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I can't read your file b/c it's newer than my version of Inventor. However, if you want to maintain the distance between pickets, then see the attached model on how I do it. My goal when making railing is to make sure ALL pickets are spaced the same, and the ends are also spaced the same to the posts so the gaps are all identical. The ONLY time the gaps are different is a picket at the end next to an odd-spaced post. So the key for me is to ensure that all post spacing is a multiple of the picket-to-picket spacing and post-to-picket spacing. The standard that drives this design method is the CODES around that here specify the gaps between any picket-to-picket and post-to-picket must not exceed 4". They call it the 'beer bottle rule'. Same with the distance between the bottom rail and the deck. So I design accordingly. Here's a screen shot of a railing I did that shows what I'm talking about:
When you look from the side at the n.s. and f.s. railings together, all posts and pickets align because they're all spaced the same.
I can't read your file b/c it's newer than my version of Inventor. However, if you want to maintain the distance between pickets, then see the attached model on how I do it. My goal when making railing is to make sure ALL pickets are spaced the same, and the ends are also spaced the same to the posts so the gaps are all identical. The ONLY time the gaps are different is a picket at the end next to an odd-spaced post. So the key for me is to ensure that all post spacing is a multiple of the picket-to-picket spacing and post-to-picket spacing. The standard that drives this design method is the CODES around that here specify the gaps between any picket-to-picket and post-to-picket must not exceed 4". They call it the 'beer bottle rule'. Same with the distance between the bottom rail and the deck. So I design accordingly. Here's a screen shot of a railing I did that shows what I'm talking about:
When you look from the side at the n.s. and f.s. railings together, all posts and pickets align because they're all spaced the same.
There are other approaches to designing railings, depending on the client's wishes, manufacturability, etc. If you design the railing using the OSHA 4" gap specification (so that a baby's head cannot fit through, as it was explained to me by a contractor), this means that the picket spacing will vary depending on the picket dimensions. If the design is based upon the 4" gap, using 3/4" steel tubing for the pickets, the picket spacing will be 4 3/4". If you are using 2x2 lumber, then the picket spacing will be 5 1/2". Conversely, designing to the 4" picket spacing, using 3/4" tubing will give a gap of 3 1/4" and 2x2 lumber gives a 2 1/2" gap.
One client has this project where they were replacing existing railings, all of varying lengths. He did not want any of the railings to turn a corner. Straight runs only. For each corner where 2 railings met, the top handrails were to be mitered. He was having these manufactured overseas, and wanted to minimize shipping costs. I modeled 2 versions of one length of railing. For the 1st, the gap was spec'd at 4". The end gaps ended up being roughly 2 3/4"". For the 2nd, all of the gaps were equal, but did not exceed 4". I presented both options to the client for him to decide. He preferred the 2nd approach, as it was visually uniform. He understood that not all the railings would have this same gap, due to the varying lengths.
This is one of the railings (using metric material):
The gap ended up being 3.684" (3 11/16"). I do not remember that any of the railings had a gap of exactly 4".
It all comes down to design intent, and what the client wants.
My $.02.
There are other approaches to designing railings, depending on the client's wishes, manufacturability, etc. If you design the railing using the OSHA 4" gap specification (so that a baby's head cannot fit through, as it was explained to me by a contractor), this means that the picket spacing will vary depending on the picket dimensions. If the design is based upon the 4" gap, using 3/4" steel tubing for the pickets, the picket spacing will be 4 3/4". If you are using 2x2 lumber, then the picket spacing will be 5 1/2". Conversely, designing to the 4" picket spacing, using 3/4" tubing will give a gap of 3 1/4" and 2x2 lumber gives a 2 1/2" gap.
One client has this project where they were replacing existing railings, all of varying lengths. He did not want any of the railings to turn a corner. Straight runs only. For each corner where 2 railings met, the top handrails were to be mitered. He was having these manufactured overseas, and wanted to minimize shipping costs. I modeled 2 versions of one length of railing. For the 1st, the gap was spec'd at 4". The end gaps ended up being roughly 2 3/4"". For the 2nd, all of the gaps were equal, but did not exceed 4". I presented both options to the client for him to decide. He preferred the 2nd approach, as it was visually uniform. He understood that not all the railings would have this same gap, due to the varying lengths.
This is one of the railings (using metric material):
The gap ended up being 3.684" (3 11/16"). I do not remember that any of the railings had a gap of exactly 4".
It all comes down to design intent, and what the client wants.
My $.02.
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