replicate along polyline

Greasetattoo · 6th February 2008, 12:11 PM

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?

lisa · 6th February 2008, 03:05 PM

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!

Greasetattoo · 6th February 2008, 03:09 PM

Thank you, Lisa!
Saved me a lot of time!

I never used greeble, so I may have to get my hands wet!
thanks

lisa · 6th February 2008, 03:20 PM

I *love* the greeble tool. It's really good for placing trees on landscapes and that kind of thing, too.

Greasetattoo · 6th February 2008, 05:42 PM

2.5 hours later....

lisa · 6th February 2008, 07:11 PM

Very nice!

Klyde · 27th March 2008, 01:38 AM

Way kewl- that chain is unreal (the good unreal, he he) in it's clarity. Awesome chain dude. Lisa is the bomb!!! (ok better word(s) - Off the hook!!!!)

6th February 2008, 12:11 PM	#1
Greasetattoo 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
lisa 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! Attached Thumbnails

6th February 2008, 03:09 PM	#3
Greasetattoo 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
lisa 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
Greasetattoo Member Expert member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Minnesota Posts: 97	Re: replicate along polyline 2.5 hours later.... Attached Thumbnails

6th February 2008, 07:11 PM	#6
lisa Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 917	Re: replicate along polyline Very nice!

27th March 2008, 01:38 AM	#7
Klyde Senior Member Professional user Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: USA Posts: 227	Re: replicate along polyline Way kewl- that chain is unreal (the good unreal, he he) in it's clarity. Awesome chain dude. Lisa is the bomb!!! (ok better word(s) - Off the hook!!!!)