[Plugin] Lattice Maker

TIG · 11 May 2010, 10:44

Copyright 2010-2013 (c), TIG
All Rights Reserved.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES,INCLUDING,WITHOUT LIMITATION,THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

latticeMaker.rb

Description:
Takes a Selection of Faces and makes a Lattice, offset by a frame's given
width and depth, and pane inset, you can also assign limited Materials
to the frame/pane for ease of future selection/manipulation.
It is similar to EEbyRailsToLattice BUT works on selected Faces...

Usage:
Make a 3D Mesh - perhaps using EEbyRails or other tools - remember that
Faces need not be triangulated if all Edges' Vertices are 'coplanar', so
using similar profiles/rails will allow 'quad faces'. You can also
manually draw over faces to sub-divide them as required.
Edit the Group and Select the Faces to be converted into a Lattice -
any Edges etc in the Selection are ignored so you don't need to be too
careful. Note that the Selected Faces and their Edges that are not
required by non-selected Faces will be deleted and replaced by the new
Lattice Group - if you want to keep them make a copy of the original mesh
to one side beforehand...
Note that a Lattice frame is made in the direction away from a Face's
'front', so if you want the frames and pane to be formed in the other
direction 'Reverse' the Selected Faces beforehand.

Run 'Lattice Maker', from the Plugins Menu.
You are then prompted to chose the 'Lattice Properties':
'Width' - default is 50mm/2" - this is the width centered on the
lines so it's effectively a 100mm/4" 'frame' overall where faces abut.
[if <=0 it defaults]
'Depth' - default is 50mm/2", this is measured 'in' from the face
[if==0 there is no 'depth', if <0 it defaults].
'Pane Inset' - the amount the pane is inset from the frame's top-face -
default is 25.mm/1 " [if ==0 there is no 'inset', if <0 it defaults;
it can never be more than the depth, and reverts to that if it is].
'Pane Thickness' - the thickness of the pane measured inset from the
pane's top face - default is 5mm/0.25" [if ==0 the pane is 'one sided'
(facing 'out'), if <0 it is 'outset', this -ve 'outset' cannot be > the
pane_inset, the pane_thickness is limited to the frame_depth-pane_inset].
It is best to give the pane a thickness if it is to be seen from both
sides and the lattice might be exported to a 3rd party renderer.
'Lattice Material' - default is <Default> - additional choices are 'Red',
'Orange', 'Yellow', 'Green', 'Blue', 'Violet', 'Black', 'White' or 'Gray'.
'Pane Material' - default is <None>** - additional choices are <Default>,
"Glass"***, 'Red', 'Orange', 'Yellow', 'Green', 'Blue', 'Violet',
'Black', 'White', 'Gray'.
**Note: if Pane Material == <None> then the faces that would form them
become 'holes' in the final lattice.
***The 'Glass' material will be made if it doesn't exist - it is colored
'bluish-light-gray' with 30% opacity.

The Faces' edges are now offset to suit, then pushpulled to suit and the
materials applied.
Note that faces that are too small to have a 'pane' are made 'solid'.

Download it from the 'SketchUcation PluginStore' http://sketchucation.com/resources/pluginstore?pln=latticeMaker
OR AutoInstall using the 'SketchUcation Plugin Store' dialog from within SketchUp itself

Slimdog · 11 May 2010, 11:18

That looks like fun.

I will have to get around to it someday.

Thanks for sharing.

Steve

mitcorb · 11 May 2010, 11:21

Looks interesting. One to watch.

rickgraham · 11 May 2010, 11:50

You never cease to amaze me with your plugins. Thank-you!

Rick

pilou · 11 May 2010, 13:08

Can be very usefull for Stained glass!
You have the rythm!
A "simple" Windowizer ?

eddy · 11 May 2010, 15:18

cool plugin TIG
thanks, thanks,thanks.

thomthom · 11 May 2010, 17:31

Very nice.

honoluludesktop · 11 May 2010, 17:37

WOW, Fantastic.

jchau2007 · 11 May 2010, 17:59

TIG,
Another great plugin. As always, thank you.

xrok1 · 11 May 2010, 18:09

good one!
of course you realize we're going to have to see a bunch of furry lattices now!

remus · 11 May 2010, 18:56

...or latticed fur

xrok1 · 11 May 2010, 21:53

or furred, latticed fur!

pilou · 11 May 2010, 23:38

Maybe some fertilizer necessary!

Panga · 12 May 2010, 06:07

Love that furred, latticed fur!

dylan · 12 May 2010, 07:18

Thanks Tig.

TIG · 12 May 2010, 09:08

Not sure this will catch on ?

rv1974 · 12 May 2010, 12:36

must have tool for architects. Thank you Tig!

Jim · 12 May 2010, 16:16

Thatched roofs are possible now?

olishea · 12 May 2010, 16:27

TIG: will it catch on? of course it will!

have you seen this building? your plugins+fur will surely facilitate this process.

saturne45 · 12 May 2010, 21:39

Great works mister TIG...