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lisa · 19th November 2007, 08:08 PM

Ahh... I see. You mean the tank-tread kind of thing, right?

Hmmm. I'd probably use a similar method. Build a flat plane with a single section of tread on it. Replicate it to make the three straight sections of the triangle. When you get to the part where it needs to curve, use Dennis's knife tool to make a number of even cuts across the tread section cutting it into pieces. Rotate each slice incrementally to make the curve. This might be easier if you set your preferences to rotate around object centres, then adjust the object center to the edge where the two slices touch before you rotate. If your triangle is roughly equilateral, you may only need to do it for one of the curves, then replicate the slices for the other two corners.

Another idea: I haven't tried this so I'm not sure if it would work, but seeing the nifty way that TBD made the pile of bricks the other day, I bet you might be able to do it with greebles. Make the rubber belt by extruding a polyline, then make a custom greeble in the shape of your tread and apply it to the belt.

19th November 2007, 08:08 PM	#9
lisa Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 917	Re: Wheel Ahh... I see. You mean the tank-tread kind of thing, right? Hmmm. I'd probably use a similar method. Build a flat plane with a single section of tread on it. Replicate it to make the three straight sections of the triangle. When you get to the part where it needs to curve, use Dennis's knife tool to make a number of even cuts across the tread section cutting it into pieces. Rotate each slice incrementally to make the curve. This might be easier if you set your preferences to rotate around object centres, then adjust the object center to the edge where the two slices touch before you rotate. If your triangle is roughly equilateral, you may only need to do it for one of the curves, then replicate the slices for the other two corners. Another idea: I haven't tried this so I'm not sure if it would work, but seeing the nifty way that TBD made the pile of bricks the other day, I bet you might be able to do it with greebles. Make the rubber belt by extruding a polyline, then make a custom greeble in the shape of your tread and apply it to the belt.