C4D Equivalent for Maya's WedgeFace command

[Katachi]

cannot think of anything comparable.

[JoelOtron]

There was a hinge extrude command in MeshSurgery which only works in R8 and 8.5.

I guess you could clone 2 points from the edge you want to extrude, and copy them with your rotate axis positioned at the center of the hinge. Then clone/rotate them the number of times you need--then bridge them.

You could also disconnect the upper front poly you want to extrude and clone that 4 times down 180 degrees--ehn bridge them as well.

[Erik Heyninck]

If I understand you correctly, then you can extrude twice, then select the left and right edge of the last extrude and use functions>Collaps. To get the tris like in your example's sides, you need to select the left and right edges of the basic shape, use Structure>Edgecut, standard setting (50%) then delete the extruded polys and create new ones with bridge.

[jondoe0ne]

have you tried matrix extrude? you can try to adjust the end of the extrusion until it matches your desire... not too scientific i know but it's worth to give it a try...

[TGVoz]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.

Right now I'm working on getting my head around the first two. I understand the basic concepts but can't seem to execute them correctly. I have tried the Matrix Extrude but everything goes wonky.

As things stand now apparently the cylinder seems to be the easiest & fastest. Hopefully I'll get something working or someone will eventually write a plugin for this as I run into this problem quite often.

Thanks
Tim

[TGVoz]

There was a hinge extrude command in MeshSurgery which only works in R8 and 8.5.

I guess you could clone 2 points from the edge you want to extrude, and copy them with your rotate axis positioned at the center of the hinge. Then clone/rotate them the number of times you need--then bridge them.

You could also disconnect the upper front poly you want to extrude and clone that 4 times down 180 degrees--ehn bridge them as well.

Hello JoelD

Ok, it's official, after three days of trying to figure this out I've come to the conclusion that I'm just too stupid to get it.

When I try cloning points I can't seem to get the axis centered properly. I have basically the same problem with a disconnected front poly.

If you should find the time I would sincerely appreciate a walkthrough of the process.

Thanks
Tim

[AdamT]

Joel's busy, so I whipped up a little video tutorial for 'ya. :)

http://www.3danvil.com/Wedgie/Wedgie.html

Direct link to the flash file in case you want to save it: http://www.3danvil.com/Wedgie/Wedgie.swf

[TGVoz]

Hello AdamT

Thank you so very much for taking the time to create this very cool video tutorial. This has helped me tremendously. :applause:

Tim

[AdamT]

Happy to help. :)

[Linds]

Thanks Adam, I learned something too.

Cheers

[prayas]

me too learned something nice again. happy for today. Thanks AdamT.


P..:

[raycerx]

Hey- I learned something too! The axis hot key looks very helpful (along with the rest of it
), thanks... question: where the hell is the snapping pallet? Did you make it? Or is it hiding somewhere? Great video, thanks!

[Per-Anders]

The snap palette is by default available on "P"

[raycerx]

haha... simple enough. Thank you!

[Darter]

Here's a script for automating Wedge Face creation, based on Adam's approach.

The script works on square and rectangular polys.

I decided to leave geometry optimisation up to the user but this can be added if desired.

Extrusion direction can be controlled by recreating the source poly with the bridge tool before running the script. (This could be done more elegantly by implementing the script as a plugin.)

[benytone]

... question: where the hell is the snapping pallet? Did you make it? Or is it hiding somewhere? Great video, thanks!

Snap settings (see also here)


http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/2397/snap6xb.jpg
.

[Darter]

The script has been updated to work correctly with tapered polys (see previous post for updated file).

[moka.studio]

The script has been updated to work correctly with tapered polys (see previous post for updated file).

thanks for sharing Darter

[Darter]

Thanks moka.studio, it's nice to have some feedback.

One more update for the moment. The script now works with polys of any shape. Upper and lower point pairs don't have to share common centres. Applying it twice to a single poly gives a lathe effect (file updated).

[Aurety]

Wow !! Thanks Darter, Nice idea !!

