Floating Dynamic Components
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I am trying to make a dynamic component that is scalable in repeatable segments in the X axis, but
that follows the contour of a terrain imported from Google Earth. Is it possible to make a component
scale in a certain direction while maintaining a specific floatation above a fluctuating terrain??Essentially like a fence that hovers X amount of inches above the terrain surface as you scale it in the X axis.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am new to the dynamic component game.
Thanks!!!!
Kevin
aptuskevin@gmail.com -
Kevin, I moved this to the Dynamic Components Sub Forum. I am sure it will get more traffic here.
And welcome! -
Hi Kevin, unfortunately, that is not something that a Dynamic Component could do. DC's can't really change their behavior based on outside conditions. So a DC could not check the elevation below it and alter its elevation in response.
Is this a general question, or do you have a specific component that you wanted to get to work like this?
Chris
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I could imagine a DC "stretching" in a certain direction then you could explode it and use drop.rb to get all the nested pieces onto the ground. Would that be "enough"? Note that it couldn't be modified afterwards so this is a final (and non reversible, destructive) way.
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Hi Chris,
Thanks for the info. I do have a specific component I am trying to use, namely a ground-mounted
photovoltaic system for designing large arrays over specific terrain. We have a system that avoids having to grade the site and follows the natural terrain. The terrain from Google Earth is only for rough preliminary sketches. I'll be downloading CAD files with accurate topo info further along. We normally do this the hard way with CAD, RayTrace, etc. I'd much prefer to make mock-ups in SketchUp to map things out. For now I suppose I'll just keep things flat.Thanks for the feedback!
Kevin Bassalleck
Consolidated Solar Tech.
Albuquerque, NM -
@gaieus said:
I could imagine a DC "stretching" in a certain direction then you could explode it and use drop.rb to get all the nested pieces onto the ground. Would that be "enough"? Note that it couldn't be modified afterwards so this is a final (and non reversible, destructive) way.
I think in this situation the drop.rb plugin could be used in a non destructive way. Instead of exploding the DC, it could just be edited by double-clicking on it. I threw together a test file and screen capture. Kevin, I would be curious if this would be a reasonable solution.
Scale the DC in the attached skp, then edit it, then apply the drop.rb plugin (also attached just in case you don't have it).
Sorry, forgot to record mouse cursor in screen capture.
[flash=720,405:10e8y6vn]http://www.youtube.com/v/cUAcXObu2mQ&fmt=22&hl=en&fs=1[/flash:10e8y6vn]
*edit
I should add that this only really works as long as the z attribute is not formula derived (black)Regards,
Matt Chambers
concept3D
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