Gridshell modelling
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I believe Line to Cylinder is by Didier Bur and there is a parameter interface where you select values, such as number of segments for the cross section. If you specify 4 segments, it will perform the operation. However, the vertices will be oriented not as square but as "diamond".
TIG has Tube along Path, which operates very similarly. And obviously his Latticizer and Extrude Edges by Lattice.Is this what you meant?
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I don't have time to model an example but my first thought would be to copy the plane vertical to this thickness of the timbers desired and a second copy arbitrarily higher. Get the grid pattern on the higher plane and offset for required width (so that it's correct in 2d). Delete faces of this plane and extrude (I love the extrude line plugin for this) the remaining line-work through the 2 lower planes. intersect everything and delete garbage lines/faces. This should leave you with the desired, squared, gridshell.
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Profile Builder $22 from Smustard is another option
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@jim_tim said:
Hi, I have been trying to model a timber gridshell roof. First I modelled a curvey form using the sandbox tool, then I exploded the shape and used the 'lines to cylinders plug-in to turn it into a grid (image 1). I didnt want the triangular cross-bracing in between the grid so rather than simply exploding the undulating shape I re-selected it so that the hidden geometry wasn't highlighted - then I repeated the process (lines into cylinder) and got the result in image 2. I got the grid i'm after but obviously because I want a timber gridshell i want a square edge rather than a cylinder.
I'm just wondering if anybody knows of a plug-in that will do the same job as the 'line to cylinder' plugin but leave a square edge. If not is there an alternative technique? Preferably as straight forward as the one i've used.Find my LatticeMaker...............
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=244981#p244981
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OOPs sorry TIG. I used the wrong name up there.
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Wow guys.... thanks for your rapid suggestions. The lattice maker plugin is fantastic (it's so quick at processing the geometry). The only problem I have is that it makes a lattice out of the hidden geometry between the individual squares of the grid - is there a possible workaround this without having to delete every single diagonal brace individually
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Go to wireframe mode and select all the quad edges then Copy to the clipboard. Go back to normal model, delete all the TIN and paste the copied wireframe in place (Edit menu). (Am is suspecting correctly that you do not need the faces?)
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LatticeMaker works on faces.
But there are tools that will work on the edges like line2cyl
If you want other cross-section shapes try ExtrudeEdgesbyFace - you draw the cross section as a flat face y[green] will become the frames 'up'.
Do as Gaieus says about getting just the edges you want then use EEbyFace - here's a T shaped example...
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ExtrudeEdgesbyFace has worked perfectly...... it took much longer to process the geometry than lattice maker but still 1 million times quicker than it would take to model the damn thing!!
One minor hitch is that the timber battens on the axis don't rotate with the structure..... this is such a minor thing tho that is barely noticeable until you get really really close to the structure. So all in all i'm as pleased as punch - thank you very much for your time and patience gentlemen.Tig as soon as my next student loan arrives I will be sure to make a donation to you (that is a promise) because you have saved me ALOT of blood sweat and tears.
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