[Plugin] extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb

[TIG]

Copyright 2009/2010 (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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extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb
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Extrudes two sets of grouped edges into a faced mesh...
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Usage: Make two sets of edges [from lines, arcs, curves etc].
These represent the 'profile' and the 'path' for the mesh.
Make a group of each set.
Note: If the groups share a common vertex then that fixes the
new mesh's location, otherwise the nearest vertices are used,
with the new mesh located near the profile, Move it as required...
Now Select these 2 groups.
Run the Plugin: 'Extrude Edges by Edges'.
It makes a grouped faced 'mesh' from these two edge-sets.
The progress at each stage is reported along the status bar.
When the mesh is made the view zooms to include the original
profile/path groups and the new mesh group.
Then there are dialogs asking for Yes/No replies...
If you want to 'orientate' the mesh-faces (which may not always
be necessary: if it's chosen then it will be done as well as
possible for any convoluted shapes.
If you want to 'reverse' the mesh-faces.
If you want the mesh-faces to 'intersect' with themselves
(This is only necessary if the mesh has convoluted re-entrant
surfaces). Intersecting the mesh might compromise some later
triangulation...
If you want to remove any 'coplanar edges'.
If you want to 'triangulate' the new faces:
on very complex inter-penetrating meshes a triangulating error
message might appear - answer 'Yes' to undo triangulation,
'No' to keep what's been done so far...
Note that the triangulation 'undo' is separate within the main
action's 'undo'.
Finally, if you want to delete the original two groups.
Note:
Large numbers of edges in the groups increase the new faces and
other operations exponentially, therefore only extrude the parts
that can be copied/exploded together later...
For example:
2 edges x 2 edges >>> group with 4 faces & 12 edges
4 edges x 4 edges >>> group with 16 faces & 40 edges
8 edges x 8 edges >>> group with 64 faces & 144 edges
16 edges x 16 edges >>> group with 256 faces & 544 edges
32 edges x 32 edges >>> group with 1024 faces & 2112 edges
...
Very large groups will eventually be made but the screen can
'white out' and the 'counter' might appear to stop changing for
several minutes... It is working.
Use 'Smooth' and/or 'Show Hidden Geometry' on the mesh-group,
also 'Sandbox flip-edge' tool to re-trianglate, as desired...
Rarely some combinations of edge groups might go into a 'loop'
and then SUp needs 'killing' - so save first !

Donations:
Are welcome [by PayPal], please use 'TIGdonations.htm' in the
../Plugins/TIGtools/ folder.
OR


Version:
1.0 20090622 First 'beta' release.
1.1 20090625 Speed improvements - face making time ~halved,
typename >> kind_of?, triangulation glitch trapped
and orientation improved.
1.2 20090625 Orientation speed optimised.
Glitch on groups erase fixed.
1.3 20090626 Edges not facing in convoluted shapes trapped.
1.4 20090707 Triangulation improved. Rare intersect glitch fixed.
1.5 20090708 Zooms to show new group.
1.6 20090708 Zooms to new group fixed for large models.
1.7 20090709 Coplanar edge erasure errors trapped:
0.999999 made 0.99999999 !!!
1.8 20090808 Orienting and Triangulation speeds improved.
2.0 20100114 Debabelized, 'Extrusion Tools' Toolbar added.
2.1 20100120 Typo in lingvo translation fixed.
2.2 20100120 Lingvo files updated - thanks FR=Pilou, ES=Defisto
2.3 20100121 Typo preventing Plugin Menu item working corrected.
2.4 20100123 FR lingvo file updated by Pilou.
2.5 20100124 Menu typo glitch fixed.
2.6 20100216 Now in own sub-menu 'Extrusion Tools...' in Plugins menu.
2.7 20100222 Tooltips now deBabelize properly.
2.8 20100222 Tooltips etc now deBabelized properly.
2.9 20100428 Tool now exits gracefully.
3.0 20100517 ES lingvo adjusted by Defisto.

NOTE: from 20100212 the latest versions of these files is in the zipped set downloaded from here http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtop ... 63#p217663

ExtrudeEdgesByEdgesExample.png

ExtrudeEdgesByEdgesExamples.skp

[Gaieus]

Question, TIG: do the two groups of curves need to be on perpendicular planes?

[Chris Fullmer]

Awesome TIG! You'll get lots of people excited about this script

Chris

[TIG]

:shock:

Question, TIG: do the two groups of curves need to be on perpendicular planes?

No - but it's best if there's some non-coplanar-ness [if that's a word !]. If they are at some angle to each other you will get a 3D mesh. If they are coplanar you'll get a weird 2D mess... You can also have several bits of lines/curves - they don't need to be continuous - just grouped together as the required 'profile' and 'path'... The lines/curves can also be complex in 3D but the resulting intersecting mess might not be what you are expecting or want...

