[Plugin] Follow Me Helix (Updated 06-Jan-2012)

[mattarth]

Thanks Dave, I think I'll use your method from now on. It's the neatest way to make barrel springs.

Although the intersection method would allow someone to make more interesting profiles if they needed to, if they could tolerate the time it takes for SketchUp to calculate the new path and then follow it

[Dave R]

You're welcome. I think it is useful to know both methods. Sometimes one will be more useful than the other. For example I used that method for drawing these ironwork baskets. I couldn't get the proper helix using the Draw Helix plugin. Tools on Surface is ideal for drawing the helix on the extruded shape.

[8068]

Thank You!
Really

[buddyholly27]

First off, thank you for such a useful plugin - I've been making handrails for spiral staircases so it's been invaluable.

I've had a couple of problems with fractions on making higher resolution helix. My working figures have been for 194mm riser at radius 1150mm with risers at 30 degree increments but when I subdivide my figures to create a smoother helix a bug seems to appear (disclaimer, my maths isn't so hot but I've checked as far as I can). so, doubling resolution to 97 and 15 works as expected but doubling again to 48.5mm and 7.5degrees causes the dialogue to disappear with no geometry result. Has anyone else encountered this, or can maybe suggest a way I can create a smoother helix curve?

ps though I've been a daily reader for quite a while this is my first post to SketchUcation so apologies for the clunkiness of this mail!

[sdmitch]

The problem is with the plugin. It only accepts interger angles in its present form so the 7.5 causes an error. If you divide linear and angular increments by 5 and use 38.8 and 6 that will work. The smaller the angular increment the smoother the helix.

[buddyholly27]

Thanks sdmitch! That'll do the trick and might save others a little time too. Great plugin. Not only did it save me time, but I couldn't see another way of resolving my modeling challenge. Cheers BuddyH

[TIG]

The problem is with the plugin. It only accepts interger angles in its present form so the 7.5 causes an error. If you divide linear and angular increments by 5 and use 38.8 and 6 that will work. The smaller the angular increment the smoother the helix.

Why not fix it ?
@radius=1.feet if !@radius;@dist_inc=1.inch if !@dist_inc;@ang_inc=30.0 if !@ang_inc
prompts=["Radius of helix:","linear Increment:","Angle Increment:"]
ans=UI.inputbox(prompts,[@radius,@dist_inc,@ang_inc],"Helix Generator")
if !ans then;return;end
@radius=ans[0].to_l;@dist_inc = ans[1].to_l; @ang_inc=ans[2].to_f
If a dialog has a value set as an integer it can thereafter only accept an integer as its input.
So just make the initialized @ang_inc a float by using a float value.
[ 30.0 and NOT an integer like 30 ]
And also never change the @ang_inc into an integer with .to_i later on.

[charly2008]

Hi Jon,

The technique for a curved spiral is "Follow Me Helix" and "Shape bender". The better is the combination "DrawHelix" and "Shape bender". there is a better control about the helix.

Charly

[sdmitch]

TIG, fixing it is as simple as you suggest in making the angle increment a float. My original obviously flawed assumption was that there would never be a need for an increment less than a degree.