OK, thanks to the help of others(Gaieus and Jean-Franco and plug in authors) I was able to improve my welded joints so that they were tremendously better than my initial attempts - see attached file. Basically the soap skin bubble plugin with -ve bubble. Also my first attempt at layout. Thanks for the help and as always, appreciate any feedback.

Regarding the overdone factor, which is definitely high for this simple project. Besides having a compulsiveness problem with having representative model forms, it is also a technique learning exprience for me. Thanks again.

mast retrofit.layout

Thanks, i think you solution is a good one and models reality much better than my attemp.

I may wait to see if any one else chimes in but thank you again.

Hello Gaieus

Thanks for your kind words and of course the reorientation. I do tend to get lost and appreciate ANY directions. I have attached a photograph of another project which has two pieces of steel welded together - see the highlighted portion. I think the model is functional as it is but i thought that the form could have been better vis a vie the weld depiction. In real life, as you can see from the photo, the welded bead is more concave than convex and also it is highly textured (undulated). I was not happy with the way the beads were modeled and was looking to improve. You are right about the alignment.

From a technical standpoint (in case you are interested), you see the weld joining the steel, if done correctly, is actually stronger than the steel itself! With that as the focus of performance, i just had a hard time accepting my poor surrogate depiction of the weld. Looking for that perfection in Sci Vis (Scientific Vision) is one of my many character flaws.

Thanks again. My model is for a simple "real in my world" application and i appreciate the help and interest.

Hi, definitely a noob question. So I designed a small steel structure that basically is a receptacle for a 50 foot aerial mast for above surface monitoring equipment. This mast inserts into a pickup truck hitch. Very simple design application, not like the cool stuff most of you guys do. Anyways, so now i am providing this design to the fabricator, who will likely very easily build it. There are several welds in the fabrication that are obvious to most people but i am not happy with the way i depicted these welded edges/faces. So i was wondering if anyone had any experiece they might share as to better ways to depict the welded joins.

Attached is the skp file and i created several scenes that walks through my simple project. The weld deads are obvious in brown. Appreciate your time and any help in depicting better welded beads.

Thanks

@unknownuser said:

I don't know what I don't know

mast_retrofit.skp

Thanks, that s just awesome. it works for me now with the fix. I am sure you will update the library file. thanks a lot again.

oops, sorry, here it is

this is the file

Thanks for being so helpful. AttachedThis is the points file. Basically, i am trying to get a similar file to import points into my model so that i can work with the ground surface.

this is the plug in script

i think you need this file to run the ruby script

Thanks for resonding TIG, guides are on and nothing shows up on the Outliner. Below is the Ruby console message i get when i try to insert the origin of the points cloud. Once i can see the points to select, i can then triangulate. Any help is appreciated.

Error: #<TypeError: nil can't be coerced into Length>
(eval):305:in *' (eval):305:in draw_geometry'
(eval):302:in each' (eval):302:in draw_geometry'
(eval):217:in `onLButtonUp'
(eval):302

Good Morning:

So, i downloaded import points cloud, including the example, and saved to plugins foler. When i click plugins, the file shows up and allows me to select the example. after i import the file, and place the point of origin, nothing shows up on my model.

Actually, i was trying this with another file for a model i am trying to get ground surface placed and encountred the same problem and arrived at this forum in quest of solutions. looks like a useful an well run forum, congrats to all participants.