Tax_Engineering v10.1 [plugin update]

Tax

@rv1974 said:

It was kidding -- some good example of Poe's law.

oh, got it
Yeah, made me question myself.

Why would you burn your precious time if we already have universal Profile Builder for ages?

Actually I didn't know about "Profile Builder". It looks awesome! thx.
https://profilebuilder4sketchup.com/

There is also "Maj Follow Me" witch may help for profile extrusions:
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=MAJ_FollowMe

So I'll let metallic beams aside for a while.
But there's still a long path for a traffic road maker.
The main problem I see is intersections.

I read once some pros was developing a city builder, but its uncontinued as far as I know.
So it may be a good time to take a look on it, since it would be really usefull for most users.

Feel free to give a suggestion for real

rv1974

A decent road generator would be a super tough task to implement. The closest one is 'instant road nui', google it. Do you feel you could 'push the limits' even further?

Tax

Well.. instant road nui looks like a miracle itself.
The way it intersects & cuts terrain it being a face (not solid) is a mystery to me.
https://valiarchitects.com/subscription_scripts/instant-road-nui

Even so, intersections other than 90º seems to be the real challenge.

I wouldn't say a decent well finished tool, but I'd be pretty happy with a simple face doing good junctions on high inclinations.

I'm gonna try it as soon as I find out a reasonable concept idea
No promisses.

LeoHominis

Uau, por mais ferramentas assim no SketchUp. Parabéns mesmo. Espero que a trimble um dia se toque e de uma olhada para nós da impressão 3D e modeladores de mecânica. Nem todo mundo usa o SU para Arquitetura. Obrigado

Tax

@leohominis said:

Uau, por mais ferramentas assim no SketchUp. Parabéns mesmo. Espero que a trimble um dia se toque e de uma olhada para nós da impressão 3D e modeladores de mecânica. Nem todo mundo usa o SU para Arquitetura. Obrigado

Hey Leo, thanks! I appreciate it.

On 3d printing matter, theres the "SketchUp for 3D Printing" category:
https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=388

As far as I know, SU still missing advanced 3d printing features. But its worthy to keep in tune on that, theres already some functions like import/export stl and slice. May be more.

About mechanics.. theres some great old options
mostly for bolts/screws and gears, such as Bolt maker (by Sam D Mitch):
https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=Bolt_Maker

There is much more possibilities (like hinges, pistons & structures)

I'm trying to fill some of these blind spots. SU still has a great potential.
Feel free to give some suggestions.

Thanks again

ntxdave

How about some documentation with some more detailed info about the tools and how to use them.

Tax

@ntxdave said:

How about some documentation with some more detailed info about the tools and how to use them.

Sure! I may also post a video about it.
Adding it on next updates.

Thanks.

ntxdave

@tax said:

@ntxdave said:

How about some documentation with some more detailed info about the tools and how to use them.

Sure! I may also post a video about it.
Adding it on next updates.

Thanks.

Looking forward to it. Showing some examples (more than just a picture) would be good. As I have looked at your pictures (I.e. the chain links and springs), I wondered how you did it (what did the tool do to accomplish the model).

Tax

@ntxdave said:

@tax said:

@ntxdave said:

How about some documentation with some more detailed info about the tools and how to use them.

Sure! I may also post a video about it.
Adding it on next updates.

Thanks.

Looking forward to it. Showing some examples (more than just a picture) would be good. As I have looked at your pictures (I.e. the chain links and springs), I wondered how you did it (what did the tool do to accomplish the model).

What about that?
For more complex ones I may show some examples variations.

Documentation concept idea

ntxdave

Ok, how do you make the chain follow a path (like around an object)?

Tax

Ok, not all fair advertising.

For physically realistic placed chains I used 6 other extensions:

1. Convexify (by: Fredo6): https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=61145
2. Curvizard (by: Fredo6): https://sketchucation.com/plugin/804-curvizard
3. BezierSpline (by: Fredo6): https://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=13563
4. MSPhysics (by: Anton_S): http://sketchucation.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=56852
5. ClothWorks (by: Anton_S): https://sketchucation.com/plugin/2053-clothworks
6. JHS Powerbar (by: CadFather, R Wilson, SD Mitch & others): https://sketchucation.com/pluginstore?pln=JHS_Powerbar_2019
Rendering/Composing: Vray + Photoshop.

Usage:
Mariner chains:
Step 1: Make a low poly mesh with same dimensions of final model.
Step 2: Convexify for solid slicing/decomposing, in order to allow MSPhysics to work properly.
Step 3: MSPhysics for physically realistic placing.

Roller chains:
Step 1: Make a line path.
Step 2: ClothWorks for physically realistic placing. (yes, it also works with lines)
Step 3: Curvizard for path smoothing.
Step 4: BezierSpline for equalizing path edges length, matching chain link length.
Step 5: JHS Powerbar for disposing chain link component along line path.

Resum:
Currently (for chains) Tax Tools only creates links mesh and displace them in line.
Maybe I add an auto "path placing" feature, but it wouldn't be as much realistic as this method.

ntxdave

So, if I interpret correctly, your tool just draws the basic shape. We will the need to use other tools to supply them appropriately,

Just trying to clarify.

Tax

Thats correct for now.
These are the current outputs for mariner and roller chains (using default values): Mariner chain output (v7.0)
Roller chain output (v7.0)

But I'm planning for that auto follow path feature, would save a lot of time.
obs: "Railroad along" already does that by default, it needs a selected path.
Railway along output (v7.0)

ntxdave

I think that will make the tools far more attractive/useful.

Hope I am not being a PITA.

Tax

Thats great to know! thanks.
Then gonna focus on improving them.

Your being great, we all need feedback for the things we do.
Otherwise how could we learn anything

Tax

Mariner chain done!
Recommendation: avoid sharp turns and check last/first chain link attaching.

Tell me if you guys find anything wrong.

Coming soon:

Roller Chain Along (improvement)
Selection counter (simple one)
Follow & Rotate (Theres an old one but it doesnt work on newer SU versions)

Tax

"Roller chain along" done!
Also added "Selection report" and "SU links".
Enjoy.

obs: If you use it, feel free to share some images here.

"Follow and Rotate" may be comming next.

Tax

Base Modus UI implemented.

TutorialsUp

Hi, Thank you so much for this great extension.
I just stat creating a tutorial on this extension for my yt channel.
I have a few questions

in Follow Rotate Scale what is the difference between Truncate and Always Z
and
in Make Roller Chain it's "Roller Tickness" & "Plate Tickness" please review the names I think it should be "Thickness"?

maybe I ask some more questions hope you will answer me.

Thanks again.

Dave R

This is a very interesting set of tools. I could have used the roller chaiin tool some years ago for some projects.

I wonder if I could make a couple of requests.

It would be nice if there were no exposed back faces. In these examples the green color is my default back face color.

Screenshot - 12_16_2021 , 7_39_38 AM.png

Screenshot - 12_16_2021 , 7_41_50 AM.png

Compared to the time it would take to model these things from scratch, correcting face orientations manually is fairly trivial but it could be nice to not have to worry about that.

Would it be possible to do something about the definition scale? As it is now, at least with objects like the adjustable sprint and bicycle wheel, the objects are scaled but the definition isn't. That means that you can get clipping and the object will disappear if you open it for editing. Perhaps creating all of the objects as components and scaling their definitions after creation would be a good option. At least in my work flow I would prefer to use components throughout because that makes later edits to things easier.

Thanks again for the tools.