Creating curved ceiling beams

[VWNovice9]

Hi all, 

 

I have made a curved ceiling Vectorworks but I want to create gulag beams that follow the curve and have the same drop throughout. Does anyone know how I can achieve this? My first thought was to warp extrude rectangles but so far have no got the desired effect.

 

(ref image: https://ibb.co/1KR7hnn )

[Jeff Prince]

I can’t see your image and I imagine you meant to type Glulam and not gulag 😉

 

You can extract the curve from your ceiling and the finish drawing the elevation of the beam by offsetting the curve and connecting the ends.  From there it’s a simple extrude to the depth of the beam.  Make it a symbol and array duplicates into place.

[Tom W.]

Here it is:

 

Another option might be to use the Project tool on a Rectangle, then duplicate the solid, offset it + Subtract Solids:

 

 

[Jeff Prince]

@VWNovice9 How did you model the roof shape depicted in the photo?

If it's a solid, you could just copy the roof and modify it to become one of the beams.

[VWNovice9]

Thanks all, I am trying to get the beams to come out of the top of a central circular bar (as shown in image) in a star burst shape, following the contours of the roof. So modifying the roof into a beam would work in this case. Would certainly be easier if they came out in straight lines!

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

I think I know what you want to do.  You want the beams to be straight, follow the roof contour, but in a radial pattern.....I think. 

 

Is that a correct statement?

[VWNovice9]

Correct! Said it much better than I could. Any solution?

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Yes, like always there are a number of solutions.  Not really a novice thing though.  The trick is to get the curves for each spoke.  

 

I think I would use the Analysis tool for this.  Once you have the curves, you are good to go with a number of solutions, some already mentioned.

 

How many spokes do you need for your starburst.  

 

Post the ceiling and your circular part.  I am sure someone will post a solution.  I am knocking off the night, but can look at it tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

As you may not be up to speed on NURBS tools, I thought a traditional methodology would be helpful.  I still wasn't sure of the type of ceiling you wanted so I made a version of both.

The only NURBS tool used here is Shell.  Have a look.

 

I

[VWNovice9]

Thanks very much - will have a watch so I'm ready for next time. I've ended up doing curved beams in a straight formation in the interest of saving time. Really appreciate all the help 🙂