Rollercoaster Track Design Help

[Anonymous]

So I'm struggling to come up with a elegant solution. I'm trying to design a rollercoaster track. And I'm defining the track as 2" pipe that is 18" center to center. It seemed like it would make sense to sketch out a centerline path for the track, then create my pipe sketches normal to the path. Then do a sweep to create both of the pipes in one command. And it works. Sort of.

If it just want a 2d oval it's no problem. But what happens when I want a hump along the oval somewhere? (Parametrically defined preferably) And then the real kicker is what about corkscrews and banked turns? I'm thinking it's going to have to be 2 separate paths. So I can define twist. But then how can I create 3D path sketches that are always 18" apart?

Please help!

[innovatenate · Accepted solution]

Have you tried sweeping the just a line as the profile in the patch environment? Depending on the path, there still may be some difficulties with twist. I'm hoping the result would create a surface in which the two edges could be used in the pipe or sweep command (as the path) to generate your track. If this doesn't help, it may be helpful to look at a screenshot of the issue or share a copy of the design here.

I hope that helps!

[Anonymous]

http://a360.co/2jzCcBI

look this over, it is not to your scale but the idea is there.

TRick is: sketch one track path, then exit out of sketch. At this point your sketch is on one plane. But use the move tool, and select a node to manipulate where ever you want it. "fly " around it using the upper right view cube and continue to move path where you want. When done with that, go back to ther origibal sketch and perform offset, to make two tracks.

now comence with profiles and sweeps.

chris

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

Thank you! Good idea on using the patch environment! Using the sweep got me started, but it didn't allow me to define variable twist throughout the path. So I ended up lofting multiple lines along the path to be able to define variable twist. Then swept the pipes along the edges of the patch. I think it might just work! Thank you!!

[JDMather]

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@Anonymous wrote:

 I think it might just work!  

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Rollercoaster design "might just work"!

You get to take the first ride.