Best practice for tile-patterns in dynamic views: on drawing, design model or geometric map?

As the title says: where is the best place to draw a tile-pattern?

I've seen that in the dataset-building-example it's drawn in the 3D-model, but is this the best place to draw this with a dynamic-view setup?

I've also noticed that when i want to draw an 'associative pattern', this gets filled (fill:none, also tried 'hole' without effect) and fill follows the pattern-color, so I can't see the lines in the dynamic generated drawing (unless I choose the wireframe-view, but this is not always an option I guess). When I put the pattern non-associative (as in the dataset-building-example...) I can see the lines, but this is very unproductive in my eyes when I need to change the pattern-area.

I also was thinking about geometric maps, but this seems a bit unflexible on first sight, no?

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  • Hi Michael,

    I guess it really depends on your needs. For a tile arrangement drawing, I do not see why you shouldn't be able to use the Crosshatch Area tool to draw the tile patterns in the dynamic view drawing model. You have control on where the pattern starts. So you can be exacting with the pattern.

    I tried this in the metric sample we developed for our metric training sessions (using the dataset GB). I see the patterns (not the fill), here's a screen capture of  the tool settings, reference presentation and view attributes. And how it looks on the sheet.

    The other consdideration is if you want to see the pattern in renderings,  then you may want to go with the patterns in  the 3d model.

     



  • Hi Michael,

    in the past we did it in different ways. To show in a symbolic "style" which area we have a steel grid on steel platforms, some people in my company drew a crosshatch area in the 3D Model on top of the platforms and some people preferred to draw a crosshatch area in the Drawing Model into the section.

    But there is always the same problem. When you change the 3D Model you always have to change the crosshatches additionally! It need much time.

     

    Now I created a Geometry Map and linked it to a Family&Part Definition.

    The advantage is when you change the 3D Model you do not have to change the crosshatch area separately. You can save time with Geometry Map!

    Christian

  • We do it two different ways.

    The one I like is to actually make the grating.  3d.  then never any issues except you are making a large file.

    There are ways to mitigate this as in CUT LEVELS OFF when you don't need the detail.

    The other is to use a geometric material on the slab that creates the grate.

    If will have a pattern that is affected on your shape.

    The only issue here is how it is centered.  

    For this reasons some materials:

      Are drawn with real materials.  If I want the tile to render then why not:  And I want that precision on the pattern.

      Some are geomeric patterns - this then gives me a render for patterns like brick and  a pattern for a forward view

       And some are drawn in the drawing file - this is down and dirty and OK if no rendering is wanted.

    With the examples you've shown I'd suggest the geometric pattern as once you learn how it is "way cool".

    Ustn since 1988
    SS4 - i7-3.45Ghz-16 Gb-250/1Tb/1Tb-Win8.1-64b

    Eric D. Milberger
    Architect + Master Planner + BIM

    Senior  Master Planner NASA - Marshall Space Flight Center

    The Milberger Architectural Group, llc

  • Christian,

    thanks for your post, really interesting to hear how other people/companies do things.

    And it exactly describes what I was pondering about...

    Also to me the 'geometry-map solution' seemed the best, but I have two reservations on that way of working:

    1: if you have a specific tile-pattern in some specific area's of a bigger tile-area, you're screwed because then you have to put all geometry maps off en do all by hand, no?

    2: you need to create a part for every kind of tile/material you're using, which maybe isn't that much of work...

  • Michael,

    Yes, that's a little disadvantage, I think. I'm not very used to use Materials and Geometry Maps.  But what I know, for every kind of Pattern/Material or scale of the crosshatch distance you have to create a new Material and Part. That's what I did.

    And this list will grow in future I guess.