topic Re: best way to make a curved beam in Modeling

best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Tue, 23 May 2023 13:15:33 GMT

I want to make a curved beam ( glu-lam ) for use in a ceiling ( structure )
I have played around with the roof tool, and adjusted the segment density. however it seems cumbersome and not as friendly.

Can I make one out of a slab and save it as a beam ??

or does anyone here have a better idea ?

thanks !

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:50:25 GMT

One fast way is to use TrussMaker.
TrussMaker works on centers so you need to adjust for this.
Also, the resolution of curves is set in the magic wand settings
so if you want to control resolution another way draw straight
segments with the polyline tool. TrussMaker will follow this
"path" when constructing the arch.
This is all assuming that the orientation of the beam's plane
of curvature is vertical.
Peter Devlin

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Dwight — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:14:46 GMT

Another fast way is to use the Complex Profile.

Draw the longitudinal elevation of the beam and then extrude it perpendicular to the span.

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:28:34 GMT

Yes, Dwight's method has the advantage of being able
to control the beam end condition such as plumb and seat cuts
and other things like notches for purlins, holes, etc.
You have to draw some edges (unlike TrussMaker) but it is almost as fast.
Peter Devlin

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:30:31 GMT

THANKS
that is a lot easier...

I tried both ways, they seem to be equally fast...

my headache is subduing..

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 03:54:29 GMT

I have to say I am very pleased that you tried both methods.
You have consequently acquired a ton of AC power.
Some users seem to be lazy and don't try out all the possibilities
suggested by other users and thus limit themselves.
Peter Devlin

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Dwight — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 04:04:32 GMT

You Bet!
That unheralded Complex Profile feature, now that AC 11 can curvewall the complex profile, is a key to doing many great things.

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Ralph Wessel — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:41:55 GMT

web_wallace wrote:
I want to make a curved beam ( glu-lam ) for use in a ceiling ( structure )
or does anyone here have a better idea ?

OBJECTiVE would be ideal for your purposes - you can either use the existing objects or draw a cross-section through the beam, and use the bend tool to shape it to the curve you require. Take a look at the example movie for the bending tools at http://www.encina.co.uk/objective.html

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 13:29:46 GMT

Ralph wrote:
web_wallace wrote:
I want to make a curved beam ( glu-lam ) for use in a ceiling ( structure )
or does anyone here have a better idea ?

OBJECTiVE would be ideal for your purposes - you can either use the existing objects or draw a cross-section through the beam, and use the bend tool to shape it to the curve you require. Take a look at the example movie for the bending tools at http://www.encina.co.uk/objective.html

Exactly with this way you can use roof tool. That is very classical and good way. It has advantage:
You receive 2D drw. from your engeeneer, and you can copy it and use it with roof tool.

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Ralph Wessel — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:19:08 GMT

Archi wrote:
Ralph wrote:
OBJECTiVE would be ideal for your purposes - you can either use the existing objects or draw a cross-section through the beam, and use the bend tool to shape it to the curve you require.
Exactly with this way you can use roof tool. That is very classical and good way. It has advantage: You receive 2D drw. from your engeeneer, and you can copy it and use it with roof tool.

I'm not sure we're talking about the same thing. Refer to the attached image - with OBJECTiVE you can draw a cross-section through the beam, create a beam object, bend it the required curve, and (optionally) shape the beam with the split tool. The beam can be bent to a different curve at any time without any reworking too.

I wouldn't want to do this with the roof tool - or did you mean something else?

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 18:56:55 GMT

Archi wrote:
Ralph wrote:
web_wallace wrote:
I want to make a curved beam ( glu-lam ) for use in a ceiling ( structure )
or does anyone here have a better idea ?

OBJECTiVE would be ideal for your purposes - you can either use the existing objects or draw a cross-section through the beam, and use the bend tool to shape it to the curve you require. Take a look at the example movie for the bending tools at http://www.encina.co.uk/objective.html

Exactly with this way you can use roof tool. That is very classical and good way. It has advantage:
You receive 2D drw. from your engineer, and you can copy it and use it with roof tool.

How do you use the Roof Tool with Objective? Or you mean roof accessory?

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 20:01:46 GMT

Profiled beam is impossible to make with roof tool.
Objective tool must be good (if already chased!).
In this case I prefer to use truss maker.

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 21:35:06 GMT

Archi wrote:
Profiled beam is impossible to make with roof tool.
Objective tool must be good (if already chased!).
........................

Do not get it

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Thomas Holm — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 06:06:48 GMT

I assume chased = purchased, meaning it's good if you have it. If not, not.

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Pete — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:15:22 GMT

Neat trick Dwight. Let's say Web wants to render these arches so they look like glulams (the stripes following the curve). It's a brain teaser I can't get my mind around. Any ideas?

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Dwight — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:49:11 GMT

1: Make an analytical side elevation of your curved beam. use woody line color.

2: draw the laminations with a woody line color.

3: Save image as Tiff or other quality file format.

4: In Photoshop, add color and noise to the image to simulate woodgrain seen at a distance. If you do the linework, I'll do the photoshop, but send it today because I am off to the Excited States all next week.
4: Make two material textures - one flipped for the opposite side - reload library for new texture image, etc.
5: Apply to beam sides as necessary
6: Use Align 3D tool to position.

If you'll be using the complex profile method, you'll be assigning the main material - this will appear on the "sides" of the cross-extrusion.

It is also important to place the complex profile shape on the origin to simplify texture alignment.

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Pete — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:13:30 GMT

I was hoping for something that changes with the profile so one can make a variety of laminated arches and not have to make specific textures for each. Would layering the profile create the lamination lines? I'll try it and get back.

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Dwight — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 17:47:40 GMT

Sure. You could leave a tiny gap between the planks - that would do it, but at the cost of many more polygons.

However, even though the photo method initially seems like a lot of work, if you ganged the job, it would get pretty quick.

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 11:26:14 GMT

Pete wrote:
Would layering the profile create the lamination lines? I'll try it and get back.

AFAIK, if you make the profile out of separate fills it works as long as the two adjacent fills are always different - call one wood1 and the next wood2 for example and layer them like a dobos torte (layered cake - see image linked).

Then no need for gaps, just a uniform surface but with lines separating where necessary. Different materials too can be applied to the different fills in the profile manager so when editing the profile no reapplication of textures required.

Re: best way to make a curved beam

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 12:50:25 GMT

web_wallace wrote:
I want to make a curved beam ( glu-lam ) for use in a ceiling ( structure )
I have played around with the roof tool, and adjusted the segment density. however it seems cumbersome and not as friendly.

Can I make one out of a slab and save it as a beam ??

or does anyone here have a better idea ?

thanks !

For your simple beam,
you can use roof tool (for your roof) and Profil manager (for your Beam)