1999 on Stuff

Panorama links

Sun, 10 Oct 1999 22:11:54 +0000

Most of the links that used to be on this page are out of date or have been moved to the Panotools wiki. If you are interested in creating panoramas from digital photographs, I suggest you visit one of these sites:

Tent design Software

Sun, 10 Oct 1999 22:11:54 +0000

This is a collection of links to tent and tension structure design softwares, this isn’t complete and I’m not necessarily recommending any of these. If you have anything to add, please sign up for an account and add a comment.

Free

Sailcut - Sailcut CAD is a sail design and plotting software which allows you to design and visualise your own sail and compute the accurate development of all panels in flat sheets.
Surface Evolver - The Surface Evolver is ‘an interactive program for the study of surfaces shaped by surface tension and other energies’.
douglas zongker - polyhedra models - Nothing to do with tents, but some great cut-out and stick-together models of the 13 Archimedean semi-regular polyhedra.
ip slicer - A little tool for creating patterns to make the segments you need to assemble a sphere. It does it entirely with image files so you can turn an atlas into a globe etc..
NJIT - The New Jersey Institute of Technology have a small fortran package for patterning. it doesn’t seem to work, but maybe you’ll have more luck than me.
puzzles with polyhedra and numbers - Puzzles with polyhedra and numbers. In this site one can print copies of polyhedron puzzles (for non-commercial purposes only) and one can read several mathematical articles on the subject.
Vinicius F. Arcaro homepage - Vinicius is a Brazilian engineer developing software for shell and tension structures.
Taylors - Some AutoCAD lisp routines for manipulating polyface meshes, slicing and flattening them.

Non Free

Formfinder Light - Is an initial design software for membranes, this uses a back-end related to EasyNT .
Pepakura Designer - A tool for flattening 3d surfaces to cut out and assemble paper Pepakura models.
Soap Skin & Bubble - A sketchup plugin for designing membrane structures.
Tess3D - The new Kurvenbau lightweight structure design software Tess3D is under development.
Ligno3D - Ligno3D Designer is a CAD program that specialises in complex polyhedral objects. Click a button for ‘unwrapped’ 2D plans of all faces, with precise dimensions, diagonals and dihedral angles.
TouchCAD - TouchCAD 3.0 is a combined 3D modeling and unfolding program focusing on the ability to generate complex 3D shapes and converting them into physically buildable models.
tecnun - Not yet available, though it appears to feature: Tensile membranes design stages, from conception to realization. Analysis of prestressed nets and cables. Formfinding of double-curved structures. formfinding software for tensile structures design. Surface fitting for tensile Structures models.
MPanel - MPanel incorporates a set of design tools into a user friendly interface to assist tensile fabric designers. MPanel works inside AutoCAD as a floating tool bar, and manipulates your AutoCAD drawing from the initial relaxation of a mesh to the final production panels for you to send to your plotter or cutter.
Compad - Tentnology in the states, sell a program called ‘Compad’ for tent design/patterning.
EasyNT - From germany, Technet produce “Easy” ‘formfinding, non-linear load analysis and cutting pattern generation for membrane structures’. As well as a cheaper package called Isimem/Cadisi for conceptual design. This software is based on various University work from Stuttgart and Berlin. There is a demo version to download on their site.
Patterner for Windows - This is written by me (Bruno), Patterner uses geometrical form-finding to produce surfaces for pattern generation, you can download a demo version from this link.
Surface - From New Zealand, Surface is a program that allows you to create your 3D tent membrane shape and then works out the shape of the panels that can be cut out and joined together to form that 3D shape.
WinFAB/WinCable - This is a suite of programs, there is a demo download available. Software includes ‘WinCable - Geometric non-linear analysis of cablenet roofs. WinFAB - Cable and Membrane Design, form finding, FE analysis and patterning. WinSSDM - Space Structures Design and Manufacturing Program.’
Alias Wavefront Maya cloth - Not a tent design product. But interesting fabric type stuff.
BirdAir-Lite - This is by Bird-air in the states. Though apparently no-longer for sale.
ForTen 32 & TensoCAD - ForTen 32 is a full system for tensile structure design, analysis and pattern making. TensoCAD is a powerful tool for membrane concept design fully compatible with forten. Trial downloads are avaiable at www.forten32.com
MONSTR-2.2 - MONSTR, The name “MONSTR” is abbreviation of ‘soft inflatable structures’ (in Russian). ‘The program is designed for dynamic and static structural analysis of arbitrary textile shells undergoing distributed, concentrated and body forces.’
Rhino - Rhino is a 3d CAD package that’s popular amongst people who work with complex curved surfaces
Shape Studio - Shape studio is an academic project, I don’t know if there is a version generally available.
Sofistik - Sofistik sell various engineering analysis software including a combined membrane/steel package.
Steel&FabricCad - Steel&FabricCad is based on Window’s user interface:dialog-box, toolbars, menus, icon make it very simple to use. Steel&FabricCad is an integrated system with internal database of steel sections,cables connections,parametric steeljoints (about 40), Fabricjoints (About 25).These databases can be edited by user. Steel&FabricCad consists of various modules, which interact each other
Touch-3D information page - 3D-modeling software with integrated unfolding/unwrapping features, which an unfold just about anything.
TS-Form - Tensys Limited (no web-site) in Bath UK, have TS-Form Surface Form ‘generator for pre-stressed membrane structures. A tool for engineers and architects to aid initial design’. I have no idea whether this is for sale. Contact: 7A Northumberland Bldg. Queen Square Bath, BAI 2JB England

