DEFORM - Maintain consistent width?

[brandon pass architect]

Hello.  I am trying to figure out if it is possible to constrain a cross-sectional profile while twisting an object.   For instance we have a 5 1/2" x 18" glulam that will be bent in all three dimensions.  When I currently array the simple profile to be twisted it seems to elongate in an unrealistic way relative to the material that will be used.  

 

The attached is an extrusion along path (first image).  The second image shows it twisted and distorted.  The third is it in its overall final form which is cool, but not usable in our design given the constraints of the actual material.

 

Is this easily remedied in how I model the solid?  Is it a 'Constraint' setting somewhere that I have not found?  

 

Thanks to all.

[Benson Shaw]

@brandon pass architect I think I understand your goal.  Gluelams bend, but not planar, so describe a wandering axis.  Here is one way - Start with the final implied spheroid/egg surface.  Build up the gluelam shape via several 3d processes limited by the spheroid.  Toward the end is a Shell step.  I chose full depth of the gluelam.  One could instead make repeated shells for each board in the gluelam.

 

File is v2023. Click through the design layers.

Ask for earlier version as needed.

 

-B

 

 

 

 

 

Bent GlueLams.vwx

 

Edited February 26, 2023 by Benson Shaw
Review

[Benson Shaw]

That one provides twist so that face of gluelam is everywhere flush on surface of the spheroid. Another way is to extrude a rectangle as profile of the beam (or one of its boards), then bend twice with deform tool. Eg 1st from front, then from side. Bends will be circular, but will not introduce twist. 
 

-B

 

 

Edited February 26, 2023 by Benson Shaw
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