[Plugin] Extrude Edges by Rails to Lattice

goldenma · 16 Jun 2010, 22:31

Thanks TIG, truly marvelous tool!!
one question, though - is there a function to generate 3d geometries on the diagonals? the same effect of "extrude edges by rail by face" but for diagonals.
right now i can get the diagonal lines using "extrude---to lattice", but i'll have to "follow me" each line with a profile.
thanks a lot!

TIG · 16 Jun 2010, 23:17

Use the EEby lattice tool to make a mesh of only the diagonals as lines - one of the options [no 3D yet].
Now you have a set of grouped curves == the diagonals.
You might want to do a bit of un-grouping/regrouping now...
We'll now use EEbyFace...
Draw a face as a profile on the 'flat', in the same entities set as these curves [remember the face's Y=up when extruded].
Use the preselected face and curves with EEbyFace - you should get the face used to form an extrusion with each of the diagonal curve's as a path, in turn...

goldenma · 17 Jun 2010, 16:42

Thanks TIG! that's a great tool that i overlooked. it's a lot better than doing follow me on every curve.

Crevard · 27 Aug 2010, 21:58

i was just wondering how i could make a lattice dome with this plugin and btw thx for these awesome plugins !!!!!!

TIG · 28 Aug 2010, 08:37

@crevard said:

i was just wondering how i could make a lattice dome with this plugin and btw thx for these awesome plugins !!!!!!

Make a quarter of the dome and then Polar-Array Copy it with Rotate+Ctrl, explode the 4 groups and regroup as 1 etc... See this quick example:

Crevard · 28 Aug 2010, 16:42

yes ! this will be really handy in future with my studies ! that's really cool now i begin to understand the concept , thanks to you ( RESPEEEECT !!!! )

Dem0s · 13 Apr 2011, 22:25

i cant work this plugin out, how do i start, when i start extrude edges by edges, i t asks me to select the profile and then the path, but the cursosr gets blocked, i cant select anything.
i' running sketchup 8

TIG · 14 Apr 2011, 09:06

@dem0s said:

i cant work this plugin out, how do i start, when i start extrude edges by edges, i t asks me to select the profile and then the path, but the cursosr gets blocked, i cant select anything.
i' running sketchup 8

DemOsI am confused.
You post in the EEbyRailsToLattice thread BUT then write about EEbyEdges which is a different tool ?
However, the tool's request for a profile and path [?] suggest a 'rails' based tool, because EEbyEdges needs two preselected groups and no 'profile' etc.

Can you clarify which tool it is you are having difficulties with - there are several variants.

If it's an EEbyRailsxxxxx type you need to have premade curves [either arcs of lines 'welded' into a curve using weld.rb, an indispensable utility available free from Smustard.com].
You are first asked to pick the Profile curve [the curves highlight in different colors as you pick them]
Then Rail 1 curve [which can't be the Profile again]
Then Rail 2 curve [which can't be the Profile again, BUT could be Rail 1 if a 'parallel' railed mesh is desired - usually it's another curve]
Then the Melding-Profile [which can't be Rail1 or Rail2, BUT could be the Profile if you don't want any morphing along the rails]
The mesh is made [and you are prompted about various aspects of the lattice etc depending on the specific tool type]...

Can you run the tool with the Ruby Console open and report any error messages etc...

Note that an alternative to EEbyRailsToLattice is to use EEbyRails first to make a mesh surface and then post process it with my 'LatticeMaker' tool which gives similar results, BUT this route allows you to tweak the mesh [with View > Hidden Geometry > 'on'] before making the Lattices from it...

Dem0s · 14 Apr 2011, 19:38

i am using EEbyEdges, and when i try to use it, i cant select anything at all.
can u explain me every step that i should do.

Should i select the profile etc before i run the plugin?

pilou · 14 Apr 2011, 21:00

Draw your curves
then call the plug
then click your Profil, Rail 1, Rail 2, melding profil (depending of what Extrude Edges tools you use and number of curves)
that all

TIG · 14 Apr 2011, 21:19

IF you are trying to use 'EEbyEdges' why are you posting in the 'EEbyRailsByLattice' thread ?

Anyway...
IF you read the instructions for EEbyEdges you will see that it is somewhat different from the other tools...
For this tool you must make two separate groups containing the sets of edges you want to use.
These need not be 'curves' or even 'connected' edges - just some 'edges' [aka 'lines'].
With those two groups selected you then run the tool EEbyEdges...

After the extrusions are made there are questions about orienting faces, reversing faces etc etc...

Done.

Dem0s · 15 Apr 2011, 14:43

sorry i'm getting a bit confused by the names of the diffrent plugins , anyway problem is solved.
thank you very much, and congrats for the tool, its amazing

nvrdunwandering · 16 Apr 2011, 03:06

Thanks for an absolutely amazing plugin. I've just started using it and am in awe.

I am having one problem though... I'm trying to create a rather complex shape and have found that the only way to do this is by using EEby RailsByLattice bit by bit to create the shape (a kind of circular undulating canopy, if that makes any sense). My Profile is a straight line divided into 14 equal pieces and combined into a polyline. My rails are both polylines with 5 equal sized segments in a curve (they are not identical, one rail is shorter and creates a taper for the circular shape). The melding profile is another straight line, 14 equal segments and combined into a polyline. At first I had no problems. Then making the third one my computer made it through the entire process with no problems and then SketchUp crashed immediately after clicking "no" to "erase original curves." No biggie, I save often. Problem is that it is happening more and more. I've made 10 of these shapes (though no two are identical) and now it crashes multiple times for each one that I do. Always at the same point. I'm afraid to click "no." Do I have too many faces for SketchUp, or am I doing something wrong?

Any help on this would be great. Thanks!

TIG · 16 Apr 2011, 11:00

Try making it in an empty SKP.
If it's likely to try and make faces <1mm across OpenGL and Sketchup might have issues.
If so scale up x10 do the EEby... and then scale back x0.1 - small faces can 'exist', it's just making them that proves problematical!
If you can't resolve it try posting the SKP here and let us have a look at it...

nvrdunwandering · 16 Apr 2011, 20:08

Thanks, I'll give that a go as I have another set of these to create. For the one I was working on I did create another SketchUp file and as I made the pieces I copied them into the original drawing and deleted them from the one I was using to create the pieces. This was much more stable. I'm sure that there are some small spaces that are causing the issue. Thanks again! This tool is amazing!

architorture · 9 Dec 2011, 02:41

WOWW!! this would mean parametrix design via sketchup limitless. can't wait to try it. thanks broo..

gherkin · 3 Jul 2012, 21:59

You can use the 'weld' plugin ( http://www.smustard.com/script/Weld ) to join arcs together, infinitely, before using this plugin; helping to create very complex shapes in the same number of clicks (4 base curves still apply!):

congellous · 16 Oct 2015, 14:39

What am I doing wrong, I'm trying to extrude to a 3D lattice and I put in the depth and materials etc but it just gives me faces...as in not extruded into a frame ???

TIG · 16 Oct 2015, 17:17

Is this EEbyRailsToLattice, OR LatticeMaker ?
I suspect the latter ?
Which is a sibling tool...
Can you post a [simple] SKP showing your "starting position" - e.g. curves or surface etc...