Then use Rotate to tilt it back onto the level.
2) Draw the profiles of the column face and make elevation profiles with OBJECTiVE's profile tool (OBJECTiVE->Component->New Profile). Stack the finished profiles on top of each other and use the Rotate tool to tilt them to a vertical plane.
3) Use the Split tool to cut the mitres to the column face, and mirror copies to all 4 sides.
4) Assemble the parts - result shown in 3D

Re: Concrete balusters

Ralph Wessel — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:12:49 GMT

spinamike wrote:
I must create automatically with AC 12 an entire stair (with a non-regular planimetric form) having marble/concrete balusters with a personal section profile.

I think it will be simpler if I repeat some of the basic instructions for the balusters here. Using OBJECTiVE and referring to the attached image:

1) Draw the baluster profile with the polyline tool and use OBJECTiVE's profile tool to make a new lathed object (the centre line of the swept shape is illustrated in the image);
2) A new swept object is created (plain GDL, works without an add-on, uses no macros);
3) You can further shape the object with OBJECTiVE's Split tool;
4) The completed baluster;
5) The ends of baluster can be further cut to suit different situations, e.g. to the slope of the stair;
6) The finished objects rendered.

Note that all the balusters in the rendered view are the same object (no additional objects are created by splitting), and the object can be archived or sent to others.

Re: Concrete balusters

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 17:30:41 GMT

After the creation of the components using methods such as those suggested by Ralph - either in Objective or using a combination of other tools - you will still need to place those elements onto your stairs.

Cigraph's ArchiStair 2 includes a feature for designing custom balustrades and railings, and having them placed as part of the automated stair construction. But, currently, it does not allow for an easy way to take any object and treat it as a baluster component - only assemblies of rotated or extruded profiles. The shapes that Ralph demonstrates are not possible. A good wish for ArchiStair is that these components could be any GDL object created with any tools (Save As, ArchiForma, Objective, etc).

I have not seen Cadimage Stairbuilder to know if it could place custom elements automatically. Anybody know?

Karl

Re: Concrete balusters

Anonymous — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 10:15:24 GMT

Ralph, thank you for the help. I use AC 12 for a short time, so to learn speed methods to create objects it’s very important for me !
Thank you also to Karl. If you are able to find some tool or information about the possibility to include personal objects in stairs, please inform me !
Michele

Re: Concrete balusters

Fabrizio Diodati — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 09:50:28 GMT

Dear Karl,

The shapes that Ralph demonstrates are not possible. A good wish for ArchiStair is that these components could be any GDL object created with any tools (Save As, ArchiForma, Objective, etc).

that's not true or, better, not totally true!
ArchiStair it's a very silly software... most of you consider it much more smart than it is!!!

ArchiStair doesn't know at all what is a post or a newel... it just do what you are saying to do so...

Of course, due to the fact it is so stupid, it cannot recognize a post from any other object... the way it uses to distinguish them is just looking at them subtype.

You well know, that ArchiStair 2.0, introduced a new way to select post and newel: you can click in the magnifying glass icon button and browse your loaded library looking for the elements belonging to this subtype which can be used in your railing.

Of course when you use the ArchiStair modelling tools to create this kind of element and then you save them they will automatically have this subtype...

Ok, look at the attached image... woman shaped posts!!!
What I did is really easy:

1. put the desired post in your ArchiCAD plan (I mean a post created using any tool you desire). In this example I used a woman from the ArchiCAD Library.
2. select it, display just the selection in the 3D window
3. set a plan view and save the 3D model as library part (please select binary format)
4. open this just saved object
5. assign it the proper subtype (AS2_Post_SubType) and...

that's all!

Friendly
Fabrizio

Re: Concrete balusters

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 10:55:26 GMT

Can you make the women dance Fabrizio?...

Now seriously. Great feature Fabrizio!

Re: Concrete balusters

Fabrizio Diodati — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:35:00 GMT

Can you make the women dance Fabrizio?...

No... they don't I never figured out about this issue but...
Of course there is an hidden parameter that lets you take off the clothes!

Friendly
Fabrizio

Re: Concrete balusters

Karl Ottenstein — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 17:36:34 GMT

Fantastic, Fabrizio! That adds even more power/flexibility to an already powerful tool. Cool.

Thanks,
Karl

Re: Concrete balusters

Steve Jepson — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:07:01 GMT

Braza wrote:
Can you make the women dance Fabrizio?...

Now seriously. Great feature Fabrizio!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64MCMCYqYkI&feature=related

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