Saving a custom profile metal fence profile as a railing panel

[mthd]

Hi all, I am wondering how I can save a custom metal fence panel created with the complex profile extruder into the library. I want to be able to access this custom panel from the railing UI to add it into my railing design. Is it actually possible without using any GDL scripting ?

[Lingwisyer]

Nope, BUT there was another post around here somewhere which could work if you are using a narrow sheet pattern and do not slope much. I think it was about setting the sheet profile as balusters.

https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Modeling/Using-AC21-Railing-for-Metal-Fence/m-p/219845#M119171
https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Modeling/Colorbond-panel-fence-created-with-editing-a-preset-rai...

[Barry Kelly · Accepted solution]

You can save a custom railing panel.

But from my experimentation, you must model it standing up and exactly the size you want the panel.

It will not re-size to suit the railing, like a custom door leaf does for a door frame - unless I have missed something.

So it is only good for a railing with a fixed panel size - i.e. fixed post to post distance and top and bottom rail heights.

Barry.

[mthd]

Hi @Lingwisyer, yes I found that post and read through it and I certainly could do it that way but I was hoping for a bit more accurate if possible ?

Thank you.

[mthd]

Hi @Barry Kelly, Yes I will have a fixed panel size for the main part of the fence. I can always make different sizes for odd parts of the fence panels. I might have to use the CI Objective tool to stand the complex profile sheets up or find some other way to do it ?  I have created the railing already I just want to insert the custom sheet profile into it.

Thank you for the library saving method above.

[Barry Kelly]

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@mthd wrote:

I might have to use the CI Objective tool to stand the complex profile sheets up or find some other way to do it ?  

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Or convert to a morph and rotate in 3D.

Barry.

[Lingwisyer]

The issue with using static panels is that your post to posts needs to almost perfecty match your panel size as as far as I know, you can only have 1 panel type per segment(?). So it will often not work, unless you are doing flat greenfield? My sites are never regular or flat...

[mthd]

True for flat sites. I do have some sloping parts to model but I may have to cut separate sheets for that. As you know a railing is supposed to slope because they are used for stairs and that is the next phase after doing the flat main area. I will post my results here if I succeed that is ?

Edit: I am using modular kit fencing that has fixed panel sizes for the main part of the fence. I only need cut sheets for the odd parts and the gates. Many colorbond sheet fencing types come in kits 2.4m long x 1.5m high etc.

[Lingwisyer]

Though while the sheets come as 2.4m, rarely is the fence a round mutiple of that so you end up cutting sheets to fit, which AC will not allow you to do, all or nothing... Most of these sheets can be reduced to a smaller pattern though which increases the chance that it will form a round number of sections, or at least close enough to not be noticable. If you need to schedule the number or sheets, schedule Inner Posts instead.

[mthd]

In the railing dialogue you can specify how the spacing options will work and hopefully the panel should follow those rules ? If it doesn’t, I can just place my odd size ones in manually.