[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

linea · 9 Apr 2009, 06:10

Fantastic script Chris. Thanks.

MALAISE · 9 Apr 2009, 06:59

Let's make tests... Thanks a lot Chris

MALAISE

silver_shadow · 9 Apr 2009, 07:32

they should give out awards for those rubie developers...
like the oscar rubie awards for each year !!! well done!!

Dave R · 9 Apr 2009, 11:24

Thanks Jeff. That'll work just fine.

Marian · 9 Apr 2009, 13:04

AWESOME
Thanks you Chris!!!

derryatlanta · 9 Apr 2009, 13:17

Thanks so much for all the effort and time invested into this amazing ruby, Chris.
This will save me so much time and actually raise up my level of modeling, so I am indebted.

I second the ruby Oscar awards idea!

Cheers,

Nigel

AcesHigh · 9 Apr 2009, 14:12

Chris, Ive run into trouble at my first try to bend something. I have this vertical X shaped lattice of triangular beams. I am not able to bend it in no way

It was composed of a group with subgroups inside. I exploded everything inside, so its just meshes inside a group. Still, it doesnt work

jeff hammond · 9 Apr 2009, 14:34

how about a sketchy..
http://en.wordpress.com/tag/sketchy-winner/

TIG · 9 Apr 2009, 14:38

@aceshigh said:

Chris, Ive run into trouble at my first try to bend something. I have this vertical X shaped lattice of triangular beams. I am not able to bend it in no way

It was composed of a group with subgroups inside. I exploded everything inside, so its just meshes inside a group. Still, it doesnt work

Explode all of the sub-groups etc and finally the main group. Its contents remain highlighted - immediately regroup these - it should work now...

david_h · 9 Apr 2009, 15:13

I concur . .. however the term "Oscar" is copywrighted either by those people that make the movie awards or by the people that make the hot dogs and baloney (which are probably the same people)

so We need to come up with a different award name. . ..how about. .

oh I dunno. .. .

THE RUBY!!!

david_h · 9 Apr 2009, 15:29

Yup . ..this is a much easier way to bend steel.

tinanne · 9 Apr 2009, 15:37

Chris AWESOME script and thank you for the videos! Watching someone work with the ruby really helps me to understand how to use it and where it will apply to my needs. Great job and thank you again!

free agent · 9 Apr 2009, 18:51

very cool thank you

boilingsnow · 9 Apr 2009, 19:09

@unknownuser said:

Yup . ..this is a much easier way to bend steel.

But the model you pasted can also be created easily without shape bender.

david_h · 9 Apr 2009, 20:40

Very true, But not as fun.

Chris Fullmer · 9 Apr 2009, 22:40

All right, thanks for the comments so far! I've got lots to think about. That bug where it smooths the end faces if your shape lines ep exactly with the line......I'll have to think about that. Its sort of done on purpose, but that is an exception where it is not desireable. I'll see if I can think of a way for it to be smarter.

I'm working on groups and components as we speak. That is my #1 frustration with the script is that it explodes everything and it won't take components. I'd like to get that fixed and updated tonight. We'll see Thanks everyone, seriously!

Chris

BTM · 10 Apr 2009, 03:04

Great!! 2 things: 1, why do a few random lines appear when I use it?

also, sketchup said that there were problems, and when I agreed to let it fix them, this was the message:

Results of Validity Check.

CLoop (39755) for CFace (39754) has zero area
Loop 0 of CFace (39754) is an invalid outer loop
Entity CFace (39754) should be erased - done
CLoop (39760) for CFace (39759) has zero area
Loop 0 of CFace (39759) is an invalid outer loop
Entity CFace (39759) should be erased - done
CLoop (40274) for CFace (40273) has zero area
Loop 0 of CFace (40273) is an invalid outer loop
Entity CFace (40273) should be erased - done
CLoop (40279) for CFace (40278) has zero area
Loop 0 of CFace (40278) is an invalid outer loop
Entity CFace (40278) should be erased - done
CLoop (43115) for CFace (43114) has zero area
Loop 0 of CFace (43114) is an invalid outer loop
Entity CFace (43114) should be erased - done
CLoop (43500) for CFace (43499) has zero area
Loop 0 of CFace (43499) is an invalid outer loop
Entity CFace (43499) should be erased - done

Chris Fullmer · 10 Apr 2009, 03:20

Hmmm, very interesting.

Well, the lines appear because a face is being bent in a way that it is not able to do, so SketchUp steps in and adds the extra lines so that it can bend as needed. I'd be interested if anyone out there has a method for determining what faces are going to need that extra geometry so I can add the lines myself beforehand.

The invalid geometry actually probably has a lot to do with problem above. Invalid geometry can be fixed automatically, the worst that can happen is that it will delete a few bad faces. Ok, thats not really ideal. So hopefully I'll get it fixed

On a happier note, I got the script to work with groups and components. I've got a few other things I want to try to implement tonight before I post the update though. So far so good.

Chris

BTM · 10 Apr 2009, 03:22

And up arrow isn't toggling orientation.

Chris Fullmer · 10 Apr 2009, 03:26

@unknownuser said:

And up arrow isn't toggling orientation.

Really? Thats too bad. If the model is complex, it will take a second or two to "toggle". Its not necessarily immediate. It might need to think about it for a bit.

So if you've waited patiently and its still not working, that is no good. Could you open the Ruby Console and see if it gives any errors when you press the up arrow key?

Chris