Medeek Wall Plugin

medeek · 19 Dec 2024, 14:20

First look at an inverted T-Shape staircase with a straight and a curved flare:

medeek · 20 Dec 2024, 11:01

Here is a quick study of the three types of tread extensions that are probably the most common. I can probably make this happen but it will have a number of new parameters in yet another sub-menu.

With the half and full round, the riser simply follows the nosing dimension, however with the square cut extension the amount of the riser extension could be independent.

For both the full and half round the radius of the curve is paramount but also the placement of the center of the curve in the Y direction (perpendicular to the stringers). The extension variable can be used for the Y-dir placement of the curve.

The round nosing makes things a bit interesting but that can also be dealt with by breaking things down into a piecemeal modeling algorithm and then using some boolean addition of solids.

The parameters shall be:

Tread Extension Options:

Extension Side: Both, Left, Right
Extension Type: Square, Round, Half Round
Tread Ext. Length: 10" etc... (this variable also sets Y placement of center of curve)
Riser Ext. Length: 8" etc... (only applies to the square ext.)
Extension Radius: 10" etc... (only applies to full or half round extension)

I never get a day of rest, maybe after this update I'll move back to the Floor plugin...

medeek · 21 Dec 2024, 13:56

If I enable some turn outs and volutes I will need to adjust for these but also I need to provide some additional parameters so one can fine tune the placement of the handrail and its termination:

medeek · 26 Dec 2024, 15:53

So this is currently a specific limitation when it comes to handrails:

The issue here is that each run of stairs literally needs it own handrail sub-menu (set of parameters). Globally the handrail options are fine but as soon as you start adding landings you then have multiple stair runs and it quickly gets complicated. Note that the same handrail settings get applied to each run of stairs currently, this is less than desirable with complex stairs.

Of course the workaround for this is to not rely on the automatic landing functionality and create each separate run of stairs as a separate assembly (linear stair runs only). However this negates the convenience of having the landing and winder options that I recently added.

Yes, I’m a bit in the weeds now but I want this new handrail system to be as functional and fully featured and efficient as possible. I will need to put on my thinking cap and come up with a viable solution that is not too complicated (for a complex problem).

gullfo · 26 Dec 2024, 17:31

one option might be to have the handrails independent of the riser sections. you could create a stair assembly from whatever your stair setup is (like a component with unified stair metadata inside it), then add the handrails over the entire structure - which could be a continuous rail or segmented, etc. might be easier to code it this way by reading the overall stair assembly metadata and use that to generate the handrails.

medeek · 27 Dec 2024, 00:52

Version 3.7.9 - 12.26.2024

Added the inverted T-Shape landing.
Enabled straight and curved flared staircases.
Added 37 handrail fittings into the built-in handrail fittings library.
Updated the handrail module with additional parameters for over-the-post handrail systems.
Enabled additional handrail sub-menus for multi-landing stair assemblies.

medeek · 27 Dec 2024, 00:55

Tutorial 57 - Over-the-Post Handrails and Fittings (18.42 min.)

medeek · 31 Dec 2024, 01:23

Version 3.8.0 - 12.30.2024

Enabled open tread staircases.
Added sub-menus for multiple stair runs for open treads.
Added the following starter steps: square, full round and half round.
Added a return parameter for square cut starter steps.
Enabled flared handrails (over-the-post) for straight and curved flared staircases.

medeek · 31 Dec 2024, 06:59

Tutorial 58 - Open Treads and Starter Steps (7:35 min.)

TIG · 2 Jan 2025, 08:04

Is there a way to increase the size of the top-landing or intermediate-landings so that the nosings are one tread dim offset ?
That way the handrail turns properly - smoothly without a vertical drop.
Some localities' codes require the landings to be a tread or 300mm bigger than the stair's width.
Also extending the handrail a similar amount at the top and bottom is required...

Separately... the FollowMe twisting of the profile along complex paths is longstanding.
Extensions like Upright Extruder sidestep this; so you need to emulate those...