[A good reason to update?]

My continued plans to upgrade are also being driven by improvements to modelling functionality that would increase the usefulness of Vectorworks for product designers, and I'm sure would be beneficial to all users dealing with 3D.

I would love to see:

Kaare's suggestion - parametric bend solid tool. Also better NURBS, or go all out and add T-Splines! (I don't know if this is possible with the Parasolid kernel, would be nice though).

The ability to retain by choice a subtracted solid.

Free rotation of hybrid objects with auto-regeneration of 2D symbol.

It feels like the Vectorworks interface is really holding up what should be the excellent 3d modelling experience of a powerful kernel.

I actually use TurboCAD (ashlar vellum in disguise at an excellent price) to model quickly before importing solids into VW, it is just too slow (I find) for a product design workflow. VW would be able to do concept through to production with stronger 3D tools and interface.

[Keep subtracted solid]

Hello,

it would be great to have the option to keep the subtracted solids after using the subtract solid command. Something like holding the option key when hitting the subtract command (like Ashlar Vellum), or a subtract solid tool settings box with a "Keep Subtraction Solid" checkbox. There are quite a few furniture and framing details, and other uses I'm sure, that require the ability to route or rebate one component with another, and once you get a few of these in the one assembly, duplicating everything you want to subtract can get pretty messy.

Thanks.

[Keeping subtracted solids]

Hello,

Does anyone know of a way to keep the subtracted solid when using the Subtract Solid command?

[Improved structural tools]

It would be great to see some improved structural detailing tools for steel and concrete. The existing column tool is a start, but it is much more difficult than it should be to create structural steel components such as rafters with haunches and purlin cleats.

It seems Nametschek offers this functionality in Allplan by providing modules of Scia functionality (like the steel detailing module). Could some basic Scia structural modules/functionalities be ported to Vectorworks? Or maybe just Scia Engineer for OS X with connectivity to Vectorworks

[Structural steel - portal frame rafters]

Hello,

I am modeling a skillion roof industrial building for construction documentation (alterations). I have run into some difficulties modeling the existing steel rafters so that they include connections, knee haunches at the columns and purlin cleats. I have used the framing member tool, and have then had to manually manipulate the rafter (with limited success).

Any tips on modeling structural steel in VW? Perhaps I am chasing too much detail, does anybody else bother modeling connections, haunches and purlin cleats in 3D?

I have found the column and pilaster tool to be fairly useful, so I am a little bit surprised that there is no streamlined way to model other major structural steel elements.

Any tips much appreciated.

[Architectural 3D - Best practice, typical practice??]

Hello,

I'm interested to get some feedback on how VW Architect users are modeling buildings.

I'm a new user, and am currently trying to decide on a good working method, roughly described in the following scenarios:

1. Building gets modeled completely (as practicable) in 3D, structural steel and connections, roof sheeting profiles, purlins, door handles, blah blah. This takes time, looks fancy, and I don't know how it performs once you get to documentation stage, because I have not progressed that far in VW yet.

2. Building gets key structural features modeled, with net volumes done in 3D (by net volume I mean if a Klip-lok roofing profile has a total height of 45 mm, then a roof plane with a 45 mm thickness is drawn to represent this). Profiles etc. are then drawn as annotations in detail views.

In particular to steel (e.g. a portal frame building:

Is it typical/standard to extrude a steel section and model structural steel in 3D in VW? What about connections?

Any comments, anecdotes or opinions gratefully accepted.

[Controlling Wall Joins]

Hello,

I have been struggling with this also, I find it painful when modeling masonry and pre-cast to have mitered walls everywhere, especially when angles need to be introduced to individual masonary leaves.

I have found the following to solve the problem:

1. Where a mitre joint exists, in plan view, right-click on each wall in turn and select "Remove Break" from the menu. It seems necessary to sometimes actually right-click the wall length constraint handle (little coloured square) to make this happen.

2. The mitre will be removed and the wall will be uncapped, with the wall length equal to the centre of the mitre (as opposed to the inside or outside edge).

3. Cap both walls as required. You will now have two walls capped at the join end, slightly overlapping and not quite long enough.

4. Either: a. Use the T-joint wall join tool, NOT THE CORNER JOINT TOOL (instant mitre joint after all the above stuffing around), or; b. Manually lengthen the wall using the length constraint handle.

If anyone needs pics, let me know and I'll do my best to put some up showing the above.

I am guessing that the problem with this method will show up in rendering, I assume mitre joints are used on wall so render textures meet nicely.

[Vectorworks 2010]

Hello all, I am a new Vectorworks user, and new to the forum. I am also eagerly awaiting VW2010, and thought I may as well throw in my two cents worth on some of the VW and 3D solid modeling issues discussed. I usually model furniture/products to produce both presentation graphics, documentation (documentation, in my workflow = technical drawings which will inevitably be revisioned by clients or manufacturers, schedules etc.) and part data (DXF for CAM, STL for RP, occasional models for FEA). When I first sat down with VW2009, I was a little disappointed with the 3D "feel", however after a couple of weeks of use, I'm starting to understand where the power lies in VW.

Before VW, I had been using both form Z and Ashlar Vellum Xenon, these have a very different 3D feel, almost a "digital clay" type of directness, with direct 3D space manipulation of the model on screen. This is all wonderful, you rapidly build a 3D model right there in space...and then it comes time to produce documentation, so the thing can actually get built, and the pain begins. Extracting part data for schedules, revisioning, managing viewports. In my experience, programs like Xenon and FormZ simply cannot deliver when it comes to dealing with the "go make it" end of the design workflow, and so far, I am blown away at how well VW deals with this, even for non-architecture/non-BIM type design sectors.

Apples with Apples: VW Designer with renderworks is a BARGAIN for its functionality (at least in Australia) when compared with AutoCAD, NX, Solidworks, and is similar to something like Ashlar Vellum Xenon, which can't compete when it comes to managing revisioned documentation.

I kept Xenon for those occasions where I need to really quickly model up a bunch of variations of a solid, and I can recommend it for this type of work. Lots of workflows in graphic design and engineering rely on multiple software packages to achieve the end results. I use Adobe Creative Suite (at least 4 different applications packaged together), and I know several engineering outfits that use stand-alone FEA despite using Inventor. As long as vectorworks keeps an eye on interoperability and round -trip fidelity, which they seem to be doing quite well (C4D, pdf and dxf import seems strong to me, compared with FormZ and Xenon), I am just happy to be able to use a versatile program with a good solids kernel at a fantastic price.

With the correct layer set-up, use of layer stacking and saved views in Vectorworks, I am finding that I am getting very close to the feel of a program like Xenon/FormZ. I actually find the DL/SLVP system much more versatile than the layer system on Xenon and FormZ. For example, you can set up layers to review and interact with several different options for a relationship between two parts much more elegantly than by simply turning on/off discrete layers.

If I had one big wish: PLEASE get rid of the pixelated proxy graphic that replaces the model when zooming and 3D rotating. My old PowerBook G4 would seamlessly zoom and rotate a solid model in perspective, with multiple light sources, full of parts with transparency (ACIS kernel & open GL), surely VW/Parasolid on a new MacBook Pro can handle it without needing to proxy and re-draw the screen for EVERY SINGLE MOVEMENT. This would be a big step forward in creating a smooth modeling feel. (This might be a newby problem - have I missed something in the preferences settings?)