This script will take a component and apply it to a series of connected lines.
Select a series of connectd edges, they can not form a closed loop. Also have a single component selected (it will not work on groups).
Then activate this script in Plugins > Chris Fullmer Tools > Component Stringer.
It will show you wich end of the edges is the start and the end. It will ask if you want to reverse their direction. It then asks if you want to use a uniform scale, or just stretch the component. Please watch the video for a demonstration.
I was wondering however if you could make it somehow that the plugin would rotate every second bit so that you could build chains with it easily.
(Although now as I am writing this, I realise that there would be more as well - like those components should also overlap the line segments so that the link into each other - and also what if the line curves in all 3 dimensions so forget it)
I was wondering however if you could make it somehow that the plugin would rotate every second bit so that you could build chains with it easily.
(Although now as I am writing this, I realise that there would be more as well - like those components should also overlap the line segments so that the link into each other - and also what if the line curves in all 3 dimensions so forget it)
Make half chain link (U) and use this tool then edit that chain and copy/hand the U geometry into an O loop of say 2.2 the original length, now you have your links; us 'make unique' on one of the links, edit it and rotate its contents 90 degrees. Select every other link and replace with this rotated one... a chain... done.
I was wondering however if you could make it somehow that the plugin would rotate every second bit so that you could build chains with it easily.
(Although now as I am writing this, I realise that there would be more as well - like those components should also overlap the line segments so that the link into each other - and also what if the line curves in all 3 dimensions so forget it)
I gotta second this idea. I don't know if it's even possible. I made a 3d spiral in which the line segments decrease in length linearly towards the center, and applied the script. That created components that followed the size decrease. I'd like them to rotate "X" degrees per segment, along the lines of "follow me and rotate" or FFD, but those only work with connected faces; I'd like to see if it can be done with individual components along the axis of the path followed. Any way you can think of to do that, with or without the plugin?
A lot of people are waiting for long a set of tools to make copy of objects along a path. With this Component Stringer, we get one of them. A cool one.
It is very easy to do various necklaces with it. I have played it and threw an eye on some corners of it's possibilities.
What it is not made for:
>>It is not made to make chains when links are imbricated together. I have tried TIG solution (not exactly the same) with a rather poor result..
TIG wrote:Make half chain link (U) and use this tool then edit that chain and copy/hand the U geometry into an O loop of say 2.2 the original length, now you have your links; us 'make unique' on one of the links, edit it and rotate its contents 90 degrees. Select every other link and replace with this rotated one... a chain... done.
Also this tool is not made to mix more than one component on to the path. If we need to do that, we have to do another way.
Thnk you again for this tool! you have a great talent to concoct easy but useful and strong tool..
My respect, Simon.
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Last edited by simon le bon on Sun Nov 15, 2009 4:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I've been thinking about that. As of right now, I am not selling any of my scripts (in time that will change). But for now, I might implement a paypal link.
I also really want to add a link to my all my plugins page, and also a link to my YouTube channel where I'll be uploading all my video tutorials from now on. I want people who download these to have quicker access to the video tutorials I make for my scripts.
So plan on seeing a few items like that being added to my plugins folder eventually.
Would it be possible to have each component connect to the beginning of each line segment, but not scale. So the very next component would start before the first one ended. This would make it easier to make chain links to interconnect.
However, thanks for all you great plugins.
Ken
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Fight like your the third monkey on Noah's Ark gangway.
Chris Fullmer wrote:I also really want to add a link to my all my plugins page,
The link you put is the link to download clf-component-stringer.rb. I guess you are talking about this Chris Fullmer plugin' page which is very useful.!! (And easy to reproduce for each author of this place) *simon
Another awesome script. Thanks very much! I agree that you are at a point now where you could charge for your scripts but I also understand that you need to be comfortable doing that. I will gladly support you when you do. I have bought SOME scripts and I hardly use them, yet. It's obvious that you enjoy writing them and knowing others appreciate it definitely must help. How about you set up that PayPal and let people donate as they download. I'm not sure how long it takes to write these but I'm sure you have quite a few hours put into it so far. Anyway, keep up the great work! Your a good guy Chris!
Cheers,
Jeff
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Have I mentioned how much of a laugh I get out of some of the Signatures on here!
Thanks! I am sure meny will find this usefull. There is still some extra steps needed to make a chain... I wonder how soon some will make working SP roller chain with this
And thus SketchUp became the easiest way to design a roller coaster.
Ken wrote:Would it be possible to have each component connect to the beginning of each line segment, but not scale.
Right click > Reset scale. You have to do this for each instance. There must be a "mass reset scale" script somewhere. EDIT: It seems there isn't. Make sure to set a keyboard shortcut for "reset scale" so you can do this quickly.
It's a photo, Jeff. This is a famous house by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. I'm just suggesting that this script will now make this kind of crazy things possible in SketchUp.
Very cool plugin that ultimately should be very useful, for architectural modeling not just necklaces. Thank you Chris.
We have something like this in our CAD program. Some of the different things that CAD feature does is: place objects contiguously or at a user-set spacing, stretch/shrink and bend objects objects or not. rotate objects or not, rotate randomly, fill the length of a path with various "fudge" settings (gives different number/spacing of objects within path), offset objects from path. Just some options to think of possibilities.
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MacOSX MojaveSketchUp Pro v19 Twilight v2 Thea v3 PowerCADD
Suggestion : a little rotation between each components? Ah damned that was yet in the Todo list So this one : change colors between each components (or according with the segment)
PS We are listening crickets or cicida during the video plug
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Frenchy Pilou Is beautiful that please without concept! My Little site :)
It's a photo, Jeff. This is a famous house by Spanish architect Antoni Gaudí. I'm just suggesting that this script will now make this kind of crazy things possible in SketchUp.
