"Floor by face" won't pick mass element face - why?

[antonio2012]

Hello:

I am modeling a simple swimming pool starting from a mass element shape. I have no problems creating the walls of the swimming pool as shown on the JPG image by picking the sides of the mass element with the "Wall by Face" tool, but when it comes to creating the bottom "floor" of the swimming pool and I use "Floor by Face" the tool will not find a face to pick... Why not? What am I doing wrong?

Your help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[dazza163968596]

First you need to select the mass then press the "Floor Area Faces" button next to the edit button. This will then let you select which levels within the mass are to be floor levels. When you have done this a transparent plane will cross your mass where it intersects with the levels you have just picked. These are the only elements that you can apply floors by face too. You cannot apply a floor to any other elements within the mass. This is one of the flaws in using masses for floors. You would probably be better creating a floor by sketch and aligning it with the bottom of your pool.

[..shaner]

First you need to select the mass then press the "Floor Area Faces" button next to the edit button. This will then let you select which levels within the mass are to be floor levels. When you have done this a transparent plane will cross your mass where it intersects with the levels you have just picked. These are the only elements that you can apply floors by face too. You cannot apply a floor to any other elements within the mass. This is one of the flaws in using masses for floors. You would probably be better creating a floor by sketch and aligning it with the bottom of your pool.


ditto, it took me 2 hrs to figure that out

anyone know when when you do a curtian system by face then make one of the panels a door they turn on their side instead of right side up?

[antonio2012]

Hi, thank you for your reply. I followed your instructions, however when I try to apply "floor by face" to the transparent plane crossing the mass it still won't be picked up and no floor is created. Why is that? Am I only left with the second choice you point out?

Another thing I am running into is that only the top section of the wall can be changed parametrically but not the bottom curved section (see JPG image attached). I tried joining both top and bottom but it won't allow me to do this, and I could not create a single wall that includes both top straight and bottom curved section from the mass element. It all seems very limiting. What am I missing?

Thanks for your help.

[dbaldacchino]

The bottom curved section is draped on your mass....change your mass and then select the wall and click Remake (button will show up on your options bar).

[antonio2012]

Hi could you give me more information about this? I do not understand what you mean by it being "draped on the mass"... What do I need to change on the mass. Thanks.

[antonio2012]

Okay, thanks I understand what you meant... However, what about the floor issue? I am still having troubles with that.
Thanks.

[dbaldacchino]

Darren's explanation is very good. Follow his instructions. If your floor is not perfectly flat, you cannot use that method as it is meant for perfectly level floors. You need to create a level where you have your swimming pool floor and that floor needs to cut through your mass. Then you'll be able to use the Floor by face tool. If the pool floor is not flat, then use the floor tool and sketch your boundary (or pick the outline of your mass) and you can add slope arrows. Then in section, change the offset parameter to locate your floor accurately.