[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

Dave R · 9 May 2012, 09:01

There are a number of things that it could be. Could you post at least a screen shot of the setup?

TIG · 9 May 2012, 09:42

Also try doing it it with the Ruby Console open and post us any error messages - this might help us see what's wrong.
The picked line and then picked curve can't touch each other, or any other 'raw' geometry.
We can but hope that you have correctly extracted and then installed the tool's subfolder with all of its cursor/toolbar image files etc intact, and that you have also installed 'progressbar.rb' from Smustard.com, all as advised on the download tool's page.
These are the two "most popular" screw-ups

cizqa · 27 May 2012, 01:03

Hello guys, please help me

This is my first time using this plugin and I am having error
ERROR: skpHelperClasses.rb:updateSkpMaterial, curMat is nil

It shows continuously after I click on the Shape Bender icon, it stops when I click on the red-axis line, and it starts to show again after I click the curve. I get to the screenshot I attached, but when I click enter to finalize the bending --> bugsplat!

Anybody knows what's wrong? Thank you very much.

Siska

TIG · 27 May 2012, 08:34

This is a V-ray related error and sometimes appears in other tools when it's not working properly.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=327671#p327671
If you disable V-ray and restart Sketchup does the error stop ?
Thomthom also has a script that disables V-ray's load until you need it, which also speeds up startups...
Also check on the latest V-ray version etc as he advises in the link above...

cizqa · 27 May 2012, 23:20

I have disabled Vray from the preferences. Error message doesn't show anymore, but still, I got bugsplat whenever I try to hit Enter (finalize the bending). Thanks in advance

thomthom · 28 May 2012, 09:19

@cizqa said:

I have disabled Vray from the preferences. Error message doesn't show anymore, but still, I got bugsplat whenever I try to hit Enter (finalize the bending). Thanks in advance

What version of SketchUp are you using? The latest SU8M3 fixed even more bugsplats.

TIG · 28 May 2012, 10:04

Can you post the simple SKP - group/line/curve - that you are trying to use...

rob-m · 29 May 2012, 19:37

@hlferrell said:

This tool looks incredible! I haven't gotten it to work yet, though. I have created a ramp and an arc and a line that stretches the length of the ramp - the line is on the red axis as the instructions indicate. I select the component (the ramp), then I select the shape bender tool and then try to select the single line. It doesn't seem to recognize the line - or anything once I've selected the shape bender tool.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

I have the same issue. I have an object(in this case some simple 3d text). I have a curve. I have a line on the red axis.
I select the object, hit the bend button, and cannot do anything else. It won't let me click a line or otherwise.
With the ruby console open, I get this message repeating on mouse move or clicks:
Error: #<TypeError: can't convert nil into String>

I am using the free version of SU8.0.14346
I get the same issue on SU7

TIG · 30 May 2012, 08:56

Rob-m

Are you sure you have installed the files/subfolder correctly, and have got/installed the separate progressbar.rb helper file as directed on the download page ?
I suspect that the tool is failing because it can't find some file it needs, probably a cursor image file in the tools subfolder...
This is what your file/folder 'footprint' should be...
Also if it looks like this check there is no "Compatibility Files" button on the Plugins folder window - with Vista/Win7 if you don't have FULL security permissions to write to a folder the system might shunt things off into a side folder without telling you, thereby breaking the paths needed by the scripts...

rob-m · 30 May 2012, 12:33

Thanks TIG. if progressbar.rb is not installed there is normally an error when the shape bender is started. the issue I had was putting everything in the TOOLS folder, not the PLUGINS folder.
Dropped the clf_shape_bender folder and progressbar.rb into the plugins folder, retarted SU8 and all works fine now. Many thanks

Dave R · 30 May 2012, 12:47

@rob-m said:

the issue I had was putting everything in the TOOLS folder, not the PLUGINS folder.

You should never put anything into the Tools folder.

rob-m · 30 May 2012, 12:58

So I'm learning. Many of the plugins I have picked up had instructions for placing in the tools folder. I will remedy that on my end.

thomthom · 30 May 2012, 13:17

@rob-m said:

So I'm learning. Many of the plugins I have picked up had instructions for placing in the tools folder. I will remedy that on my end.

Do you remember which ones? If they are located here on the forum we can see if we can correct that.

rv1974 · 30 May 2012, 13:33

Chris bending along 2-segment curve results are wrong. It wont keep the parallels.
Could you tweak the code please?

Dave R · 30 May 2012, 13:53

@rob-m said:

So I'm learning. Many of the plugins I have picked up had instructions for placing in the tools folder. I will remedy that on my end.

I've never seen a plugin with instructions to put it into the Tools folder. I'd also be interested to know which ones those are. There are plugins that will appear in the tools menu but that's entirely different.

rob-m · 30 May 2012, 14:29

I actually don't recall which ones, sorry. Not from this site, I found them elsewhere before I found SketchUcation. Everything I need seems to be here or referenced here. Strangely though, all other plugins I had in the Tools folder seemed to work.
Thanks for the help.
My goal was to take a 3d wall carving and wrap it around a post for cutting on a 4 axis cnc router. This should work very well. thanks for this great plugin!

carammilla · 2 Jun 2012, 14:43

nice

pbacot · 2 Jun 2012, 21:15

Hello,

Thanks for the great plugin work! This is one I've never tried before so I thought I would, since it is often mentioned here. Is it supposed to work on Macs?

In this test I wish to make the rectangular bar bend in the shape of the curve shown. Are there any further tips on how to make it look more like the arc shape?

Thanks, Peter

AutoSave_shape bender test.skp

Dave R · 2 Jun 2012, 21:27

Peter,

I got it to go but only after I deleted your funny shape, purged unused stuff from the file, saved it and reopened it. Notice I also moved the line relative to the component. The distance between the line and the component will be used at the distance between the new component and the arc. I expect there distance you had in your set up was a bit too much for Shape bender to create the properly bent shape from the straight version.

AutoSave_shape bender test.skp

pbacot · 2 Jun 2012, 22:34

Dave,

Thanks for the help! I didn't pick that up about the distance. I didn't find anything to purge but the object created by the plugin.

Peter