topic Re: Constraining a walls length in Modeling

Constraining a walls length

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 21:51:43 GMT

I am building a concrete block wall but want to use only full blocks at lengths of 16 inches. Is there a way to create wall lengths in 16 in. increments? I've been playing with using the "special snap points" with distance set to 16 inches, but am so far unsuccessful. Perhaps there is another technique?
Ron

Re: Constraining a walls length

Link — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 22:57:20 GMT

One way to achieve this is to set your construction grid to 16", then you'll need to relocate your skewed grid origin (in the coordinate box) to the startpoint of each wall and turn your snap on.

A better(?) way would be to set your special snap points to a 'Distance' of 16", start drawing your wall then use your 'Snap Points on a Temporary Vector' relative construction method (the 6th one from the left) (and you can do this by hitting the D key), and drawing a temporary vector from the beginning of your wall and proceed modeling your wall until the desired length is reached.

Clear as mud? Check the attached animation to see it in action.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Constraining a walls length

Anonymous — Wed, 09 Feb 2005 23:17:55 GMT

Link wrote:
A better(?) way would be to set your special snap points to a 'Distance' of 16", start drawing your wall then use your 'Snap Points on a Temporary Vector' relative construction method (the 6th one from the left) (and you can do this by hitting the D key), and drawing a temporary vector from the beginning of your wall and proceed modeling your wall until the desired length is reached.

Very cool solution!

Woody

Re: Constraining a walls length

Anonymous — Thu, 10 Feb 2005 16:56:00 GMT

Link,
That's exactly what I was trying to do but couldn't get the sequence right.
Thanks for the demo -- it was very helpful.
Ron

Re: Constraining a walls length

Aussie John — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 02:45:28 GMT

I tried that method a long while back and gave up as being more trouble than it was worth.
If you are going to setout to brick or block module then you need to take into acount the block joints which change the wall length depending on whether a corner is internal or external.

Its a good option if you only need a quick "near enough good enough" setout

Re: Constraining a walls length

Anonymous — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 03:17:12 GMT

John,
For brick & mortar installations you are, of course, right. But for this particular installation, the technique works really well: I'm designing a segmental retaining wall that is mortarless, consisting of blocks of fixed width. The solution presented here is nearly perfect.
Ron

Re: Constraining a walls length

Karl Ottenstein — Fri, 11 Feb 2005 03:27:56 GMT

Another case where this method would work well is with ICFs, which have unit sizing. Both Rastra and Durasol blocks, for example, are dry stacked (or glued/foamed as needed) with no gaps.

Karl