[Plugin] Shape Bender Beta

Chris Fullmer

I believe that is a scale issue. SketchUp has problem making faces that are very small. I see the missing ones on your model are all under 1/16", which is often too small for SU. So unfortunately, you will probably need to scale the shole thing by 10x and then scale it back down to regular size after you bend it. That is the only workaround unfortunately.

Chris

pr0bka

Hey Chris,

I have done just like you said, i even tried the other way, and i got an error saying that it couldn't find the clf_shape_bender.rb via the loader. The file is the same as the example you show in the video - the shape is grouped, under it a line and an arc that it is to bend to. Just in case i can upload the file itself. btw, in the bottom menu when it gets stuck it tells me that it is search for objects to explode (don't really know what that means, perhaps it can help?)

also, could it be possible that it might conflict with another plugin? Like profile builder for example?
Thanks in advance.

-Sam

example.skp

Chris Fullmer

ok, it worked just fine on my system, so you do have it set up right (thanks for uploading the model to verify).

It could be a script conflict. There have been problems with people who have an old version of component spray installed. So if you have that, try removing it. Also, there is a slim chance it might be sketchyphysics.

But check the coponent spray first. If removing that fixes the problem, then there is a new version of component spray that is compatible. I'll find a link for you if that is the problem.

Chris

pr0bka

Chris! you were right afterall...removed sketchy physics and component spray and voilaaa!! it works!!!

I will try installing a new version of component spray (v.1.1?) and sketchy physics. Maybe theres a newer version? Thanks a lot for all your hard work and attention!

-Sam

Chris Fullmer

There is a greater chance that it is component spray than sketchy physics. So you might put Sketchy physics back first, then test if it still works. Then if it work, just reinstall component spray.

Chris

glider

Chris,

Thank you for the Shape Bender plugin. I was working on placing some text on an Old West saloon window, as seen in a 1880 image. The name of the saloon was slightly "bent" across the window. This worked great.....great job!

Dave

Chris Fullmer

Cool Dave, thanks for posting to let me know it worked for you.

I noticed this is your first post also, so welcome! You joined only a couple of weekS after I did in 2007. Do you visit regularly, just never post? Or is this your first time back in 2 years? I'm just curious is all.

Thanks,

Chris

loolytoo

i am a beginner and strugling a bit. if someone has some time and patience i would love some help.
Please help me install this script, i downloaded it and saved the rb file in plugins, and also the progress bar, but it dosnt work. can anyone guide me through the steps of installing properly? do i need to install another file from the zip file, there are lots more in another folder with png extentions what are they? do i need them?
Lucy

massimo

Hi Lucy. Unzip the downloaded folder and put the file and the folder contained inside (see the picture below) in your SU plugin folder.
That' all.

ScreenHunter_01 Nov. 10 10.01.jpg

nikkkko

Hi,

I'm also having a problem at the point where I need to hit 'enter'. I usually run SU under Wine, which has been working well for me over the last year, including various ruby scripts, but when I ran into this problem also tried it under XP with the same result. I have tried removing all other scripts but with no difference.

Here's the ruby console output :

Error: #<NameError: uninitialized constant Clf_shape_bender::ProgressBar>
C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:522:in exploder' C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:244:in onLButtonUp'
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method /' for nil:NilClass> C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671:in draw'
C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:522
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method /' for nil:NilClass> C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671:in draw'
C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671
Error: #<NameError: uninitialized constant Clf_shape_bender::ProgressBar>
C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:870:in transform_it' C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:288:in onReturn'
C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671
Error: #<NoMethodError: undefined method /' for nil:NilClass> C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:671:in draw'
C:/PROGRA~1/Google/GOOGLE~1/Plugins/clf_shape_bender/clf_shape_bender.rb:870

nikkkko

Replying to my own post here...

I don't know anything about ruby, but seeing as the first line in the console output was an error concerning progressbar, I re-downloaded it and hey presto, everything works under linux/wine, (I haven't bothered tried it under windows).

Thanks for a great plugin by the way. About 80% of my work is building structures with arcs - steel frames for oval shaped cabins to be precise - and this is going to save me a ton of time.

Nick

carpediem0881

I just downloaded shape bender to add some text on a curve surface of a bowl and the button shows up in the top left corner of sketchup as well as the plugins tab.

