I am looking for a script/plugin to assist in the modelling of handrails and ballustrades.
We typically model in Autocad and file link into max. For curbs (kerbs?) and soldier courses, we often create the polyline in Autocad, and apply a sweep modifier with an appropriate cross-section within max. This means if the polyline in Autocad changes, the file linking process will update the sweep modifier when the file is relinked.
I’d like to have a similar setup with railings: create a polyline in Autocad and apply a ‘railings’ modifier in max. At the moment, we’ve been using the ‘AEC Extended/Railing’ tool within max. The problem with this is that the resultant railing geometry is not ‘linked’ to the polyline anymore, so updates to the Autocad file will not transfer through to the max railings. Also, if there are many different railings in a scene, I need to create a new layer for each spline as the AEC Extended/Railing tool does not work with splines that are made up of multiple polylines.
This is the first public presentation of RailClone, our new parametric modelling plugin. The development is very advanced, but we need some time before releasing. Enjoy it !
I would think exactly like that! That looks really great. Need any testers?
Actually it’s a shame that max doesn’t have something basic like this as part of the AEC tools. I know there’s a railing tool but it kind of sucks. It looks like railclone goes way beyond it.
No, sorry. There are not beta versions available or defined release date yet (some months i believe). But i will post more information here as the development continues.
What do you mean exactly with stack vertically ? RailClone creates mesh objects, so you can use it as you like. As instance, the attached image shows a dome using two RC objects chained.
Carlos, please ad me to the list of early adopters.
This videos are really great. I can´t wait to see in action in my projects. I see tons of possible capabilities.
But take the time you need to make it in common ForestPro-Quality, which is always a joy to use.
Isn’t it deeply sad how excited we all get about a plugin that will allow us to generate railings?
(I recall a Siggraph Autodesk launch a few years back. When ‘Pelt Mapping’ was announced, the audience reaction was at the level you might expect for the discovery of perpetual motion!)
We have some ideas to solve the junctions, but probably we will not include it in the first version. There are a lot of features that must be tested before.
