Is this even possible using just one plugin???
-
I've been working on a project that uses a 'lot' of crown molding. In my model, I'd like to be able to cut to size and separate crown moldings using as few processing steps as possible.
The Zoro2 plugin 'almost' meets my needs except that when you cut through a single solid group, the result isn't two separate solid groups. As shown in my illustration, I have to go through a lot of manipulations to get to what I need.
Now, the Trim_to_plane plugin achieves 'exactly the result I want i.e., two separate solid groups (with all the faces), but I have found no way to use it on a shape like a crown molding.
I think what I need is a plugin that produces the same results as a compound miter saw in the physical world.
Question: Is anyone aware of a plugin (free or paid) that can do what I want (shown in bottom half of illustration) in as many (or fewer) steps?
-
You forgot your illustration! And this doesn't belong in the "Organic Modeling" forum, so I'm moving it to plugins since it seems to mostly be a questions about finding the right plugin.
-
Hi Chris,
I've attached an illustration for you. I wasn't certain where to post since the 'context' of my inquiry is organic modeling, but also about what tool to use for a particular organic modeling situation.
Warm regards
Bob
-
Since you are requesting... in the scenario "what I really want" why explode the solid group? The plugin should work on the group without exploding and either create two components in context or two components inside the group.
-
Peter,
I inadvertently used the wrong terminology: what I meant by 'explode' was....to first put the solid group (or component)in edit mode, then slice it with a line or curve.
I hope I clarified this a bit.
Thanks for catching that
Bob
-
I thought I'd check it out. I have not tried the wonderful TIG-split_to_plane tool before. Just haven't taken the time. I would probably adjust my work to utilize these tools more--if maintaining solids weren't such a chore --despite the plugin developers' fixes to the native tools.
I don't see what is desired in your illustration that is not achieved in TIG-Split_to_Plane. (Unless it is cutting with a curve). It satisfies the compound miter saw. I just position a little rectangle (does not need to encompass or even touch the solid) that is the plane I want to cut on. I might move it to a known measurement point on the solid. Use clicks on the rectangle for the three points defining the plane.
Here is an image after moving the right piece away.
-
Also looking at your top post... I wouldn't be using this for crown molding anyway. I would use the follow me or profile builder to run molding. Not being a woodworker (well I do stuff at home) I wouldn't care to do any more with it if the room looked right.
But I sense the request is as much about working with solids as a particular project.
-
Peter,
Well it seems that I didn't 'fully' understand how to use TIG's split-to-plane plugin. My bad.
I created a square as you suggested, oriented it to the plane I needed cut, placed the square (aka plane) where I wanted the cut to occur and ran TIG's split-to-plane plugin and followed the instructions. It did do the job, so a big shout-out to TIG
Although I'm still using more steps than I would 'ideally' like to make, I'm now using fewer steps than before. This is important because when your working with hundreds of moldings in a design, those saved steps add up to a lot.
Typically, when cutting cove moldings (in the physical world), I would mount a length of molding in a jig such that it would position the molding at 45 -degrees to the fence of the saw (simulating the angle it would be if I mounted the the same piece against the ceiling and adjoining wall). I would then set the saw blade to cut at some predefined point along the piece and make a cut at 45 degrees -- resulting in a compound miter cut. I thought I could duplicate this same workflow in Sketchup. I wanted to first create the cove molding as a solid group, orienting it at 45-degrees like it was in a jig then, while viewing from the top, slice through it at whatever point (or angle) I wanted.
Now, TIG's split-to-plane plugin will be my tool of choice 'until' someone comes up with a solution that will allow me slice through a solid group/component from above using only a single line(like the Zoro2 plugin) resulting two solid groups/components (as produced by TIG's split-to-plane plugin).
Again, I truly appreciate your time and effort in helping me become a better modeler.
Warm regards
Bob
-
Peter,
RE:"But I sense the request is as much about working with solids as a particular project". Indeed, you are correct
Bob
-
sketchup could use a WireCut tool as found in rhino (whose 'solids' are similar to SU solids)
on a basic level, it's like zorro except it will split one solid group into two solid groups..
(other wirecut options include depth of cut, which half to delete, keep both halves, probably other things that I'm not thinking of right now.. but even the no frills version would be good in sketchup)
-
@unknownuser said:
sketchup could use a WireCut tool as found in rhino (whose 'solids' are similar to SU solids)
on a basic level, it's like zorro except it will split one solid group into two solid groups..
(other wirecut options include depth of cut, which half to delete, keep both halves, probably other things that I'm not thinking of right now.. but even the no frills version would be good in sketchup)
Perhaps try my two solid-tools additions - 'Cut_to_plane' [splits it and keeps one part to one side of plane [3pt-pick determines plane's normal and what is kept]] and 'Split_to_plane' [splits it into two parts at a plane, from 3pt-pick] ? Their new group[s] keep[s] the original's materials, layers, naming etc...
-
With TIG's tool, you set instead a face. Rotate on one axis then the second. It's pretty similar to having a dialog and more hands-on as you set the blade where you want it. Even with a miter saw I am constantly checking "right-hand?... or is it left-hand?", heh.
