[Plugin] Simple Loft alpha 0.1b -- UPDATED May-15-09

EscapeArtist

Hey Chris, I just started having some trouble with this plugin. Maybe you can decipher what I'm doing wrong; I know the plugin works so it must be something that I'm doing. Here's the console output:


Error; #<NoMethodError; undefined method `all_connected' for nil;NilClass>
L;/Modeling/Sketchup Google/Plugins/clf_simple_loft/clf_simple_loft.rb;61;in `onLButtonUp'
L;/Modeling/Sketchup Google/Plugins/clf_simple_loft/clf_simple_loft.rb;186
Error; #<ArgumentError; Cannot convert argument to Sketchup;;Point3d>
L;/Modeling/Sketchup Google/Plugins/clf_simple_loft/clf_simple_loft.rb;189;in `add_cpoint'
L;/Modeling/Sketchup Google/Plugins/clf_simple_loft/clf_simple_loft.rb;189;in `end_handles'
L;/Modeling/Sketchup Google/Plugins/clf_simple_loft/clf_simple_loft.rb;186;in `each_index'
L;/Modeling/Sketchup Google/Plugins/clf_simple_loft/clf_simple_loft.rb;186;in `end_handles'
L;/Modeling/Sketchup Google/Plugins/clf_simple_loft/clf_simple_loft.rb;94;in `onReturn'
L;/Modeling/Sketchup Google/Plugins/clf_simple_loft/clf_simple_loft.rb;61

I'm applying the plugin to 3 bezier curves, the plugin generates construction points and then stops.

TIG

EscapeArtist

...onLButtonUp...
line=60  best = ph.best_picked
line=61  all_best = best.all_connected
line=62  @shapes_edges << best.all_connected

It's failing to find anything you have selected when you release the mouse-button... Are you picking anything ? It falls over since 'best' = 'nil' and nil can't have connected edges...
Chris: before 'all_best = ' you could test for 'best' and re-run the main functions if it's nil, e.g.

if not best
  ### run me again ###
  return nil
end#if

...

EscapeArtist

Yep, absolutely picking something. I know the plugin works because I drew two other curves and tested it, the loft worked just fine; so it must be a problem with the curve set I was initially using. Maybe it doesn't work on curves that were part of a face. I had to draw faces to get the curves to lay flat on specific axes and then deleted the faces, leaving the curves behind. I'm probably missing knowledge about a change that happens to edges that were part of a face and how it affects the plugin.

edit:

Solved:

That was the problem, edges/curves that were part of a face will not loft. I worked around the problem by grouping the planes, exiting the group, and then drawing the curves on the faces. The lines went where I wanted and the integrity of the curve was preserved in order for loft to work.

publied

Chris,
a smart substitute of the old curve stitcher! they spare my time. thank you!

Chris Fullmer

@unknownuser said:

No possibility to automate the clicks of curves?
the 10 curves are made with the Grow plug by Tig

So I've been thinking about this, and what if I made it so that holding down the mouse button (click and drag) would add lines in the order you cross over them. You can let go and then re-click and drag to add more splines to the selection set. I think that would do the trick. Then just hit enter once you've selected all the splines you want to use.

Would that be a good solution?

Chris

pilou

Marvelous
The only problem for you is the order of the curves
image of the original post

Chris Fullmer

@chris fullmer said:

what if I made it so that holding down the mouse button (click and drag) would add lines in the order you cross over them.

No, the order of the curves becomes the users problem to figure out. It will all depend on how you click and drag over the splines.

Chris

Gaieus

So Chris you got to the point to quote yourself. I've only seen this from elderly politicians so far.

Chris Fullmer

I wasn't quoting myself, I was re-explaining myself

Daniel S

Each spline must have the same amount of segments and with Fredo´s Bezier plugin it´s easy to create this (has an option for Precision: total number of segments of the generated curve).
I just try this option with Loft alpha and:

It´s great combination of plugins.

Daniel S

Chris Fullmer

Wow, that's pretty impressive! I do have a working version I'm testing that works with splines with different segment counts, but it won't be released for a while I'm sure. So thanks for posting that great work-around!

That's a pretty cool model too!

Chris

Marian

pilou

It's the same with Grow plug's TIG above as you copy move Size Transfom the same curve before the Loft Chris plug

pilou

So seems perfect!
ps Auto reference can't be a bad thing
By me Myself and I
And sorry for not seen with more attention your previous explanation!
I was just dazzled that you restart your crazzy plug!

Sergio Morera

Dear Chris, thank you very much for another wonderful utility. All your hard work is much appreciated by the sketchup community. The talent and commitment of people like you is what makes sketchup a decent modelling application. My respects!!!

accabrera

This is amazing! thanks !

JClements

Daniel, you should create a dozen or so sets of "face profiles" (ie., adult male, adult female, baby, skinny face, fat face, etc.). Combine that with human head face photos (different colored hair, facial hair, makeup, different skin tones..) which then could be projected or mapped onto a lofted surface by the user or maybe done via another script. The user could mix and match. Heck, do the same for torsos.

You and Chris could market this as "Doll Builder". Perhaps gamers would buy it in droves.

JClements

Nice job, Chris!

Using Fred0's Polyline Segmentorit is a snap to make all the curve's have the same number of segments. [HINT: a collaboration ...]

Now if there was a way to handle closed curves... ??
In the attached I deleted one segment in each curve, then lofted. Since each curve is planar, maybe after the loft is applied, their-open ends could be "auto-stitched" and then smoothed with the initial lofted-surface?

In this example the top-most contour's surface can't be closed. Anyway to make a "dome" from it by selecting it and expressing the "slope/bulge" of the dome by entering the number of segments?

Just some ideas to mull over.

Regards, John

_Simple Loft and Fred06.skp

gilles

Hi Chris, I work on a Mac when I start SU6 I can read this
@unknownuser said:

undefined method select_tool' for nil:NilClassError Loading File clf_simple_loft_loader.rb undefined method select_tool' for nil:NilClass
, and your plugin does not appears.
I have some other of your plugins working well, what could be wrong?

Chris Fullmer

Hi Gilles, I am not sure what the problem is. But the first thing that normally goes wrong is:

All the "splines" you use need to have the same segment count. So if the first has 10 segments, all the others also need 10. And so on. I realize its a pain, sorry. I have a fix in the works, but I have been unable to get it ready to post.

Also, the edges selected must not be connected to any faces.

If none of that works, you could also upload the model that you are trying to use it on and I'll look at it to see if I can see what is wrong. Thanks for trying it out!

Chris