3D Structural Diagram?

[mzagorski]

Im plugging away at my final year arch. school project and have to create some kinda structural diagram... was thinking that a 3d model of some sorts could be nice.. i beams and columns etc. Anyone got any samples to show of structural renders? Preferably line drawings... or know of software that can do this .. and *fast*

 

Thanks

[david whiting]

Hi Mike

 

With your modelling skills you may want to consider modelling a structure with some level of 3D complexity and interest....for example the roof of an old barn etc. I've attached an image of a roof I modelled a few years ago in autocad using 3D data from a survey instrument

 

http://www.cgarchitect.com/forum/filepush.asp?file=SKO7_1.jpg

 

If you play your cards right, you may be able to get 2D or 3D data (and maybe drawings) on a heritage building nearby in Scotland. Check out the following site and other similar ones to find architects in your area that specialize in heritage recording. They may be willing to share CAD data with you for a school project.

 

http://www.ahss.org.uk/

 

..or maybe you need this 'real' fast in which case this may be too much work

 

David

[mzagorski]

Thanks for the reply David. Nice autocad work... what version is that?... Looks pretty modified.

 

Anyway... I just remembered seeing some 3d drawings done for a local building.. so I will try and find out who the engineer was on that project. I might post an image if I can get a copy... pretty neat for structural 3d line drawing. In perspective too

 

[ May 06, 2003, 02:11 PM: Message edited by: mzagorski ]

[david whiting]

Hi Mike

 

The autocad is version 14. I worked on that project a few years ago with a number of other people. The model was drawn automatically from a database of 3D survey info using lisp.

 

The lisp code is pretty much broke now with newer versions of ACAD but if you like this kind of stuff I can put you in touch with the guy who developed the LISP routines...we're talking about a HUGE amount of coding and configuration.....not for the faint of heart

 

David

[websmythe]

You could try Blender.

 

Blender.org Homepage

 

It's got a non-standard interface, so there's a bit of getting used to it (using your mouse and lkeyboard together). But when you do it is Fast.

 

Features?

 

- has a userbase of about 250,000

- has good user support (from both the folks that develop it and other users)

- is multi-platform (Unix, Windows, Mac OX X),

- exports to DXF and VRML 1.0,

- has lots of toys (radiosity, particles, cartoon shading, etc),

- does animation and all sorts of post processing,

- is continually be upgraded,

- ...and... its free.

 

Starting to sound lick an ad campaign isn't it

 

It ain't a be-all-to-end-all, but it's pretty close , and the code is Open Source if you're inclined in that direction.

 

Hope this might help.