[Plugin] Flattery papercraft tools

[Pumpkin Pirate]

Hello everyone!
A while ago, I made a plugin for designing papercraft patterns. It allows you to unfold models into flat patterns, add tabs, and export them as SVGs. Just recently, I finally got around to polishing it up and putting it online. I call it Flattery, and you can get it here.

NOTE the latest version available from the PluginStore works in >= v2014 AND also earlier versions...
TIG
.

Download

It's got three main tools for designing patterns.

The Unfold tool unfolds models into flat patterns:

the Reunite Edges tool lets you adjust the layout of the patterns:

and the Add Tabs tool makes glue tabs:

It's also got an SVG export button so you can export your pattern to a program like Illustrator or Inkscape to color and print it.

[EscapeArtist]

Nice. This could also be used for simple sheet metal patterns. Thanks!

[pilou]

Seems a true gem!

[Gaieus]

This is very cool! I know Jim has a plugin to unfold geometry but this seems to be a much more "advanced" tool!
Then there is the Waybe plugin but then that's commercial.

So this will definitely be a hit for many hobbyists and such!

If you do not mind, I have "borrowed" some of your images for The Daily CatchUp.

[xrok1]

very nice. it would be great if you could predefine the tab sizes or have all tabs after the first one be doubleclick to repeat size. also the option to have auto number tab and corresponding edge (one that appears red when creating tab).

[MALAISE]

Thanks for this really usefull plugin. Pumpkin Pirate

I like it.

PAM

[Pumpkin Pirate]

This is very cool! I know Jim has a plugin to unfold geometry but this seems to be a much more "advanced" tool!
Then there is the Waybe plugin but then that's commercial.

So this will definitely be a hit for many hobbyists and such!

If you do not mind, I have "borrowed" some of your images for The Daily CatchUp.

Wow, no, I don't mind at all! In fact I'm thrilled!

very nice. it would be great if you could predefine the tab sizes or have all tabs after the first one be doubleclick to repeat size. also the option to have auto number tab and corresponding edge (one that appears red when creating tab).

A setting for the width of the double-click tabs seems like a pretty good idea. Not so sure about automatic numbering, though. It would be kind of difficult to get it into the SVG file in a reliable way, and I've generally found that it's hard to know the best order to glue tabs in until you've tried putting the model together a few times. I'll think about it though.

[xrok1]

thanks for considering it. with regards to the numbering, its not for the order of assembly, i was thinking more for organizing what goes where when gluing. (tab A glues to edge A) but you could glue tab Z to edge Z first it doesn't matter.

[utiler]

Very cool mate; and very generous!!!
Welcome the the forum!

[pilou]

Not sure that I have patience to glue all the pieces
But very cool plug!

puzzle.png

[ideas_arte]

wonderful! very very very grateful to you.
This plugin has me very happy!

Best wishes

[Mike Lucey]

Thanks Pumkin Pirate,

This plugin will prove to be very useful. BTW, I have made a donation and hope that others will do likewise to help you continue its development

Mike

[Pumpkin Pirate]

Thanks Pumkin Pirate,

This plugin will prove to be very useful. BTW, I have made a donation and hope that others will do likewise to help you continue its development

Mike

Wow, Thank you! I'm glad you found it useful. I'm going to do my best to keep it steadily improving.

[tfdesign]

This could also be used for simple sheet metal patterns.

Exactly my thoughts too! If bend radii could be specified too, as well as thickness (I haven't checked yet), this tool will be as powerful as the one in Solidworks!

A brilliant addition. Thanks very much!

Tom

[no8one]

Heyy !!
plzz some help
i downloaded this awesome plugin but when i put it in the plugins folder it's not shown in skitchup
and i tired it on 2 computers
plzz helpp ,,

[Subsonic Mike]

I need help to.
I do all that it says in the readme but it doesn't appear on sketchup
Please help!

[TIG]

I need help to.
I do all that it says in the readme but it doesn't appear on sketchup
Please help!

Did you activate its Extension under Preferences

[Subsonic Mike]

No, how?

[mitcorb]

In Sketchup: top line menu: Window>Preferences>Extensions Check box on plugin name.

[mozzie]

Did you copy the unzipped files?

[Subsonic Mike]

No, I extracted them to my downloads folder then copyed them to the SketchUp plugins folder

[TIG]

No, I extracted them to my downloads folder then copied them to the SketchUp plugins folder

Did you keep some of the files in any subfolders etc as they were zipped ?

[Subsonic Mike]

Once extracted I moved the entire extracted folder to its location

[TIG]

Once extracted I moved the entire extracted folder to its location

NO ?
I suspect you need to move the contents of that folder into Plugins...
In the Plugins folder there should be one file called flattery.rb and a folder called flattery containing loads of other files.
If you unzipped a file called flattery.zip into a folder called flattery then it's one level too deep....

[Subsonic Mike]

I think its best I start again
just one thing, is it usual to get an error when you try to extract it directly to the plugins folder?

[thomthom]

just one thing, is it usual to get an error when you try to extract it directly to the plugins folder?

No.
Exactly what error do you get?
(Error messages are very useful in debugging a problem, so please include them when posting.)

[Subsonic Mike]

OK I extracted the files for the 11th time to get the error but this time it extracted fine!
BUT the files dont show up when I look in the plugins folder. So I open 7 zip to extract them again but 7 zip shows them in the plugins folder.
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MY COMPUTER!

[TIG]

OK I extracted the files for the 11th time to get the error but this time it extracted fine!
BUT the files dont show up when I look in the plugins folder. So I open 7 zip to extract them again but 7 zip shows them in the plugins folder.
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO MY COMPUTER!

I think you have a Compatibility Files issue with Vista - it tucked them away in a Compatibility folder to protect you!
Look in the top bar of the Plugins folder window are there any weird folders or icons there...
Vista can be a pain when it decides that you shouldn't add files to some folders...

[Subsonic Mike]

I cant seem to see any weird folders icons.

[TIG]

Ensure that you don't have any flattery folder or file in your Plugins folder - if you do move them out...
Download the zip file to say your desktop.
Extract it to a folder with the name of the zip file.
Open the folder and select the file and folder in it.
Copy.
Open the Plugins folder and Paste.
You should now have the correct file+folder installed.
Restart Sketchup and 'flattery' might need activating from the Preferences > Extensions section.
Its toolbar is activated off View > Toolbars...