Hello everyone. I am in need of guidance once more. I need to create this overhang but the main issue is that it’s not flat but curved all abound in an art nouveau style. It is also outlined with metal sheets in a specific pattern and on top of that it needs to be flat on tilted metal supports. I created this Frankenstein monster of a thing so far, using curvilofts loft by spline for the glass part ( I’m not happy with it), copy along path for the metal sheets (not happy either because there are some weird distortions on certain bends) and that’s about it. What would be the best method to get to the end result? Is there a way that I can make it all flat on one and somehow bend/ distort the entire group into the final form or something completely different?
Here is also the reference picture I was given, along with the CAD file that I imported into sketchup.
Help.skp (8.7 MB)
Extension Warehouse search for ‘bend’.
I have shape bender but the issue is that the curve that needs to be followed is also shifting on blue axis so the result is just something completely off. Do you suggest I create it all on flat and group everything and then use some type of bend? But how could I do that since my outer outline of the overhang needs to be lifted and not on the same height from the sides? I attached the SKP file, did you view it?
Do you really need this high level of detail?
Which part exactly do you want to bend? Have you tried the TrueBend extension?
“Do you really need this high level of detail?” Haha, I know. The issue was the client gave me that CAD drawing and desired the support beams to be just iron tubes ( around 3-4 cm thick but square shaped) and I tried various “lines to pipes” plugins and just didn’t get the desired outcome and just postponed that issue for later (to which I still haven’t figured out a solution).
The glass itself should be bent upwards at the outer edge.
I tried true bend but wasn’t able to get the desired effect since the highest points aren’t in the same level and the tilt (uplift or what’s it called) isn’t uniform. I am also not ruling out the idea that I am just too dense at the moment to see the proper use of true bend in this scenario.
See how this looks -
flo-02.skp (9.0 MB)
I redrawn the surface, extruded the edges, and then used Flowify to ‘map’ the desired border pattern.
And to add those spheres, use the perimeter path and one of the ‘copy along curve’ extensions.
Regarding those patterned beams, you should definitely remodel them.
1 Like
I looked at your SketchUp file and saw what seems to be the CAD parts but I don’t see elevations or side views showing the upward curves.
Can you post the CAD files (dwg I presume) or dxf?
Mr. Lemire, in the 3D model, that glass surface looks flat but is actually curved upwards. Insert a horizontal plane and it will be easier to see.
@mihai.s Wow, thank you Mihai. The model is so clean. I will try to recreate your result following your steps. Yeah, you’re right about remodeling the beams.
@jean_lemire_1 the curvature is dictated by the support beam’s angles and length from the CAD file along with the picture of the metropolitan subway the client sent me.
You’re welcome!
Modeling a curved glass overhang
1 Like
