I'm making an ampitheater for a project in my architecture studio, and the primary element of the structure is this repeated torsional glass shape supported by cantilevered steel tubes.

The way the glass looks IN Sketchup, with polygon lines, is about correct in terms of what I want the frame to be, but anyone who has rendered a Sketchup model will know that lines in the model don't get rendered. Other than individually doing small rectangles at odd angles for each line and then doing the follow-me tool, is there any way to make this render as a frame or extrude it somehow?

in Sketchup:



rendered:



Any tips you guys might have for a simple way to do this would be greatly appreciated.

12/1/2009 7:26:48 AM

While I'm at it...

Is there any way to increase the number of lines making up circles (i.e. in the rendering there) without redrawing everything?

12/1/2009 7:31:38 AM

wow... that's very impressive. good job.

sketchup is very hard for me to use... I think I need to learn the bind keys.

12/1/2009 8:12:32 AM

Thank you!

More discussion on this on PushPullBar2, in case this comes up again.

http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/sketchup/11889-grid-frame-curved-glass-sketchup-help.html#post160669

12/1/2009 10:04:29 AM

1) Import your .skp into Revit into a mass family.
2) Apply curtainwall by face
3) Export to .dwg
4) Import back into Sketchup
5) Profit.

If you need more detail how-to, let me know, I can go into more detail. I remember my amphitheater project in studio as well, but it was ~8 years ago, lol.

Also you'd be better off using polycarbonate panels than you would glass for that kind of scenario. Granted it's not as glamorous, but it would withhold any weather related damage better than glass.
http://www.kalwall.com/

Quote :

"Is there any way to increase the number of lines making up circles (i.e. in the rendering there) without redrawing everything?"

yes, click on the circle, right-click go to entity info, change segments to higher number.

One additional idea would be to render it, as well as export a hidden line b&w image, and overlay the hidden b&w image on top of the rendering in Photoshop and use the overlay or multiply blend.

Keep in mind though, in that kind of system, the mullion will need to be at least 2" wide and 4-6" deep for structural integrity. You might be able to go 2"x2" with some sort of integrated structural support inside the mullion, but would cost $texas

[Edited on December 1, 2009 at 11:45 AM. Reason : .]

12/1/2009 11:38:41 AM

Prospero:

Thanks a ton, I never would have thought to use Revit. UNFORTUNATELY, I'm studying abroad in Prague now and I don't have my enormous laptop with all my modeling programs, so I'm stuck with what's on the dual-boot iMacs here, i.e. not Revit. I will do entity info to change the circles though, for sure. As of now I'm sticking with exporting a hidden line drawing of just the glass parts and overlaying that. It looks decent.

And by glass, I didn't mean glass... they got me for that at PPB2 too. Polycarbonate or some form of plastic is definitely what is intended here. I have a bad habit of calling anything clear "glass" when I'm not speaking about it technically.

12/1/2009 2:08:43 PM

As it stands now...



I love Photoshop...

12/1/2009 2:27:13 PM

That would never make it past OSHA.

12/1/2009 2:30:03 PM

Good thing it's in the Czech Republic! And, structured correctly, it would.

12/1/2009 2:59:11 PM

i wish i knew what the fuck yall are talking about

12/1/2009 5:09:10 PM

^^ I was mainly thinking that there wasn't anything visible - like a guard rail - to keep people from falling into the water.

12/2/2009 12:27:36 PM

OSHA cares about the workers, so some sort of temporary barrier is needed during construction. They have some requirements on railings, but in most cases the building code is the more restrictive code you'd need to follow. This is all dependent on where the project is located of course.

But if you ever intend on doing work in the U.S., you should work within the IBC restrictions.

IBC or International Building Code is what requires guardrails in this scenario. Table 3306.1 "Protection of Pedestrians" under "Safeguards During Construction" and more importantly for permanent installation, Section 1012 "Guards". In most cases you just have to look at ALL the codes applicable and design to the most restrictive case.

Quote :

"1012.1 Where required. Guards shall be located along open-sided walking surfaces, mezzanines, industrial equipment platforms, stairways, ramps and landings which are located more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the floor or grade below."

Quote :

"1012.2 Height. Guards shall form a protective barrier not less than 42 inches (1067 mm) high, measured vertically above the leading edge of the tread, adjacent walking surface or adjacent seatboard."

Quote :

"1012.3 Opening limitations. Open guards shall have balusters or ornamental patterns such that a 4-inch-diameter (102 mm) sphere can not pass through any opening up to a height of 34 inches (864 mm). From a height of 34 inches (864 mm) to 42 inches (1067 mm) above the adjacent walking surfaces, a sphere 8 inches (203 mm) in diameter shall not pass."

12/2/2009 1:53:02 PM