Tent Designers

Sun, 10 Oct 1999 22:11:54 +0000

This is a small collection of links to various fabric structure designers, this isn’t complete and I’m not necessarily recommending any of these. If you have anything to add, please sign up for an account and add a comment.

NRM Bobrowski - NRM Bobrowski are consulting engineers with a long track record of sports and entertainment structures.
- FTL Happold - USA engineers of all sorts of Fabric structures
- Ingenu Limited - We are a small but dedicated and highly experienced company providing consultancy for all aspects of tensile and membrane structure design and engineering.
- Span Design Limited - Design and build tensile fabric structures, in the UK and in europe. We offer clients a complete service to design, manufacture and install eye-catching and functional special structures, combining traditional and modern materials, manufactured to the highest standards of quality and workmanship, based on our flexible approach to design and intent to provide the client with the most cost effective solution to meet his needs.

Tent Manufacturers

Sun, 10 Oct 1999 22:11:54 +0000

This is a collection of links to various fabric structure manufacturers, this isn’t complete and I’m not necessarily recommending any of these. If you have anything to add, please sign up for an account and add a comment to the bottom of the page.

ACS Production Inc. - Based in Miami (Florida), ACS Production Inc is a creative company specialized in tensile architecture and high quality steel structures.
- Base Structures - Base Structures is a tensile fabric contractors providing a complete Design, Manufacturing and Installation service to the tensile fabric structures industry.
- Celina Tent, Inc. - We specialize in customized tents for any occasion. So whether you need a festive party tent or a romantic wedding tent, Celina Tent can build it for you.
- Acadia Fabric Structure - Acadia Fabric Structure, LLC is a manufacturer of large and small scale tension fabric products.
- Al-Rasheed Tensioned Membrane Structures - Saudi Arabian awning and membrane manufacturer.
- aluminium structures ltd - sales of clearspan structures from 3m-30m.Bespoke structures a speciality
- Anchor Industries inc. - USA makers of small and medium frame and marquee structures
- ANDES Partners Corporation - Fabricator of fabric structures of all kinds in Taiwan
- Arcosanti - I can’t figure out what these guys are all about, but there’s something to do with tents.
- Asia Tent Technologies - Malaysian firm offering: Design and patterning of membranes, Seam welding for PVC fabric and PTFE glass fabric. Design and fabrication of supporting structures. Installation of structures. Complete turn key projects.
- Baytex Manufacturing Co Ltd - New Zealand Manufacturers of canopies, marquees and tents
- Bird Air - Bird Air manufacture just about anything.
- Black & Edgington - British marquee supplier
- Cannobbio - Italian manufacturers of portable and permanent structures
- canvas emporium - we manufacture all types of canvas tents We have ready stocks as well as we book custom tent orders
- Canvas, Tents, Tarpaulins, Bags Manufacturer and Exporter - Canvas, Tents, Tarpaulins, Bags, Truck Covers and allied products manufacturer and exporter, we are in this field since last 45 years and having our own weaving dyeing, processing and stitching units, which are capable to meet our customers need, we have our valued customers in Europ, Middle East, Africa and in USA.
- Carpas Vip Events - Spanish leader clearspan aluminium manufacturer. Designers and frame innovators . Looking for a strategic business parthership in America.
- CASTRO ROJAS INGENIEROS Y ARQUITECTOS LTDA - Design, Fabrication, and installation of tensioned fabric structures
- CENO TEC GmbH - Germany located company providing design, pattnerning, manufacturing and turnkey erection of all types of membrane structures. mechanical pretensioned, air inflated, insulated stuctures out of PVC/PES, Glass/PTFE, ETFE-Foil etc.
- Clamshell Buildings - US manufacturers of clearspan temporary structures
- CLEARSPAN ALUMINIUM TENTS - Manufacturer of wide range of aluminium clearspan tent nad portable/relocatable structures in ASIA. Custom design available.
- ClearSpan Modular Structures - Manufactures the most advanced modular steel tensioned membrane structures in the world. Comprised of three pre-engineered standard families with the option for fully customized structures through ClearSpan’s advanced design process provide limitless possibilities. With the addition of “Site Specific Design Engineering” your structure is engineered and manufactured to meet the environmental conditions and regulations for your project and region. Exceptional design flexibility, our “World Class Warranty” and industry leading “Sliding Scale Pricing”, along with our “Buy Back” options, sets us apart from all other modular steel tensioned fabric membrane structure manufacturers.
