3d Polyline at changing levels

[PrimeTimeAction]

I want to draw some 3D polylines with changing levels.

I mean i will start drawing at a specified (say zero) elevation and keep picking next points until i reach a stair, where i  specify the new level (say 2m) and then continue to draw at that level until a level change again. Important thing is that it needs to be a single 3D polyline because i want use it as a path for array. And the level should remain locked to the elevation i specified even if i snap to an object at different level.

 

Is there a simple way to do?

[ammobake]

Are you drawing a home or building in 3d?  Are you using solids or polylines?

 

The important thing to remember is that when you draw polylines they will always be flat - i.e. planar at zero elevation in the Z coordinate (unless you snap to a point that is at a higher z elevation).

 

As a drafter you can use this "flatness" of polylines to your advantage.

 

One could create floor plans at each level using polylines, copy and paste them back in as blocks using 0,0 reference point and specify a height dimension in properties for the entire floor.

This way each floor has a distinct color/layer association and your 3D polylines can be more easily distinguishable (on a different layer).

 

In plan view it would look funky.. But if you are modeling in 3D or using 3D linework it makes sense to do it this way for posterity.

(If for no other reason to have reference points for snapping your 3d linework).

 

So technically it might be easier for you to draw out a stair run in 2D, rotate3d command and flip that son of a gun over.  From there you could either use it as a reference for other commands or use it to create a 3d polyline snapped to the same node.

 

One could also close up the polyline for the stairs, rotate3d and extrude it sideways.  I guess it just depends what you're after.

 

[BIGAL]

Is the Elevation command what you want.

[PrimeTimeAction]

2 hours ago, ammobake said:

Are you drawing a home or building in 3d?  Are you using solids or polylines?

 

The important thing to remember is that when you draw polylines they will always be flat - i.e. planar at zero elevation in the Z coordinate (unless you snap to a point that is at a higher z elevation).

 

As a drafter you can use this "flatness" of polylines to your advantage.

 

One could create floor plans at each level using polylines, copy and paste them back in as blocks using 0,0 reference point and specify a height dimension in properties for the entire floor.

This way each floor has a distinct color/layer association and your 3D polylines can be more easily distinguishable (on a different layer).

 

In plan view it would look funky.. But if you are modeling in 3D or using 3D linework it makes sense to do it this way for posterity.

(If for no other reason to have reference points for snapping your 3d linework).

 

So technically it might be easier for you to draw out a stair run in 2D, rotate3d command and flip that son of a gun over.  From there you could either use it as a reference for other commands or use it to create a 3d polyline snapped to the same node.

 

One could also close up the polyline for the stairs, rotate3d and extrude it sideways.  I guess it just depends what you're after.

Its a 3D layout of a facility. I have to calculate the travel distances form various point to the nearest exit and show arrows to indicate the direction. The layout has been done in a BIM software, we have been given just the exported 3d model which has "dumb" polyface meshes for the geometry. Currently what i did was to make the path using 2D polylines on each elevation and connect these at the stairs using lines. But iam thinking if i could use 3D polyline form start to finish it will give the length directly and i can use it.

2 hours ago, ammobake said:

It is not possible to invoke it in the middle of 3d poly command. 

[steven-g]

There is a 3Dpoly command and it will use the Z value of any points you pick. A 3Dpoly can only contain straight segments so no arcs but it will accept 3D points as input so it will follow your route in a 3D model.

[PrimeTimeAction]

On 1/30/2021 at 12:58 AM, steven-g said:

There is a 3Dpoly command and it will use the Z value of any points you pick. A 3Dpoly can only contain straight segments so no arcs but it will accept 3D points as input so it will follow your route in a 3D model.

The problem with 3Dpoly is that it takes the z coordinate of the clicked objects. Instead I want to lock the z coordinate to the specified value.

[eldon]

You can always use the filter .XY which takes the x,y coordinates of the clicked object whilst you input the required z value.

 

3D polylines can only be of Continuous linetype

[Dadgad]

Without answering your question exactly, this reminds me of something I did a few years back.

You might enjoy looking it over.  I used a continuous 3D Polyline as described in the thread.

I would suggest using an isometric view while drawing your 3D Polyline.