[Plugin] extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb

TIG

If there are a lot of edges it might take a while to process the mesh. You only need to group the two sets of edges/curves - usually no need to explode them...
Retry with a modest number of edges in the two sets and see what happens: also please keep the Ruby Console open and see if there are any error messages...

MarkEMark

I don't know if this is the right plugin for what I am trying to d, but it looks like what I need. However, I am having trouble making it work. I am trying to help a local wood worker that has a CNC router. They need to create a drawer top that have concave pockets on 3 sections of the face. I am trying to model this in SU and am looking for a plugin that will allow this. Seeing the attached file will make clear what I am trying to describe.

I can't seem to get this plugin to work on this model, but I have gotten it to work on random lines I draw in space to test it. Not sure what I am doing wrong.

The pockets I wish to make on the drawer face are simple curves on the x and y sides. Any help would be appreciated, including suggestions for other plugins that would work for this type of operation.

Thanks!!

drawer top.skp

TIG

You need to use ExtrudeEdgesByRails - look on this forum for it http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?p=201286#p201286 - an updated version will be out shortly but it should still do what you want...
Make the three 'scallops' and then join it all back together, smoothed etc. The make a straight line into a curve divide it in half, weld as curve - erase coplanar edges will remove the division later...drawer top[EEbyR].skp

MarkEMark

AH! I found the 'rails' version just after posting, and did the same thing! It worked well.

Thank you so much for your reply, and your PLUGINS!! Many thanks. I eagerly await the update of rails!

Mark

hadytan

Hello...
I just want to ask my problem using your extrudeEdgeByEdge.rb every time i start my sketchup.
thanks..
Hady

Error Loading File extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:1: syntax error
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
^
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:2: syntax error
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" dir="ltr" lang="en-gb" xml:lang="en-gb">
^
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:2: syntax error
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" dir="ltr" lang="en-gb" xml:lang="en-gb">

hadytan

@tig said:

EDIT: Versions...
1.1 20090625
Speed improvements - face making time ~halved,
typename >> kind_of?, triangulation glitch trapped
and orientation improved.
1.2 20090625
Orientation speed optimised.
Glitch on groups erase fixed.
1.3 20090626
Edges not facing in convoluted shapes trapped.
1.4 20090707
Triangulation improved. Rare intersect glitch fixed.
1.5 20090708
Zooms to show new group.
1.6 20090708
Zoom to new group fixed for large models.
1.7 20090709 Rare coplanar edge erasure errors trapped:
0.999999 made 0.99999999 !!!
1.8 20090808 Orienting and Triangulation speeds improved.
This is extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb - it does what its name implies...

[attachment=2:kmnbiq7p]ExtrudeEdgesByEdgesExample.png[/attachment:kmnbiq7p][attachment=1:kmnbiq7p]ExtrudeEdgesByEdgesExamples.skp[/attachment:kmnbiq7p][attachment=2:kmnbiq7p]ExtrudeEdgesByEdgesExample.png[/attachment:kmnbiq7p]

Hello...
I just want to ask my problem using your extrudeEdgeByEdge.rb every time i start my sketchup.
thanks..
Hady

Error Loading File extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:1: syntax error
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
^
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:2: syntax error
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" dir="ltr" lang="en-gb" xml:lang="en-gb">
^
C:/Program Files/Google/Google SketchUp 7/Plugins/extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb:2: syntax error
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" dir="ltr" lang="en-gb" xml:lang="en-gb">

^

TIG

The messages are something of a mystery. It looks like the file isn't in plain text. Have you edited it or downloaded it is a strange way ? Download it again, directly - without any editing and try again.
Incidentally, I recommend you try ExtrudeEdgesByRails.rb instead - this is more powerful in may ways and allows a profile and one OR two 'rails' - for one pick a rail curve twice...

MarkEMark

Hey all:

I posted my first attempt at this a couple of days ago, but in modeling the drawer more accurately I have found a problem that I might not be able to work around.

I have tried all I know to do and am stumped. I am modeling a drawer for a friend of mine. We plan to export this as an STL file and use it to make a copy or two of the drawer front to replace ones that were damaged.

I am attaching the most current model I have been working on. To recap the project, the drawer front is contoured on the side and the x and the y axis, and is cupped into the face about .30 inches to create a pocket. The edges of the face is routed in a bit to create a raised face .15 inches high (you can see this on the model on the short sides of the drawer). This lipped edge runs the parameter of the drawer face .375 on the sides, and .25 on the top edge and .5 on the bottom edge.

This lip creates a raised face on the drawer face that is .15 inches high.

Now, on the real drawer, all of this raised portion is cupped in .30 inches all the way across the drawer face. Actually, the raised portion is created AFTER all the cupping is made on the drawer, and THEN the routed edges are made, but I am not sure how to do a pushed face into an already cupped drawer face after applying the Extrude by Rails plug in.

My dilemma: If I add the raised portion of the drawer first (as attached), I can't extrude the sides properly. If I ignore these routed edges, how do I add them after I do the extrude? The face push tool doesn't work on a rounded surface.

The attached drawing might make the above more clear.

I think I am limited by the program, or the lack of another plug in to do this.

I just need someone with all of your experience to tell me to give up so I can know I have stumped the program!

Drawer Top New.skp

jeff hammond

make the surface first using TIG's ruby.. the resulting surface will be a group.. using , move the surface an easy to remember amount above the drawer (say 30")...

now, back on the drawer, make your router cut.. when the rabbet is finished, move the surface back down 30" (or whatever amt. you moved it up.) select all the surfaces then right click and go to 'intersect'->intersect with model..

clean up the leftovers..

