Can 3ds max perform this?

[calebabudu]

i read an article describing USER-DEFINITIONS of CAD functions and the particular case study was on a festival hall in St. Polten, Austria (by Klaus Kada).

 

the main formal element is a huge concrete shell that is curved in two directions. the shell appears light by being clad in a backlit skin of transluscent glass. due to the complex geometry and min. tolerances required, laser technology directly controlled by the CAD software was used in cutting the glass panels which are flat throughout.

this was achieved by associating every identifiable pt. in the CAD model with precise co-ordinate values referenced from a point on the main stage.

 

with relation to the titanium panels in Gherys buisness sch design, a cordinate system was used to plot each panel which was used to cut and/or model them accurately.

 

Norman foster for a ski resort building done entirely in wood(with some serious curves) i undestand transfered th data for each unit into MS excell so that it could be built.

 

 

now my question is this... is revit capable of such? OR 3ds max? does it require programming? how can i do it? i want to be able to perform these operations. Any ideas?

[mwhite]

I think you would probably need to ask actual fabrication companies about this. Each one probably uses different CNC software depending on the type of machine that they use, what they are cutting, bending, welding, etc.

 

They will know how to get your design data in a usable form that they could use on their machines. It will probably come down to using a standard format such as DWG that could be imported into the CNC software. But just as important is working with the fabrication company so that your design can be built economically.

 

I have designed some pretty complicated (stupid) things which when shown to the metal fabrication company were going to be VERY expensive. Spending a couple hours with their engineer showed me how to design my project so that they could get it into their computer and also so that I could actually afford it.

 

My recommendation is to find out what fabrication companies are in your area that do architectural fabrication and talk with them. They will probably be able to get you started in the correct direction.

 

Mike White

[Life Style]

I know Gehry's projects used CATIA and some propietary tools, which are now available through Gehry Technologies, to convert the models into information for steel manufacturer.

 

I doubt this can be done directly from max, the technology is so new I don't think there is a standard.

[bricklyne]

.......... the technology is so new I don't think there is a standard.

 

 

Nor is the technology even practical or economical for a regular architect. I believe the rate for a single CATIA seat is about $20,000- 50,000 depending on the product configuratiions. Gehry Technologies Ltd. have probably brought those numbers down considerably with their Digital Projects Suite built on top of the CATIA engine, but it's still overall out of range for most small to mid-sized architectural firms.

For all it's power, and versatility, there's still a good reason why outside of Gehry in the architectural world, the only companies that use CATIA are on the scale of Boeing, Daimler-Chrysler and the Ship-building industry.

 

Besides which, it's all a moot point because Gehry doesn't use CATIA for most of the modelling anyway. A great deal of the modelling and digitizing occurs in Rhino3D after the actual physical scale model has been digitized (scanned) into Rhino, before they then export all the data into CATIA.

 

A very good MAX modeller, can probably do most of the stuff that Gehry studios does in CATIA, but the problem and difference comes in when that data needs to be transferred to the different Part manufacturers, who typically require a greater degree of accuracy (curve tolerances, class-A surfaces e.t.c.) than MAX is capable of producing on the digital model.

[derijones]

Hi

The main part of my business is the design of components for steel and aluminium boats. Obviously this requires lots of sweeping and curvy shapes that are required to be produced from flat plate. We use software (about £6000 per seat) that enables us to analyze the curvature, calculate stress / strain and develope the plate in to a 2D shape suitable for plasma / laser cutting. These plates are attached to a interlocking framework (also plasma cut) to make up the hull shapes. Most of the hulls are made from 5-12mm thick plate. I've attached a couple of pics of the types of shapes we can achieve - the red one is a 17m steel hulled trawler and the yacht hull is a 23m, with 10mm thick hull skin.

The marine industry has been using this technology for years - so if anyone wants to do groovy, curvy buildings on a budget - drop me an email...he! he!

Regards

Deri

[mwhite]

This forum never ceases to amaze me! Getting valuable insight and ideas from all over the World 24/7 on just about anything.

 

Mike White