This is my very first post, so I don’t know if I’m posting at the right place. In case I’m not, I apologize in advance.
I need some serious help in developing a dynamic multi-panel folding door. I’ve found a few tutorials on how to make a two-panel bi-fold, and they all worked, but the methods just don’t seem to apply to a third panel. I’ve struggled a lot to learn it by myself, but to no avail.
There’s an ancient post on how to do it, and I tried it over and over again, but wasn’t successful. It might be due to the difference in versions, or maybe I’m just too dumb to understand the explanation. Anybody there willing to lend me a hand? I’d be really grateful. FoldingDoors.skp (159.5 KB)
Done. That’s the closest I could get. For some reason, when the door is open, the third panel lands exactly where the first one is, and I can’t figure out why. Tried to edit its position, but it changes when the door is closed as well. Still being beaten by the logic of the formulas.
It looks like you have axis placement issues but were close. I changed it a little so you have another way to do it. On yours nest door three under two and fix the axis placement on door two and three. My example is partial open so its more clear you can edit full open easily or make a menu parameter to choose half or full. Trifold Door.skp (163.5 KB)
I guess I’m really a newbie, 'cause I just don’t get what you did here. I tried to understand the logic behind the formulas, but I can’t. Couldn’t even change the values to make it fully open. Would you shed some light?
Wow, that’s precisely what I was trying to do. However, once again, I fail to get the proper procedure. Can’t even manage to create the components the way you did (placing one component inside another). I really need to understand how it’s done from the beginning, so I can make doors with more panels whenever I need to. Would you please explain it to me?
Attached is the same model with door two and three modified to rotate 180’ instead of 90. You can compare the two models to see that affect. When making a sub component you have to be editing inside the parent component then paste or create the component. If you are copy and pasting you have to make the new pasted component unique. Keeping door 2&3 inside one makes the relationship to one. Then putting three inside two maintains that relationship. notice how they change display (whats selected and whats grayed out) as you edit in to each level. This is a good exercise to learn DC.
I added another with a menu to select half or full open. There are many ways to get the same results Some might cause problems as the DC gets more complicated. If you want your mind blown look at some of the Marvin and Pella windows in the 3d Warehouse. They are very involved and most important they are very stable.
@ivanjones and @pcmoor, thank you both so much. I think I’ve finally solved it.
I was messing with those models you guys shared and also found a tutorial on outlines. With that combo, I was able to reproduce the nested components logic to more panels, and then just used the same formula for the new ones, adjusting them by adapting the values and changing the axes. It actually ended up being very simple.
And, Ivan, I had already seen the Pella and Marvin stuff in the warehouse, and they are really mind-blowing. I don’t think I’ll be reaching that level of complexity myself, especially now that you guys taught me enough to do what I wanted.
I’ve been trying for a while now and was about to give up, but you boys saved my skin. Thank you very, very much. Really appreciate it.