Step Down with Array
-
I am using the rotate tool to array an object around a point in one specified increment, but also need for each of the copies to step down consecutively in the z-axis. Any ideas? Any plug-ins? Thanks!
-
I think this plugin would work. I have not used it yet although it says "grow" (you can read our far not really funny discussion there)
-
Hi Megapod, hi folks.
It looks like you want to make a spiral stair.
A plugin will make this faster but, if you want to learn the basics with SU native tools, try doing a radial array first and then move each copy up or down a regular amount for each move.
One trick here:
1 - Do one copy. After rotating it and moving it, you have 2 instances.
2 - Repeat step 1 using the two instances, doubling the angle and the vertical move. Now you have 4 instances.
3 - Repeat using the 4 instances, now you have 8.
Etc.
By the way, if you use circles with 24 segments (the default value) and want one step every 15° (that's 24 steps for a complete revolution), the base angle will be 15°. You can use the trick above up to when you get 8 instances, using 15°, 30° and 60° as the rotation angles. For the last step, you use 120° and 2 copies to get 3 instances of the group of 8. After moving the 2 copies to proper heigth, you now have a complete revolution of 360°. If you need more revolutions, simply copy the whole thing up as many times as you want.
To control the vertical move, you can use a vertical line that cover the full heigth and then divide it by as many steps as you require (24 in my example).
If you want a different number of steps, use a base circle with the appropriate number of segments and divide the vetical line accordingly.
Just ideas.
-
@jean lemire said:
Hi Megapod, hi folks.
It looks like you want to make a spiral stair.
A plugin will make this faster but, if you want to learn the basics with SU native tools, try doing a radial array first and then move each copy up or down a regular amount for each move.
One trick here:
1 - Do one copy. After rotating it and moving it, you have 2 instances.
2 - Repeat step 1 using the two instances, doubling the angle and the vertical move. Now you have 4 instances.
3 - Repeat using the 4 instances, now you have 8.
Etc.
By the way, if you use circles with 24 segments (the default value) and want one step every 15° (that's 24 steps for a complete revolution), the base angle will be 15°. You can use the trick above up to when you get 8 instances, using 15°, 30° and 60° as the rotation angles. For the last step, you use 120° and 2 copies to get 3 instances of the group of 8. After moving the 2 copies to proper heigth, you now have a complete revolution of 360°. If you need more revolutions, simply copy the whole thing up as many times as you want.
To control the vertical move, you can use a vertical line that cover the full heigth and then divide it by as many steps as you require (24 in my example).
If you want a different number of steps, use a base circle with the appropriate number of segments and divide the vetical line accordingly.
Just ideas.
Thanks Jean. Well I had to resort to the old fashioned manual approach in the end, but had been hoping there was a plug-in to expedite things. Much appreciated!
-
Hi Megapod, hi folks.
Have you checked the Plugin subforum here on SketchUcation ?
There migth be some plugin to help you.
I also suggest that you visit:
The Engineering ToolBox
Free tools and information for engineering and design of technical applications.
(www.engineeringtoolbox.com)
From there, you install a simple plugin that calls up this Web page. From it you can access a lot of different shapes in piping, ductworks, steel shapes, etc.
More interesting is a function that creates stairs, straight or spiral, directly in your SU model.
I tried it and it works.
Just ideas.
-
Grow or ParametricCopy probably do what you want - Grow even has a helical stair tutorial...
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login
Advertisement