[Plugin] Slicer v4.3 20110619
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Wouldn't it be quicker to make the 'curtain' and then use JointPushPull on it to give it a Volume then Slice it ?
Or are you looking for a Slice at Nodes option ?
Can you give a before and after example, with steps so I can understand your issues better...
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Indeed we tried with JPP. And we use it on simple meshes before Slicer. But often the mesh is too complicated, with acute angles, JPP results in a mess then. So an offset has to be done after the slicing.
But I realise that the overlaps that Offset often do are going to be a problem that will need manual work anyway.
So we only need the part of the script that generates the slices, numbers and flattens them, like #16.
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So if I understand correctly, you want a version of Slicer that can make slices through a '2D-mesh' - a 'curtain' of faces [that have no 3D values in plan - or the equivalent 'other' dimension] - and then represent these as group of lines forming 2D slices laid out on plan. I assume that you don't want any 'thickness' to these 'slices' as they are initially 'lines' anyway ?
Are these always in plan ?
If so there already is myContourMaker?I see you seem to 'make faces' of the results - this could be added as an auto-offset by a desired distance of the lines closed into a face...
What is the exact use of these later on ? CNC work ?
Is this what you want ?
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Yes Sir TIG, you got it right.
But these overlaps Offset creates (when some lines are shorter than the offset distance, I think) are going to be impossible to handle automatically, no? -
Watch this space...
Do you want to always cut in Z - it's easier that if I have to make XYZ versions ??? -
Like this
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So the 'ribs' are vertical.
How do you determine there rotation about the Z axis ?
By axis X/Y or by Node angle bisector etc ?
It is easy enough to make the closing edges 'horizontal'...
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Great.
My sections are always standing up. But at any angle on xy plane.
Oh, and the top and bottom level have to stay the same if a face is created. Offset tends to change these if the initial top or bottom lines are slanted, as you know. -
If you made a curve along the front edge then the ribs could be angled to match the angle-bisector to each pair of edges at a node, or square at the ends ?
What would the typical 'scale' of this be - i.e. rib depth and rib spacing etc...
Do these ribs project into the face, or out from it ? -
A curve along the front edges ? Ha! on the floor, you mean? It would have to be a bezier, I guess.
Ribs are a few inches (4") behind the faces.
Typical heights are 5' to 20', rib with of 10" -
You can make a 'curve' from any selection of edges that are continuous - use 'weld.rb'.
You could set this curve in 4" from the face and then a rib 10" wide inwards from that.
Centers would then be the curve's nodes ?
Height matches the face's height where it is 'cut'.
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Yes that is just right.
(I confused "curve" (arc) with "curve" (polyline))
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Following your advice in an earlier post about using JPP, I looked at it again. I realized I was not using the settings adequately. Once the settings are right, it does the job pretty well.
All that's needed now is Slicer to follow the curve of the footing slicing at angles like you mentionned. -
Well, for now, the ribs are perpendicular to a straight line averaging the direction of the pane. This line angles as needed and we treat the mesh in sections. I ajust the axis along the way. We have to do a footing plate showing where to stand the constructed rib.
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Firstly great work on Slicer, but as many have mentioned an upgrade to slicer-modeller would be fantastic. I have also started learning paracloud gem, but as of yet there aren't enough reasons for me to go out and buy it just right now. Although I don't fully understand all its functions yet, I was particularly interested in a ribbed structure in their gallery which was created by some sort of internal 'pinch' points. It is illustrated below..
Could the slices perhaps follow bezier curves either (A) - manually created by the user, or (B )- generated automatically by some sort of 'pinching'?
Possible??
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Look at my
Extrude Edges By Rails By Faces
Make the face a 'rib' ?
OR try the simplerEEbyFaceand process a 'rib' face just the one curve at a time, useful if the form is not susceptible to a 'meshed' solution... -
Yes that is almost the solution indeed... but what about the slots? Can slots automatically be made at intersections via a plugin? and then laid out nicely like in slicer?
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One could also try FFD on the grouped slices. No ?
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You want "Slotter"
Run the 'Slotter' tool, you select a shape [group] that has some intersecting forms [groups] (perhaps two 'sliced' sets in two 'planes'), choose whether 'top' or 'bottom' slots required in the selected shape.
It booleans half slots in the selected shape at every intersection [say from the 'top] to match the intersecting forms, and also all of the other forms gets slots added in the other direction, so that then all of the forms will 'slot together' if made in reality...
The slotted shapes would be copied/grouped for safety and laid flat if desired ?This idea is quite doable... I'll think on it
Any feedback welcome during the 'gestation' phase...
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Slotter... that's exactly it. Don't really know what to add to your description at the moment apart from laying them out neatly after slotting. I have a laser cutter at my disposal at the moment (I work in a model shop) and would love to realise some concept designs with slotter, slicer and slicermodeller. Looking forward to the next upgrade!
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