[Plugin] Hole Punching Tool

TIG · 2 Oct 2013, 21:05

@David

You Component doesn't CUT a hole in its glued face, so how do you expect it to PUNCH one ??

Dave R · 2 Oct 2013, 21:17

TIG beat me to it but note the changes I made to your model.

Hole Punching Test.skp

TIG · 12 Dec 2013, 21:47

Here's a future-proofed update.
http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=271170#p271170

TIG · 4 Mar 2014, 12:54

This updated version makes the lingvo files compatible with v2014.
http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=HolePunchTool

garystan · 14 Mar 2014, 19:27

TIG :

        Does the Hole Punchng Tool (plugin) require Sketchup 8 Pro ?  The reason I'm asking is because I have Sketchup 8 (Free).  When I downloaded this plugin, Sketchup said it was downloaded and installed.  But, apparently, it's not in my Plugins Folder (within Sketchup).   I checked and it is in the sdk folder inside of the Plugin Folder.  But, the documentation doesn't state where it's supposed to be downloaded to, or what version of Sketchup it works with.  With the Torus plugin, the documentation stated it would reside in the DRAW tab in Sketchup (which it is).

                                                              garystan

TIG · 14 Mar 2014, 22:53

If you read the usage notes...

This tool only ever appears in the right-click context-menu.
The enabled items vary depending on what is currently selected...
From just 'set depth', to punch [if not punched], to undo/redo/unlink etc if it is punched...

It is about to be reissued [tomorrow?] after reports of an observer glitch preventing Move etc [selection auto-undo] if the selection contains a punched component...
This will be fixed shortly...

TIG · 15 Mar 2014, 10:44

Here's an update in the PluginStore....
http://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=HolePunchTool
v2.8 Fixes an observer glitch whereby the whole selection was cleared if a punched instance/reveal was in the selection and the active tool was changed.
Turned out to be a simple typo

Please update your installation...

SSM · 5 Sept 2014, 16:08

Great tool but mine isnt working. After trying to place my window component, I right click to select "punch hole" but the only option I can select is "set depth". Thanks for any help in advance!

TIG · 5 Sept 2014, 21:33

Is your component definition [door/window/etc] set up to both glue AND cut ?
It must cut a hole in its glued_onto-face BEFORE it can ever be considered for a 'punch'...
If not, then it will never work...
AND please remember that a cutting component definition must have its 'blue' axis [shown as a blue-X] perpendicular to its main geometry - i.e. so it 'lays onto the face that it is to 'cut'.

Post an example SKP with wall/instances so we can see what you have set up wrongly...............

mariocha · 31 Aug 2015, 18:22

After inserting doors and windows, which do cut openings, in some particular cases I would like the cut face to be copied and visible on the parent face, i.e outside the compo. Do you think part of your plugin could be used to get that ?

TIG · 31 Aug 2015, 18:31

@mariocha said:

After inserting doors and windows, which do cut openings, in some particular cases I would like the cut face to be copied and visible on the parent face, i.e outside the compo. Do you think part of your plugin could be used to get that ?
I don't fully understand the question...
If you UNlink the cutting instance - context-menu - then it is no longer connected to the instance anyway ?
Please explain what you mean/want = somewhat better...

Or perhaps ex-the-tool - how about using "intersect" between the instance and face, then "unglue" the instance ??

mariocha · 31 Aug 2015, 20:35

Finally, I think your suggestion to intersect the compo with the face will be just fine. Thousand thanks !

pilou · 4 Dec 2015, 00:50

Maybe can help for some cases ?

mariocha · 5 Dec 2015, 09:30

Dynamic components tend to get pretty complicated. They are mainly made of sub-components and groups.
In order to have them cut opening, I add loose edges framing the opening I want.
Some geometry, trimmings, extend outside the perimeter of those edges.
And also, some geometry are hidden, depending on the user choice of options.
So HolePunch is having a lot of problems with my complicated DCs.
Looking at the code, I think I understand that it is adding all the faces of sub components and groups as punching elements. Too many overlapping geometry in my DCs, I think.
Btw, your code is a huge lesson in high level SU Ruby API coding.
So my question; Is a HolePunch variant taking only the cut-opening edges as punching elements a good idea ? If so, feasible ?
PunchCutOpening.rb ?

mariocha · 6 Dec 2015, 20:59

@mariocha said:

Is a HolePunch variant taking only the cut-opening edges as punching elements a good idea ? If so, feasible ?
PunchCutOpening.rb ?

Ok, so as not to have anybody waste time over this, let it be known that I have done it. Well only proof of concept. Still a lot to do.
It took a lot of reading of numerous post and I must thank TIG, TT, Dan, Driven, Jim, and others for their several replies to newbies questions and for their unscripted plugins from which one can learn a lot.
Cookies to you all SU-Ruby masters.

TIG · 22 Dec 2016, 21:32

Please note that this extension has some issues with v2017 entities' IDs etc - stopping it working properly.
An update is in progress - please be patient...

hank · 27 Dec 2016, 08:24

Sounds like just what I need mariocha. Any updates? Could you post your rb?

yourpasswordis · 23 Feb 2017, 21:51

Thanks for what looks like a great plugin, I'm here to report it's not working for me (Sketchup pro 2017 Win, tried with sketchup 2016). After following your instructions closely the plugin hangs for close to five minutes, then removes the component's original cut opening. furthermore the plugin doesn't create the second cutting face, it only fills in the original hole. I was sure to drag a new components form the component library every time I was trying to cut, as you've pointed out to many others on this thread.

I'd be happy to pay for support for this plugin but seeing as it's free I'll just have to hope TIG can help.

TIG · 24 Feb 2017, 10:48

Can you post a small SKP with a wall and cutting component window.
Otherwise it's all guesswork.

I suspect there's something wrong with your example window component.

To test this please make two 3d [two faced] walls - ensuring that their front faces are looking 'outwards'.
Now draw a smaller rectangle directly on a wall's face, give it a transparent material.
Next select the transparent rectangle and its edges [double-click it] and make it into a component.
In the dialog set it to glue and cut.
Name it something like "A_Window".

Now insert a second instance of it from the Component Browser [model tab] a,d glue it directly onto another wall.
At this point you should have two 'windows' on the walls which let you see into the walls' insides

Open the Ruby Console to see error-massages [if any].

Now use the Hole Puncher on each window in turn and see what happens...

TIG · 25 Feb 2017, 22:57

I can replicate your issue.
At the moment I can't see what's happening...

I'm looking at it...