Perhaps I don't understand the overhead wire cutting, but once you go beyond vertical cuts it seems it's a lot easier to manipulate a face than your camera view.
I like most using Profile Builder and Dave's component building method after, if you desire to get pieces for the building take off. There is one big drawback--the miters do not receive an edge on horizontal surfaces, so Zorro2 steps in.
-
@tig said:
Perhaps try my two solid-tools additions - 'Cut_to_plane' [splits it and keeps one part to one side of plane [3pt-pick determines plane's normal and what is kept]] and 'Split_to_plane' [splits it into two parts at a plane, from 3pt-pick] ? Their new group[s] keep[s] the original's materials, layers, naming etc...
[eDit]- all of the following RE: Split_to_plane.. i'll try Cut a little later..
uh.. wow.. missed that one
very nice TIG! that's exactly what i was thinking of in my earlier post..
(actually, i like the way you did it better than what i was thinking of )
@bsintzel said:
Upon second review, I found it to be satisfactory in that I didn't have to create a separate 'cutting' plane, then a 3pt-pick.
right.. any 3 of these orange dots will define the plane you need.. (and that's not even counting the vertices of the curved section..
@bsintzel said:
I just wish that, like cutting a cove molding with a compound miter saw, I could 'set' the angle and normal of the cut 'before cutting, I'd have it all in one plugin.
maybe think that through a bit more.. when using a compound miter saw, setting the angles are a process.. albeit not a hard or complicated process but definitely more work than making the cut.. in sketchup, the angle knobs/dials/guides etc are already there in the vanilla tools.. i don't really see what TIG could add to this plugin which would make the cut any faster..
(in fact, i think adding more to the tool would clutter it up and possibly slow down the process.. especially if dialog boxes and what not start popping up when all you want is the 3pt click) -
@pbacot said:
Also looking at your top post... I wouldn't be using this for crown molding anyway. I would use the follow me or profile builder to run molding.
you would still use follow me in this scenario.. then cut it into individual pieces using TIG's plugin..
the extrusion will also give you all the layout points needed to make the cut (or-- that example img i posted up there ^ was the red profile follow-me'd along a line with a 45º kink.) -
@unknownuser said:
maybe think that through a bit more.. when using a compound miter saw, setting the angles are a process.. albeit not a hard or complicated process but definitely more work than making the cut.. in sketchup, the angle knobs/dials/guides etc are already there in the vanilla tools.. i don't really see what TIG could add to this plugin which would make the cut any faster..
(in fact, i think adding more to the tool would clutter it up and possibly slow down the process.. especially if dialog boxes and what not start popping up when all you want is the 3pt click)ok.. so a faster way for this to work would be.. (ha!)
the plugin would work exactly like follow-me except anytime the line kinks, the extrusion is split & grouped separately.. if parts of the line are welded then the split/group doesn't happen (similar to what follow-me does with hard_or_soft lines depending on if the path is a SUcurve or collection of segments)
[EdiT]- but this is an entirely different thing than the Split_to_plane.. that one should stay as is
-
@bsintzel said:
Hi Jeff,
I think that TIG's cut-to-plane will work for me. As Peter said,"you set instead a face. Rotate on one axis then the second" is pretty much what I'd do on a miter saw. Thank you all for your input.
Warm regards
Bob
right..that's definitely one way to use it (and how i foresee myself using it with my own stuff).. just seems in the case of molding, it would be better to extrude as one then cut it up with split_to_plane.. no need to move/rotate a separate plane around because key intersections have already been made..
(but then again, i'm just assuming what you're trying to accomplish so this idea might not be so good in your scenario.. ) -
Hi Jeff,
RE:"i don't really see what TIG could add to this plugin which would make the cut any faster..
(in fact, i think adding more to the tool would clutter it up and possibly slow down the process.. especially if dialog boxes and what not start popping up when all you want is the 3pt click)"I typically use the follow-me tool to place crown moldings on my models. It works very well except that when I want to move one section of the molding (for illustration purposes), I could not do so easily i.e., there was just one solid. After a few messages back and forth with TIG, he came up with an elegant solution...a hot-wire-like mod to his split_to_plane plugin. It now allows me to cut out a section from the solid by simply drawing a construction line across the solid group, pick two points along the cutting line on either side of the solid group then hit the 'enter' key. It's simple, fast and works just like a miter saw in real life. I think any woodworker (like myself) will want this new mod
Bob
-
TIG,
Well, I had another look at your split-to-plane plugin. Upon second review, I found it to be satisfactory in that I didn't have to create a separate 'cutting' plane, then a 3pt-pick. The fact that the 3pt-pick determines plane's normal, as well as the placement of the cut makes it quite usable...so expect payment.
I just wish that, like cutting a cove molding with a compound miter saw, I could 'set' the angle and normal of the cut 'before cutting, I'd have it all in one plugin.
warm regards
Bob
-
Hi Jeff,
I think that TIG's split-to-plane will work for me. As Peter said,"you set instead a face. Rotate on one axis then the second" is pretty much what I'd do on a miter saw. Thank you all for your input.
Warm regards
Bob
-
@bsintzel said:
. I think any woodworker (like myself) will want this new mod
yeah, i saw that. good stuff!
Advertisement