Problem with undulated surface

[pollock]

Hi everyone,

I have this tricky problem, that hopefully someone can help me with…

I’ve designed this undulated surface (see image) and now I want to create a  2D - "template" of the surface area to cut the polygons for a real-world-model (see next image).

So far, the only way I found is to use the "align-plane" tool on each polygon individually, to align them to the layer plane and then arrange them manually, which is pretty time-consuming. Is there a better way to do this?

Thanks,

P.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[rDesign]

This seems like a task perfectly suited for re-scripting in Marionette.  @MarissaF - what do you think?

[AlanW]

@pollock

Hi, Simplest way I know if you want to gut up the pieces and build a real model is to create a site model and 3D style 3D triangles. (triangle because you can then create the 3D form when you paste them together. Squares wont form a 3D model. Take a snapshot of your model from the OIP and then Explode it (Ctl + K) and tick convert all to sub-objects. Ungroup and you will have all the separate triangle you need to build your model. Hope this is what you were after.

To measure each piece so you can build it use the G key to measure each triangle. As each piece is a 3D poly it will measure the length of a line in 3D which is what yo need, not the x or y dim.

Though I could unfold the surfaces with Model / 3D Powerpack / Unfold Surfaces but to no avail. 

Terrain to cardboard model v2016.vwx

Edited November 19, 2016 by Alan Woodwell

[pollock]

Thank you for your time and the prompt replies!

So I guess I do have to measure / align each triangle individually?

I was hoping for a way to speed up that process…

 

Unfortunately, I only have access to VW2015, so Marionette is not available to me.

Cheers,

P.

[AlanW]

To draw each face you can align the working plane to each face then draw each face in screen plane and print them all off.
Marionette will look at it to see if possible. You need to unfold the object and possible in other programs like 3D Max etc.

Edited November 19, 2016 by Alan Woodwell

[AlanW]

Hi here is a 2015 file. So far to get each shape I aligned my X axis to each horizontal section each triangle and looke at side view and rotated the face down to layer plane, this way you can print it out and cut and fold your model.

Terrain to cardboard model v2015.vwx

[Kevin McAllister]

1 hour ago, Alan Woodwell said:

Though I could unfold the surfaces with Model / 3D Powerpack / Unfold Surfaces but to no avail.

 

I'm not sure if it will work in this instance but its worth a try. The surfaces need to be converted to NURBS first since this is what the command expects as input. It will only work on developable surfaces, which these should be because of their planar nature. I have a hunch it may just pile on the pieces on top of each other though.... the best solution might be to try a demo version of Rhino which has much better tools for this - Unroll Surface and Smash.

 

KM

[pollock]

Thanks so much for the support, everyone!

I’m sorry I didn’t respond sooner, I only have access to VW on a friends’ computer, so it took me a while to try a few things out. I’m afraid I didn't fully understand your suggestions, Allan, as my experience with VW is limited, but I managed to get it done by aligning the triangles to the layer plane, rotating them so all points were at 0-level, and rearranging them… 

Kevin, I tried converting the surface to NURBS, but I still got the following error-message: 

I might have to look into Rhino sometime. Anyway, thanks again,

Cheers,

P.

[Kevin McAllister]

The error message likely means that some of your "triangles" twist and are non-planar. Is it a mesh?

We might be able to help further if you post an example file containing all or part of your surface.

 

Kevin

 

[AlanW]

Sit it does unfold. Create your terrain and set it to 3D mesh solid. Convert to nurbs and ungroup. Then Model/3d Powerpack/ unfold surfaces and bingo.

Possible may need to put a name on each but colour may help putting it back together again. HTH

[pollock]

Hi Allan,

this worked for me!

I had to turn my surface into a site model first, and color - coding is definitely necessary, but it worked great.

Thanks again for all the help,

cheers,

p.

 

[bcd]

Similar to these suggestions:

Create Site Model

Ungroup

Extract Planar Surfaces->Color Code->Change to Screen Plane objects in the OIP

Reassemble (you may have to flip each one vertically)

 

 

 

Edited November 29, 2016 by bcd

[bcd]