[Plugin] FollowMe and keep (v0.04 update 20090210)

[rainfrog]

Hello! This is my first time posting here and I'm a fairly new "tinkerer" with Sketchup. However, I'm already stuck on the shortcomings of the FollowMe tool, and also I seem to want a result that I can't find a plugin to simulate. It's best explained in the attached model.

Basically, I want a profile to follow a path much like in the FollowMe and keep plugin, but in a way that preserves the proportions of the profile perpendicular to the path, whether that path is level or on a slope. This is the result you see in real life, with such things as railings, tunnels, street curbs, roller coasters, etc. If they rose a theoretically very steep hill, they don't have squashed cross-sections because of a profile remaining "level" on two axes. A tunnel needs a constant clearance throughout. A roller coaster's metal tubes remain circular in profile perpendicular to the path, not flattened ellipses as they climb a slope. I'm looking for a profile to remain perpendicular to the x,y plane (ie. "level") on only ONE of its local axes, not two. I hope this makes sense. It's hard for me to explain!

In the attached model, I have a layer called "Method" that hopefully helps to show how I got the desired result manually.

[mitcorb]

Welcome:
It looks as if you have posted in the thread with the Plugin that is supposed to do what it appears that you are wanting--if that makes any sense.
Follow me and keep is supposed to overcome the twisting tendency that Follow me is plagued ? with.
Do read the previous posts in this thread, especially the first one, which should have a downloadable file embedded.
Also, watch for other replies here.

[rainfrog]

There is indeed a difference between what I'm looking for and what FollowMe and Keep does. As I said, it's hard to explain! So attached here is another file to better illustrate the difference (I hope)...

[mitcorb]

Ok,
I am having difficulty downloading your 2nd file, but I think the problem is on this end.
What I am thinking is maybe Chris Fullmer's Perpendicular Face Tool which has a custom cross section input. It will prompt you along the way with a little popup tag if the protocol is not followed.
See if this is what you need, while I try to open your file.

[mitcorb]

rainfrog:
I was able to view your second skp. The bent U shape solid could also be formed using the Fredoscale suite of tools, I think. There is a bending tool in the set. I was thinking that you would first make the u shape with follow me on the xy plane, then use bending tool to warp it upward.
What would be neat is if Didier Bur's Lines2tubes had a feature where you give it a cross section of the the size you need, select the line/curve/path, and voomp! there you go.

Kirill has a 2faces and path routine that may be able to do it, however, I would have to verify this.
I don't know if I have helped at all. At least see the Fullmer tool and the Fredoscale tool to see if these may work. Fredo6 has plenty of pdf docs to explain the workings. You must also download the LibFredo doc ruby.

[Chris Fullmer]

Yeah, thats an interesting shape to make. Seems simple, but as you've seen, each tool has its own way of handling following a path through 3 dimensional space. I am not sure if there is a single tool out there that does precisely this.

But Fredo's tools have some awesome bending abilities that would help. And I agree that you mgiht look at Kiril's 2 faces and a path script. It might do it how you want it.

My perpendicular face tools is able to draw in that profile oriented exactly how you want it, but it does not "skin" the profiles. You almost need a 2 rail follow me solution so that the profile would know how to orient itself. Interesting,

Chris

[mitcorb]

Yeah Chris:
I just bent a replica of the example skp using Fredoscale. The cross section stayed intact, I just had to set the segment number and the extent of the bending to limit it to an eyeball estimate of the bend that rainfrog is showing.

I guess the moderator's are OK with this dialogue staying where it is?

[rainfrog]

Thanks, mitcorb and Chris! I will definitely play around with the suggested plugins. I have Fredoscale but haven't begun to experiment with it yet. It'll probably be a few days (holidays coming up and I really should pull away from the computer a bit!)

I didn't mean to hijack the thread with an off-topic exchange. FollowMe and Keep is an incredible improvement over FollowMe and much appreciated, and it was the closest I had found to what I was trying to do.

[mitcorb]

It's OK, rainfrog:
I am just glad I was able to assist.
By the way, when I looked at the replica I did, at first it had a bounding box like a group. I clicked somewhere and the box disappeared. I could not retrieve the group, but the model remained. Also, I noticed that a line segment was bridging one of the bends, like it did not get bent by the plugin, even though I selected the whole thing before bending.

[jarynzlesa]

works perfectly, thank you - good work

[ciudadanochano]

Hey!! I have a very stupid question...How can I download this plugin? I´m serching everywhere, but I can´t find the way. Thanks!!

[Gaieus]

Hi Chano,

Plugins published on these forums are generally attached at the bottom of the very first post in their respective topics - in this case, download/install FAK.rb (or extract it from the FAK.rar archive also attached).

[kienho]

Thank you Wikii! Your plugin helps me alot in modeling.

[Mike1158]

Not working here.

[Tim Danaher]

Is FMAK supposed to smooth the result automatically?

