How would you model this pump track?

[aaronrey]

Hey everyone, I need to model a pump track and was wondering what the best workflow would be. 

 

I have attached a few photos to illustrate the shape

 

Cheers!

 

 

[Jeff Prince]

Loft 2 rail would be my choice.

[Tobias Kern]

Hi,

 

you can start with Solids (no curves) and convert it

later to Subdivision for smoothing.

 

Or start with Site-model or Hardscapes, convert it to Solid + Subdivision

(maybe Site-Model to Subdivision would work without

the need of conversion to Solid inbetween).

 

Greetings from Germany

Tobi

Edited February 14, 2023 by Tobias Kern

[Mike Lamb]

I would say hardscape path on a site model, using transverse and longitudinal profiles to shape the hardscape path.

[Scott Lebsack]

@Mike Lamb approach is good, if you're looking for something that needs a little more precision for construction, similar to image two.

 

If you're using the site model, I would look at using Nurbs curves on the "Site-DTM-Modifier" class to define the top edges of the track, bottom of the track, where it ties back to grade is your grade limits. You could also add an occasional nurbs perpendicular to the track on the same layer to provide variation - dips and rises between your two top track edges. This would result in a grading plan you could hand off for construction.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

The two photo's you show are somewhat different.  The first track is built over a roughly flat surface and the second a sculpted surface.  I am thinking you need to model the track only, is that correct?  If you need to model the track only, it would be much easier.

 

Which version do you need?

 

Have a look at this video.  It shows how to create complex sculpted surfaces in Vectorworks.

 

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Your project was interesting.  I started thinking about it.  Birail is one option, but you quickly hit a ceiling where you can't modify any more.  Loft nurbs (no rail) has the most control of the two.  I built a track based on your first image that included the half pipe in the background. There are approximately 350 control points in this model that can each be modified and the info transferred to a landscape person.  If you want more info or the file let me know.

[Jeff Prince]

Surfaces like this can come together pretty darn fast with Loft 1 rail, EAP, and mirror using just a few curves (which can be used for a site model too).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Tobias Kern]

Hi Jeff,

greetings and thnx for your idea.

Can we please have your demo-file?

I want to checkout, how you solved it.

Greetings and thnx.

Hace a great week.

Tobi

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Hi Jeff, thanks for sharing, thought I might do the same.  First of all, my method is not easy, but if offers 480 control points with topological elevations that can be transferred to a Landscape person.

I started with two curves depicted below in blue and magenta.  Blue is the flatter curve for the troughs.

Although it would appear that positioning these curves is tedious, it is not, there is a quick method, but that is another session.

 

I

 

Each of these curves has nine control points as shown below.  You can either scale the entire curve or the just the points.

 

Loft curbs with settings shown.

 

The half pipe was made in loft curbs again, it could have been loft with two rails, either or.

 

Then mated and joined with Add Solids.

 

[Jeff Prince]

8 hours ago, Tobias Kern said:

Hi Jeff,

greetings and thnx for your idea.

Can we please have your demo-file?

I want to checkout, how you solved it.

Greetings and thnx.

Hace a great week.

Tobi

 

Here you go.

I could have been a bit more accurate with my geo, such is life with a quickie example 🙂

PUMP TRACK-steps.vwx

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by jeff prince

[Tobias Kern]

Hi Jeff,

 

greetings and many thnx!

Big thumbs up!

 

Tobi

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Your initial post showed two variations of a bike path.  This one is much easier than the second.  See Below

After you decide what method to generate the topology you have shown, simply create your path directly above it and use the "Project Tool". After that you can Extract Curves to create borders, lights, railings or whatever.   See final image below.

 

 

 

 

[Jeff Prince]

25 minutes ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

After you decide what method to generate the topology you have shown, simply create your path directly above it and use the "Project Tool". After that you can Extract Curves to create borders, lights, railings or whatever.

What you propose is true, but not how pump and flow tracks are typically designed.

