How to Model This Stepped Curved Form in Vectorworks 2016?

[High_Viz]

Hi all,

 

I’m trying to recreate the stepped curved form shown in the attached image (see below) except to form a smooth surface closer to the filled and sanded 3D print in the image - I’m hoping to avoid having to manually fill and sand all my 3D solid prints by hand as it’s time consuming, and hopefully avoidable. It’s a series of parallel curved contours that gradually rise in height — a bit like a topographic model and it’s actually part of a skateboard mould if anyone wonders what it is…

 

I’m using Vectorworks Architect 2016, and I’m wondering what the most efficient way would be to create this kind of shape.

 

I tried using:

 

Multiple Extrude, but it only works with 2D planar shapes and doesn’t follow a curved slope properly.

Loft Surfaces, but VWX 2016 doesn’t seem to allow lofting / morphing between two different surfaces, and in terms of generating the surface I can only get any successful results lofting only curves, not profiles…

 

Shell Solid, but it fails on NURBS surfaces.

 

 

Ideally, I’d like to end up with:

 

A single solid model of the overall form, that I can 3D print.

 

Does anyone have suggestions for the best workflow or tool combination for this in VWX 2016 (e.g. NURBS curves, loft, sweep, or contours-to-solid method)?

 

I could only get any successful approximation of the form by producing stepped contours, but ideally for continuous surface pressure in the skateboard mould I should be producing a smooth surface.

 

I had read that if lofting a surface that won’t respond to the shell command it could be that the number of vertices on each NURBS curve is different, and so the transition does not map correctly - I have yet to experiment with this…

 

Any guidance, especially from anyone who has worked with solids and irregular shaped profiles at either end of a sweep or layered/stepped forms before, would be hugely appreciated!

 

many thanks 
High_Viz

Edited October 29 by High_Viz
Spellcheck

[E|FA]

Take a look at DTM: Digital Terrain Models.  

 

https://app-help.vectorworks.net/2026/eng/VW2026_Guide/SiteModel1/Creating_the_site_model.htm

[High_Viz]

7 hours ago, E|FA said:

Take a look at DTM: Digital Terrain Models.  

 

https://app-help.vectorworks.net/2026/eng/VW2026_Guide/SiteModel1/Creating_the_site_model.htm

Oh wow!!! That looks like it would do the job, assuming I can form a solid, not just a surface - thank you for this tool tip @E|FA I will have a play with it and report back 😊

 

EDIT: after watching the VWX movie file on how to generate a site model it looks like it is just a surface model… not a 3D solid I could print, but it is entirely possible I’ve just misunderstood what was shown on screen, and the only way I will be able to tell is if I try it out and see what happens.

Edited October 30 by High_Viz
Update after watching vwx tutorial video

[Tom W.]

20 minutes ago, High_Viz said:

Oh wow!!! That looks like it would do the job, assuming I can form a solid, not just a surface - thank you for this tool tip @E|FA I will have a play with it and report back 😊

 

EDIT: after watching the VWX movie file on how to generate a site model it looks like it is just a surface model… not a 3D solid I could print, but it is entirely possible I’ve just misunderstood what was shown on screen, and the only way I will be able to tell is if I try it out and see what happens.

 

A Site Model is just a surface but it can be converted into a solid afterwards 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

@High_Viz  You have a number of images and I am unsure which one you. need to recreate.  Can you post only that image please.

[High_Viz]

4 hours ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

@High_Viz  You have a number of images and I am unsure which one you. need to recreate.  Can you post only that image please.

 

[High_Viz]

9 hours ago, Tom W. said:

 

A Site Model is just a surface but it can be converted into a solid afterwards 

oh okay, yes that makes sense actually, convert to solid then shell command?

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

Is this something like what you want

 

 

[Tom W.]

17 minutes ago, High_Viz said:

convert to solid then shell command?

 

I think you need to Command-K the Site Model in a 3D view then run Add Solids on the resultant Meshes. Then yes I guess Shell Solid if you need to hollow it out for printing (of which I know zero).

 

[Jeff Prince]

11 hours ago, Tom W. said:

 

A Site Model is just a surface but it can be converted into a solid afterwards 

I wouldn’t recommend this for something you want to be smooth.

 

Best method is to draw NURBS contour lines with equal number of points.  Make sure they are orientated in the same direction.

Add 3D loci for the high and low corners not covered by the curves.

use Loft-no rail mode, pick the loci and curves in the order of elevation.  Use the solid mode.

Trim to desired final dimensions, if req’d.

select the resulting solid and shell to desired thickness.

 

The resulting solid will be smooth and nice compared to the site model method.

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

If this is the type of shape you want, there is a quick, simple controllable method to create a solid.  This was made from a 2D planar polygon.

 

  

[Jeff Prince]

21 minutes ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

If this is the type of shape you want, there is a quick, simple controllable method to create a solid.  This was made from a 2D planar polygon.

 

  

it’s like clickbait, but less useful 😉

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

5 minutes ago, Jeff Prince said:

it’s like clickbait, but less useful 😉

Do you have a solution?  There are probably a dozen or more.

Edited October 30 by VIRTUALENVIRONS

[Jeff Prince]

5 minutes ago, VIRTUALENVIRONS said:

Do you have a solution?  There are probably a dozen or more.

I guess you didn’t  read the thread huh?

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

I have actually, but don't really understand what the issue is.  At first, I thought there was something I was missing, it looks so straight forward.  

 

 

[VIRTUALENVIRONS]

@High_Viz  Can you post the 3D file you made with the associated construction work.  I have VW 2018 which is probably close enough to 2016.  

 

You are on the right track with the Lofting, etc. but might need some tweaking to the curves.

 

.....and my apologies for the running commentary.

[High_Viz]

Firstly I appreciate EVERYONE who has come back to me with ideas on how to model the form that i want to so that i can print it as a solid. I have been away from this project for a couple of weeks now but i have some time now to read through all of your posts and try something new with each post by the looks of things, so thank you all for your time and attention - i will work through the posts and see where we can get to on this learning curve for me.