6th February 2008, 12:11 PM | #1 |
Member
Expert member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 97
|
replicate along polyline
I think we need a way to replicate a object along a polyline.
I am trying to make a motorcycle chain. With about 50 links. Does anyone have a idea on how to do this? |
6th February 2008, 03:05 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Professional user
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 917
|
Re: replicate along polyline
You could do it by abuse-of-greeble, which works quite well. After seeing tbd's neat-o trick with the bricks, I've been using greebles to build all kinds of things.
1) Make a single link of chain as its own object, and turn it into a custom greeble by putting //CUSTOM_GREEBLE in the object properties. 2) Draw your polyline, keeping each segment of the polyline as close as possible to the length of the link of chain. 3) Extrude the polyline so that it is the width of the chain link as well. You should now have a flat "ribbon" in the shape of your chain. Delete the original polyline, leaving just the ribbon. 4) Select the ribbon and open in the greeble tool. Turn off bevelling, turn on only custom greebles, and set all sizes and percentages to 100% as shown; if you need them bigger to make sure they touch you can even set it beyond 100%. The idea is that you want one, full-size, unrotated greeble on each surface. (Side note: if you set the tool to leave each greeble in its own object, it will make it easier to go back and tweak the chain later if you want to adjust individual links.) 5) Click the "Create Greebles" button and ta-da, instant chain! |
6th February 2008, 03:09 PM | #3 |
Member
Expert member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 97
|
Re: replicate along polyline
Thank you, Lisa!
Saved me a lot of time! I never used greeble, so I may have to get my hands wet! thanks |
6th February 2008, 03:20 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Professional user
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 917
|
Re: replicate along polyline
I *love* the greeble tool. It's really good for placing trees on landscapes and that kind of thing, too.
|
6th February 2008, 05:42 PM | #5 |
Member
Expert member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 97
|
Re: replicate along polyline
2.5 hours later....
|
6th February 2008, 07:11 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Professional user
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 917
|
Re: replicate along polyline
Very nice!
|
10th March 2008, 11:30 AM | #7 |
Senior Member
Professional user
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brighton, England
Posts: 231
|
Re: replicate along polyline
Lisa I need your help, I tried doing the custom greeble technique as explained above, but it wont work for me, I am doing everything you say but whenever I hit create greebles, i get this message!please help!!??
__________________
MarshallARTS, Playtime for the professionals! http://www.turbosquid.com/Search/Ind...lAuthorExact/y |
11th March 2008, 04:27 AM | #8 |
Member
Expert member
Join Date: May 2006
Location: international
Posts: 96
|
Re: replicate along polyline
My problem was not typing //CUSTOM_GREEBLE exactly.
using lower case and missing an underscore, doh! I still get that error, but the greeble works so I'm happy. I note MrSteve has his object named //CUSTOM_GREEBLE Not sure if he has his property set right. Last edited by Ham; 11th March 2008 at 04:44 AM. |
11th March 2008, 08:47 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Professional user
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Brighton, England
Posts: 231
|
Re: replicate along polyline
Thanks ham, i was naming the object custom greeble instead of the object date feild its all good now, thanks
__________________
MarshallARTS, Playtime for the professionals! http://www.turbosquid.com/Search/Ind...lAuthorExact/y Last edited by MrSteve; 11th March 2008 at 05:29 PM. Reason: wrong person, sorry |
12th March 2008, 04:26 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Professional user
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 917
|
Re: replicate along polyline
I know what that error probably is... very last part of step #3, "delete the original polyline". Once you extrude, the polyline becomes effectively invisible, so you can't see it, but it's still there running along the edge of the faces.
Since it's a 2D shape, it can't be greebled. If you find the dead shape and delete it (may be easier if you select everything and click the "poly' button above the materials palette), that error should go away. EDIT: for the curious... leaving the polyline doesn't really hurt anything, it's just wasted polys. |
|
|