[Plugin] Solid Inspector

[ericschimel]

Nice work Thomas! I am going to check this out. I really hate trying to find small holes in groups!

[Kev_Ov]

Thank you so much!!!

Leaks had been bugging me for days!

[emartingr]

@unknownuser said:

Nice work Thomas! I am going to check this out. I really hate trying to find small holes in groups!

Defects in solids are sometimes produced by carrying out SU boolean operations, and these are very difficult to find. SI is a most welcome tool. Thanks a lot!!

[d12dozr]

Thomthom, I use this plugin ALL the time...how do I send you a cookie?

[Dave R]

Marcus. I'll send one with yours.

[thomthom]

Cookies!!!

[mariocha]

Cookies!!!

[jgb]

Can't tell you TT how ecstatic I am with SI.
Although I have some suggestions for improvement, it still amazes me how it can find tiny random elements that SU says are "~0 in" in length that prevent a solid from forming, that would be simply impossible to find without SI.

When Google upgraded SU to form solids, something like SI should have been a native function, far more important and useful than merging solids that are only available with Pro. But Google has always displayed excellent software for internally identifying errors, but rate a serious for telling us exactly what the error is and where to find it to fix.

My only suggestions to improve SI are;
1- allow it to function INSIDE the group/comp. Right now it is a repetitive set of operations to
** select the group/comp,

• call-up SI (which is my "S" key shortcut),
• hit <return> to locate the next error,
• zero in on it and place the cursor on the red highlighted object,
• press <spacebar> to exit SI,
• enter EDIT mode and
• select the offender and then
• delete it, which is 99.999% of the time the required fix.
• Then, exit edit mode,
• reselect the group/comp and, IF the solid has not formed (Entity Info box),
• do it all over again.* This gets tedious.

If SI worked INSIDE the group/comp, you would only need to
** select the group/comp,

• call-up SI,
• then hit <enter> to select the first offender,
• then <delete> to fix it,
• <enter><delete> <enter><delete>* etc.
  I would not want SI to automatically delete offenders, as in rare cases this is not the desired fix.

2- If the group/comp is already or finally a valid solid, paint a green circle around it, and if in edit mode, exit the solid.

[thomthom]

Yup - I want SI to work inside the active group as well. On the todo list.
I just haven't had much time lately for plugins.

[commandercup]

This is the greatest thing I have ever used.

Thanks for making this!

[thomthom]

Version 1.1.0
If nothing is selected then the current context will be inspected.

[Rich O Brien]

Thanks Thom

[d12dozr]

Thanks, Thomthom

[Jim]

Just noticed the update. Thanks, thomthom.

[Jim]

It seems natural that when using Solid Inspector for nested models, that when I click on nothing it should go to the parent context and start checking that. And conversely, double-clicking a Group/Component while using ST could enter that context (except I know it's not possible in the current API ) What do you think?

[thomthom]

Ah - navigate the current context like the native Selection too does. Yes - not bad idea. Closing is doable, but it does have a nasty bug where the event is not added to the undo stack when you use Ruby - which cause geometry havoc when you do try to undo/redo anything.
( wouldn't mind if more peope, besides me, went nagging to Google about the open/close context issue.)

[bogmusic]

In a hurry and just got to get this one out....
doh! What do you mean not a solid you stupid machine, aaaaagh!

Thanks thomthom, you have saved me so much trouble.
Come to Yorkshire UK and I will buy you a pint!

[jgb]

Just discovered a shortcut (sort of) to getting at those tiny fragments buried deep inside a complex solid.

I many cases you cannot easily get to see a fragment inside a solid due to short sightlines and clipping when getting up close, or the red circle seems to be disconnected visually from the fragment.

Pan/zoom till the red circle is around mid screen and then zoom in as close as you can but still outside the solid.

Switch to WIREFRAME view and now you can see the red fragment clearly. Put the pointer ON the fragment and exit SI by pressing the SpaceBar. Double click to enter edit mode. The cursor should still be on or very close to the fragment, click on the fragment to select and then delete it.

Go back to a solid view to make sure you did not open a face. Continue on to the next fragment.

You can also engage SI in XRAY, but you cannot select fragments through the transparent faces.

[xiombarg]

thomthom, I can't even begin to thank you enough for this tool. You rock.

[monsterzero]

Just downloaded this after pulling my hair out trying to find why something wasn't solid. This found the problem right quick! Awesome!