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Copyright 2010 (c), TIG
All Rights Reserved.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED
WARRANTIES,INCLUDING,WITHOUT LIMITATION,THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF
MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
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extrudeEdgesByRailsToLattice.rb
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Description:
Takes a set of curves [Profiles/Rails/Both] and forms 'Lattice' groups.
The Lattice can be plain curve 'lines' only, i.e. a set of profiles,
rails or both, that you can use for other purposes later; or it can be
made as a 3D form offset by frame given width and depth, and pane inset,
you can also assign limited materials to the frame/pane for ease of
future selection/manipulation.
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Usage:
Run 'Extrude Edges by Rails to Lattice', from the Plugins Menu, or the
Extrusions Toolbar...
You are then prompted to pick 2/3/4 curves to be used in forming the
'Lattice' - a Profile, Rail1, Rail2 [this can be Rail1 again] and a
Melding-Profile [can be the Profile again] - please see EEbyRails for
more details on this...
A dialog then prompts you to choose 'from Profiles', 'from Rails',
'from Diagonals' or 'from Profiles/Rails' [i.e. default = full 'grid'].
Choose option: 'Cancel' exits, 'OK' continues.
If you chose Lattice 'from Profiles' or 'from Rails' or 'from Diagonals'
then the result can only be curves as lines: these are now made -
they are grouped to avoid intersecting with other geometry.
Note that the order in which you pick rail-1 and rail-2 determines the
direction of any 'diagonals' it will make.
If you chose a Lattice 'from Profiles/Rails' you are next prompted to
choose a 'form' for the Lattice - as 'Lines' or as '3D'.
Choose option: 'Cancel' exits, 'OK' continues...
If you chose 'Lines' then a set of curves as lines only are made,
the profiles and rails sets are individually grouped and grouped
separately so the do not intersect with each other or other geometry.
If you chose '3D' a dialog now asks for the 'Lattice Properties':
'Width' - default is 50mm/2" - this is the width centered on the
lines so it's effectively a 100mm/4" 'frame' overall where faces abut.
[if <=0 it defaults]
'Depth' - default is 50mm/2", this is measured 'in' from the face
[if==0 there is no 'depth', if <0 it defaults].
'Pane Inset' - the amount the pane is inset from the frame's top-face -
default is 25.mm/1" [if ==0 there is no 'inset', if <0 it defaults;
it can never be more than the depth, and reverts to that if it is].
'Pane Thickness' - the thickness of the pane measured inset from the
pane's top face - default is 5mm/0.25" [if ==0 the pane is 'one sided'
(facing 'out'), if <0 it is 'outset', this -ve 'outset' cannot be > the
pane_inset, the pane_thickness is limited to the frame_depth-pane_inset].
It is best to give the pane a thickness if it is to be seen from both
sides and the lattice might be exported to a 3rd party renderer.
'Lattice Material' - default is <Default> - additional choices are 'Red',
'Orange', 'Yellow', 'Green', 'Blue', 'Violet', 'Black', 'White' or 'Gray'.
'Pane Material' - default is <None>** - additional choices are <Default>,
"Glass"***, 'Red', 'Orange', 'Yellow', 'Green', 'Blue', 'Violet',
'Black', 'White', 'Gray'.
**Note: if Pane Material == <None> then the faces that would form them
become 'holes' in the final lattice.
***The 'Glass' material will be made if it doesn't exist - it is colored
'bluish-light-gray' with 30% opacity.
A faced mesh is made [like EEbyRails] with triangulation to ensure that
any twisted shapes get 'faced'.
You are asked if you want to 'Reverse Faces' - Yes/No: important as the
mesh depth/insets etc are from the 'top', i.e. front face of the mesh.
If there are any 'Coplanar Edges' then they are highlighted and you can
choose to erase them Yes/No: removing them will result in some
non-triangular lattice panes.
The Faces' edges are now offset to suit, then pushpulled to suit and the
materials applied.
Note that faces too small to have a 'pane' are made 'solid'.
A closing dialog asks if you want to delete the originally selected
curves - Yes/No.
Donations:
Are welcome [by PayPal], please use 'TIGdonations.htm' in the
../Plugins/TIGtools/ folder.
OR
Version:
1.0 20100428 First release.
1.1 20100429 Glitches with display fixed, included 'offset.rb' updated
to latest version and trapped for a fail.
1.2 20100430 Minor tweaks to text for lingvo files. New ES=Defisto and
FR=DidierBur + Pilou. Flat faces at z=0 auto-reversed.
1.3 20100504 Offset now reworked and 'in class'. Pane has back_material.
1.4 20100506 'Diagonals' option added.
1.5 20100507 Glitch with Line only versions Grouping fixed.
1.6 20100517 All lingvo files updates - adjusted ES by Defisto.
1.7 20101023 Pane thickness option added and lingvos updated.
1.8 20101027 Missing db on 'Processing...' corrected.
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NOTE: the latest versions of these files is in the zipped set downloaded from here http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtop ... 63#p217663
