topic Re: Railing tool - connecting segments in Modeling

Railing tool - connecting segments

insideru — Tue, 23 May 2023 16:02:52 GMT

Need some help with the railing tool. Don't know if its just me or this is buggy as hell, but I can't make it connect properly two segments under most situations.

Attached is what i am getting and what i am looking for (just the toprail, ignore the rest).

Re: Railing tool - connecting segments

Barry Kelly — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 00:46:29 GMT

You can change the connection type for each of the rails (toprail, handrails, rails).
You can also adjust settings for extensions and radii.

Barry.

Re: Railing tool - connecting segments

insideru — Thu, 12 Apr 2018 14:46:01 GMT

Cheers Barry, i know about those options, but they do absolutely nothing. Just the gooseneck, but that looks very weird.

Re: Railing tool - connecting segments

Barry Kelly — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 01:52:35 GMT

It might have something to do with the path of the railing reference line.
It is at the back of the tread coming down the flight, but when you turn the landing the first node is at the front of the tread.
You might need to ad an extra node directly below on the back of the first lower tread.

When I get a few minutes i will try to see if I can replicate the situation.

Barry.

Re: Railing tool - connecting segments

Barry Kelly — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 06:26:46 GMT

It can be done - but it is not easy to figure out.
Will be much easier next time - experience counts!

The thing is the front short piece of rail between the flights has to be at a different height to the rails on the flights.
So you need to do a small calculation in section.
At least this is how I did it, it may be possible in another way maybe.

These are the nodes you will need.
Easier to make them static (some have to be anyway as there is nothing to associate to).
You will need to determine the position to place the rail baseline which is the intersection of the flight baselines.
Do the entire rail with a zero side offset and then adjust the later to the flight rails if you want.
Make the corner posts 'Invisible' and give an end offset to the posts on the stair treads.
These are the settings for the rail ends.
Seems you will need a negative extension (doesn't seem to matter which one - but just for one).
And the end result.
You will need to adjust height of post bases because the nodes are static and will not lock to the stair.
Barry.

Re: Railing tool - connecting segments

insideru — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 16:17:22 GMT

wow! that looks very complicated for a simple rail segment connection.
i tried it and it works, even without the nodes on the flights, but it's very much a trial and error proccess.
That negative number is something i wouldn't have thought of trying.

Bottom line: this tool still needs alot of work.