Vortex box

[Palle]

Hi all,

 

I'm trying to generate an object to be produced IRL, inspired by the object in the reference image. But I want only a specified number of steps of framed boxes, until the inner box, which is a solid, as seen in the other image. I want to be able to tweak the parameters, so I can find the right scaling factor and rotation. 

 

The parameters I want to control are:

> Dimensions of biggest box

> Total number of box repetitions.

> End angle of the solid (smallest) box

> The initial size of the profile for the frame boxes (which is also scaled down for each box in the ref image - but could be a fixed value in stead)

 

So far, I've built a script that makes solid cubes, scales and rotates them.

 

Two questions: 

> I need a way to generate the frame boxes in stead of solid cubes. So I can actually see the framed boxes with the chosen profile size. This is my biggest struggle.. 

> And for versatility, a better way to generate the list of scaling values for the boxes. As is, I have to populate the list myself.

 

Any suggestions for other ways to better build a script like this is great.  Appreciate any help..!

Palle

 

Marionette Kais object.vwx

[mjm]

10 hours ago, Palle said:

Hi all,

 

I'm trying to generate an object to be produced IRL, inspired by the object in the reference image. But I want only a specified number of steps of framed boxes, until the inner box, which is a solid, as seen in the other image. I want to be able to tweak the parameters, so I can find the right scaling factor and rotation. 

 

The parameters I want to control are:

> Dimensions of biggest box

> Total number of box repetitions.

> End angle of the solid (smallest) box

> The initial size of the profile for the frame boxes (which is also scaled down for each box in the ref image - but could be a fixed value in stead)

 

So far, I've built a script that makes solid cubes, scales and rotates them.

 

Two questions: 

> I need a way to generate the frame boxes in stead of solid cubes. So I can actually see the framed boxes with the chosen profile size. This is my biggest struggle.. 

> And for versatility, a better way to generate the list of scaling values for the boxes. As is, I have to populate the list myself.

 

Any suggestions for other ways to better build a script like this is great.  Appreciate any help..!

Palle

 

Marionette Kais object.vwx

Cool!

[STERNontwerp]

Since it is symmetrical you could start with just a path-extrude of a square and mirror/rotate that six times.

[Palle]

23 minutes ago, STERNontwerp said:

Since it is symmetrical you could start with just a path-extrude of a square and mirror/rotate that six times.

 

Gotcha. But which node would you use for mirroring them? 

[STERNontwerp]

There's a Mirror node in 'Operations'

[STERNontwerp]

When you input something else then 9 into 'Number of Boxes', then it goes wrong. The squares are out of line and there are still 9. There are 9 outputs of the ordered list when you input 3 into Number of Boxes.

Maybe there is a solution without the ordered list with the [mul list] node (basic math), [Repeat], and [Sequence]?

[Palle]

34 minutes ago, STERNontwerp said:

There's a Mirror node in 'Operations'

But only for 2D objects, right? So, mirror all paths before extrusion? 

 

And yes, I know the problem - and that's what I also want to solve. The ordered-list-node I use for generating the list of sizes does not relate to the input for number of boxes, so right now after changing the input, I would have to also make new nodes and connecting to make the sequence. Repeat and sequence. Will try that.. 

 

[STERNontwerp]

It works with 3D objects, but I don't think it works with groups. You could use [Ungroup] & [Solid Boolean] (Objects/Solid) To make 1 object from the path-extruded squares.

(But actually you don't have to mirror, move and rotate should be enough)

[Stephan Moenninghoff]

@Palle You need to supply a list of values to the rect and, subsequently, extrude node. That will take care of everything. The ordered list is not necessary for this kind of thing.

[Stephan Moenninghoff]

Try this. It's not far off, just needs some refinement.

 

Vortex Box.vwx

Edited November 29, 2018 by Stephan Moenninghoff

[Palle]

@Stephan Moenninghoff Thanks for the  code. However, I am looking for an expression that gives me size increments that are NOT constant. The have to gradually become less and less, never reaching zero. Therefore, I apply the scaling factor to each step. 

 

The question is really, how do I express that in Marionette? 

INPUTS:

- Start value

- Number of steps

- Scaling factor (i.e. 92% of previous list item)

OUTPUT:

Decreasing or increasing list of values

[Stephan Moenninghoff]

Use a function perhaps, like x*x*50 or something similar?

[Palle]

Solved it, thanks! You pointed in the right direction: [the scaling factor] to the power of [a list of values from 0-max] gives the perfect list.

[Palle]

Got back to the task - after some weeks away from it..

 

It's easy to input a list into rectangle/extrude nodes to give different sizes of closed boxes, but with my frame box (made inside the wrapper with solid boolean) is there a way to scale CSG solids - or - is there a way to input the different sizes in to this wrapper node? 

marionette Kais object 4.vwx

Edited December 26, 2018 by Palle
solved it

[Palle]

(Solved previous question - the code is now a marionette object)

 

All of a sudden, I'm getting an error message "object is not subscriptable". I understand it's about an int node connected to a rectangle node inside the wrapper called 'OPEN BOXES'.

 

Can anyone explain what this error is about? 

 

marionette Kais object 5.vwx

 

 

marionette Kais object 5.vwx

[SBarrettWalker]

Hi @Palle-

It looks like you have an integer node attached to the "vRot" input of the rectangle nodes in one of your wrappers. This input requires a vector - that is what the "v" means. It looks like all of the Int nodes you are using have a value of 0 so you are not looking to rotate any of the rectangles. If you simply remove these Int nodes and leave those rectangle inputs open the script will work how you want.

[SBarrettWalker]

I noticed that your rectangle nodes are named and when I remove the Int node then those names appear on the outside of the wrapper. To keep this from happening, you can attach a 2D Vector node with the values of 1 for X and 0 for Y to the vRot inputs of the rectangles. Those are the default values for no rotation.