I can't get this one to smooth -- the resulting sweep is nice, though...

[Jeff Hammond]

Basically, I want a profile to follow a path much like in the FollowMe and keep plugin, but in a way that preserves the proportions of the profile perpendicular to the path, whether that path is level or on a slope.

hey rainfrog,

that's possible using the extrude along path tool in the 1001bit suite
http://www.1001bit.com/

followmeproblem_fixed.skp

1001bitversion.jpg

[Pilou]

You can use also the TIG Extrude Edges by Rails by Face
and maybe 2 faces + Path by Kirill2008

[xrok1]

Basically, I want a profile to follow a path much like in the FollowMe and keep plugin, but in a way that preserves the proportions of the profile perpendicular to the path, whether that path is level or on a slope.

the native follow me tool works this way???? did you try it?

[Jeff Hammond]

You can use also the TIG Extrude Edges by Rails by Face
and maybe 2 faces + Path by Kirill2008

they won't keep the bottom flat though.. i'm pretty sure 1001bit is the only ruby solution for this particular scenario.

[xrok1]

i downloaded his file and to me 1001bit and native follow me are identical, except 1001 triangulates.

[thomthom]

You can use also the TIG Extrude Edges by Rails by Face
and maybe 2 faces + Path by Kirill2008

they won't keep the bottom flat though.. i'm pretty sure 1001bit is the only ruby solution for this particular scenario.

FollowMeAndKeep?

[xrok1]

You can use also the TIG Extrude Edges by Rails by Face
and maybe 2 faces + Path by Kirill2008

they won't keep the bottom flat though.. i'm pretty sure 1001bit is the only ruby solution for this particular scenario.

FollowMeAndKeep?

FAK "squashes" the profile going up hill because it doesn't rotate.

[Tim Danaher]

I'm not having much luck with this at all...

Trying to sweep a spiral stair rail. I've got the path running smack through the midpoint of the balusters, and the profile lined up as centrally as possible, but the resulting handrail is never on the path.

The original path & Profile are in one group in the attached .skp, the resulting sweep in another...

Anyone point me to where I'm going wrong?

Ta,

[Jeff Hammond]

i downloaded his file and to me 1001bit and native follow me are identical, except 1001 triangulates.

check this comparison..

fm_vs_1001.skp

[edit] oh, regarding the 1001bit triangulation.. i run the deletecoplanaredges ruby on it afterwards.. found here..
http://www.cad-addict.com/2009/07/sketc ... edges.html

[Jeff Hammond]

I'm not having much luck with this at all...

Trying to sweep a spiral stair rail. I've got the path running smack through the midpoint of the balusters, and the profile lined up as centrally as possible, but the resulting handrail is never on the path.

The original path & Profile are in one group in the attached .skp, the resulting sweep in another...

Anyone point me to where I'm going wrong?

Ta,

i really don't know what's going on there Tim and i don't have FAK.rb installed anymore but i tried it with the 1001bit extrude and it worked out..
that said, we're talking a $30 tool set vs. a free plugin so...

TD_baluster.skp

[Tim Danaher]

I'm not having much luck with this at all...

Trying to sweep a spiral stair rail. I've got the path running smack through the midpoint of the balusters, and the profile lined up as centrally as possible, but the resulting handrail is never on the path.

The original path & Profile are in one group in the attached .skp, the resulting sweep in another...

Anyone point me to where I'm going wrong?

Ta,

i really don't know what's going on there Tim and i don't have FAK.rb installed anymore but i tried it with the 1001bit extrude and it worked out..
that said, we're talking a $30 tool set vs. a free plugin so...

TD_baluster.skp

Thanks, Jeff -- Nice result... will have to pony up the dosh, then...

[xrok1]

I'm not having much luck with this at all...

Trying to sweep a spiral stair rail. I've got the path running smack through the midpoint of the balusters, and the profile lined up as centrally as possible, but the resulting handrail is never on the path.

The original path & Profile are in one group in the attached .skp, the resulting sweep in another...

Anyone point me to where I'm going wrong?

Ta,

i really don't know what's going on there Tim and i don't have FAK.rb installed anymore but i tried it with the 1001bit extrude and it worked out..
that said, we're talking a $30 tool set vs. a free plugin so...

TD_baluster.skp

thanks for clearing that up Jeff. i hadn't noticed that detail. i thought he was refering to the height difference on the slopes.

[Tim Danaher]

i really don't know what's going on there Tim and i don't have FAK.rb installed anymore but i tried it with the 1001bit extrude and it worked out..
that said, we're talking a $30 tool set vs. a free plugin so...

TD_baluster.skp

Thanks, Jeff -- Nice result... will have to pony up the dosh, then...

Hah! No I won't... the developers have made it free for academic use, and since I teach SU at a design school...

[Pilou]

a $30 tool

It's free if you use it for personnal use
You will have just a starting message

[xrok1]

??
it says 30 day trial period on mine?