Brick Arch - Locking Polor Arrayed Model Lines

[bgoldman]

I need help locking a polar array center point to a reference line. In the attached family I have used a sweep for the Brick arch and now I want to use an arrayed model line to create the mortar joints but I can't figure out how to lock the center point of the array. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[bgoldman]

I need help locking a polar array center point to a reference line. In the attached family I have used a sweep for the Brick arch and now I want to use an arrayed model line to create the mortar joints but I can't figure out how to lock the center point of the array. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Forgot to attach file.

[Mr Spot]

If you hover around you'll see the array has grips. You can then dimension to the centre point of the radial array and constrain it as required.

[bgoldman]

Okay. Cool. But when you change the "R" parameter you get a constraint error on the the radius of the array. Have any ideas on this?

Thanks,

B

[Mr Spot]

It is to do with your formula which i don't have time (given today is my RDO) to investigate further. It appears to be overconstrained. For instance the width parameter could drive the radius without the need to have the radius parameter as an actual dimension...

I know people have created similar families before, have you had a search?

[patricks]

I created a brick arch family, doesn't have mortar joints, but the corners of the arch and the radius centerpoint are located with invisible model lines, which are aligned to reference planes. I was able to lock the radius to the model line verteces, but was not able to lock them to reference planes.

It has both width and radius parameters (since an arc segment have different chord length and radius independent of each other), and also a depth parameter if you want the brick to stick out of the wall slightly.

One day I might take the time to figure out how to get a radial array of model lines for mortar joints.

[bgoldman]

I created a brick arch family, doesn't have mortar joints, but the corners of the arch and the radius centerpoint are located with invisible model lines, which are aligned to reference planes. I was able to lock the radius to the model line verteces, but was not able to lock them to reference planes.

It has both width and radius parameters (since an arc segment have different chord length and radius independent of each other), and also a depth parameter if you want the brick to stick out of the wall slightly.

One day I might take the time to figure out how to get a radial array of model lines for mortar joints.

So if I'm understanding you guys correctly I could probably get rid of the radius parameter and just lock the center point and end points of the array to what I already have defining the width and the center point of the sweep (arch)? Thanks. I hope this works.

[bgoldman]

Okay. I don't think it is my formula...I think that polar arrays will not allow you to change the radius and move the center that is locked to a reference plane. Nor have I been able to lock the end points to a reference plane and move them without an error being generated. Is this something that needs to be placed on the wishlist? Its seems that once the shape of the array is created it cannot changed using parameters. I also notice that when you try to stretch the center point it moves the whole array together rather than changing the shape of the array.

[Mr Spot]

You'll need to use nested families in order to make the actual arch variable. I'd create one, but i don't really have the need for one. Maybe if i get some free time some day i'll sit down and give it a go.... I'll see how i go at lunch, might give it a whirl.

[bgoldman]

Thanks for the reply. That gets me headed in the right direction. I'll keep pluggin' away at it...maybe I'll have a breakthrough or something. I'll go through your tutorial again and try it out. Thanks again.