Window Rotate

[Bean]

Can you rotate a fixed (or any) window at 45 degree's?
Looking for a diamond shaped window.
If not, are there any other options? 

[Allan Chesney]

There does not seen to be a way to rotate a window although roof options are well hidden!

Possible solutions:

Put 4 triangular windows together - but will have centre frames.

Use 2 walls with tops sloping opposite ways them 2 walls on another location with bottoms sloping opposite ways. This wil give you a diamond opening. You could then use Accessories / Decorative / Custom Member made thin, set s glass and moved into place with Collision Detection off for the glass. Bit messy but should work.

You could put a square window in a wall barely bigger than the window, turn off Vedago visibility and File / Export as a 3DS. You can Import this as an Accessory and rotate it but ityill not but the hold as a window does so you would have to use the sloping wall trick to get the hole. Or use a square opening and fill the corners with triangles. Also messy.


If you are not sure of any steps in the above just ask.

Allan

[Bean]

Hello Allan,
Thank you for getting back to me.
I understand your thinking, I do have a couple questions.
I mostly interested in trying the import/export example.
If I'm understanding you right, I am exporting the 3d file into another program to rotate the window?
And then Importing the window back into floorplan!  I do have Turbocad version 11.2, will this work?
Not sure where to find and turn of the vedago visability and when to do it?

On the fill, how do I use the fill on the exterior wall? 

Getting ahead of myself on the fill. Would you also use the fill option on the standard gable end overhang to fill in the open triangle with siding?  I realize there are finished end options, in some cases we just fill with siding on the same plain as the exterior wall.

Thanks Again
Jeff

[Allan Chesney]

Jeff,

There is no need to rotate in TurboCAD (although you could) because you can rotate the 3DS file in TFP by changing the X Y Z coordinates. This option is not avaialble on the windows themselves, which is why you have the problem.

I have attached a 3DS Triangle, that you can use for the triangular fills in the corners of the square opening. Just import to Accessories or somewhere and resize to fill the space. You will have to set the thickness and textures to the same as the wall of course. The triangle has two surfaces for the inside and outside of the wall. If you turn off Collision Detection and set the Nudge setting to a tiny setting (mm or fraction of an inch) then you will be able to use the arrow keys on the keyboard to move all the bits into place precisely. With Collision Detection off the Triangles can be bigger than necessary, butting up to the window but blending into the wall and each other.

Allan

PS. Sorry forgot to attach the triangle - its there now.

[Bean]

Hello Allan,

Your tips have help me out.....I was finally able to come up with a elevation I was happy with!
Your fill helped out on the overhangs, and helped me understand how to fill in other areas.
The window I created in Turbocad.....I imported the window frame as one item, then imported the glass as a separate Item....when I tried importing the frame and glass in together, I was unable to separate the glass from the frame appearance. (It imported in as one unit)

Sure was a stumper....but worth it!

I attached a picture of what I worked on........the only question I would have is there a correct way of removing the main roof that you see in the interior?

Thanks Again!
Sincerely,

Jeff Bean

[Doug.S]

I have not done this but will make a guess to help you....one of these ideas may work.  (if it was FP11 I'd say to use a cathedral ceiling)
- try making the roof into a gable end at the same height of your wall with the diamond window
- make a dormer for that roof and insert your diamond window as the dormer window wall
- may need to use two locations in same space and make parts transparent

Just how did you accomplish your window?.....export a window from TFP and adjust and return it as .3ds object? Did it automatically cutout a hole in the wall?  Did you rotate the window 45 degrees before re-import?  Did you have to fill-in the corners with Allan's triangle?

Can you post the .bld file and send a couple construction views? Looks like something valuable to know and record for other users ... like a tutorial.

[Allan Chesney]

Hi Jeff,

It is looking good! The window came out well.  Re your roof question:

the only question I would have is there a correct way of removing the main roof that you see in the interior?

I assume the main roof is on a different location, as TFP will usually take care of that automatically. So the solution depends on whether the main roof is on a different location or the same one. If the main roof is on a different location you can just use the Cut Opening tool on the right click menu. You can just cut away the bit that is inside. You could also try the Solution Type button on the roof Properties.  Depending how you have set it up, and which roof TFP sees as on top, it may do the cut automatically. Try the three options with each roof and see what they do (save first!!).

As Doug said you can also make that section of the main roof into a gable. Right click, Break (twice - one at each side of the the bit you want to make into a gable) and the select that section (green arrow) and select Gable from Properties.

Allan

[Bean]

Hello Doug,
Thanks for checking in, I have not had time to work on the roof yet!  But I will certainly try your option!
I did want to get back to you on your questions!  See attached bld file. 

I am currently working on TFP11.

I created the window in Turbocad11.2 from scratch and then imported the components into TFP as 3DS files.  I separated the frame and the glass into two separate files.  When I imported them together I was unable to separate the appearance (glass and frame material).  This is the same problem I was having when I exported a existing window from TFP into turbo cad, rotated the window and importing it back into TFP.  I was unable to separate the appearances, so I decided to simplify!

It did not cut the opening into the wall, so I used some of Allens tricks by breaking the wall around the window.  Then I created some wall segments in turbo cad (in the same maner as Allens triangles) imported them into TFP.  (see above the rotated window.)
Still a work in progress, don't mind the mess!
Sincerely,

Jeff Bean

[Doug.S]

Your solution for making the glass a separate item is a good solution.

But, if you want to be able to use different materials on different parts of the same object (such as .3DS) then you need to individually select the faces and give them a different domain name (and best to apply a different color) to each domain before you export as .3ds.....mostly so you are sure the domains are correct as most programs don't transport the colors in 3ds format anyway.

This method works for both FP11 and TFP12.

I rarely use TCAD anymore so not sure how to do it there but most 3D programs have the capability to assign names (domains) to a selected set of facets.

Once imported you can then apply the materials to the different domains as they show up in FP....and I think you can change the names if needed.

This method works very well if you want to simulate an actual object like a piece of furniture.....named each side (6) of a cube, size as needed, and apply a .jpg photo of each side ....using an orthographic photo of the real object.

Look here for a description of "how to" for 2.5D and 3D
http://forum.turbofloorplan.com/index.php/topic,131.0.html