[Request] Helix following curves
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Hi guys,
I don't think there is a plugin like this yet. It seems like a tough one to write.
I would appreciate if someone could come up with a plugin that create an helix that follows a curve or even another helix.
The best example is a phone cord.
Thank you very much for you help,
_KN
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There are several Helix tools available.
Make a helix... then use something like my EEbyFace, draw a small circle/oval for the cross section and use that to make the extruded form...
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@tig said:
There are several Helix tools available.
Make a helix... then use something like my EEbyFace, draw a small circle/oval for the cross section and use that to make the extruded form...
Hi TIG,
Well, it's actually more complicated than that. As you see in the phone cords samples or the ones below, the helix should follow a curves.
I used a helix plugin, your EEbyFace and Chris Fullmer's component stringer. The one I did is not perfect as the ends of the helix are not connected.
I'd like to see a plugin that will make the helix follow the curve in a cleaner smoother way.
Thanks!
_KN
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Pipe along path by Tig
Followme&Rotate by Wikii
Followme and keep by Wikii
1001bit -
I've done it like this with good success:
Make a long helix.
Then use shapebender to bend the helix to the desired curvy/bendyness.
Then apply a face to the end of the helix and do a simple follow me along the helix. Then you will get the curved helix AND a perfect round cord shape.I think I had posted some pics as an example of this somewhere before. If I find it, I'll post it again here.
Chris
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Make the complex-curves path.
Make a simple helix curve component and use Component Stringer with it to make a copy of it along the curve joined end-to-end ?
Explode all of these 'line' components into a single grouped set, explode these curves and welded everything into anew curve.
Use TubeLongPath to make a FollowMe extrusion that will rotate smoothly along this new curve...
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This tutorial researched by Chris
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Hi guys,
Thanks for all the tips. Very useful. But I still cannot manage to get the correct result.
Shape bender does work only for flat/2 dimensional curve. What I have is a complex 3 dimensional curve.
TIG's method or the similar method that I used in my first images using Component Stringer works well only is the segments of the curve are equal. In that case I can probably join the helixs end-to-end, explode and weld them as TIG described. However, most of the curve that I use will mostly be composed of irregular segments. Therefore, all the methods that have been give won't work.
Indeed, I just did another test with a curve with different sizes for the segment using Component Stringer. As you can see, it is not possible to join them end-to-end as the size of each helix is different from one another due to the different sizes of the segments.
What I hope is to have a plugin that will make the helix follow the complex 3 dimensional by connecting end-to-end and keeping it size consistent/uniform not matter the sizes of each of the segments that make the curve.
I think it will be a great challenge to come up with that plugin, but if anyone has time and would like to think about it, I'll be much appreciated.
Thank you,
_KN
p.s. I may even give a monetary donation as a token of my appreciation.
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