Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Ballroom Re-hash

This is a re-post from my original blog that was hacked a while back:

August 10, 2007, 10:22 pm

Enjoy the links on the Right and email me if you've got a good one to add.

BallroomCap

One of the latest Revit models I've finished was this ballroom. The dentals(hard to see) were created using a line-based family which is hosted to the moulding and made a quick job of it. There are some elements here using model lines to create/represent the form, including the secondary chandeliers, and column capitals. This model made for an enjoyable 2 weeks. The rendering is using Revit 2008's built in accurenderer which was satisfactory, but 3D max would have provided a much better result.

Academy Ballroom 2

Building complex calculation into families, far beyond those in the line-based family referred to above, are fascinating. Tutorials will be posted in the Revitology section and will cater to fun how-to's and Revit modelling methods and tricks.

Keep Watching.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Bench (and Windows Live Writer Test)

I'm entering a competition that a furniture company has put on. They specialize in plywood furniture so I have taken a sheet of plywood and bent it into itself, then locked into place with a little Japanese style joinery. It's a Japanese company. I'm using  Revit 2009

 

Bench

The competition is located here:

Map image

Done with Windows Live Writer which I like a lot.

 

... I have continued to work on this bench over the weekend and made some minor changes.  Being parametric and adjustable to any size made for some complications which I haven't worked out. The overall width of the bench is not difficult to make parametric. The only tricky part is repeating the pin-joints along the back as the width varies. This can be done using an array, but it's worth noting that with parametric arrays, come added computation which in turn leads to a heavy component. 

The trickiest part of this component & design is varying the angle of the front and back. I need the reference lines that determine the angles to pivot around the center of the corner radii, so the nicely curved corners don't deform when the angle is adjusted. It sounds easy but I haven't gotten it to lock down.

Here is the latest image and video:

SustainaBench

 

I think I have solved my little rounded corner problem with some math, two reference planes creating an origin for a reference line, and some angle parameters. This should allow my corners to flex without deforming or breaking constraints. We will see if it works in the field. stay tuned

 

 Capture test corner(ya wouldn't think it was so difficult)

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Philly Revit User Group - Next meeting about Revit 2009

If you are in the Philadelphia or surrounding areas, please join us at the Philadelphia Revit User Group.
Check out the boards here and attend the next meeting!