Josh Schulman Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I'm trying to figure out a good way to model large scale event tents. I've tried to use the drape surface tool over the the tent poles but it never works out right. I don't know if geometery of the tents is too complicated for VW to figure out. I've also tried using the loft surface tool but that isn't really what I'm looking for either. This is more or less what I'm trying to make: [img:center]http://uniqueattractions.com.au/images/visu_img_6.jpg[/img] Any help would be great. Quote Link to comment
ChadL Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I did a drawing of a tent like this a couple years ago. If I remember correctly I used 'create surface from rails' to do it.It was that or create surface from curves. I am pretty sure I drew half of 1 peak and duplicated it and added surface. I'll look and see if I can find that drawing. Quote Link to comment
Vectorworks, Inc Employee PVA - Admin Posted June 17, 2014 Vectorworks, Inc Employee Share Posted June 17, 2014 I think one of the tutorials halfway down the below page covers this. It uses a pentagonal base but you can use any geometry you like to get the shapes you're looking for: http://www.vectorworks.net/3Dpowerpack/tutorials.php Quote Link to comment
ChadL Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 I could not find my file, so I did a very quick drawing of it. I used Loft Surface. I drew 3 nurbs curves. 1 was the curve going from the bottom to the top of the pole, 1 was from the pole towards the next pole (but I only drew half of that curve) and the last was the flat part near the bottom. Then I lofted Surface with the Birail sweep mode. Then Mirror and duplicate, and add surface. I hope this helps. Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted June 17, 2014 Share Posted June 17, 2014 Think about it in pieces or quadrants and it will be much easier to achieve. Its definitely possible. This company - http://www.baytex.co.nz - does their tent design work in VW. Kevin Quote Link to comment
Josh Schulman Posted June 17, 2014 Author Share Posted June 17, 2014 That was very helpful. I still wish that VW had a better way to do it via a tool. Quote Link to comment
Benson Shaw Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 (edited) Seem to be a lot of tents lately. Summer festivals? In case anyone is still looking, here's one approach. Taller poles for longer drop to the drain panels would help for a better look. These things require some serious engineering. The fabric takes quite a load from tension, wind & precipitation. The corners, sides and ends are simple Loft Surface of 3 Nurbs Curves. The blue corner NURBS curves are all same shape. The drain panels are probably easiest as Loft Surface in One Rail Mode with ridge as the rail, and 3 profiles to control the droop. These can also be done as simple Lofts, but the resulting center fall line then needs z adjustment upward to prevent water basin effect. HTH -B Edited June 19, 2014 by Benson Shaw Quote Link to comment
Kevin McAllister Posted June 19, 2014 Share Posted June 19, 2014 Great explanation Benson! Kevin Quote Link to comment
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