[broomstick]

from what I see, this is awesome. The thing I need to model classical decorations..

[Gaieus]

OK TIG, that's what I meant. In fact, I'd probably not need it for coplanar curves (I can't really imagine a situation like that when it's needed butof course, who knows) but definitely something other than perpendicular can be handy.

Even better this "freedom" of the different elements in the groups (I guess that's why they are grouped but I wou;ldn't understand the answer anyway )

If you don't mind...

[Pilou]

Tip: single lines and arcs won't group, so draw another edge,
then group everything, edit the group and erase the temporary
edge...

Seems it's not necessary! (line, arc)
Just go Menu Edit / Make Group for each object!
Then launch the plug

Works like a charm! Bravo!
Here with 2 arcs without "another edge"!

[TIG]

Tip: single lines and arcs won't group, so draw another edge,
then group everything, edit the group and erase the temporary
edge...

Seems it's not necessary! (line, arc)
Just go Menu Edit / Group for each object!
Then launch the plug

I find that single lines or arcs won't group, but drawing another temporary line with it then grouping, then editing the group and deleting the temporary line seems to work to give a single arc group... It's because I use ashortcut key that isn't available on a single selection, BUT the Menu Edit >> Make-Group item is still OK... So if you can group single arcs via the menu without a hitch then that's great...
Any ideas on improvements or clever uses welcomed...

[Pilou]

Next steps will be with 4 curves closed so Coons surfaces

[chango70]

WOW This is like Rhino Sweep alone rail. Very cool!

[sepo]

Thanks TIG..
I noticed it actually does not follow and rotate along the path. Although interesting proposition, and it works without any problems, it would be usefull if it coud also work in manner that can be predictable in design terms.

[sepo]

I pushed it with a lot of geometry and it seems very stable. It performs orienting and reversing faces without problem. Triangulation did not make any problems as well.

[TIG]

Thanks TIG... I noticed it actually does not follow and rotate along the path. Although interesting proposition, and it works without any problems, it would be usefull if it coud also work in manner that can be predictable in design terms.

This tool extrudes edges by edges without rotation. If you want rotation use followme tool or followme_and_keep script: you'll need to make the profile faced first by adding a back set of lines - you also need to unhide/unsmooth all edges to get a 'mesh'... The advantage of extrudeEdgesByEdges is that the profile and path can be in complex in 3D and also not continuous...

[dtrarch]

TIG

One can add a point too and then group.

Killer script.

dtr

[TIG]

It doesn't matter what's in the groups - only edges get processed...

[EarthMover]

Thanks TIG!

[mitcorb]

TIG:
This was the subject of one of my first wishful posts. "Extrude" a curve along a curve.
Excellent work!!!! This is another one of those jaw droppers. We're gonna have you bronzed. Plotparis will jump out of his seat when he sees this.
Thank you.
mitcorb

[mitcorb]

TIG:
This also works with the freehand tool in SU6, if anybody was wondering.
mitcorb

[utiler]

Really great tool, TIG!!!!

[nino]

TIG,
It is great, Thanks

[urgen]

great tool! thanks!

[REDS]

It`s very useful thing.
Thank`s

[rv1974]

Hi TIG! Instead\in addition to(?) of consistant orientation mode (in the center: extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb) It'd be perfect to get the one of profiles get turned along another one (the right example: push-pull+eraser)
Thanks.

[donkey_b]

it's GOOD thx

[TIG]

Hi TIG! Instead\in addition to(?) of consistant orientation mode (in the center: extrudeEdgesByEdges.rb) It'd be perfect to get the one of profiles get turned along another one (the right example: push-pull+eraser)
Thanks.

For that use followme tool or followme_and_keep script... add lines to the profile to make a face then erase the 'back' edges to make the shape required. EEbyE works with non-coplanar profiles and paths, and non-contiguous edges in paths and profile[as FAK] - which isn't possible with traditional followme...

[CadFather]

Hi TIG, Thank you for the gem..

could be me doing something wrong.. i noticed that if i draw a circle on any plane (as path) and an edge in elevation (profile), the script always considers the circle the path

[silver_shadow]

i wanted this soooo much

[Free Agent]

Hi TIG, Thank you for the gem..

could be me doing something wrong.. i noticed that if i draw a circle on any plane (as path) and an edge in elevation (profile), the script always considers the circle the path

thats because the the script doesnt rotate the profile along the path so it apears as if the circle is being extruded, to which TIG will reply: if you want that function use Follow Me or Follow me and Keep.

Tig: it seems people would really really like that function

[Pilou]

And if you want multiple curves along a path use "Simple-Loft" by Chris Fullmer

The extrudeEdgesbyEgdes is for particular uses as sections are always parallel!

[Dylan]

Thanks TIG, this is a big script and works so well