help with surface tesselation!

[gfriedman]

I have created some nurbs surfaces which have double curvature in them and I would like more control over the layout of the mesh, which will represent structural members. I have explored the options at the top level of the Nurbs surface controls but so far i have not found a way to impose a different order on the tesselation other than the controls found in the toop level Nurbs control panel. I want straight grid lines in plan and not curved even though this was the geometry that created the surfaces.

 

Secondly, does anyone know of a way to explore weaving or other 3D surfaces in a less tedious way than actually modelling every constituent part of a pattern? I would like to explore a building skin constructed like a basket but I would rather not use texture maps, and I want to explore different iterations quickly. Any advice on how to explore the construction of a surface would be greatly appreciated!

 

thanks in advance

[Hector]

I have created some nurbs surfaces which have double curvature in them and I would like more control over the layout of the mesh, which will represent structural members.......Secondly, does anyone know of a way to explore weaving or other 3D surfaces in a less tedious way than actually modelling every constituent part of a pattern?

thanks in advance

Not long ago I started to make myself the same question.

Probably what you need is not a visualization tool but more a specialized design tool. I've got the feeling that what you are trying to do is designing stuff more than just visualizations.

I don't know anything about 3d max but It's seems to me that the answer is called Parametric Modelling.

In brief, you generate a surface by the definition of certain parameters. Changing the values of the parameters then produces variations in the geometry. You have to do some scripting though, but you didn't spected It to be too easy did you?. It is actually very interesting.

There is something called "generative components" wich is a sort of technology in development and works within Microstation. It does what your are describing. There is some information (and nice images) here:

http://www.smartgeometry.org/Default.htm

and also some turotials here

http://www.eatyourcad.com

Another software could be "Digital Project" a sort of subset for architects of "Catia". you can find it here, but is very expensive:

http://www.gehrytechnologies.com/

good luck