Custom initial inference point...

agamemnus

If I understand this right, this is exactly the same problem I've got right now:
I got a stairs model made for a 1x1 meter grid and I want to scale it so it fits on a 48x48 inch grid. Unfortunately there are pieces sticking out on each side which do not fit on the grid. Therefore I need to scale it in a way that makes some lines (which do not cover the whole length of the model) get an exact length.

I tried FredoScale. It's a great plugin but I don't see how I can achieve this with it (if this was the point of the topic, I'm not sure).

Yes, this is exactly the problem I often have. You can figure this out a few ways manually. One way is to figure out how much you want to scale, percent-wise, by getting the x/y/z distance between your desired scaling points (drawing lines), initial distances and final distances.. then scaling accordingly. Another plugin that helps is the "Boundingbox" plugin, which creates a box around a group or component. (so you know the x/y/z dimensions of it)

Box

You can rescale the whole model or just a section of it using the Tape Measure tool.

In the example you are talking about, click at the beginning of the one metre line, ctrl click at the other end and type 48" and hit enter. It will ask if you want to resize, say yes and it's done. If you do this inside a group or component it will only resize the group or component, if you do it outside it will resize the whole model.

So if you have a staircase with a tread width of 1 metre and you wish the whole staircase to have 48" treads, then measure the tread and adjust it that way, if you want something wider than the tread to be 48" then measure the something wider and adjust it there.

DasMatze

Wow, that's neat! If only it worked for one axis only ...

Box

You do know that even with the normal scale tool you can type a measurement don't you.
Make yourself a 1 metre cube. Use the scale tool and select the correct handle and move it then type 48" enter and it will make that direction 48 inches. If you have selected the correct handle it will be in on one axis.

DasMatze

I know. But as said before there are parts sticking out so it's difficult to get one certain line at a precise length when you have to work with each axis independently.

While I already canceled the project where I needed this for, I'll certainly need it again one day (and so do other people).

I guess exact calculating is the only way to get it right. An option to not scale from the center or the bounding box but from the origin of the whole model/group/component would solve this problem.

pbacot

this discussion needs an example.

I bet we can do these things either with the native tool or Fredoscale. It just isn't clear what the problem is.

With normal tool I can take a side handle and move it to a point in the drawing--the additional width. Or you can do a little math (current width plus additional width) and enter that. With Fredoscale same things but you can use target points so you can add that measurement using any reference points in the drawing--and it doesn't matter if parts are beyond the reference points. With Fredoscale stretch you can scale just a portion of the selection. You can make the stairs wider but leeave the rail sticking out 6" in both new and old stairs.

DasMatze

Ok, here's an example:

Box

With that example I can't think of a one step solution off the top of my head, however, reading this on my phone with no SU to test it, the steps are simple.

My assumption here is that these are are groups/components so geometry wont stick together but that only effects whether you draw a square or use guide lines.

Draw a 1 meter square from the back left corner of the "Group" on the z plane. This is to be used as a guide and as such can be geometry or guidelines as mentioned above.
Select the parts you wish to scale and activate the scale tool. Grab the front, right, top corner handle and drag sligtly, type 1m,1m,1m and hit enter. (I notice you have the european use of the comma in you measurements so you need to use the relevant separator for your system.) This should reshape everything in your selection to a 1m cube. Now grab the same handle and scale back until the bottom of the larger box matches the 1meter square you drew to start.

You should now have a box 1m cubed with appropriately scaled sticky outy bits.

DasMatze

Unfortunately the parts are not separate groups. It would be possible to group them in this example but the actual models are far more complex:

It's from The Sims 3 by the way.

Box

The grouping only referred to using a geometry square or guides. The results are the same it's just that loose geometry can stick to other geometry. You could for example draw a 1m square and group it so it can be used as a guide.

Edit: If you are unable to group something because it is too complex, then the model is either poorly made or you are not understanding how to select things. Either way it renders your scaling question moot.

pbacot

First example is done by Fredoscale "Box scaling to target". You must do it one side at time. You must make a point to snap to for your one meter measurements in each direction (a meter square on the ground and on perhaps a guide vertically. Since one dimension is .6 to 1.0 and the rest are .9 to 1.0 you have to do each side.

For the stairs Fredoscale could make it scale as well. It seems like these scenarios all depend on what the different parts need to do. And so a plugin can't fit to all situations. If I had a steps that needed to be larger, I would not want to change the dimension of the "lumber" parts unless I were accepting the parts would be out of scale, slightly.