- Dalo - French manufacturers of demountable structures.
- EAGLE INTERNATIONAL TENTS & AIR DOMES! - A MISSIONARY AGENCY FOR THE DESIGN AND PORDUCTION OF SMALL/LARGE POLE TENTS, METAL FRAME TENTS, CLEAR SPAN PORTABLE BUILDINGS AND LARG AIR DOMES FOR ARENAS,AUDITORIUMS,CHURCHES,MISSIONS,SPORTS COVERS,WAREHOUSE STORAGE,POOL COVERS,RELIEF, HOUSING,SALES,OTHER ..WORLD WIDE!
- ESA International AIR DOMES - Air structures for tennis and other sports. Modernist technology and materials, top prices, year round customer service.
- Esmery Caron Structures - The Esmery Caron Structures company is one the main French companies in design, manufacture and erection of textile structures, tents and tarpaulin covers. Its operating sectors cover building and the leisure industry, as well as shelters and other technical uses of textiles.
- Event solutions Tent & portable structures index - Another directory of various different tent suppliers not listed here.
- Flontex - Membrane fabrication - Cables - Tensile structure engineering - Consulting.
- India your next destination for sourcing Shelters - your needs; waterproof canvas cloth, tarpaulins, rubberized coated fabrics, tents our customised solutions; from India
- Indian Traditional Tents - Providing Indian Tradation tents and decoration utilities
- J & J Carter Ltd. - UK Tension structure manufacturers
- Architen Landrell - Design, manufacture and installation of tensile fabric structures, UK. Nice structures unusable website.
- Mahaffey Fabric Structures - Renting, leasing, and selling tents and fabric structures throughout North America and the Caribbean since 1923.
- Mahaffey Tent Inc - US supplier of tent structures
- MTT Structures - South African tent and marquee suppliers
- Nizam Canvas Tents - Manufacturers of canvas tents, Refugee, Relief, Military, Army, Marquee, Wall and Medieval Tents for Hunting and Camping
- Rainier Industries - US manufacturer of fabric and display products.
- Roder - US arm of Roder tents
- Shahid Textile Inds - We are a leading manufacturers of Tents,Tarpauluns,Canvas and other relief products and have capicity that we can supply a bulk quantity of tents in a short period.
- Span Design Limited - Design and build tensile fabric structures, in the UK and in europe. We offer clients a complete service to design, manufacture and install eye-catching and functional special structures, combining traditional and modern materials, manufactured to the highest standards of quality and workmanship, based on our flexible approach to design and intent to provide the client with the most cost effective solution to meet his needs.
- Summit Structures - frame supported tents
- Taluka tent decorators - Painted pandal tents from Jaipur in India
- Techtonics - Techtonics are a marquee manufacturer based in Hampshire England.
- Tensile Fabric - Designers, manufactures and installers of fabric structures for all interiors and exhibitions. Projects include fabric sculptures, screens, ceilings and canopies.
- Tension Membrane Structures - offers an extensive selection of standard collapsible TDI shade structures
- Tension Span Structures Pty Ltd - Australian manufactures of all sorts of fabric buildings
- Tent & Structure International Inc. - US manufacturers of portable tent structures
- Tentnology co. - USA Manufacturers of small frame and marquee structures
- Tents - Refugee / Military /Party - Manufacturer and exporters of Refugee Military and Party Tents meeting standard or customer’s specifications. Also supplying Canvas and PVC coated fabrics for Tents and Tarpaulins Sharza International, Pakistan
- Tibet Tent Shop - We continuously provide top-quality Tibetan craftwork include-Tibetan traditional tents
- Toile et Structures - A French company. Offering Textile Architecture, Tensile structures, Solar protection
- Universal Fabric Structures - Universal is a leading provider of pre-engineered and custom tension fabric structures for any application.
- World Tents - Historical Tents, Geodesic Domes, Marquees Tipis, Scout Tents and Yurts, UK.
- White Canvas Tents - Exquisite tents and marquees for any occasion, UK.
- WorldWide Tents - large, huge, party & event tents and air domes. Sales, rentals & lease. Florida, United States.

Tensile 1 "the worlds largest mobile venue"

Sat, 13 Mar 1999 23:11:54 +0000

This four acre version was erected this summer (1998) at Kempton Park racecourse in the UK.

Tensile 1 is owned and operated by Gearhouse PLC. The structure can be erected in less than a week anywhere in the world.

The boxes hanging from the roof in these pictures are 40’ shipping containers.

If you look carefully in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture above, you can see a rare photo of me.