I’m new to Profile Builder and am trying to create profiles for various styles of post/plank barriers. These consist of two different styles of vertical posts - one for the two ends, and another for the middle. The horizontal ‘planks’ are all the same. The completed assemblies need to follow paths that are both straight, cornered and curved, but the planks cannot bend.
I’ve created assemblies that contain profile members and components. These allow me to have unique end posts, but the profile members (planks) curve when following a curved path.
I’ve also created assemblies that contain components and spans. These keep the planks straight when following a curved path, but I can’t figure out how to make the end posts unique whilst still connecting to the generic span. In this case the planks are missing between the unique end posts and the generic inner posts.
I suspect that I’m missing something obvious here, but I haven’t been able to find the solution. How do I get the planks to span between ALL the posts - whether unique or not?
Without really seeing what you are trying to achieve it’s a bit difficult to make suggestions. You could have a look at the PB4 sample file “Industrial Railing V4” which might give you some ideas for a solution.
Yes, the spacing does matter. In the example shown, the post spacing needs to be 2m (whether interior or end), with only the last space in any stretch being reduced to suit.
From the looks of it though, that’s what you appear to have achieved. I’m slightly confused by how though, as component#2 in the dialogue applies to everything except the start post, but the model doesn’t show the same. Am I missing something?
I think I tried what you’ve done but I couldn’t get it to work in the span section. Can you please upload your model so I can compare to mine and figure out where I’ve gone wrong?
Ah, I see what you’ve done now - you’ve ‘hidden’ one end post inside another - very clever!
Unfortunately, in this case that won’t work. The model I supplied was just an example as I didn’t want to use the client’s actual models (IP and all that). In reality the end posts and inner posts are the same size but with different features, therefore parts of both will be visible using your method. Thanks for the attempt though.
The question still remains then: is it possible to have two different post components with a single span that remains straight around curved paths in Profile Builder?
That’s true enough, thanks. I may have to edit some of the post spacings after the model is complete anyway, so deleting a couple of surplus end posts wouldn’t be an issue. Do you know of a tip to select the correct one of two identically sized components that occupy the same space?
I often will Edit>Cut whichever one I click on. If the one left is correct I’ll move on with my work. If the one left is wrong I will delete it, then Edit>Paste in Place.
Have you tried using an invisible ‘spacer’ component part to support the spans instead of an actual post component?
In PB4, you can create a ‘component’ for the assembly that is really just an invisible part used to connect spans. Try using the spacer for your spans and make sure that the spacing and layout for the invisible spacer matches that of your actual visible posts.
