Detaling Basics - Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy is where the water is moving. Generally, this is where the water is being blown by strong winds. I have used the roof example, which is common where I live. The wind often blows water up the roof slope, and under flashings. The flashings will stop a lot of the water, but without a stop end on the roofing, the water can enter the buildin

Vectorworks Tip 406 - Simple Stair

This tool is ideal for creating A simple stair, as its name implies. It is not suitable for creating complex tears or stairs that link between floors. This stair is available on standard landmark workspace, but it is not available in the standard Architect workspace. You can add this to your workspace by customising your workspace, you will find this stair in the legacy category. One of the cool tricks you can perform at this stair is using the Split tool on it. The stair becomes a solid object, and by double clicking on it you can go back to adjust the original stair.

Vectorworks Tip 405 - Splitting A Subdivision Surface

Starting with a subdivision primitive is all very well, but it does limit your ability to create complex shapes. What you need to be able to do is to split your subdivision into parts that allows you to stretch the design into shapes that you want. When use the edit subdivision tool, you will find several modes on the toolbar. One of these modes allows you to split your subdivision. This is what you need to do to create some of these complex shapes.

Vectorworks Tip 404 - DXF/DWG - Drag And Drop Importing.

If you can locate your imported DXF/DWG file in a Finder window (file explorer) and you can see your Vectorworks drawing window, then you can drag your DXF/DWG file from your finder window onto your Vectorworks drawing window, and Vectorworks will then import that DXF file. This is known as drag and drop importing and it works not just with DXF/DWD files but it works with all file importing formats.

Vectorworks Tip 403 - Editing Slabs That Have Used 3D Object Modifiers

Editing Slabs That have used 3D objects. If you have used 3-D objects to edit your slab, you can right click on the slab and choose edit modifiers. You can change the location or some of the parameters (on the Object Info palette) but you are not able to change the shape of the original objects used to create the 3-D object, and you are not able to change or add additional 3-D objects. it.

Detaling Basics - Capillary Action

Capillary action is where the surface tension of the water can pull the water into small gaps. Any gaps in your building that are less than 5mm (1/4") could allow water into your building. Capillary action is extremely powerful, and can even overcome gravity, allowing water to creep up a detail and into your building. The good news is that it's extremely easy to solve. All you need is a gap that is wider than 5 mm (1/4"). If you look at good detailing you will notice that there are often gaps at the bottom of flashings that will prevent water from creeping up the detail.

Vectorworks Tip 402 - Custom Stair

Many people do not like the custom stair tool and it has been removed from the default Vectorworks workspace. In order to find it you will need to customise your workspace, locate the custom stair in the legacy category and add it to your own workspace. The Custom Stair works differently than the main Vectorworks stair tool in that it works on the concept of parts. You add a flight, then you add a landing, the new and another flight, then you can add another landing or winder, then you can add another flight, and so on. That makes the stair extremely flexible, much more flexible than the standard stair tool.

Vectorworks Tip 401 - Creating a Subdivision Primitive

The starting form is important when working with Subdivision modeling. If want to create a flat shape (like a shade sail) then it is better to start with a rectangle. If you want to create the Bean Shape, it s easier to start with a sphere.

Vectorworks Tip 400 - DXF/DWG - What Is It?

When you're dealing with Vectorworks there really is very little difference between DXF and DWG, so I will treat these as the same type of file.DXF stands for Digital eXchange Format, while DWG is the native file format for AutoCAD. In simple terms DXF/DWG is a simple way of interchanging information between different CAD programs. This information tends to be plans and sections, and it can be either two-dimensional or three-dimensional. DXF/DWG does not carry information attached to the objects, so you might think of this information is being "dumb". There are several options for importing and exporting DXF/DWG, so look out for further posts about this.

Vectorworks Tip 399 - Editing Slabs The Have Used Clip Surface

When you edit a slab that has been modified, you have the option to edit the modifers. This means that you can change the modifiers to suit the change in the design. But be careful, you can only edit the modifier that is already there and you are not able to add any other modifiers. This also includes substantially changing the modifier that is already there by using add surface or clip surface on it.

