Custom Door Handle

[Anonymous]

I've been trying to create a custom door handle, using mostly the beam tool. Once I select the objects, I choose libraries...save custom component. Then I choose this custom handle from the door object dialog box, but still I can't get my custom door handle to show up. It doesn't seem to be anywhere in the 3d space. I've tried to search thru the tutorials, forum, etc. but can't seem to find anything more than help with saving just the door leaf. Can someone please help with what I'm doing wrong?

Where around the 0,0,0 origin should I place the custom handle object?
Should I save the custom component from the 2d or 3d window?
What should the handle object's elevation be above 0?

Thanks for the help!

[Anonymous]

You should save it from the 3D window from the desired viewpoint.

Internally ArchiCAD models doors and windows as if they are lying flat and then rotates them into the opening. When saving as a library part ArchiCAD uses the 3D viewpoint to define the top view (and thus the 2D plan symbol).

Thus you should save from the view that would be the equivalent of looking at the door handle in elevation. I hope this isn't too confusing. It's a bit hard to put in words.

You may also have problems with the origin. ArchiCAD will automatically correct for this but it will adjust the part to insert at the lower left corner. I suspect that the door part will expect the handle to insert on the rotational axis of the knob/lever. To correct this I recommend modeling the handle with it's axis at the project origin (absolute zero on the ground floor). You can then delete the X, Y, Z transformations in the handle's 3D script to get it to insert where you want it.

[Karl Ottenstein]

Actually, elements saved from plan as custom components do not require any special 3D settings. The 3D orientation only matters for content saved as 'object' from the 3D window.

The door handle need not be at the origin, nor at zero z height. Just model the handle in plan as if looking at the door in elevation. In the 2D / plan window, select all of the bits of the handle and issue the Save Custom Component command, selecting custom handle as the type as it seems you've been doing.

Cheers,
Karl

[Jere]

Carl, if you do it that way, how do you get the handle to show up where you want? That is, I want a backset of 2 3/4" and a height of 3'4 1/2". How can I do that accurately?

Ideally, the origin point of the lockset (in my case a mortise lockset with escutcheon) should be at the centre point of the lever/rose.

[Karl Ottenstein]

Good point ... my last post has to be incomplete, as some origin must be used to determine the handle 'anchor' / center point.... Would have to experiment...

The position of the handle (center/bore?) is determined by the object parameters - attached screenshot.