Profile Builder released!

Whaat

here's another little glitch i am running into . . .I trace a path for a door casing and it seems to follow the path fine, but then when I finish the command. .there's nothing there!

Whaddup???

Is this repeatable? Are you using SU6 or SU7? Any error messages in the Ruby Console? Check your outliner window to see if the member was created.

utiler

Dale and All,
I am building a library of AU specific profiles for UB's, UC's, PFC's, EA's, UA's, RHS, SHS, CHS, etc, etc..

Dale, I noticed you built the basic profile without the radius on edge. I am building the library with a 3 to 6 sided curve to depict the real thing.
Also, for RHS, CHS, SHS profiles I was only going to create the external profile, not inclduing wall thicknesses. [in some cases steel thicknesses are 1.6mm]

Any thoughts either way?

When I'm done, I'll let you know and PM me if you'd like me to email you the libraries....

Whaat

@utiler said:

Dale and All,
I am building a library of AU specific profiles for UB's, UC's, PFC's, EA's, UA's, RHS, SHS, CHS, etc, etc..

Well, I had intended to provide a AU steel library at some point. It is not difficult for me to do it. If you have a spreadsheet of the section properties I could save you the trouble. Real-world accuracy is very important so please double-check your dimensions before submitting the library.

@unknownuser said:

Also, for RHS, CHS, SHS profiles I was only going to create the external profile, not inclduing wall thicknesses. [in some cases steel thicknesses are 1.6mm]

Thanks but I can't directly use a profile that is not composed of a solid face. 1-D profiles may never be supported by PB. I haven't decided yet.

Thanks!

utiler

@whaat said:

Well, I had intended to provide a AU steel library at some point. It is not difficult for me to do it. If you have a spreadsheet of the section properties I could save you the trouble. Real-world accuracy is very important so please double-check your dimensions before submitting the library.

I actually jumped the gun last night Dale and got into it!!! I have compiled UB's, UC's and PFC's so far. Yes, I have section properties of actual sizes and have diligent in creating actual real world sizes. [some webs and flange sizes needed to be rounded up or down to the nearest millimeter; I don't think 0.5mm will be a drama!!]

@unknownuser said:

Thanks but I can't directly use a profile that is not composed of a solid face. 1-D profiles may never be supported by PB. I haven't decided yet.
Thanks!

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. I mean the CHS profile from the face created by the outside diameter, not the 1.6mm - 6.0mm thickness of the member. Obviously, just trying to cut down on faces....

Whaat

Phil Rader has graciously created a profile library of concrete curbs. It is now available on the Smustard website: http://www.smustard.com/script/ProfileBuilder. Thanks so much Phil! I welcome any others who wish to share their library files. If you are interested, you can send it to the email address at the bottom of the Smustard site.

thomthom

@jclements said:

Dale:
Question: Were closed paths supposed to meld at their start/end vertex? I see some other folks have noted this but I didn't see a response.

They are supposed. But they don't always. I find that it's more likely they'll connect if the position point is a point on the profile path. And instead of connecting the start and end at a corner I start somewhere on a straight path.

JClements

Dale:

Pretty darn neat.

[Question: Were closed paths supposed to meld at their start/end vertex? for example, draw an rectangle and delete its surface and use it as a path. [Edit.] However, when I draw an edge which intersects and breaks one of the rectangle's side, then a continuous rectangular extrusion is formed. [End Edit.] I see some other folks have noted this but I didn't see a response.

[Question: I also discovered that if my original path was "welded", the script exploded the copy it created. Would there be a way to test if the path is welded or an arc or a circle, then restored that attribute to the copy?

John

Ecuadorian

There are less and less reasons for using ArchiCAD nowadays...

jonorman

REQ question..

would it be possible to add properties to the profile ?? a.iI have a aluminum profile then i could add the aluminium name AL8365 and the weight of the material. out of this i have what i need to get the weight rapport of the structure.
lenght x volume x weight = kg/m

i can do this now by using the rapport but i have to do the math, but i wonder if this could be integrated ???

thnx for a great plugin.

Jorgensen

Would be nice with a fillet and trim / extend function

utiler

Hi all,
I have finally had a chance to finish the Australian Steel profiles which I have email to Dale for inclusion on the smustard website for download. Included are all sizes available to the Australian market in: [actual section properties]

Universal beams
Universal Columns
Equal Angles
Unequal angles
Parallel Flange Beams
Circular Hollow Sections
Rectangular Hollow Sections
Square Hollow Sections

Let me know if any issues....

Whaat

Great! Thanks! I will add these to the website.

dtrarch

Dale

Just another request for visual viewer/editor for shape libraries please.
With the expanding scope of shape libraries it would be a big help to be able
to select the most used profiles and make ones own group without having to scroll through the menu and pick and choose.

Just a shape source in SU or equal would do the job.
Maybe thumbnails like in xnView.

dtr

Whaat

@dtrarch said:

Dale

Just another request for visual viewer/editor for shape libraries please.
With the expanding scope of shape libraries it would be a big help to be able
to select the most used profiles and make ones own group without having to scroll through the menu and pick and choose.

Just a shape source in SU or equal would do the job.
Maybe thumbnails like in xnView.

dtr

Yes, I know, you have requested this about 10 times now... I would gladly add it but it is not trivial. In fact it would take many months to implement and I do not have the time to work on that right now. I have some ideas to improve the browsing of Profiles but this a LONG way off from even being worked on yet. I do appreciate the suggestions, though. I am not trying to ignore you here. This really is a big task and I still don't know if the amount of work that it would take is justified.

utiler

One other idea Dale,
Have you thought about the option of an 'end cap' to profiles? It could be a tick option in the dialuge box to cap start and or end of the profile.....

Just a thought.

dtrarch

Hi Dale

Many thanks for the reply and explaining the difficulty in developing a library reader or editor.

Apologies for chewing on you leg on this and I will go directly to Smustard and get a proper copy of this killer app just to keep things even.

Regards

dtr

xrok1

i'm having problems selecting to DBclick the profile to start editing. it seems to take 5 or 6 tries all the time , i usually end up selecting other geometry that shares the edge (path) like the bottom of the wall or something. its very frustrating . i was wondering if maybe you could set up an easier way to start editing? why can't i just start editing as soon as i hit edit member path ? it would avoid lots of confusion and frustration.

Whaat

Double-click on the text that says 'Double Click to Start Path Editing'. It's much easier to select.

It is impossible to directly enter path edit mode, otherwise I would have done it that way.

thomthom

Dale, any chance for future versions to create the profiles as components as an option? I some times want one profile multiple times across my model. I can wrap the group into a component, but I feel it'd be a smoother workflow if I could skip that.

Whaat

@thomthom said:

Dale, any chance for future versions to create the profiles as components as an option? I some times want one profile multiple times across my model. I can wrap the group into a component, but I feel it'd be a smoother workflow if I could skip that.

very good chance