[req] follow me helix

TIG · 7 Sept 2011, 19:16

Here's a way of using ShapeBender with appropriately oriented/sized 'bits'; followed by Weld and then EEbyFace...

pilou · 7 Sept 2011, 19:34

Allo ?

sdmitch · 7 Sept 2011, 22:31

Something like this?

Rich O Brien · 7 Sept 2011, 22:33

You nailed it. Is it a plugin?

solo · 7 Sept 2011, 22:59

@sdmitch said:

Something like this?

Exactly like that!

sdmitch · 7 Sept 2011, 23:48

Yes it is a plugin. It is a little rough around sharp corners and may take a little trial and error to get the input parameters just right. Pre-select the centerline then run plugin. You are prompted for the radius of the helix, and the linear and angular increments.

Create a helix along pre-selected path

solo · 8 Sept 2011, 00:07

Excellent.

Helix around bent helix:

Most appreciated mate.

mitcorb · 8 Sept 2011, 00:43

Congratulations, sdmitch, and thank you.

boofredlay · 8 Sept 2011, 01:40

Woah, great work Sam!

solo · 8 Sept 2011, 01:42

Eric,

That must have taken some time to 'follow me'

EarthMover · 8 Sept 2011, 02:52

Reminds me of the days before cordless phones!

boofredlay · 8 Sept 2011, 03:12

Ha ha, no Pete, I just changed the profiles of the lines to 5 and did a screengrab.

tridem · 8 Sept 2011, 07:34

it works magic! Thanks sdmitch

numbthumb · 8 Sept 2011, 07:52

Thank you, sdmitch!

boofredlay · 8 Sept 2011, 14:51

You know what Pete, it was late last night and I think I read your question wrong. It did take some time for the helix to follow that path. I thought you meant I did a pipe along path afterwards. Sorry.

This plugin is nice for making stitching. Just run it then scale the helix to almost flat. Around a curve might take some tweaking like I did for this one. I actually made the helix on one segment, scaled it "flat" then copied it around the curve. I am also finding out that the longer the helix the less responsive it is to moving or editing. Even though the straight line one is just that, a straight line, it was difficult to manipulate. Best bet is to do a short segment then copy it inside a group or component.
Anyway, enough of my rambling.

EarthMover · 8 Sept 2011, 14:54

Perhaps change the OP to reflect [Plugin] and attach the script to the first post.

Jim · 8 Sept 2011, 20:04

@earthmover said:

Perhaps change the OP to reflect [Plugin] and attach the script to the first post.

But best to start a new post.

ivreich · 9 Sept 2011, 01:49

cool plugin!

next step: allow the helix radius to change along center path according to target points.

joel

mitcorb · 12 Sept 2011, 12:40

Hi:
Using Fredo6's Bezier curve with 20segments and two control points, follow me helix with 1' diameter, 0.25" segs, and 30 degrees(I think), the result shows some odd kinks in the curve.

sdmitch · 12 Sept 2011, 14:03

Mitcorb, The kinks occur when the helix linear increment "spans" a start/end point of the centerline segment. If you have the original version posted, it made no attempt to account for this. The latest version I posted does try but is not totally successful. It is something that I am still working on.