Ventsim Flight path usage

[Andre Broodryk]

Is there a write-up somewhere on how to properly use the flight path feature in Ventsim?

It's a bit difficult to manage and unable to set the center point of rotation, which makes it fly off into the distance.

I'm trying to record some sort of slow fly-through to show the system but just end up looking like a minecraft noob..

 

[Florian Michelin]

There isn't really a guide, but it kind of takes a bit of practice.

A few tips:

• Go slow, if it is too slow you can always speed it up when editing.
• You can record the flight path to be used later.
• Turn on the little cross showing the middle of the screen, it help keep thing steady. If the mouse is on top of the cross the flight will go straight. (Settings | Settings | Rendering | Point Of Focus Cursor)
• The start of the flight is usually a bit messy so I would recommend cutting it off during edition.

Another useful function is the continuous rotation (not in flight mode). Centre the screen normally then keep Ctrl down and rotate. It will keep rotating around the centre of the screen at the speed and direction of the initial rotation until escape or a new rotation starts. It can be good to go around the model.

 

[Andre Broodryk]

Thanks Florian

 

That Ctrl rotate function is the one I was looking for.

[Shane Ambrosio]

André...

I little trick I learned that might make for a great user / client experience if you want to do something fancy in flight mode to show off your model.

1. Using the export tool, export only the Airway Solids option (refer to 1st attachment)
2. 
3. In what ever CAD tool you are using(I can recommend a free one that is pretty good if you are interested) delete all faces that would normally not be there (i.e. at the beginning or middle of an open tunnel / airway) like the pieces I have highlighted in the 2nd attachment. Save the CAD File
4. 
5. Once done, open your model and toggle the "Solids or Wireframe" icon to wireframe. You should view something like the 3rd attachment.
6. 
7. The 4th attachment is the same thing but with the "Solids" shown but with the Graphics scale turned to the lowest value (to be used as an alternative)
8. 
9. Then import the previously modified CAD file and set it transparency to about 90%. Refer to 5th attachment.
10. 

You can now using flight mode actually fly "into" the model and see the path ventilation follows.

With a bit of patience you can make mind blowing videos.

Regards

[Craig Stewart]

Another useful tip - when you set the model into continuous rotation mode (using the CTRL button spin method), you can reset the centre of rotation at any point in the model using the MIDDLE MOUSE BUTTON click.  This allows the rotation to move to a new point and keep on rotating.

[Andre Broodryk]

Thanks Craig, I had a bit of a play with that rotation method and it works well for what I want it to do. It's a wall mounted screen showing the site ventsim model for information purposes. The only problem I have now is that the rotation stops by itself after a couple of days.