Curtain Wall Panel Material Patterns

[jay_clancy]

Hi All,

Is there any way to make the pattern of a material within a curtain wall panel family adjustable?

For example, in a brick slip panel, can a parameter be made that will shift the pattern horizontally/vertically to suit certain conditions?

I'd rather not have to deal with making multiple different custom hatches etc...

Thanks in advance 👍

[RDAOU]

@jay_clancy 

The pattern you are referring to is part of the material setup. Ie: different patterns = different materials.

Hence depending on the panel you are using, system panels or a custom panel, you would need to

• predefine several material with different surface patterns
• use a type parameter if you wish the material to apply by type of panel (similar to system panels). In such case you would need to generate multiple types each with a different material
• or use an instance parameter if you are aim for a mixed patterns/material design. In which case you would be selecting a panel or multiple panel and changing their material 

[jay_clancy]

Exactly what I hoped it wouldn't be 😅

It's easier to make multiple different panel families with the pattern adjusted - I'd just rather have it as a parameter inside a single family (without having to create multiple custom hatches).

Thanks anyway

[RDAOU]

@jay_clancy 

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@jay_clancy wrote:

Exactly what I hoped it wouldn't be 😅

It's easier to make multiple different panel families with the pattern adjusted 

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That is exactly like saying "Create multiple different Panel types, each with different material"...What did you think a material is?

• A Material acts just like a Container which has a set of perks inside it, one of which is a pattern! When you create a parameter in the family, you give it a data type: Material 
• Instead of modeling multiple families, you duplicate type...and change the value of the Material ie: set a new pattern for that type

         

        

The software offers you something with a wider range of options and possibilites how is creating multiple families just for the purpose of having multiple patterns easier?

[ToanDN]

Like this?  Set the curtain wall to use a basic wall type for panels then you can manipulate the material pattern for each system panel individually.  You can even create parts from the wall 'panels' then change parts material and edit parts shape.

[jay_clancy]

Thanks for your input, but these are custom CW panels with edge offsets and nested elements etc...

[jay_clancy]

OK, now make a set of types in the same family where the same pattern simply moves 10mm in a different direction for each one.

[RDAOU]

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@jay_clancy wrote:

OK, now make a set of types in the same family where the same pattern simply moves 10mm in a different direction for each one.

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@jay_clancy 

I am not sure what point are you trying to make...You have several options to do that

1. Duplicate Material and adjust the alignment of the pattern in the material ...then create new panel type with new material (then simply swap tpes on the Curtain wall as shown before)
2. Or use Custom panels with offsets (not sure what you have against those)
3. Or an even use the better option of all
   • Use a Basic Wall single layer as a Default panel
   • Paint the Material straight on to the panel (1 material and 1 Pattern type is all you need)
   • Last, simply use the rotate and aligne tools under the Modify tab...then you can even have only 1 material for all and nudge or rotate 1mm or 1 degree even

                   Curtain Wall Painted Panels

[jay_clancy]

I was trying to see how you would go about doing the task.

1. I wanted to make a material with a custom hatch pattern that I could adjust 10mm in different directions without having to create multiple custom hatch patterns. 

2. I've stated that's what I have done ?

3. I can't use a basic wall / system panel type

For future reference:
The only way I worked around this was to make multiple copies of the cladding panel extrusion, adjust the material hatch on each extrusion, then control each one as a different type with visibility parameters.

[RDAOU]

@jay_clancy 

You have shared a lot of information, but none of it explicitly clarifies what you can or cannot use, nor whether you are open to alternative solutions beyond the one you have proposed and seem convinced is the best. If you find that creating multiple copies of extrusions with different material parameters is easier for you than using System Panel Types or applying material paint, then by all means, proceed with the approach that works best for you.

For your reference, the responses provided in this discussion are not intended to solely address your good self, but they also serve to assist other forum visitors who may be looking for guidance on managing curtain walls and patterns/material assignments in curtain walls. Whether you choose to accept or disregard any of the suggestions shared by contributors here is entirely your decision. 

[ToanDN]

If you want to adjust the material for each panel individually then there are two ways:

- use a basic wall type with composite layers for the panels, then use a void family or wall reveals to cut each wall panel to the get the desired shape.

- create an in place mass and divide surfaces in lieu of using a curtain wall; create a generic model pattern based and change to Columns category, load it, change the mass surface pattern to this family and finish the mass; then you can paint each panel individually.  While you cannot adjust each painted pattern manually, it may just work because each painted material pattern will be centered on the painted surface.