Modeling a Grip Strut

[jeffatmines]

What would be the best way to model something like this?

http://www.mcnichols.com/products/grating/plank/diamond/

Jeff Parham
Mechanical Engineer
Mining Trucks

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Place a texture/appearance on a solid, and apply a transparency.

 

[MadDogMcDurmott]

Good call CBL, we do the same for expanded metal on our conveyor belt guards. The only drawback is you cannot use
the part model for weight calculations unless you create a custom material in the materials library.

Mad Dog

 

[jeffatmines]

I need to be able to actually model the tread.

Jeff Parham
Mechanical Engineer
Mining Trucks

 

[MadDogMcDurmott]

To what end? Other than a sheet metal part with an extensive number of forming tool cut extrusions or a pattern of lofts and cut-lofts, what is the goal? Are trying to calculate the total weight of stair tread or platform area? Or do you want to be able to do mass properties accurately? You could model a forming tool to make the cuts, but your file sizes are going to be very large, slowing your computer quite a bit.

Mad Dog