Is there pluging for expanding/making face along line/edges?

sdmitch

I've made quick visual example of what I'm looking for. Doing lot of robotic elements, it's kinda slow to make additional lines manually. I'm imagining plugin could allow to select lines/edges, then drag/put width number, expand it and delete old line/edges, just like fredo6's jointpushpull plugin does, except it's 2D lines/edges.

The closest thing I have found is ThomThom's CityGen-StreetGen

http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180%26amp;t=19492
and
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=180%26amp;t=19493

street gen.gif

Dave R

Why not change the setup slightly and use TIG's Smart Offset?

JQL

Tig's offset its almost there Dave, but it can't work on an edge alone...

Dave R

But it can get the requested job done.

My apologies for suggesting it.

JQL

@dave r said:

My apologies for suggesting it.

LOL! Shame on you!

pilou

Multiple face scale Offset by by Aerilius?

Pixero

Not exactly the same but Thomthoms edgetools has a tool called: "Split faces into multiple pieces".
With it you can select an edge and drag to the side and it will adopt to fit the length.
(Maybe a bad explanation.) You better try it.

TIG

@jql said:

Tig's offset its almost there Dave, but it can't work on an edge alone...
If you want to offset edges which have no associated faces, then how do 'we' know the plane onto which the offset new-edge is to be positioned ?
I know it could be on the 'ground-plane' but that is not that useful...
At least my tool offsets onto the related face.
If the edges which are to be offset are coplanar why not create a face and use that for the offset edges, you can always delete the faces afterwards...

pbacot

I think the use is edges in a face. In particular, edges with two coplanar faces.

JQL

@tig said:

@jql said:

Tig's offset its almost there Dave, but it can't work on an edge alone...
If you want to offset edges which have no associated faces, then how do 'we' know the plane onto which the offset new-edge is to be positioned ?
I know it could be on the 'ground-plane' but that is not that useful...
At least my tool offsets onto the related face.
If the edges which are to be offset are coplanar why not create a face and use that for the offset edges, you can always delete the faces afterwards...

You mean it should work on an edge alone if it is associated with a face? I should doublecheck it!

I use edgetools split edges most of the time for this sort of stuff (and other) as Pixero suggested. Is your offset capable of expanding edges to the end of the associated face too?

How can I've missed those features!?

I should triplecheck it!

namelessone

Wow, thanks for suggestions! I've tested them and unfortunately haven't found one that makes the desired result in simple, elegant manner The best what I've found of all suggestions, was TIG's smart offset, but it had 2 problems. 1. Doesn't erase old edges. If you're creating a complex pattern of 'ribs', selecting edges may feel cumbersome. I guess plugins dedicated for selecting edges could help there, but it that would be a little overkill. 2. If you draw circles (for axis hinge, example), the old edge interferences with offseted circle, so you have to erase/smooth/weld to achieve correct result after pushpulling pattern 3. You have to put offset length number manually, requires experimenting/measuring to get right proportions, which sometimes isn't easy if scales of pattern isn't obvious (tldr, I'd love to see visual adjustment like in fredo6' joinpushpull plugin).

Nonetheless, smart offset is super handy for robotic modelling, I've had a lot of cases where I had to offset weird shapes and I had to clean/correct the result of sketchup's default offset tool Not anymore!

About how 'new' plugin could work there, I've prepared graphic how I imagine the plugin progress

PS Does anyone know how this kind of structure is called? The flat metal surface strengthened by outer edges and 'ribs' inside? Check the image I've attached, you can see these structures in upper part of model

pilou

@unknownuser said:

Is your offset capable of expanding edges to the end of the associated face too?

Can you put an image of this ?

JQL

@pilou said:

@unknownuser said:

Is your offset capable of expanding edges to the end of the associated face too?

Can you put an image of this ?

Edgetools split face...

pilou

This sort of things ?

JQL

That sort of things. Thanks Pilou, my gif making abilities were ruined with this 4k monitor.

pbacot

Edge tools split face is great but what OP is asking for is double offsets and removal of the original edges, also for working on curves which split face can't help with much. The second part--removal of original edge--is not too slow manually.

This action seems so common. In making facades, doors, windows cabinets, paneling etc. where all is needed is a "reveal" or joint or, in this case a ridge. So easy to lay out the defining edges, next step is to give those edges "width" for 3d use.

I'd leave out the perimeter action as that seems a different action.

The last example can be achieved by smart offset. I think it is more difficult to just do the interior edges.

So for now smart offset for multiple edges and split faces for single edges...