[raycerx]

thank you benytone! and thanks for sharing Darter!

[tcastudios]

Great Darter! Almost missed this goodie , thanks.
Easy and quick to use. Is there a possibility to put in how many extrudes and end angle somewhere in the script?

Cheers
Lennart

[JoelOtron]

Thanks Darter! http://forums.cgsociety.org/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

[Darter]

Thanks to everyone for the feedback, it's good to know that the script is being found useful. Credit goes to AdamT for coming up with the modelling approach upon which the script is based.

Is there a possibility to put in how many extrudes and end angle somewhere in the script?
I think that this can be done using basic trig. It will have to be implemented as a COFFEE expression until I've gotten my head around dialogs. I'll have a look tomorrow.

[Stephane Bernie]

Why don't you extrude and then use the bevel tool? Seems it would make thing close enough to what you want....

Cheers

stephan

[TGVoz]

Great Darter! Almost missed this goodie , thanks.
Easy and quick to use. Is there a possibility to put in how many extrudes and end angle somewhere in the script?

Cheers
Lennart

Thanks Darter.:thumbsup: This is going to save me a whole lot of time.

As Lennart mentioned, the possibility of including the number of extrudes & end angle in the script would be fantastic.

Thanks
Tim

[Darter]

Okay, here's an update with Segments and End Angle settings. There is also a Hinge Edge setting. Applying the script sequentially with different hinge settings can produce some funky results.

User Data are on the null object in the included scene. The script will automatically detect the User Data whenever the scene is open and doesn't throw up any errors when it isn't. If anyone knows of a more streamlined way to get User Data into a script, please let me know. I can feel a calculator tutorial coming on...

The script will recognise multiple objects as long as they're on the same hierarchy level under the null.

The Hinge Edge User Data requires 9.6.

[tcastudios]

Brilliant Darter, you are wicked!

Since it it a script, I think it is no need for UserData inout given that you need unrelated objects to "get there". Without going the hole route making a plugin I think it is more than enough to type the setings in the script.

I did like this in the beginning of your code and are very happy!

if(!doc->GetActiveObject()) return;
if(!instanceof(op, PolygonObject)) return;

//var nullObj = op->GetUp();
//if(!nullObj) return;
//if(nullObj->GetName() != "Wedge Face Settings") return;


var hingeEdge =0; // 0123 = ABCD
var segments = 1;
var endAngle = Radians(30); // final endangle steps included



Cheers
Lennart

[Darter]

Thanks Lennart, always good to see a bit of COFFEE-induced happiness! Your input has been appreciated.

I think you're right about the User Data. The convenience isn't worth losing the stand-alone portability of a script. In case anyone else prefers this approach, here's an amended version of the script:

[AdamT]

Excellent! This is a real time saver.

[tcastudios]

For future tasks. If you have UserData faders attached to a coffee tag ie, and then save it as "Save Tag Preset" (rename the tag to something meaningfull first) , then the UserData follows:). Just Load Tag preset to any other object. This way a supersimple JoeDoe plugin can be made.

Cheers
Lennart

[tcastudios]

Ok Darter, while you are hot :)
Something similar is needed for edge wedgeing, isn't it?
As of now, we have to extrude the edge by zero, move the modelling axis and then rotate.
Repeat till done. Doable but boring, right?

Also fitting a scaled edge wedge is darn hard.


Cheers
Lennart

[TGVoz]

Hello Darter

Thank you very much for the updates. Very cool :thumbsup:

Tim

[Darter]

Thanks again to everyone for the feedback.

The last version of the script has been updated to include a test for out-of-range hinge edge values.

Something similar is needed for edge wedgeing, isn't it?
As of now, we have to extrude the edge by zero, move the modelling axis and then rotate.
Repeat till done. Doable but boring, right?

Also fitting a scaled edge wedge is darn hard.

Yes, this looks like a good candidate for a script. I have an approach in mind but will need to make enquiries in the coding sub-forum to see whether it's viable. I won't have time to do anything serious for a day or two.

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