3DS Max: Modeling a Staircase

DIGITAL SESSIONS WELSH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE - CARDIFF UNIVERSITY

3DS MAX: MODELING A STAIRCASE

WASSIM JABI AND SERGIO PINEDA

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DIGITAL SESSIONS WELSH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE – CARDIFF UNIVERSITY DR. WASSIM JABI AND MR. SERGIO PINEDA

3DS MAX: MODELING A STAIRCASE INTRODUCTION 3D Studio Max (3DSM) is a powerful 3d modelling environment widely used by architects and other creative professionals (designers, animation studios, film studios, etc). With 3DSM you can create places, objects, landscapes, etc. And you can control with great detail a series of simulations that replicate light and physical conditions in the real world (for example weather patterns, gravity, types of electrical light, types of materials, shadows, etc). Once you’ve set your parameters, you can ‘Render’ your scenes (this is, produce a photo-realistic view of the scene) to obtain high quality visuals of your designs. Apart from still image and use of all kind of Photo-realistic simulations, 3DSM can also do animations and produces a wide range of movie formats.

This tutorial will cover the basic modelling of a staircase, but many more options are available both on the S drive, online and within the actual program.

INTERFACE Start by opening 3DSM. An empty file should open automatically. We will start by checking the dimensions of the file.

Click on Customize>Units Setup. (Clicks 1 and 2).

You will now see the Units Setup window. Make sure the dimensions are the ones you will be working with. For the case of the staircase, we will be working in millimetres (1).

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Now click OK ‌ you are ready to start modelling!

The most important parts of 3DSM’s interface are the upper menus and a vertical column on the right hand side of the screen.

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The Right hand column has at it’s top a series of options. Hover over the first icon and you will see the text ‘Create’ appear. Click on it (1). This will let you create a series of different objects (volumes, shapes, lights, cameras, etc.) Click on Geometriy (2).

You’ll notice that you can now create a series of volumes such as: Box, Cone, Sphere, Cylinder, Torus, Pyramid, etc.

Click on any one of those to test it (1 and 2). Then you can transform it by modifying its parameters. Give it a go! (3)

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Once you have your volume (in the image above it’s a torus) you can move it (1), rotate it (2) or scale it (3). Test these options and get comfortable with them.

Now erase everything you’ve done so far. We are going to model a staircase. In 3DSM you can create parametrically 4 different types of stairs. (You may be able to create many other types, but by simple modelling. The in-built feature has only 4 types).

Spiral Stair Straight Stair L Type Stair U Type Stair At the time of creating the stair, you will be able to control up to 7 different component types for the stairs (this includes geometry and/or materials): Treads Front riser Bottom, back, and sides of the risers Centre pole Handrails Carriage Stingers We will look into these in further detail. But let’s start with an actual staircase: Click on Create (1) Geometry (2), And from the drop down menu choose stairs (3).

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You will see there are 4 types of stairs that you can choose from: L Type Stair, Spiral Stair, Straight Stair, and U Type Stair. Click on the Spiral Stair option.

You can choose to insert a series of parameters directly before inserting the stair, or you can insert the stair and modify it afterwards. Bring out your plan and elevational views (1) and then click on the plan to define your stair radius (2). Finally, click on one of the elevational views to define a temporary height of the stairs (3).

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We now have something that looks like a staircase, but is perhaps more of a funny spiral. Let’s make it a proper staircase! Click on Select Object (1) and move around the view in the Perspective view by moving the clicking on the box on the upper right hand corner of the view (2).

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Now click on the staircase (1), then click on the Modify icon (2), and then on the ‘Box’ option (3).

You’ll notice that you can create a variety of options with the spiral staircase. Lets go through them. Make sure you go back to the open option (1), then unclick al the handrail and rail path options (2) and go back to the perspective view (3).

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At its most basic, the stairs are series of steps, that in the image above have a very slim configuration. We can now add different options for it’s structure (Stringers, Carriage or Centre Pole) and also Handrails. Alternatively, we can add Rail Paths, which will provide a path for the rail (a curve) but not a volume for the path. Click on these options to see the variations. Now scroll down to look at the Layout section (1) click on CCW or CW (to make the stairs ascend clockwise or counterclockwise) (2), and define the specific dimensions for radius, revolutions (revs) and width of the stairs (3).

You will see that we have now a powerful parametric tool to control the geometry of the staircase object now. Proceed considering the overall height you will be ascending (1), unlocking the number of risers you wish to use overall (2), and inserting the number of risers you would like to have in order to ascend the full height (3). Remember you can change the number of Revolutions you wish to do in order to ascend the distance required.

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Once you’ve set your steps in place, with the correct number of revolutions, height, radius, etc, we can proceed to define a structural system for the staircase. Scroll up again in the options (1) to the ‘Generate Geometry ‘ part. Choose if you wish to have stringers, Carriage, or a centre pole (2). Then decide if you wish handrails (3).

Now, imagine that you wish to model a staircase like this:

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Make sure in ‘Type’ its ‘Closed’.

In ‘Generate Geometry’ click on Stingers and leave everything else un-ticked.

In ‘Layout’ set it to Clockwise, Radius 2000mm, Revs 2, Width 1000.

In ‘Rise’ set it to Overall 6000mm, Riser Ct: 35.

Scroll down to ‘Stringers’ in the overall menus, and insert a Depth of 1500mm, a Width of 20mm and an Offset of 1150mm.

Congratulations! You’ve now built a Drill-bit staircase.

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Now, how do we print it? We have to start by exporting the stair into a dxf or dwg format. For this, click on the stair, and click on ‘3DS’ (1), ‘Export’ (2), and ‘Export’ (3).

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You will now get a window that lets you choose a location to save the file to be exported. Go to your location of choice and then click on the ‘Save as type’ drop down menu (1). Choose Autocad DXF.

Now a new window will open that will let you choose the Autocad version of the file you are about to export. Choose an old version to make sure that your file is as universal as possible. For example, Autocad 2000 (1).

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Once you’ve save your file, open Microstation (1). Create a new 3d file.

In the new file go to Settings (1) and Design File (2).

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In the Design File Settings go to Working Units (1) and in the drop down menu make sure your dimensions are set to Milimieters (2). Then click ok.

Now click to open your references window (1) and click on the Attach icon (2).

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Locate your DXF file for the stair and click Ok.

You are now seeing the staircase. Close the Reference window, and click on the Fence icon (1). Put your fence over the area you wish to print (clicks 2 and 3).

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Once you’ve placed your fence, go to File (1) and Print (2).

Select now that you wish to print in PDF (1 and 2).

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Select now your preference for paper (1) and then select your scale (2). Finally click on the printer for Print (3).

You will be prompted for a location and name for your pdf file. Once you provide name/location, you will have a print to scale of your staircase!

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WASSIM JABI, PH.D. IS A SENIOR LECTURER AT THE WELSH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE SERGIO PINEDA, AADIP IS AN ARCHITECT AND A PROFESSIONAL TUTOR AT THE WELSH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

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