HVAC Vents in walls

[Don@Black Dog]

I am trying to insert a vent or register for AC in a wall. So far I have used both the door and window tools, but both cut all the way throught the wall. Is there a way to do a partial cut? I could use a symbol but prefer a plug-in object since the sizes frequently change throughout a house. Thanks!

[Jonathan Pickup]

draw a 3D object for the AC duct, then create a wall recess...

I covered this in the Vectorworks subscription service in September 2010

[CipesDesign]

Hmm. What about a slightly different approach? Instead of inserting into a wall, how about just placing on the surface of the wall. You could use a very simple 3d (or hybrid) symbol for this...

[Don@Black Dog]

Thanks for the input, guys. Jonathan, I was hoping for a simpler method. I am using the 3d object, wall recess method for some large under-window heater units in an apartment, as well as some doors in thick walls with a recessed raised threshold, but it is a bit of a p-i-t-a to use for multiple items of varying sizes, even to copy and paste.

Peter, this might work. Also, I guess I could make multiple copies of varyng sizes. I guess I was spoiled by the adaptibility of PIO's. Thanks again and good to hear from both of you again!

[Don@Black Dog]

Well, I very successfully deconstructed a window pio and made a good symbol. Is there a way to associate a recess in a wall as part of the symbol or is it always a separate endeavor? (I think that is self answering....) Always an adventure.

[Robert Anderson]

Don, when Peter and Jon are talking about "wall recesses" I think they are talking about Wall Features, which were introduced in (I think) Vectorworks 2009. The Wall Features functionality is dead-simple to use, which is I suspect why they suggest it. That said, you can make a symbol that does not break the wall (by stacking two 2D loci). But if you want a custom 3D subtraction from the wall that leaves the wall surfaces, you'll need to upgrade also.

[Don@Black Dog]

Thanks, Robert. I also realized upon looking further (duh), that when making a symbol, teh insertion properties could be set to break a wall all, part or not at all, which worked perfectly for my use (insert on one side, dont break the other). I used the wall recesses for openings below large window sills and will probably do so again for niches.

With the symbol, I wanted something I could copy and paste quickly rather than create an opening for each one which then has to be moved if the grill location changes (which is fairly simple I have found, but still an extra step). Thanks again.

[Dieter @ DWorks]

You can specify a custom wall opening in your symbol. That's much much easier to use than wall features. And they can go beyond the end of the wall. Just use 2 loci on top of each other and set the opening without caps, this way the 2D wall will not be broken.

[Don@Black Dog]

Very cool. Thanks. How do you add the loci? ( I could look it up but this is easier...)

[Dieter @ DWorks]

Very cool. Thanks. How do you add the loci? ( I could look it up but this is easier...)

From the basic tools palette.