Creating a Glulam

[Anonymous]

i am having trouble creating a glulam which will support the roof of a church i am working on. I use the slab tool to get it shape yet it is flat laying down on the ground and i need it standing up vertically in order to use it the way i would like to. I tried to figure it out using GDL yet keep getting lost in the process. A detail explanation would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Nick,

It sounds like you want to create a Glulam column, if its a regular rectangular shape use the Column Tool. If a beam is what you're after try the Beam Tool.

AC 10 has some real advantages in the revised Beam Tool. You should denote your AC version in your Profile.

[Anonymous]

If it is a portal frame or similar shape, draw your slab the shape you want in elevation (sounds like you already have), select the slab, view from what would be above in 3D window, and save as an object. Place the object as necessary.

HTH

[Anonymous]

Ok so i did that, now an Error pops up. I am able to see the object created on the 2d model yet when switching over to 3d it says "Invalid 3d symbol. Open the library part for editing and check its 3d scripts for errors. " What could be wrong.

[Richard Morrison]

You might also check your Help menu. There are some excellent instructions under "Introduction to Object Making", written by David Nicholson-Cole. I doubt you'll need to get into GDL for this.

[Anonymous]

ive found that the tube command is definately the best for creating simple beams with profiles but a more simpe option is prism

[Anonymous]

If we are talking about making a beam,
wouldn't using TrussMaker be the simplest
way to make a GDL object ?
Peter Devlin

[Richard Morrison]

Nick wrote:
Ok so i did that, now an Error pops up. I am able to see the object created on the 2d model yet when switching over to 3d it says "Invalid 3d symbol. Open the library part for editing and check its 3d scripts for errors. " What could be wrong.

It just occurred to me that you might be trying to save it from the plan window, rather than the 3D window. (which is necessary for a 3D object)

[Anonymous]

Richard wrote:

Nick wrote:
Ok so i did that, now an Error pops up. I am able to see the object created on the 2d model yet when switching over to 3d it says "Invalid 3d symbol. Open the library part for editing and check its 3d scripts for errors. " What could be wrong.

It just occurred to me that you might be trying to save it from the plan window, rather than the 3D window. (which is necessary for a 3D object)

You can also save from plan: File > Libraries & Objects > Save Selection As...

But this only gives the top down (plan) view. For anyone who doesn't know: To get another direction as the "top" requires looking at it in elevation in the 3D window (usually at 90°).

[Anonymous]

I just cant seem to get it, i am doing exactly as you are all saying, creating the object in 2D using a slab. Then i select Image>3D Projection settings and view the object at 90 degrees in perspective mode at a side view. When the object appears in the 3D window i select it and save it under [b]File>GDL Ojects>Save 3D model as. And the same Error keeps occuring.