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View Full Version : Connecting Splines

FatAssasin
08-21-2004, 02:38 AM
I was wondering if there's a script, plugin, or built-in function in Max to connect multiple splines together. For example, say I wanted to quickly rough out an arm. I would create four or five circle shapes that represent cross sections going down the length of the arm and then quickly create a mesh object from the splines? I know there are other ways to do basically what I'm saying, like lofting with multiple shapes or creating patch surfaces. But I'm specifically thinking about a way of basically building faces using the verts of the circles where you wouldn't need to draw the extra splines down the length of the arm like you would if you were going to create a patch surface.

I think I could write a script to do what I'm thinking, but I wanted to check and make sure there's not some way that already exists to do this. I couldn't find anything so far. And if there's not some tool that already does this, does it sound like something that would be useful?

Thanks.
CarlosA
08-21-2004, 10:01 AM
well dude i'm sure there is. but it seem simple enough so i wrotte you a custum one.
i hope you feel special:).
there are to version of the script
1) the normal just run the script
2) macro version you can add to your ui or a hotKey.

the way it works, select the spline objects you want to be one.
run the script..
all the splines will be attached to the first spline in the selection.

cheers,
Los.
FreakyDude
08-21-2004, 11:26 AM
Wicked, like a kind of crossectoin modifier? I might try this out sometime.
sigge
08-21-2004, 11:36 AM
It got me thinking of the crossSection modifier too.. a tip of advice on crossSection though.. attach order is important, since it will crossection the splines in that order. Don't attach multiple splines at once, sometimes it attaches them in a strange order.
CarlosA
08-21-2004, 11:42 AM
well this script attaches in order of selection.
so if you select "a" object then "b" then "c", it will attach "b" to "a" and "c" to "a" in that order.
so it might still be usefull.
FreakyDude
08-21-2004, 01:14 PM
We didn't say it was not usefull, In fact I hardly ever used crossection becaus you had to be so careful which splines to connect first.
So if this plugin does it the abc way. Hell yeah i really think i may use this one as a replacement for crossection.
So don't get offended, we DO like the plugin.
Thank you for providing it.
FatAssasin
08-21-2004, 04:01 PM
That does the trick CarlosA. Thanks. And yes, I do feel very special. :)

I went ahead and added two more lines to the script just to complete the process...



curvs = selection as array
if curvs[1] != SplineShape then convertToSplineShape curvs[1]
for i = 2 to curvs.count do
(
if curvs[i] != SplineShape then convertToSplineShape curvs[i]
addAndWeld curvs[1] curvs[i] 0.0
)
addModifier curvs[1] (CrossSection ())
addModifier curvs[1] (Surface ())
CarlosA
08-21-2004, 07:07 PM
nice dude good job.

next you'll be writting this stuff all by yourself.
keep rocking brotha!
cheers,
Los.
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