[Plugin] Torus 1.0

[Regular Polygon]

Hi folks,

I couldn't resist one more plugin for creating simple shapes. This is an easy to use plugin that draws a torus. You just go to the menu item Draw -> Torus, enter the parameters in a dialog box, and place the newly created component in the model. You could draw a torus with the SketchUp Follow Me Tool, but it would take 5 minutes instead of 5 seconds.

dialog torus.png

This plugin will also draw a "twisted torus". OK, I made up the name. But it is the shape you would get if you could cut the tube, twist the ends, and glue them back together. To see the twist, the tube needs to have a polygonal cross section. But, you can control this aspect of the geometry by specifying just a few latitude lines for the torus.

twisted sqr tori.png

The examples above use a square torus. It is square because the tube has four latitude lines (the creased edges), with four sides (surfaces) in between, so the cross section is a square. The torus on the upper left has no twist. The next has one twist; if you follow one side around the torus, you will end up on the adjacent side after one revolution. The next torus has two twists, and so on, up to five twists.

sides 12 twists 12.png

You can have any number of sides and twists. In the example above, the torus has 12 sides, and 12 twists, so each side reconnects with itself after one revolution.

There is more documentation on the usage for this plugin, and a link to download it, here: regularpolygon.org/plugins/torus.php.

Thanks

[jason_maranto]

I really dig all your plugins... but this one is unexpectedly cool.

Best,
Jason.

[boofredlay]

Cheers.

[d12dozr]

Sweet shapes, I would think geometry teachers would like this.

RP, how about a fractal generating plugin? ...you know, just for kicks

[shoeb_cars]

this plugin of yours is gonna make someone's life so damn easier.....i mean sketchup life..
cheers bro

[notareal]

Sure, I can find a use for this. Thanks!

[massimo]

Thanks once again

[meak]

genius! big thanks

[pilou]

Geometric!
Surface without edges

[Burkhard]

I need 12 second for a round torus with dimensions but your twisted torus is genius

[Ben Ritter]

Thank you very much!

[Regular Polygon]

Thanks a lot everyone for all your positive feedback.

RP, how about a fractal generating plugin? ...you know, just for kicks

That's an idea. I can't think of anymore simple shapes to draw. Definitely would be just for fun.

[simon le bon]

Hi Regular!

Are you going to join the happy few set list of the ruby masters ?
I didn't know today this plugin was existing. It is a new member : Arc who have told us about it regarding to an exercise we try to soluce.
Your Torus plugin make things too much easy (bad for the exercise ). Thank you for sharing
>>make and endless spiral:

+++simon

[Regular Polygon]

What a coincidence that our separate lines of work would meet like that!

You are doing things I never imagined people would do with this plugin.

[Box]

It's a wonderful plug-in, ten minutes to whip up this.

[Regular Polygon]

Thanks Box -- I really like your new avatar.

[Box]

That is thanks to you, it's one of your Toruses/Tori/torum.

[halim]

can anyone make setting for this examples

[Regular Polygon]

Hi halim,

The top torus with 20 twists had these settings:

settings 20 twists.png

The bottom six tori had these settings, except they each have a different twist parameter varying from 0-5.

settings 0-5 twists.png

P.S. Welcome to the forum!

[putnik]

Thanks a bunch Regular Polygon! 3 twists setting produces geometry of the winning entry for Astana National Library by Bjarke Ingles Group (http://www.big.dk)
http://www.google.com.au/images?hl=en&s ... =&gs_rfai=

[tomislavm]

Thanks!

[ivreich]

Error Message

Hi RP

I downloaded this plugin but it gives me an error message when I try to run it:

I'm using the default torus parameters...

Joel

[Rich O Brien]

The error is related to Fredo's AdditionalFolder plugin. Are you running this from a folder other than the default plugins folder?

[ivreich]

The error is related to Fredo's AdditionalFolder plugin. Are you running this from a folder other than the default plugins folder?

Not at all. I've installed the plugin directly into SU's default Plugins folder. Would it help if I removed Fredo's AdditionalFolder plugin?

Joel

[Rich O Brien]

I'd try it at least. Then we can identify a clash between plugins.