[REQ] Intersection Behavior > Groups
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I was wondering if there was a way to create an alternative way of performing intersections involving groups other than SU's current method.
WHY? Well, when exporting to DWG (or to a 2-D image format), the intersection, for example, of two pipes must be shown. I'd like a way of doing this without having to slice and dice the core geometry or loosing the functionality of push-pulled geometry.
SU's current method of intersecting a group with ungrouped-geometry causes the geometry of the ungrouped-geometry to be bisected.
I would like to be able to select two or more groups, have edges at their intersections drawn and made into a group named "intersection".
With such a script I could do the following: 1- make a group of ungrouped geometry (let's call it Group B), 2- select Group B and other existing group(s), and 3- perform a "group" intersection. If I decide I need to ungroup Group B, I can without having its geometry bisected. Or, if I want to remove the intersecting edges later on, I can as well without resorting to manually select a lot of "loose" edges.
I have a way of doing this manually but it involves making copies of groups, pasting them inside other groups, ungrouping, intersecting, deleting unneeded duplicate geometry, etc. It is tedious and time consuming.
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http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=40206#p355590
Is this what you need:
if you select Group(s) or and Componant(s) then intersect with model or selection you get the intersection without cutting any geometry. hide selection and group your intersection. -
Gilles, that is exactly what I am talking about.
The problem in the way SU currently does this is that intersecting geometry that is created can bisect (slice) the model geometry which is not what I want to happen. That is why I hoping for a way to allow overlapping groups or components to be able to create intersecting geometry and then group it.
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I think you would get better response if added some illustrations to this.
Otherwise, why not use sectionplane and TIG's sectionscutplane-tool. That way you would not alter the geometry and could put the "sectioncut-geometry" in it's own layer.
But you say you want to export. Hmm.. Sections will display then maybe.
Edited: I mean NOT display then. Sorry.
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Maybe I'm misunderstanding something but if you group your intersection it does not slice any thing before you decide it to intersect with something else?
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When an intersection is performed, the RESULTING "insection-geometry" is NOT GROUPED. When the new "intersection-geometry" overlaps existing geometry in model which is not grouped, the existing geometry is bisected.
If, for example, the existing geometry was a circle or arc or extrusion created by push-pull or follow-me, then it is altered (looses some of its attributes or properties); this what I don't want to have happen. That is why I was hoping that two selected overlapping groups could somehow create an intersection and secondly the resulting "intersection-geometry" be grouped afterwards.
I can post an example if this is unclear.
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hi John
you can use Chris's Loose2groups ruby before and after your intersection, the first will avoid the new intersections clashing with loose geometry and the second will put it in a group [being the only loose geometry left], if you asigned short cut keys to L2G and intersect it would be as fast as a ruby, which would need to do all those steps anyway...
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=16154#p126103john
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JClements, Try the attached plugin and see if it does what you are looking for.
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Sam, I think you nailed it.
Thank you very much.
This will save a lot of time both in creating grouped intersections and in enabling me to easily modify the design of the model at a later date.
If it is not a big issue to modify the script, could the intersection groups be named, "Intersection" ?
Attached is a quick test I did.
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JC, I realized I hadn't named the intersection group and it has been added. Re-download plugin from previous post.
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Hi Sam,
can the group now named 'intersections' be put on a layer of the same name?
and is it possible for the tool to stay active until another is chosen with an option to add to the existing group or create 'intersections_02' or similar?works on the mac by the way...
cheers again
john
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Thanks again, Sam.
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Hey Driven,
I see where you are going. I had his in mind at one time too, but with the Outliner you can now do search for "Intersection" and then move them to any layer of your choice OR (and I haven't tested this yet) change the default layer before using the script.
Regards
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@jclements said:
Hey Driven,
but with the Outliner you can now do search for "Intersection"change the default layer before using the script.
Outliners known to cause problems with other rubies, so I avoid it like the plague,
it's even easier to make layers on a mac using the 'entity info' box.and I never change the default layer for the geometry just groups and components.
john
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