[Plugin] WireTool (Catenary) (1.4.1) – updated 06.03.2013
-
I notice that you specify a length you always got a approximation, not the desired length.
-
That has two reasons: SketchUp has no curves and like arcs, the length of these catenary curves isn't the sum of the segments.
The other reason is that the numerical algorithm needs many many more iterations to reduce the bulge if the curve is almost straight (100% should theoretically give a straight line). I'm working on improving this. -
Good work by the way, a useful one.
-
Just to give you an idea: I increased the number of iterations (at every mouse move) from 10 to 150 and the overlength is still half of what it was before (and 150 iterations is far too much). But at least I know which part to optimize.
-
@aerilius said:
Minor update (1.4.0):- added icons and cursor
I don't see "draw wires" in my toolbar list
-
-
I've uploaded a new version 1.4.1 improving the 100% curve length issue (curve was too long).
The previous version didn't mention any toolbar (only icon image), though as it seems nobody else has a problem with one-button toolbars I added one
. I hope it doesn't increase the toolbar mess. -
Thanks Aerilius!!
I have saw that you have included the line for the Toolbar and spanish language, thanks again. -
Thank you very much for this plugin.
-
Thanks very much for this. It produces a really lovely result for drawing thin arches.
I noticed a small problem when I move the endpoints of an existing catenary around - gravity seems to veer away at an peculiar angle. All plan-plane moves seem to work just fine though. -
Hi,
the resulting curve is just SketchUp geometry, and does not expose physical behavior of a wire. When moving one end point of an arc, it shows normal SketchUp behavior (ie. SketchUp tries to squeeze or stretch the arc to fit to both end points).
But a wire that really (physically) moves with attached objects would be a cool feature. The plugin would need observers to watch all the time on all these arcs, and recalculate an arc once an endpoint is changed. -
I cannot get the plugin to work with specific inputs. It creates a the same curve no matter what I enter.
Can you help?
-
Never mind, I figured it out. You have to press Enter after entering the distance, etc.
-
Nice Plugin Aerilius , very usefull. Thanks a lot
-
Very nice and useful !
One question: shouldn't be better suited under DRAW menu, instead of Extensions?
There is a uncanny tendency to put the plugins under Tools or Extensions menus... leaving all others with too little entries, even if the plugin in cause should better fit in other menu.Cheers.
-
Nothing is preventing you from editing the .rb file and changing it to appear in the draw menu.
-
@dave r said:
Nothing is preventing you from editing the .rb file and changing it to appear in the draw menu.
Unless the author comes with a update at one point and the old (modified) script is replaced... that was my point. I already edited several of the plugins I use.
-
Hi,
I'm confused.
I can see this plugin had an update recently [Version Updated: 2021-04-12 09:26:24]
but it's been version 1.4.1 since 2013. Why was it updated now while it's still the same version and no changes were introduced? -
The current version is v1.4.1
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=ae_WireTool
Perhaps the author [ae] finally decided to re-sign it to suit the newer SketchUp versions, but the code was otherwise unchanged ?
Advertisement