[Plugin] Shell

TIG · 11 Nov 2011, 09:07

Robert

As I tried to explain...
Shell and similar only only work if the group is a 'solid'.
An 6 sided box with no 'holes' is a 'solid'.
If you delete edges and/or faces then it is no longer a 'solid'.
The simple definition of a 'solid' group [or component] is that every edge in it has 2 faces attached to itself - but no more and no less...

thomthom · 11 Nov 2011, 09:15

@tig said:

Shell and similar only only work if the group is a 'solid'.

No...

@thomthom said:

Shell doesn't require solids...

I will have a look at the sample video and see if I can understand what this whole is about.

thomthom · 11 Nov 2011, 09:24

Ah!

Now I understand what this all is about!

You're trying to use SketchUp Solid Tools's "Outer Shell" command - instead of "Shell" which is this plugin. I can see how you got confused.

TIG · 11 Nov 2011, 10:24

Aha!
His video shows him trying to use [Outer] Shell on a non-solid object !

robert111 · 11 Nov 2011, 13:07

mr TIG, thanks you for your reponse but i dont know how to make any form to solid form with sketchup, can you make video tutorial for this plugin plzzz

thomthom · 11 Nov 2011, 13:43

@robert111 said:

mr TIG, thanks you for your reponse but i dont know how to make any form to solid form with sketchup, can you make video tutorial for this plugin plzzz

See the responses on the previous page since your last visit: http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=39308&start=15#p365385

TIG · 11 Nov 2011, 13:45

No.
If you do not grasp the concept of what a solid is how would showing you help?
Most simple forms made by Sketchup like boxes and cylinders are 'solids'.
When you add them together they can make internal partitions etc which need removing before it's considered to be a solid.
Try my SolidSolver tool which attempts to turn non-solid groups into solids...
However, your example of a 4 sided box could never be made a solid unless you add more faces/edge etc...

thomthom · 11 Nov 2011, 13:51

But he doesn't need a solid at all. He simply confused the "Outer Shell" menu item for my "Shell" menu item.

robert111 · 11 Nov 2011, 15:06

thanks
i confused the out shell with shell
your plugin work perfect now

thanks thomthom and thanks TIG too

thomthom · 11 Nov 2011, 15:27

chango70 · 6 Jan 2012, 05:45

Great plugin, already works well for 0.2!

boilingsnow · 19 Jan 2012, 23:09

This is really useful.
Thank you so much.

Oxer · 28 Jan 2012, 16:17

Thanks, i'm looking for something like this.

krath · 16 Mar 2012, 12:04

Thanks Thomas, this plugin is very useful!
However, I don't seem to be able to commit after typing a thickness.
The shell is generated, but neither double-clicking or Return finishes off the process.
The space tab brings me back to the selection tool, but the already generated shell is lost.
Ruby console reads:

Error: #<ArgumentError: Cannot convert argument to Sketchup::Point3d>
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:401:in add_face' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:401:in add_border_face'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:381:in shell' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:374:in each'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:374:in shell' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:362:in each'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:362:in shell' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:321:in offset_mesh'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:319:in each' /Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:319:in offset_mesh'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:188:in `onLButtonDoubleClick'
/Library/Application Support/Google SketchUp 8/SketchUp/Plugins/tt_shell.rb:328

thomthom · 16 Mar 2012, 12:25

Got a sample model?

The plugin is a very early experiment - so very prone to errors.

krath · 16 Mar 2012, 17:49

Thomas, my apologies for having bothered you without testing more thoroughly beforehand!
Although the error is reproducable, it is limited to geometry that has rounded corners in combination with an offset of the shell, that is close to or greater than the offset of the rounded corners.
I have attached a sample model with some tests - the red shape produces the error.

shell_test.skp

thomthom · 17 Mar 2012, 22:41

@krath said:

Thomas, my apologies for having bothered you without testing more thoroughly beforehand!
Although the error is reproducable, it is limited to geometry that has rounded corners in combination with an offset of the shell, that is close to or greater than the offset of the rounded corners.
I have attached a sample model with some tests - the red shape produces the error.

Thanks for the sample file. It helps me when testing the plugin. It'd not first up on the priority list at the moment to be honest - I got some other updates lined up. But I'll be getting back to it.

In case you haven't tried it, Fredo's Join Push Pull is more mature and does a better job.

TIG · 18 Mar 2012, 10:57

This issue is the same as the 2d offset when you get reversed edges in the internal offset loop on tight corners or narrow peninsulas.

I have an unpublished version of some 'smart_offset' code that spots this issue and offsets in 2d 'truly', ignoring these glitches... I might dust that off...

In the 3d equivalent - like 'shell' - we need a similar 'reversed faces' catcher.
Perhaps we make the internal 'shell' faces, then intersect everything in its group with its entities, to 'split-off' any 'crossovers', then we erase any faces that when raytested from their center by their normal hit the parent object's entities, finally erasing all single faced edges that are left over and any unfaced edges left after that...

Just some ideas...

Krisidious · 1 Apr 2012, 04:01

I pull and click or enter the distance and click but it never completes... allows me to choose again and again.

works on simpler mesh though. like box and sphere. wondering if it's my mesh that's the problem.

it shows me the preview of what will be made. never makes it. I wonder if there is another way to complete other than double click?

thomthom · 1 Apr 2012, 10:57

Got a sample model?

Does the Ruby Console display any error.

It it quite likely to be bugged - it's a very early experimental version.