Detailing Basics 3 - Gravity

One of the big problems with keeping water out is gravity. Water tends to fall down the building or is pulled down the building by gravity. While this is a big problem it's also one of the easiest to solve all you need to do is to deflect the water away from the building

Vectorworks Tip 397 - What are Subdivision Surfaces?

Sometimes you will hear this technique called subdivision modelling, but what is subdivision modelling. As I started to research this topic I found that concept of subdivision surfaces been around for many years. This is a mathematical concept, but what we really need is an easy to use application of this concept in Vectorworks. Vectorworks 2016 introduced the concept of subdivision surfaces. In simple terms subdivision surfaces allows you to quickly create very complex curving shapes by pushing and pulling the controlling handles around.

We are covering this topic in April for my subscribers. Book Now!

Interactive Workshops March2016 (1603) - Alterations and Additions

In these sessions we are going to cover setting up an Alteration and Addition project. I sometimes call these rennovation projects, but as someone recently pointed out, rennovation suggests repairing. These sessions are really about setting up an existing building which we can then amend to suit.

We will start with a discussion about measuring an existing building. There are several ways to deal with this:
manually measure the project:

• laser measure and manually record
• laser measure connected to tablet
• measured electronically with iphone
• subcontract to surveyor

Read more...

Detailing Basics 2 - Water Ingress Problems

When you draw details to communicate to others how the project is built, you need to show how the materials join together how their fixed and how you intend to keep the water out. It might not seem a big issue, but keeping out water is one of the fundamental problems in detailing. Water can cause structural and health problems.

The five most common ways for water to enter the building are:

1. gravity
2. capillary action
3. surface tension
4. kinetic energy
5. pressure differential

Vectorworks Tip 396 - Google Earth Pro

I found out recently that Google Earth Pro is available for free. It has many features that make it the pro version, but so far I do not know what the all are. One feature I do like in the Pro version is the ability to draw a path and then see the elevation of the path. I recently used this for placing massing models for adjacent sites. I did not have any hard data on the elevations of the adjoining sites, but by drawing a path, and Showing the Elevation Profile, I was able to get the information I needed.

Vectorworks Tip 395 - Wall Styles for Additions and Alterations

If you use Wall Styles for drawing the existing building you might end up with several wall styles for all the different wall thicknesses. Then, when you want to demolish any of those walls – you have to create copies of these wall styles. It's better to use unstyled walls for the existing and set the wall to use the graphic attributes of the class. Then when you want to demolish the wall just change the class of it.

Vectorworks Tip 394 - Project Sharing - Releasing

When you have completed your task on the project, you should release the layers you been working. Remember, nobody else can work on the layers that you have checked out, so in order for other people to work on those layers you have to release them. You can choose to release the layers, but when you do, if you haven't save saved and committed the work to the project file, you will be asked whether you want to commit this work or discard it.

Vectorworks Tip 393 - Slabs and 3D Objects

As well as adding planar objects to your slabs or subtracting planar objects from your slabs, you can also add or subtract three-dimensional objects. In the image above you'll see that I subtract a tape and extrude from my slab to create a set down and then I add and extrude along a path to create my footing.

Drawing and Detailing - 1

We need to draw details to communicate to others how the project is built, how the materials join, how they are fixed together, and how we keep the water out. Water may not seem much of a problem, but if you have lived in a country where they have had leaky buildings, you will know that water is a big issue. Water can cause health and safety issues and it can also cause buildings to fail through rot, corrosion, and through ice. Each wednesday we will be looking at draw ing and detailing topics. We will be covering detailing principles, drawing concepts, where you need details, etc. 

Vectorworks Tip 392 - Copy Linked Viewports

After you have created your linked viewports with the detail callout all with the detail reference, you can then copy and paste these objects onto other sections or elevations, and the links to the viewport will remain. This allows you to link several detail references or detail callouts to the same viewport, and it's really quick to do.

Vectorworks Tip 391 - Measuring Existing Buildings

Measuring existing buildings there are several ways that you can use to measure an existing building. You can use an old-fashioned tape measure, laser measuring device, laser devices that are connected to your iPad, plus a range of apps that you can use on your tablet or phone. Since there are so many different ways of measuring existing buildings, I would like you to leave your comments about which method you use.

We will be covering this topic in March 2016, book now!