I select my component and then try to sellect my line and curved line to follow but it will not allow me to select the lines like your videos shows.

I am wondering if I installed the plugin incorrectly or I am missing some instructions like holding down a button to allow me to select the lines.

if someone could point me in the right direction that would be great.

Jeff

Chris Fullmer

Hi Jeff, there are 2 things to remember when selecting the straight line.

1 the straight line must be drawn on the red axis.
2 the cursor "hotspot" is horrible. You often have to click to the side of the line. But it will highlight plue when you are correctly hovering over it.

The hotspot thing holds true for selecting arc also.

If that does not help, upload a test model here and I'll take a look at it. Hope that helps,

Chris

carpediem0881

@chris fullmer said:

Hi Jeff, there are 2 things to remember when selecting the straight line.

1 the straight line must be drawn on the red axis.
2 the cursor "hotspot" is horrible. You often have to click to the side of the line. But it will highlight plue when you are correctly hovering over it.

The hotspot thing holds true for selecting arc also.

If that does not help, upload a test model here and I'll take a look at it. Hope that helps,

Chris

So I tried uninstalling the plug-in and sketchup... reinstalled both and gave it another shot.
Made a line on the red axis, a arc on the red axis and a 3d rectangle to arc around the curve.
Made the 3d rectangle a group
selected the group, and activated the plugin. "please select line on red axis" appears in the bottom left corner
I then scroll over the straight line but still won;t let me select it, its doesnlt turn blue and i tried clicking on the line in numerous places. I watched your videos and did the set-up the same but nothing...

Do I need sketchup pro? or does it work with the standard program? any ideas?

Jeff

carpediem0881

I got it to work... I am just a new mac user and didn't know how to install the plugin correctly... i only drug the one file in not the folder containing all the information... thansk for your input and this sweet plugin!!!

Chris Fullmer

Excellent! glad you got it working. I hope it is able to help,

Chris

carpediem0881

@chris fullmer said:

Excellent! glad you got it working. I hope it is able to help,

Chris

So after getting it to work and playing with it, i tried to bend text. and game up with some errors in the finished product. The text bends but creates holes and lines that are not in the original text images. I have attached a file... Any thoughts on my these holes and deformations to the letters happen? Is it something in my settings that i need to change or is this just what happens when you bend more complicated items?

You can see in the e there is a hole, and on other letters that I didn;t picture and the t clearly has lines that are deformed.

Screen shot 2009-12-07 at 11.43.00 PM.png

Chris Fullmer

Sorry to say that you are just running into the glitches of the script unfortunately. But there are things you can do to help a bit.

If you are getting holes, its possible that the model is too small for SketchUp. It struggles to make small faces. Try scaling larger by 10 or 100 times. That might help.

The extra lines that come in are from SketchUp deforming geometry on top of my script deforming it. The best thing to do is to clean it up by softening those lines. Use the eraser tool and hold ctrl (or option or something on the Mac). That will soften them and they disappear. Also, some lines get hidden during the bending that should not be hidden. So you will want to find those and then un soften them.

Also, try adding segmentation to the arc. That could help. Or line up your text slightly differently with the straight line. Those kinds of things can help, when you are able to do them. Its painful though when you are working on something that does not allow you to move the geometry as it must line up with something and the bending is just not working right.

Like I always warn, this script is great, but its not perfect and its full of little glitches. So it as best you can. And it might require a bit of clean up afterwards. Good luck,

Chris

Chris Fullmer

OH also, I meant to add that text is often difficult to bend because its mesh is not as clean as it looks. You might have some better luck also if you select all the geometry of the text, right click and choose "explode curve". That might help the bending.

Chris

Edwardo

Great Plugin Chris!

I do have one question: is there anyway for me to take a finite length of material and bend it on a curve without stretching it?

For example: I really want to use your plugin to build this plexiglass wall. The Plexiglass is 36' long and 8' tall when flat. I want to know what it would look like if I bent it on different radii.

I drew some various arcs, and the shape bender does indeed bend my plexiglass wall to match the arc ... but it stretches it out to make it fit. Is there anyway I can use your plugin to take my plexiglass wall and match it to that arc without stretching it?

Thanks very much Chris