[Plugin] FollowMe and keep (v0.04 update 20090210)

jeff hammond

Basically, I want a profile to follow a path much like in the FollowMe and keep plugin, but in a way that preserves the proportions of the profile perpendicular to the path, whether that path is level or on a slope.

hey rainfrog,

that's possible using the extrude along path tool in the 1001bit suite
http://www.1001bit.com/

followmeproblem_fixed.skp

xrok1

@unknownuser said:

@rainfrog said:

Basically, I want a profile to follow a path much like in the FollowMe and keep plugin, but in a way that preserves the proportions of the profile perpendicular to the path, whether that path is level or on a slope.

the native follow me tool works this way???? did you try it?

pilou

You can use also the TIG Extrude Edges by Rails by Face
and maybe 2 faces + Path by Kirill2008

jeff hammond

@unknownuser said:

You can use also the TIG Extrude Edges by Rails by Face
and maybe 2 faces + Path by Kirill2008

they won't keep the bottom flat though.. i'm pretty sure 1001bit is the only ruby solution for this particular scenario.

xrok1

i downloaded his file and to me 1001bit and native follow me are identical, except 1001 triangulates.

thomthom

@unknownuser said:

@unknownuser said:

You can use also the TIG Extrude Edges by Rails by Face
and maybe 2 faces + Path by Kirill2008

they won't keep the bottom flat though.. i'm pretty sure 1001bit is the only ruby solution for this particular scenario.

FollowMeAndKeep?

xrok1

@thomthom said:

@unknownuser said:

@unknownuser said:

You can use also the TIG Extrude Edges by Rails by Face
and maybe 2 faces + Path by Kirill2008

they won't keep the bottom flat though.. i'm pretty sure 1001bit is the only ruby solution for this particular scenario.

FollowMeAndKeep?

FAK "squashes" the profile going up hill because it doesn't rotate.

Tim Danaher

I'm not having much luck with this at all...

Trying to sweep a spiral stair rail. I've got the path running smack through the midpoint of the balusters, and the profile lined up as centrally as possible, but the resulting handrail is never on the path.

The original path & Profile are in one group in the attached .skp, the resulting sweep in another...

Anyone point me to where I'm going wrong?

Ta,

Spiral Stairs_Baluster.skp

jeff hammond

@xrok1 said:

i downloaded his file and to me 1001bit and native follow me are identical, except 1001 triangulates.

check this comparison..
fm_vs_1001.skp

[edit] oh, regarding the 1001bit triangulation.. i run the deletecoplanaredges ruby on it afterwards.. found here..
http://www.cad-addict.com/2009/07/sketchup-plugins-delete-coplanar-edges.html

jeff hammond

@tim danaher said:

I'm not having much luck with this at all...

Trying to sweep a spiral stair rail. I've got the path running smack through the midpoint of the balusters, and the profile lined up as centrally as possible, but the resulting handrail is never on the path.

The original path & Profile are in one group in the attached .skp, the resulting sweep in another...

Anyone point me to where I'm going wrong?

Ta,

i really don't know what's going on there Tim and i don't have FAK.rb installed anymore but i tried it with the 1001bit extrude and it worked out..
that said, we're talking a $30 tool set vs. a free plugin so...

TD_baluster.skp

Tim Danaher

@unknownuser said:

@tim danaher said:

I'm not having much luck with this at all...

Trying to sweep a spiral stair rail. I've got the path running smack through the midpoint of the balusters, and the profile lined up as centrally as possible, but the resulting handrail is never on the path.

The original path & Profile are in one group in the attached .skp, the resulting sweep in another...

Anyone point me to where I'm going wrong?

Ta,

i really don't know what's going on there Tim and i don't have FAK.rb installed anymore but i tried it with the 1001bit extrude and it worked out..
that said, we're talking a $30 tool set vs. a free plugin so...

[attachment=0:afd99swm]TD_baluster.skp[/attachment:afd99swm]

Thanks, Jeff -- Nice result... will have to pony up the dosh, then...

xrok1

@unknownuser said:

@tim danaher said:

I'm not having much luck with this at all...

Trying to sweep a spiral stair rail. I've got the path running smack through the midpoint of the balusters, and the profile lined up as centrally as possible, but the resulting handrail is never on the path.

The original path & Profile are in one group in the attached .skp, the resulting sweep in another...

Anyone point me to where I'm going wrong?

Ta,

i really don't know what's going on there Tim and i don't have FAK.rb installed anymore but i tried it with the 1001bit extrude and it worked out..
that said, we're talking a $30 tool set vs. a free plugin so...

[attachment=0:1ls3nueo]TD_baluster.skp[/attachment:1ls3nueo]

thanks for clearing that up Jeff. i hadn't noticed that detail. i thought he was refering to the height difference on the slopes.

Tim Danaher

@tim danaher said:

@unknownuser said:

i really don't know what's going on there Tim and i don't have FAK.rb installed anymore but i tried it with the 1001bit extrude and it worked out..
that said, we're talking a $30 tool set vs. a free plugin so...

[attachment=0:3ewotani]TD_baluster.skp[/attachment:3ewotani]

Thanks, Jeff -- Nice result... will have to pony up the dosh, then...

Hah! No I won't... the developers have made it free for academic use, and since I teach SU at a design school...

pilou

@unknownuser said:

a $30 tool

It's free if you use it for personnal use
You will have just a starting message

xrok1

??
it says 30 day trial period on mine?

rainfrog

Jeff, thanks for alerting me to the continued discussion here, regarding the problem I had a few months back! And also for demonstrating the different results between the original follow me and the 1001bit tool. It is nice to see that there is indeed a plugin out there that performs the exact function I was looking for. Very helpful!

BERNS

THIS IS AN EXCELENT PLUGIN FOR TOPOGRAPHY AND MANY OTHER THEMES! I SAVED UP ALMOST 95% OF TIME AND WORK.

lightburn

thanks for this wonderful plugin. this just saved me a hell lot of headaches.

Blomman

A really useful plugin. It helped me with creating a highway interchange.

But what if I want to paint the created shape in more than just one color? Since I'm using this plugin to create a road ramp I really want to be able to paint the sides in different colors and textures. As it is now I can't since all the sides of the thing are treated as one. If I click on the left side for example, the right, top and bottom also gets highlighted. Is there anyway to solve this?

By the way, I'm using this plugin together with the bezier curves plugin by Fredo 6 if that matters.

mitcorb

@Blomman:
I am not sure if this is valid, but is the resulting model a group or component? If so, could you right click on this, Edit Group, or Edit Component, and then apply colors, materials, textures to the various faces?
Save first, then try the above. Undo(Control Z)if this does not get the desired results.

Keep watching this thread for other replies.