[Plugin Idea] Lines / Arcs that 'follow me'

utiler

Thanks Mitcorb and ReD [welcome BTW!]

I'll have a play and see what works.

sdmitch

Andrew, Are you still looking for a solution to this problem?

utiler

Yeah mate, I am. EEbyVector doesn't allow for the profile to follow a path as Profile builder or follow me does.
It would be neat to be able to select a preset profile [say flashing] and locate it in position then extrude it by picking a path or selecting the lines of the path.
Have tried Curviloft but there must be an easier way.

Just like Follow me or PB.

BTW, how did you go with those stairmaker ideas?

cheers,

TIG

You can of course make a face of the 'profile' and use Followme OR FollowmeAndKeep [FAK] the edit the group to tidy up in inadvertent smoothing... and the unwanted edges/faces etc...
I'll look at a EEbyPath tool ? when I get some spare time - not likely for a while

sdmitch

Andrew, I'm working on them plus a plugin that does a Follow Me with an edge. Both are 90%+ complete.

utiler

@tig said:

You can of course make a face of the 'profile' and use Followme OR FollowmeAndKeep [FAK] the edit the group to tidy up in inadvertent smoothing... and the unwanted edges/faces etc...
I'll look at a EEbyPath tool ? when I get some spare time - not likely for a while

Thanks TIG, I do that at times....(make face)

EEbyPath tool would pretty much complete your tool set IMO.

Cheers,

utiler

@sdmitch said:

Andrew, I'm working on them plus a plugin that does a Follow Me with an edge. Both are 90%+ complete.

You're the man, Sam!!!!!

pilou

With these 2 arcs seems there a little glitch

sdmitch

Pilou, I'm sure their will be a lot of "glitches" but hopefully it works in a majority of cases.

TIG

Good first go...
I recommend that you put the newly created geometry inside a 'group.entities' container.
Then you can ask if the user wants to smooth the extrusion [it already is!] and explode the group etc...
It's easy made with a @gp=@ent.add_group() and @gents=@gp.entities references...
I am getting mixed results too... also and the start/end labels are not [always] vanishing on the 'exit'; you have given them a @ reference so just have all of your 'endings' methods use @ent.erase_entities(@start_label,@end_label) etc...

pilou

Must be no glitch else nobody want to go on an airplane!

sdmitch

Andrew, Try this plugin, hopefully it will do what you need.

The profile to be extruded, must be made into a curve. Use Weld or simuliar
plugin to combine the entities defining the profile. The profile should be
at the start of the extrusion path. If a path is pre-selected, the start
and end will be labled. Use right or left arrow keys to reverse the line
if needed. If a path is not pre-selected, click on the profile and drag
to extrude the profile to any length and direction.

FollowMe using an Edge