New script: 3D guidelines

[thierry_st_malo]

Hi, all!
I have just completed VGuide, my first script for AC3D. VGuide implements 3D guidelines, a useful measurement and alignment tool, in AC3D.
To see what it is all about and perhaps download the thing, please visit my site at http://www.tvi-sarl.com this is NOT a commercial site) and click on the "AC3D" link in the left frame.
Hope you'll find that useful,
Thierry

[luuckyy]

For now, I find it useful to insert n vertices on an edge

Thank you very much !

[luuckyy]

Hello Thierry,
I think I've found a little problem with your script.
I've just tried to insert 5 vertices on a cube's edge and ... it seems that your script "puts" 5 vertices on the edge and not "inserts" them properly.
In other words, the newly created vertices are created as a separated object, they are not part of the cube geometry.
Even merging cube + object doesn't help.

Is that the way it is supposed to work ?

[thierry_st_malo]

Yes, it is; what you can do with these vertices is create a line (which I could do in the script, if you wish). At the moment, given the set of ac3d Tcl/Tk commands that are available, I don't see what else I could do. If and when the "get_selected_surface" I suggested (see the "Suggestions" forum) is available I'll be able to solve your problem.
Thierry

[luuckyy]

Ok, thanks for the reply.

[thierry_st_malo]

Thinking about your problem, luuckyy;

I know it is a pain, but you could do the following:
- Delete one of the two cube facets that share the offending edge;
- Create an ordered surface using the new vertices (when you create an ordered surface, the only thing that matters is that the first three vertices are not aligned, so that AC3D can compute the surface's normal - the following ones may be aligned, who cares?)
- Do the same with the second cube facet that shares the offending edge.
- Merge again everything.
Sorry about that, but at the moment I can't suggest anything better.

Thierry

P.S: Being as curious as an old she-cat, may I ask why you need that kind of things?

[luuckyy]

Thanks for your suggestion Thierry.
I will try and see.

I sometimes need to "insert any number of vertices at equal distance between the origin and the extremity" of an edge (I've taken that sentence from your webpage - how lazy can I be sometimes ).
AC3D's "insert vertice" native function is ok but if you keep inserting vertices along an edge, you have 1 then 3 then 7 ... vertices inserted - What if I only need 6 vertices at equal distance from each others and from the origin and the extremity ?

I was in need of that, for example, for my bus front grill.
And I've used a mesh and used it as a knife.
It's much more time consuming.

[Terry Capps]

I already downloaded your Vplane script which is great. The 3D guidelines script looks like it is going to be great as well. I will try to remember to post another reply after I have had a chance to play with it.

[thierry_st_malo]

I will be doing even more if and when my suggestion for an "ac3d get_selected_surface" is accepted or if the SDK becomes accessible from .NET languages.
Thanks for your comments, in any case.
Thierry

[Terry Capps]

I have been creating a model of an existing device that I intend to modify and your 3D-Guidelines has been invaluable. I can determine the widths, thicknesses, etc of the actual device using a dial caliper and a micrometer, but, although ac3d will accept, and calculate, dimensions out to 4 places, it only shows the dimensions of things to two places. Your script-tool is great for showing the dimensions out to 4 places. I use that feature a lot. I have only used its ability to insert verticies a few times, but the degree of control that it offers is a real timesaver.

I think your script ought to be incorporated into the standard ac3d program. I can't imagine not having it now. Great stuff!