Follow-me tool along split path?
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Hi guys, I have what will hopefully be a simple problem that is causing me a big headache.
I need a pipe or follow-me style operation to create a cylindrical tube defined by some lines. Ive been trying to look for ‘follow me’ rubies that let you split the line rather than use a linear path, but to no avail. I've tried searching here, but I'm rubbish and don't really know how to simply describe the search terms.
The critical thing for me is that the pipes intersect properly at the corners. I’m not too fussed at the moment if the corner is smoothed or folded, but the option would be great.
Any help from you stalwarts of the community would be very very appreciated!
Cheers
Bob
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@unknownuser said:
Something like that ?
[attachment=0:31ijmv7j]<!-- ia0 -->roundcube.jpg<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:31ijmv7j]
That's beautiful and if there is a plug in that can do that I'm certain I could find a use for it in the future! But for now my aspirations are rather more modest, as can be seen on the post above (it needed to be approved so it took a while to appear) It's the clean intersection of three (or maybe more) lines at one point.
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Something like that ? (ah damned you post your precision image so a new solution must be found!
(I have used the Quick Lathe by Trogluddite for the arc circle)
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Try welding 2 lines then running Lines2Tubes this will form a tube around a bend.
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So a new solution must be found
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Trying your suggestion now Rich (with weld.rb?) just takes ages for SK to re-open on our company network. Will report back.
I currently use one called 'pipe along path' which is also very good as a follow-me tool.
(and thanks again for the help guys!)
EDIT:
Weld.rb seems to be a bit touchy with acute angles (perhaps my modelling issue!) so isn't a great help in this instance.
However, I can still use 'pipe along path' in two operations to achieve the same effect. It's fine as a stop-gap though. Still, if anyone knows another tool that can solve it, my tree columns will forever be in your debt!
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Thanks so much for the swift reply, Rich!
I've just installed that plugin and although it's a very useful but not quite what I need.
I apologise if my explaination before was a bit vague (actually lazy because I should have drawn it!)
What I meant by not minding about the intersection was its style as demonstrated in the attached image - if anyone knows a plug-in that can do it, that would be exceptional!
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In Blender it is a one step operation but not in SketchUp I'm afraid.
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Why not fill that : Internal and external ?
Draw the 3 families of arc circle between the 3 arc blues circles!
You will obtain a good aproximation
The Sand box give a no symetric result
Use the Curvy loft by Fredo6 seems don't works : it's make some flat result
Maybe Soap skinBuble can also works
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[screenr:puavc98b]FZWH[/screenr:puavc98b]
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...then you smash it
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One thing to note, if you create complex geometry, whether by plugin or manually, and it is repetitive you tend to over stretch the file size quickly.
Try looking at you construction from a real world view and see how you can break it down into reusable components. One straight pipe with an angle curved corner can be flipped around in various directions to form many jointed corners. This allows you to work with easily editable sections and keeps you file size down.To look at it a simple way, using line to tube on 100 lines is easy but it uses resources, whereas those same 100 lines as component copies are tiny file size, easily modified automatically or easily made unique. It pays to plan ahead sometimes.
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Cool for the Blendy animation!
In fact you can make the same inside Sketchup!
Just use Artisan or Subdivide and smooth
Then Zorro 2 for cut your object- Close Holes
and at the end
SketchyPhysics!
And in 2D physic simulation try Algodoo! (its free for pc & MAc , 5 $ for an ipad)
You input your objects from sketchup by an PNG image with a transparent background !You can play with these ones!
- Close Holes
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Soap Skin and Bubble gives a very cool result!
You have just to draw the 2 triangles External and internal as Shown in my post above!
Not a big deal
In fact for each just one side of the triangle that you copy rotate by 90°!External : Division 30
Internal division 20
Pressure 150
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@unknownuser said:
Algodoo! (its free for pc & MAc , 5 $ for an ipad)
Algodoo for an ipad is also free now
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More rustic than mine!
But maybe the target!
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Hi Bob,
I may be misunderstanding and it is far from a simple "one-click operation",
but... is this what you want to do?
EDIT: "each tube is a group" should be an option of Lines2Tubes plugin.
EDIT2: You don't have to start with a wireframe... could (or should?) be a simple cube.
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I apologise for going AWOL, i posted this in work (while looking for the solution) and then went and took an extended weekend.
Anyway, you guys are incredible - Pilou, your method is perfect for a gentle column angle and Takesh h, your method of using the intersect curve from Round Corners.rb will prove perfect for more acute angles and Box, your advice about trying to take a component and re-use is well heeded. Your collective enthusiasm to help us mere mortals is inspiring.
I admit I was hoping for a quick fix plug-in (since I have about 25 unique geometry columns to model) but both your steps are very clear and reproducible so shouldn’t take too much time… as long as the scheme doesn’t keep changing like it did today
Oh, and Rich O Brien, the Blender demo makes me wish we used something more advanced than SK in my office.
Cheers all!
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