Putting a grid on a curtain wall is a key step in defining its visual pattern and structure, allowing you to divide large glass or panel areas into smaller sections for glazing, mullions, and panels. If you've created a curtain wall that doesn't automatically generate a grid pattern, or if you need to add additional grid lines, you can place them manually using specific tools.
Steps to Manually Place a Curtain Grid
According to the provided reference, the process involves accessing the correct tool and specifying how the grid line should be placed on the face of the curtain wall.
Here are the steps:
- Open a Suitable View: To accurately place a grid line, you need to see the face of the curtain wall clearly. You must Open a 3D view or an elevation view where the curtain wall is visible. Placing grids is typically done in views perpendicular to the curtain wall face.
- Access the Curtain Grid Tool: Navigate to the Architecture tab in the software interface. Within the Build panel, you will find and click (Curtain Grid). This activates the tool for placing grid lines on selected curtain walls.
- Select Placement Type: Once the tool is active, a contextual tab appears. Click Modify | Place Curtain Grid tab. On the Placement panel within this tab, you need to select a placement type. This option determines how the grid line will interact with existing segments or the entire extent of the curtain wall.
After selecting the placement type, you typically move your cursor over the curtain wall face. As you move the cursor, a preview of the grid line will appear, indicating where it will be placed. Click on the curtain wall where you want the grid line to be added.
Understanding Placement Types
While the reference mentions selecting a placement type, it doesn't detail the options. Common placement types available when adding curtain grids manually often include:
- All Segments: Places the grid line across the entire length or height of the curtain wall, cutting through any existing grid segments it intersects.
- One Segment: Places the grid line only on the specific segment of the curtain wall you click on, stopping at existing grid lines.
- All Except Picked: Places the grid line across the entire curtain wall, except for any segments you subsequently click to exclude.
Choosing the correct placement type before clicking on the curtain wall is crucial for achieving the desired grid layout efficiently.
By following these steps, you can precisely control the division and design of your curtain wall, preparing it for the addition of mullions and panels.
