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

Dave R

So what am I missing? I've read through as much of this thread as I could. I can get FAK to work on simple arcs but not on this longer path. Even though it's not supposed to require it, I added a C-point to the start end of the path. Surely I've done something that isn't right. Can anyone tell me what it is?

FAK Problem.skp

mitcorb

Weld- Don't Weld? Group- Don't Group? This is a test, right?
Plugin "deprecation" due to Sketchup version?

I mean, when you're stumped, we're in hell.

Dave R

Tim,

I'm flattered by your comments. It wasn't a test. Well, it was a test for me.

I finally figured it out. The path needs to be basically horizontal. I didn't see anything in the thread that indicates this, though every example I saw was thus. Even so, it doesn't really do what I need anyway so I'm off on the hunt for another approach.

mitcorb

Well, Dave:
When you say basically horizontal do you mean mostly horizontal or dead flat path, or profile horizontal? I vaguely remember the demos and I may be getting it confused with Chris Fullmer's perpendicular faces tool.

Dave R

Sorry for being vague. I turned the helix on its side so its axis was along the green axis. This turned the square profile up on edge as well. I initially use Chris Fullmer's Perpendicular Face Tools to put the square on the end of the helix while the helix was standing up. that worked just fine.

Sir.Swaffel

I like this tool, but it is lacking a basic feature that 1001bit's version does have: a reference point.

FollowMeAndKeep automatically uses the center of the face that it wants to extrude as the reference point for the path. When using a more complex face that needs to be extruded along a path relative to let's say the bottom left corner, you're out of luck

Dave R

@sir.swaffel said:

I like this tool, but it is lacking a basic feature that 1001bit's version does have: a reference point.

FollowMeAndKeep automatically uses the center of the face that it wants to extrude as the reference point for the path. When using a more complex face that needs to be extruded along a path relative to let's say the bottom left corner, you're out of luck

It's good to have the option of using 1001bit, isn't it?

Sir.Swaffel

haha, yes, unfortunately 1001bit lacks a feature that FollowMeAndKeep does have, it doesn't lock the z orientation. So basically both of them lacks an essential feature of the other... and I don't know a way to combine them .
comparison

Dave R

I suppose for FaK you could add some temporary geometry to get the bottom left corner to be the center. Not idea but it could work.

wikii

@sir.swaffel said:

I like this tool, but it is lacking a basic feature that 1001bit's version does have: a reference point.

FollowMeAndKeep automatically uses the center of the face that it wants to extrude as the reference point for the path. When using a more complex face that needs to be extruded along a path relative to let's say the bottom left corner, you're out of luck

Reference point?
select a cpoint ,curve and face,then run fak.
the cpoint will be treat as reference poing.
try it.

wikii

Sir.Swaffel

ah thanks, it never worked when I tried it, so I thought it was broken. But apparently my SU has some trouble making correct faces with FAK and complex curves and precise helixes. Got it working now though, so thx .

derei

I'm trying to run FAK on a face + path but it doesn't o anything.
Can anyone point me where I'm wrong? I tried with a simpler shape (arc + rectangle) and it worked. Is it something wrong with this particular model?

Model attached. Thank you.

no_FAK.skp