 

One must design the profile to get the desired pump action.  Then , using the bend tool, you can take the profile and develop the desired flow.  Ultimately, a lot of the fine detail is sculpted in the field by riders, but getting it close virtually can at least help with material calculations.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Hi Jeff,  

I am not a Landscape designer.  I did not really think the fellow who posted the initial question was either.  So, I will defer to your take on this as you are a Landscape Architect.  My background is engineering.  I am long retired, but keep my hand in the game.  

I am a Vectorworks 3D and 3D NURBS specialist.  I wrote advanced tutorials for Vectorworks last year, but after being reviewed by the various factions, they decided to use them for promotional purposes only,  You may have seen the Chair Video.   You can find the tutorials on the link to my Youtube Channel.  It will take you to a video, but you can find my channel from there.  There is a downloadable file that comes with each tutorial.  The two tutorials in question are "Chair" and Bike Pulley Wheel",

 

Below are some other models I have done in Vectorworks.  There is a link to 20 minute video at the bottom that shows the car being modelled start to finish in Vectorworks, then rendered in CINEMA 4D.  In regards to C4D, I worked with Nemetschek Germany to implement the "Send to" function.  

 

kind regards...Virtual

 

Link to Car tutorial

 

 

 

[Jeff Prince]

Nice commercial ^

[line-weight]

13 hours ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

Hi Jeff,  

I am not a Landscape designer.  I did not really think the fellow who posted the initial question was either.  So, I will defer to your take on this as you are a Landscape Architect.  My background is engineering.  I am long retired, but keep my hand in the game.  

I am a Vectorworks 3D and 3D NURBS specialist.  I wrote advanced tutorials for Vectorworks last year, but after being reviewed by the various factions, they decided to use them for promotional purposes only,  You may have seen the Chair Video.   You can find the tutorials on the link to my Youtube Channel.  It will take you to a video, but you can find my channel from there.  There is a downloadable file that comes with each tutorial.  The two tutorials in question are "Chair" and Bike Pulley Wheel",

 

Below are some other models I have done in Vectorworks.  There is a link to 20 minute video at the bottom that shows the car being modelled start to finish in Vectorworks, then rendered in CINEMA 4D.  In regards to C4D, I worked with Nemetschek Germany to implement the "Send to" function.  

 

kind regards...Virtual

 

Link to Car tutorial

 

 

 

 

@VIRTUALENVIRONS i would be interested to see what you make of this challenge:

 

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Hello "Line Weight".  I am new to this forum, never sure who I am responding to.  I have never tried a Mobius strip.  First time I have ever heard of it.  I would hope that I could make it, if not "kudos' to those who can.  It appears it would be similar in making the image below.  Like the Mobius strip, it has no engineering value, but it was a test for a project.

I no longer work, I am 69 years old and use VW at the most a few weeks a year.  I also use CINEMA 4D when I am working.  I use the two as one application.  The image below was modelled in VW and rendered in C4D.

regards....Virtual

[line-weight]

What's tricky about the mobius strip is that VW appears not to like / allow "closed" nurbs curves. It's more difficult than constructing spiral or helix type forms.

 

To get your head around the difficulties you'd have to give it a go really. Maybe you can find a nurbs based solution that eluded the rest of us.

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

For those following this thread.  Landscape design came into play in this thread.  Below is a video that shows how Vectorworks was used to recreate a 105 year old Battle Field from WW1.  That battle field is approximately five square miles and includes about 120 miles of trenching, both Allied and German.   The various military pieces were all modelled in VW.

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Hi Line Weight.

I took. look at what a Mobius curve is.  Learn something new everyday.  I modelled his up.  Is this what you are looking for?

 

 

[Jeff Prince]

25 minutes ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

 

Hi Line Weight.

I took. look at what a Mobius curve is.  Learn something new everyday.  I modelled his up.  Is this what you are looking for?

 

If you follow the thread he linked earlier, you can take part in the discussion there and share your method.  It has a bunch of iterations and good discussion on the topic.

[line-weight]

2 hours ago, jeff prince said:

If you follow the thread he linked earlier, you can take part in the discussion there and share your method.  It has a bunch of iterations and good discussion on the topic.

Yes, do post on the other thread @VIRTUALENVIRONS especially if you are willing to post the vwx file itself for others to look at.