[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

jeff hammond · 26 Apr 2014, 03:02

oh, am i the only one noticing a huge slow down with the introduction of the progress bar? certain actions are at least 10,000x slower now.

hey Chris,

now that i'm using 2014 and realized the EW version of shapebender no longer requires progressbar.rb, i finally have a chance to show you what i was talking about 5 years ago

(i could of shown you back then but i messed up because as you were doing the shapebender updates (multiple times per day iirc), i was simply overwriting the previous versions)

so yeah, i'm glad shapebender no longer requires progressbar.rb but more importantly, maybe there's something to learn/share what progressbar is doing and advising any ruby writers against using that technique.

driven · 26 Apr 2014, 11:44

@jeff,

good demo of the difference between version speed...

maybe I can finally finish my abandoned, shape bender reliant model...

Progress bars were considered a 'must have' when SU itself was slower, and you had no idea what was happening...

I ended up removing them from most the accessible scripts, but the speed improvements were not of that magnitude...

@Chris, did you do any other optimisations, might be worth a Dev Thread item...

john

Chistabo · 15 May 2014, 14:09

Jut dropin' in to say thank you. I am impressed, and have been looking for plugin like this for some time. Thumbs up!

Best regards,

May the Ruby be with You (LOL),

Simon
S love nia

inlimine · 11 Jun 2014, 02:58

Chris,

I just recently needed to use Shape Bender for the first time in awhile (SketchUp Pro 8); however, it keeps throwing out the progress response, "Searching for objects to explode" and never moves beyond 5% complete. Now, I've loaded many many plugins and extensions since the last time I used your plugin. Could there be a conflict somewhere? I've tried adjusting the code to your instructions, but noted no change. I know it works quite well as it works just fine in my copy of SU2014 (which has a very limited amount of plugins and extensions). Any thoughts?

Michael

TIG · 11 Jun 2014, 08:18

Can I suggest that you try reinstalling the latest version in v8 too [from the EWH or PluginStore]...
I recall that the earlier version of it needed progressbar.rb from Smustard.com ...
I think the updated version now available does not use that ?

Christopher Steffy · 18 Jun 2014, 16:05

I have shape bender plugin on my computer and it works perfectly on Sketchup Pro 2013.

When I open Sketchup Pro 2014 I get the following message:
Error Loading File clf_shape_bender_loader.rb
Error: #<LoadError: cannot load such file -- progressbar.rb>
/Applications/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp.app/Contents/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/2.0/lib/ruby/2.0.0/rubygems/core_ext/kernel_require.rb:45:in require' /Applications/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp.app/Contents/Frameworks/Ruby.framework/Versions/2.0/lib/ruby/2.0.0/rubygems/core_ext/kernel_require.rb:45:in require'
/Users/myname/Library/Application Support/SketchUp 2014/SketchUp/Plugins/clf_shape_bender_loader.rb:22:in `<top (required)>'

I am using a 2012 MAC, Software OS X 10.9.3
I am not computer savvy and do not want to mess things up. I would greatly appreciate any help or direction on who would be able to fix. Thanks.

Dave R · 18 Jun 2014, 17:40

I'm guessing you copied the plugin from the SU2013 Plugins folder. Is that correct? The error is telling you that you haven't installed Prgressbar.rb. The current version of the plugin doesn't need Progressbar.rb so the best thing would be to delete the existing old version from the SU2014 Plugins folder and install the current version via the Extension Warehouse.

Polynechramorph · 19 Jun 2014, 15:02

Hi,
Thanks for this great plugin.
it worked well on 2013 pro running windows 8.
I've since moved onto 2014 pro and for some strange reason I can't seem to get the plugin to even load.

I've dopwnloaded the newest .rbz file and placed in the plugin folder for 2014. yes I know about the location change to user/roaming....

So I fire up 2014 pro and nothing, nowhere to be found, no error message.

I sure it's something really stupid and simple I've missed but I am at my wits end. any help would be greatly appreciated.

Dave R · 19 Jun 2014, 15:12

Well, you say you put the RBZ file in the Plugins folder. That isn't installing it so it's no wonder it doesn't work.

Move the RBZ file to the desktop or somewhere. Then use Install Extension from Preferences>Extensions and navigate to the RBZ file. Open it and follow the prompts. Or better yet, install it automatically from the Extension Warehouse.

By the way, where did you get the "newest version" of Shape Bender?

Polynechramorph · 19 Jun 2014, 15:15

Ok Thanks I'll try that. I normaly would instal it directly from the warehouse but for some reason the plugin doesn't download I just get stuck in a "Please wait" infinity loop...