[edit] also, you should download this ruby:
http://www.smustard.com/script/Weld

it's called weld and what it does is allow you to join all the rail's individual segments into a single line.. select all the segments you want to join, run weld, then you'll be able to click anywhere on that line and the whole thing will be selected..

jeff hammond

[fwiw, you probably should've started a separate thread for this so the actual plugin thread doesn't get cluttered/off-topic but since we're already here....]

a trick i use sometimes that may work better for you than the method i described above is using the followme tool..

push/pull wont carve into that cupped surface but you can force it to.

make the surface first (and explode the group)
draw a line the amount you want the rabbet to go in.
select the line, choose the tool, then click on the rabbet profile.
you'll need to do some clean up, make faces, and intersect but it does work out pretty quick..
here's an example video using a dished surface.

[flash=640,385:3atsbkfp]http://www.youtube.com/v/uL9FU9_gcjI&hl=en_US&fs=1&[/flash:3atsbkfp]

pilou

It's always a delight to see your animations!

MarkEMark

WOW Jeff! Thanks!

I will do what you suggest. Thanks so much.

I am rather new to this board, and didn't realize this should have been a separate topic, so thanks for the heads up. Next time I'll know. I was thinking all things related to the 'Rails' plug in would be in the same thread, but I see your point and will post accordingly next time.

Again, many thanks. Oh, and that video is worth a thousand words!

Mark

pilou

@unknownuser said:

Oh, and that video is worth a thousand words!

Always the case!

tamfore

is there any links to text files or pdf that gives a description or instructions on how to use this plugin?

Thanks
Tamfore

thomthom

@tamfore said:

is there any links to text files or pdf that gives a description or instructions on how to use this plugin?

Thanks
Tamfore

Select two Curves and apply Extrude By Edges.

To convert a set of edges to a Curve - use Weld: http://www.smustard.com/script/Weld

TIG

They don't need to be 'curves' - they must be two pre-selected groups that each contain some edges [which of course might be curves BUT they can be unconnected edges too - this is unlike it's brother 'EEbyRails' which needs curves to be selected once the tool is activated]...
There are as usual detailed instructions at the start of these scripts - open in NotePad.exe and read them...

daemawang69

just wonderful

tamfore

thank you!!! I will go look at those detail instructions!!!

tamfore

@tig said:

There are as usual detailed instructions at the start of these scripts - open in NotePad.exe and read them...

I could not find what you are referring to when speaking of Detailed instructions at the start of these scripts and open in NotePad.exe Confused with that... I am alittle new to plugins and do not understand that?

TIG

@tamfore said:

@tig said:

There are as usual detailed instructions at the start of these scripts - open in NotePad.exe and read them...

I could not find what you are referring to when speaking of Detailed instructions at the start of these scripts and open in NotePad.exe Confused with that... I am a little new to plugins and do not understand that?

OK - here's step by step guide...
Almost all scripts are .rb files and whilst a few are encrypted most are readily 'readable'.
They are just a plain-text files with an alternative suffix so that SUp knows to load them on startup.
I am assuming you are v7 on a Vista PC, but if it's v6, XP or a Mac then it'll still be pretty similar...
Open the '..\Sketchup 7\Plugins' folder and find the script you want to 'read' - in this case it's called extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb.
Select its icon, right-click the mouse and pick 'Open with' in the context-menu [or something equivalent].
If the application 'Notepad' is not listed as an option then pick 'Choose Default Program...' and find 'Notepad.exe' [typically it's located in the 'C:\Windows\System32' folder].
Either way you'll now be able to set 'Notepad' as the default program to always open .rb files - don't worry about doing this as it will not affect Sketchup's ability to load and run these scripts - it just means that in future when you double-click on a file ending with .rb it'll open in 'Notepad' so you can read it.
Note that 'Notepad.exe' is the built-in plain-text editor in Windows - there other similar suitable applications like 'Notepad++' [which is what I use] - it must be a 'plain-text-editor', BUT do not use word-processors like 'Write' or 'Word' as they can leave hidden formating inside a file if you save it and then Sketchup will have problems loading the script !
Anyway, you should now have the script open in a Notepad window and you can read its contents.
The usual convention is that at the start of the script there's a block of text that explains the script's ownership, copyright, what the script does, how to use it, versions and changes etc etc - these are added as 'comments' to help users, and the text is preceded with a # or it's within a =begin...=end block so that Ruby ignores them when it loads the code.
Once you get to a line saying something like require 'sketchup.rb' the code is starting and your eyes should glaze over... it might be interesting occasionally to read such code though to see what the script is doing...
The other usual convention is to add any menu code at the end of the script - so to see where it'll load and what it'll be called simply scroll to the end. For 'EEbyEdges' the menu is "Plugins" and it'll be called "Extrude Edges by Edges". You can change the menu to another standard one off the top bar and also any text it has, and save the file [keep a backup copy in case you mess up] - e.g. translate it into your own language. Within the code itself there will be prompts, dialogs etc, and again that text is editable if desired - just remmeber that the text is inside "" [or ''] and respect these "" etc - e.g. UI.messagebox("Select 2 Groups of Edges !\n1st is 'profile' and 2nd 'path'.") - Note that \n is a new line character and \t is a tab character.
You'll probably just want to read the script and then close it without saving, BUT if you do change the script and save it these changes will only become apparent when Sketchup is restarted.
Happy Sketchup'ing New Year