Trouble keeping the quads "at all times"

[pilou]

you don't use the tools of the Quads faces tools by Thomthom ?

[thomthom]

Are you talking about keeping quads planar?

I wrote QuadFace Tools to allow me to work with non-planar quads in SketchUp. It works by treating two triangles joined by an edge which is:

• Soft
• Smooth
• Cast Shadows turned off

More info: https://bitbucket.org/thomthom/quadface-tools/wiki/Overview#!quadface-definition

Vertex Tools will apply these properties to edges created when SketchUp auto-fold faces.

You can also use the AutoFold extension I created to assist you: https://extensions.sketchup.com/en/content/autosmooth

[thomthom]

Side note: from that screenshot - I think you can get away with less faces.

In this particular case of a cylindrical shape you could even get away with a cube as a base shape instead of an octagon.

(Just realized you are modelling a quad-copter with quads #quad-ception!)

[cuttingedge]

@thomthom said:

Side note: from that screenshot - I think you can get away with less faces.

(Just realized you are modelling a quad-copter with quads #quad-ception!)

Thanks for that prompt answer from the great author himself. I normally start with less face- that's always the way to go... I just took into account that I have to make the insets (20 of them) .. That's actually the part Im confused about.

Do I make offsets and "divide donuts" or do I let the edges of the inset make a loop all the way. In both cases I failed to make it work.

[Rich O Brien]

cuttingedge-sample.skp

[cuttingedge]

@rich o brien said:

[attachment=3:7twfpjtm]<!-- ia3 -->screen-grab_117.jpg<!-- ia3 -->[/attachment:7twfpjtm]

[attachment=2:7twfpjtm]<!-- ia2 -->cuttingedge-sample.skp<!-- ia2 -->[/attachment:7twfpjtm]

Thanks Rich! you saved the day..

Below is what I tried which gave me poor result
[attachment=1:7twfpjtm]<!-- ia1 -->drone3.png<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment:7twfpjtm]

Yes Thomthom, Im trying to do a Quadcopter using Quads.

[attachment=0:7twfpjtm]<!-- ia0 -->drone 4.png<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:7twfpjtm]

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[Rich O Brien]

Adding vertical loops only distorts the form outline if the loops are not evenly spaced.

Horizontal loops won't affect the form unless you place near angular change in the mesh.

You were on the right track though.

[cuttingedge]

@rich o brien said:

Adding vertical loops only distorts the form outline if the loops are not evenly spaced.

Horizontal loops won't affect the form unless you place near angular change in the mesh.

You were on the right track though.

Thanks for the info.

By the way Rich, did you use varying crease values?
I also assumed that you made 1 section and polar arrayed it? Is that right?

[Rich O Brien]

I played with Creasing to see if it could work for the inset but it couldn't.

I only creased the edges of the main chamfer on a segment then arrayed it.

[cuttingedge]

Revisited my 3dmax and saw how quick these kind of modeling challenges are. (which I use to do)
Problem is I belong to the SU cult and I don't wanna do things in 3ds max anymore.

Its faster there because of:

1.The ability to modify in nurms mode gives you realtime preview (add loops, extrude, etc)

2.The ability to manipulate each selected faces all at same time (do extrude , bevel etc) skip the need to do one section and array.

3.Swiftloop is so so good.. hope this comes to QFT soon.

I still like to work in SU and still finding my way how to do it quickly there.