Distribution and Alignment in Circular Truss

[Cristiano Alves]

For circular trusses, I've been distributing equipment on circular trusses by marking lines and measuring angles.

However, then I encounter this problem. I must delete and re-add the fixtures because the angle was obviously incorrect.

 

In this case, I had to adjust the angle at the back of the truss, and with some calculations, it worked out.

 

However, I believe that in a linear truss, this process would be straightforward. I've researched but didn't find much except for "Duplicate along a path," but it doesn't do what I needed in this case.

 

Do you know of any different workflows?

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Have you tried using Duplicate along a path.  The should give you what you want.  You may have to fiddle with the "Start Offset" dialogue box.

 

[EAlexander]

Actually, what you want for this is circular array and you can set the angle to give you what you want. It's under duplicate array from the top menu and set it to circular mode. I'm not at a Computer,so wording is slightly off but you can set distribution to 360/ number of fixtures and check rotate objects to match angle. 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Circular Array (Duplicate Array) is also a good option, perhaps better in this instance, but it does not have a preview or "Start Offse"t which I have found problematic over the years.

 

 

[markdd]

I've never had a problem with the Duplicate along Path Command as long as the dialog is set up correctly and the Circle that you create for the path has its start point in the correct place.

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Although "Duplicate Along a Path" is one of the most powerfulI tools in the Vectorworks arsenal, it seems to be the most under used.  

[Cristiano Alves]

6 hours ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

Have you tried using Duplicate along a path.  The should give you what you want.  You may have to fiddle with the "Start Offset" dialogue box.

 

It didn't work, the problem is the offset angle,


I try the "Duplicate Along a Path" this is what I tried, and the result

 

 

 

5 hours ago, EAlexander said:

Actually, what you want for this is circular array and you can set the angle to give you what you want. It's under duplicate array from the top menu and set it to circular mode. I'm not at a Computer,so wording is slightly off but you can set distribution to 360/ number of fixtures and check rotate objects to match angle. 

This worked! 
Thank you @EAlexander

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Glad you got it going, you had good advice from everyone and you can always count on @EAlexander.

 

Duplicate along a path is a little more complex then Duplicate Array and you have to understand its idiosyncrasies.  It would have produced what you wanted.  This takes a little time.

 

 I have been using it a great deal over the last few weeks.

 

An example of it's power is below.

 

 

Edited February 15 by VIRTUALENVIRONS

[Cristiano Alves]

21 hours ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

WOW... 
this is really cool.
Can you select Two Paths (Top path and bottom path) and duplicate an object between them?
😱

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Hi Christiano,  Unfortunately no.  But, this entire process involved much more that Duplicate Along a Path (DAP), but DAP was critical in the process on several occasions. 

 

But, using NURBS, you can create a shape along two paths and then using various tools built into Vectorworks create objects like the one below.  This was a combination of DAP, Loft NURBS and Create Surface from Curves.