Railing with Panels and Columns

[PitMan71]

How do I create a railing like the attached picture with the balusters and panels and columns? I have some idea, but I don't want to reinvent methods that may already be available in chief.

Thanks in advance.

[DBCooper]

Have you tried using "post to beam" with a library newel post?

 

[JKEdmo]

2 hours ago, PitMan71 said:

How do I create a railing like the attached picture with the balusters and panels and columns? I have some idea, but I don't want to reinvent methods that may already be available in chief.

Thanks in advance.

 

For the intermediate "starburst" railing, I'd break the railing and switch to panel infill at that middle location.  You'll need to relocate / delete adjacent columns/ posts as needed.  Something like this:

 

 

[PitMan71]

2 hours ago, DBCooper said:

Have you tried using "post to beam" with a library newel post?

 

Yes... That is what I used. It gets a bit harry when you break it though..... like I couldn't get rid of the columns created at the break. Maybe I just need to experiment more. 

 

Thanks

[PitMan71]

54 minutes ago, JKEdmo said:

 

For the intermediate "starburst" railing, I'd break the railing and switch to panel infill at that middle location.  You'll need to relocate / delete adjacent columns/ posts as needed.  Something like this:

 

 

Thanks.... I tried that method which confirms that I need to experiment more with the location of my breaks and deleting the columns.

[PitMan71]

When you guys draw a railing wall, what wall type do you use if you don't want anything showing above the beam? Usually my porch beams set back an inch or so from the edge of the porch. When I use a siding wall type I usually get a piece of it showing when the roof has to be raised up to land a certain way or if I want the top of the beam to be higher than the ceiling. I usually draw the beams as 3d solids.

[robdyck]

I'd suggest using the program default wall type for deck railings: Deck Railing/Fence. I'd make a copy of that wall type, set it's thickness and other properties, and then start by drawing one railing wall and customizing it before drawing the rest. You can change them all at once if they already exist in your plan.

An even better suggestion is to customize everything so your defaults work for you better than the program defaults and save these railing types to your library for future use.

In your example, you should be able to simply achieve almost everything using the railing tool. Some additional suggestions:

• Adjust the wall width to best suit your needs (columns aligned to the exterior or centered on the wall)
• The Beam section of the Rail Profiles tab is great for adding simple, rectangular beams or more complex beams with cladding and crown / edge moldings. 
• Don't use a 3d solid for a rectangular beam...use a ceiling beam. Set it's properties, and then copy and CAD block it and add to your library for future use.
• Make the auto-generated Attic walls invisible...unless they won't be!

You can learn how to manipulate those settings to create what you want BUT in many instances using the railing wall tool will be slower than modelling almost everything manually. Using just the railing tool provides you with less flexibility and control for plan /elevation / section view display of the components and labeling. It only save times during design development when you need to move railing walls through several iterations.

 

[PitMan71]

2 hours ago, robdyck said:

I'd suggest using the program default wall type for deck railings: Deck Railing/Fence. I'd make a copy of that wall type, set it's thickness and other properties, and then start by drawing one railing wall and customizing it before drawing the rest. You can change them all at once if they already exist in your plan.

An even better suggestion is to customize everything so your defaults work for you better than the program defaults and save these railing types to your library for future use.

In your example, you should be able to simply achieve almost everything using the railing tool. Some additional suggestions:

• Adjust the wall width to best suit your needs (columns aligned to the exterior or centered on the wall)
• The Beam section of the Rail Profiles tab is great for adding simple, rectangular beams or more complex beams with cladding and crown / edge moldings. 
• Don't use a 3d solid for a rectangular beam...use a ceiling beam. Set it's properties, and then copy and CAD block it and add to your library for future use.
• Make the auto-generated Attic walls invisible...unless they won't be!

You can learn how to manipulate those settings to create what you want BUT in many instances using the railing wall tool will be slower than modelling almost everything manually. Using just the railing tool provides you with less flexibility and control for plan /elevation / section view display of the components and labeling. It only save times during design development when you need to move railing walls through several iterations.

 

This is good advice. Thanks.