Refka · 24 Jun 2014, 10:45

@chris fullmer said:

Name: Shape Bender
Version: 0.55 Beta
Description: This script will bend an existing group to match a curved line or series of connected lines.
Usage: See videos below
Requires: Progressbar.rb
SketchUp Compatibility: Its not compatible with version 5 or earlier.

Download Shape Bender

Here is a list of known bugs and planned improvements:

The first and last angles of the bend curve are actually not accurate. Its not very noticeable, but it is inaccurate.

Every once in a while the grids don't display.

Every once in a while I notice small deviations in the bending that are incorrect.

The video is a little bit outdated. I need to remake it with the new features.
[flash=696,601:280rguhn]http://www.chrisfullmer.com/forums/shape_bender_beta1.swf[/flash:280rguhn]

Video #2
[flash=696,601:280rguhn]http://www.chrisfullmer.com/chrisfullmer/forums/shape_bender_double_bend.swf[/flash:280rguhn]

A new video Dec-03-2009
[flash=790,600:280rguhn]http://www.youtube.com/v/tGHTIOMm_34&hd=1&fs=1[/flash:280rguhn]

Thanks for checking it out!

Also, please check out my newest script Repeat Copy at smustard.com .

NEW! Shape bender en Francais, thanks to c.plaissais (Christophe). Download it HERE!

Chris

Requires: Progressbar.rb

Download Shape Bender

5856,1184

thank a lot sir.. it's work

rjsutton · 5 Jul 2014, 00:52

Hi
I have a relatively easy rectangle to add a curve to but no matter what i do i cant make it work. can someone out there help me please.
basically i need the CURVE as shown added to the rectangular part to produce a curved part as per drawing "curve" but it will have the internals of the original rectangle ( sorry for the novel)
thanks in anticipation
Richard

Part A+B final redraw11.skp

CURVE DESIGN.skp

Dave R · 5 Jul 2014, 14:14

I don't follow what you're trying to do. Do you have an image that shows the desired final result?

TIG · 5 Jul 2014, 14:26

Your Z blue axis should be 'up'.
Your example SKPs shown it 'downwards'.
This might not be an issue here, but needs correction.

You object is only ~70mm long ?
And it has many small facets which might not react well to bending - e.g. if they produce edges < ~1/1000th".
Perhaps Scaling up x10 or x100, bending and scaling down would help ?

But as Dave says... can you show what it should look like...
We are both a bit bamboozled by your description thus far...

Perhaps a simple FollowMe with subsequent tweaks to the ends would suffice ?

rjsutton · 6 Jul 2014, 00:32

Hi Sorry for the BAD description. Attached is a final view of the" mark 1" product. I have adjusted the o/a size and adjusted the shape slightly to achieve the current product. the final item is a compound of part a and b. see attached please.
Thanks
Richard

Assem1.SLDASM.pdf

Part A Complete.pdf

Part B Complete.pdf

Dave R · 6 Jul 2014, 11:56

Couldn't you just upload images instead of forcing us to download your PDF files?

rjsutton · 7 Jul 2014, 01:14

Hi
My original draftsman only sent me EPRT and SLDASM files which has the "curve" applied. I sent him the files in my first post BUT he sent me back in these formats . This forum wont allow me to download these types of files so im sorry the only way to "show" you was in pdf form.I Think its so easy but my comp gets to about 7-15 % and reboots. Have tried reloading prog.but no success. It is a very small item but i did get successful models produced by cnc off the EPRT files. Thanks Richard

rjsutton · 7 Jul 2014, 01:50

Hi all again
attached is as far as i can get you can see the 3 items needed for shape bender
computer crashes all the time......
If you can help Can you also "undock " the 2 parts so they move apart from each other. i seem to have got them connected as one piece.
Thanks for any help
Richard

part for review.skp

TIG · 7 Jul 2014, 09:46

Make the 2 parts as separate groups ?
Then re-join them after the bending / extruding...

You have not heeded my advice about 'scaling'.
The small facets around the curved parts are only ~0.7mm across.
When you start to bend them you might find that edges < 1/1000th" are required.
SketchUp cannot make these because it assumes that the start/end points are coincident.
As a result the tiny facet[s] needing that edge are also not created.

I suggest you Scale up the model x10 or x100.
Do the bending/extruding and scale down x0.1 or x0.01

These tiny facets can exist after they are reduced by in the scaling-down, but cannot be created that size initially...

Having thousands of tiny facets will mean a slow bend, but it should complete eventually...

rjsutton · 7 Jul 2014, 21:52

Hi
have tried scaling to 10 and x 100 and still freezes mid calc.
dont understand comment about making separate groups. From what in can see i have inadvertently joined both halves together BUT now i need to separate. They must be "touching" somewhere i would imagine to form " one component"
My ? is is there an easy way to separate apart from a complete redraw ?
thanks