Create 3D fence over a 3D surface

[!AjI!]

Hi all.....  I've been attempting to produce a very simple Post & Rail fence created in 3D that runs over a 3D surface to mark out a property boundary.

The method I've been using so far is that of creating a 3D section of fence that includes the post and also the rails that extend out to the point where they meet the next post position. (As shown in the image below)

I then have a feature line draped over the surface which follows its levels (this is then exploded in to a 3D polyline). The block above is then told to follow a path array along the 3D polyline with the set separation distance between the blocks so that the posts 'join' the end of the rails. This gives the result shown below:

But, as you can see its not very impressive is it. Some of the blocks don't align as they follow the polyline curve and when there is a change in level the rails don't incline as everything stays horizontal/vertical. So the blocks are only being rotated in plan view as they follow the 3D polyline, and they are not being rotated to follow the incline of the 3D polyline. 

The other failed method I used was to path-array the posts only. Then create the rails by doing a path extrusion of a circle along three 3D polylines to form the rails. But the path extrusion simply didn't work, every time it ran in to "modeling error" and no extrusion came of it unless I reduced the path down to only a metre each time. As the fence line is quite long, this would have taken me far too long to have to trim the 3D polyline and then extrude a small section each time to gradually build up the path of the rails. On top of that, it would then have been a nightmare if the client wanted to adjust the path of the fence, as the whole process would have to be re-done.

So what I would like to ask is - is there a way to produce 3D fence-lines by using an assembly/corridor method?

My knowledge of Civil3D is enough for me to produce assemblies and corridors, but not sure if it is possible to create a 3D assembly that can produce cylindrical posts at required intervals?

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Cheers.

[m_kingdon]

With a corridor, you could try building the fence using an assembly of vertical deflection and marked points.  The vertical deflection will act like the posts and the marked points as the horizontal slates.  Set the corridor frequency to however often you want the fence post to repeat and set all other frequency to "no".# i.e no to horizontal geometry

[!AjI!]

Sounds like a good plan. 

Would I be able to create cylindrical deflections in the assembly?

[m_kingdon]

I had a go but it doesn't look great.  Civil 3D can't do curved corridors, but I guess your panel slats won't be curved either?  I have attached a quick model I did.

You could do the width of the fence post with a linkwidthandslope assembly.  You could potential make something cylindrical like by linking the linkwidthandslope link to a profile with a custom subassembly called a number generator, then add repeating curves on the profile whenever you needed a post.  But this is a very unorthodox workflow.

[cwr-pae]

You can do the cylindrical fence post with a block in the marker for the point style. In the last week or so i saw a post on how to do this but can not find it now.

[Udo_Huebner]

You could use

Command: RAILING

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/civil-3d-forum/aec-rail-elevation/td-p/10416609

[!AjI! · Accepted solution]

Thanks for everyone's input on this.

Having done a purge, audit and saved the working drawing in to a new file and although path extrude still doesn't work, it seems the sweep command is now working on the path that I need.

Result in image below:

Still not perfect but ok for now as this is a concept layout.

So if others are interested in simple fences then the steps are below:

(1) Create block for post.

(2) Create 2D polyline to mark out the route of the posts in plan view.

(3) Offset this polyline to also create a route for the rails in plan view (Assuming you don't want the rails to go through the middle of the posts).

(4) Import surface (if not already in drawing).

(5) Turn 2D polyline in to Featureline and assign levels to match surface.

(6) Explode Featureline in to 3D polyline.

(7) Array post block along path of 3D polyline. And set the distance apart by adjusting the "Items" option.

(8) Create shape for railings. If a circular shape then draw a polyline around a circle of the correct diameter and don't use the "circle" command for the shape you are to sweep. (Shapes didn't seem to sweep at all on my drawing - but polyline shapes would).

(9) Use "Sweep" command, select the shape created in step (8) and then select the path as the offset 3d polyline created earlier for the railings (from step 3).

(9) Move the rail to the correct Z level.

(10) Additional rails can be added simply by using "copy" command.

[Joe-Bouza]

Pipe network: set feature line with elevation points every fence post.

create a part list with frameless structure and pipes the dia of rails.

make a network dim FL copy pipe up/ down fir other rails

[Joe-Bouza]

That’s quite the Easter egg 😎

[!AjI!]

Pipe network - setting an elevation point for every post on a feature-line.

Would that be quite a manual effort? Say if the fence had 100 or more posts, would it require the user to enter 100 or more inputs?

Or (hoping), is there an automated feature for this?

[hhninqueen]

Thank you and may I ask a question? If I cut the section that fence, will it appears in section view?