[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

VictorB

I'm hoping you guys might be able to help me out on this crash I'm getting while using Shape Bender. I'm trying to make a bangle/cuff bracelet for a friend's bday. I've designed the bracelet as a flat bar, and then was going to use shape bender to curve it into a bracelet shape. When I run Shape Bender, it says that it's calculating the curve and angles, and that it's breaking the component into 13 pieces, and then shortly after it starts processing, it just crashes.

I've tried rescaling the component so that it's true to size, and I still get the same crash. I'm at a stand still right now and don't know if it's a problem with SketchUp or Shape Bender. I'm still a total design newb (this is only the 2nd thing I've designed), so there is a great chance there is a flaw with my work.

I've attached the file I'm working with if anyone wants to try to bend it and see if they get the same crash. Any help or words of wisdom are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

RB component.skp

Dave R

Where's the curve to which you want the thing bent? It's a lot of geometry to deal with. Perhaps you could split it into smaller chunks and process them one at a time?

It looks like you could do a lot of clean up. Delete coplanar edges and correct the face orientation.

TIG

Ok...
A few pointers.
It has some very small facets so works at say x100 scaled up, then scale down back to 'real size'.
Small facets can exist but making/manipulating them is problematical.
Presumably the bracelet is for 3d printing ?
It'll probably needs to be a 'solid'...
You have several reversed faces - make all seen-faces off-white and all unseen back-faces the blue - use 'reverse' or 'orient'.
You have several 'nested' parts - e.g. the letters - these need exploding into one set of 'raw' geometry inside the 'container'.
Some of these letters will have coincident edges with the 'studding' below them and probably inner faces when merged - therefore these edges will have more than 2 faces - the requirement for a solid - the form is edges/faces only and all edges in the form have only 2 faces [now more no fewer]. You'll need to do some editing to relocate or remove these so it will be 'solid'...

I assume you want to bend it with the lettering on the outside - it might therefore be easier to set the object on its side and bend it around that way ?

The model is far from a disaster - you can readily fix it up, and bend it as needed, with a little thought and effort...

VictorB

Thanks for the input guys. I think what I'll do is start from scratch and try to do things the proper way. Again, this was only my 2nd design ever on SU and in 3d at all. I'm going to take everyone's advice here and see if I can make this new version much, much cleaner.

Thanks for the input! I appreciate it.

TIG

@victorb said:

Thanks for the input guys. I think what I'll do is start from scratch and try to do things the proper way. Again, this was only my 2nd design ever on SU and in 3d at all. I'm going to take everyone's advice here and see if I can make this new version much, much cleaner.
Thanks for the input! I appreciate it.
As I said it quite salvageable as it is... just relocate slightly and explode the nested bits, reverse some back-faces, use section-cuts to see inside and erase 'partitions' etc, erase coplanar edges [several free tools for that] - Entity Info reports it as a "solid" when it's fixed; scale up x100, then orient the object on its side and shape-bend it... finally scale down.

markitekt

I haven't read through every post here, but I am unable to get this script to work in version 8. It works fine in version 7 but I'm unable to make it work in 8. It may be due to other plugins since I use quite a few. I was just wondering if anyone else had run into problems with other plugins or if its a version 8 issue.
Mark

Dave R

Hi Mark. Long time, no see.

I use it on SU8 without problems. Does anything happen for you when you try to run it? Do you get anything in the Ruby console if you have it open while trying to run it?

markitekt

Hi Dave,
I've attached the error from the ruby console. I have no clue what it means as I'm not a ruby guy.
I have a feeling it must be related to some other plugin.
Thanks for any help,
Mark

Error.pdf

Dave R

Thanks for posting that. Can you temporarily rename your Plugins folder and create a new one? Then add only the Shape Bender plugin to it and reopen SketchUp. See if it will run, then.

markitekt

Thanks Dave,
I went back to a clean install plugins folder with the shape bender and all is working. Now, I just have to figure out which plugin is the culprit.
Mark

Dave R

I'm glad that worked but with a large number of plugins, the trick is sorting out which one is the culprit. Copy half of them and put them into the new Plugins folder and see what happens. If it still works, copy half of the remaining ones and put them in. When it quits working again you'll know you got the conflicting plugin. There have been a few plugins mentioned as being problematic. I'll try to find them for you.

Edited to add: I see that Walt had the same error messages you have but I don't see the resolution. Perhaps he'll see this and chime in.

rendermaster

my test

thanks for the plugins

nebin asharaf

hi...........same problem here......selecting...selecting but its not getting selected....tried many times....
gone through your forums.....just like you said i tried right click..yes now the line is getting selected but the function is not working...........................please help i really like this plugin...wanna try something.....help helpppppppppp

TIG

You need three things.
A group or component instance that is preselected before you start the tool.
A line parallel to the red/x axis which determines the extent of the bending - this line cannot touch any other geometry and must be in the same active-entities as the preselected group/component.
You are asked to pick it.
A curve determining the bent shape - this cannot touch any other geometry and must be in the same active-entities as the preselected group/component/red-line.
You are asked to pick it.
Do you get prompts or special cursors?
Are the start/end text flags added?
What happens?
If you open the Menu > Window > Ruby Console before starting the tool do you get any error messages?
Answer or fix these and we might get you moving...

nebin asharaf

error: #<typeerror: no implicit conversion from nil to integer>
C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~4/Plugins/clf_shape_bender.rb:168:in set_cursor' C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~4/Plugins/clf_shape_bender.rb:168:in onSetCursor'
C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~4/Plugins/clf_shape_bender.rb:233:in `onLButtonUp'
C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~4/Plugins/clf_shape_bender.rb:168

this is what comes in ruby console

TIG

The tool can't find the cursor file.
This comes in a subfolder, with other files that are vital to the tool's operation.
This suggests very strongly that you have not installed the toolset properly.
Inside your Plugins folder there should be a file called
clf_shape_bender_loader.rb
and a subfolder called
clf_shape_bender
In that subfolder are several vital 'support files'.The cursor PNG images are clearly shown.
Reinstall ensuring this is indeed the case.
If you have accidentally put files into Plugins that belong only in the subfolder you must remove them, because otherwise they will break things.
If you are on Vista/Win7 the system can prevent you from adding files/subfolders unless you have FULL security permissions - the Sketchup folder's subfolders - like Plugins - must have FULL permissions set to avoid issues. It might look like you installed it OK but if there's a 'Compatibility Files' button [or similar wording] on the Plugins-folder explorer-window top-bars it suggests you haven't - that's the only clue Windows gives you!

nebin asharaf

thank u thank u......................but now a new problem ..............
1)i made the object group
2)selected the bender option
3)selected line
4)selected curve..........
5)that's it......nothing is coming here.....
a green skelton suppose to come right???
nothing is coming...........................

Dave R

How about at least a screen shot showing the setup?

Is the shape oriented along the red axis? Is the straight line parallel to the red axis?

nebin asharaf

yes it is......parallel to red

Dave R

@nebin asharaf said:

yes it is......parallel to red

If you want assistance with sorting this, you have to meet us half way. Post the SKP file so we can see what you're doing wrong.