I need to place objects on a tunnel chainage (centreline) which is curving in plan and in the vertical (like a snake)
The objects need to be perpendicular in both directions
So far I have been able to place the cells at the correct distance but I haven't been able to get them to place perpendicular in both directions (plan and vertical)
the workaround I have used for the moment was to include a cross hair which I rotate the cell and snap to the chainage line
is there a more efficient way of doing this?
you can use GC for this. I've some videos on youtube explaining the workflow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znWVSNLuU6o&t=13s
karsten
thank-you for your message. i have been trying to find time to try it out but never had time to do it during normal hours.
When i have tried to follow the utube movie, it isnt clear if the points are meant to snap to the track curve. i tried placing the points on the curve and then giving the z reading from the curve itself. (each end) The reason i wasnt sure is that the cyan range cube created in the movie is well clear of the curve itsef. when i have done it the cyan range rectangle touches the curve.
obviously i have yet to complete the exercise, unfortunately i ran out of time thought i had saved the file but when it was reopened the file had saved noting from the graph.
question:
a) should the points be placed on the curve and are the z readings meant to be taken from the curve ends?
b) how do you save the expressions in the graph?
David Turner
MEP 3D coordination & BIM Technician
Rail Projects
my graph so far:
the start point and end point seem to have a problem, the circle at the bottom LHS of the tabs say: 'replicated-parallel'
ant ideas why that has happened?
You can see the Range(cyan cube) as black box where you search for Elements. Place two points in lower left and upper right corner and adjust the z-height for these points so your reference with the curve is in the range cube with enough space around for evtl. changes on the trackcurve. If you still have problems you can send me the track model and I can create a first GC layout to place ABD Objects/Cells on the Track
Hi Karsteni use
i failed to get it to work but a college suggested i use array (along path)
having already made the cells i wanted to use (correctly) this method worked first time, placing the cells perpendicular i both X-Y & Z planes and at the correct increments along the path.
i have to say i found the YouTube movie difficult to follow, and the generic component methodology very complicated and easy to misunderstand. Despite that thanks for trying to help with my problem
Hi David,
you're right GC needs some more steps than using the array function.
So if it's for a finished alignment these function could be faster. But if the Track routing change and you have placed 10 or more different cells along the track, so some hundred Elements, in GC you just press the update Button and anything is realigned.
I will try to make the videos easier to understand and show also what's the advantage/. They were made for users who already felt the pain ;)