Pwr_Pipe and Pwr_Tube Lacking UV Trimming...

[PiXeL_MoNKeY]

It appears that some tools lack UV Trimming that would benefit to have it working. Currently neither Pwr_Pipe nor Pwr_Tube have the ability to extend the ends using UV Trimming. This would benefit those of us trying to use Pipe (which lacks the Pwr_Surface interface) and Tube (has the UI, but it does nothing) to Trim Surfaces for blending purposes.

-Eric

[nPower_Dave]

Originally Posted by PiXeL_MoNKeY

It appears that some tools lack UV Trimming that would benefit to have it working. Currently neither Pwr_Pipe nor Pwr_Tube have the ability to extend the ends using UV Trimming. This would benefit those of us trying to use Pipe (which lacks the Pwr_Surface interface) and Tube (has the UI, but it does nothing) to Trim Surfaces for blending purposes.

-Eric

Hi Eric,

Are you referring to the type of trimming where you pull back the ends (offset)? Why do you want this? What exactly are you trying to accomplish?

[PiXeL_MoNKeY]

To extend the pipe beyond the end of the sketch. This is used in alot of other NURBS package tutorials when the trim surface doesn't cover the whole area needed. You can do it using Rail Sweep using a circle sketch, then extend it beyond the sketch rail. However this requires more steps than what could be achieved with Pwr_Pipe.

*NOTE:* Just saw in one of the videos that you can extend the sketch in the Reconstruct Curve options.

-Eric

[PiXeL_MoNKeY]

David, see the attached Max 2009 files.

Trimming_Extension.max: Shows the difference, between Pwr_RailSweep UV Trimming (best/easiest results), and using the Sketch Trim/Extend on the Sketch of the Pwr_Pipe and Pwr_Tube (Extending the same amount at the Sketch produces different results, and only works properly when sketch is a single edge, see below). The top Pwr_Tube object has its UV Trimming enabled, but it does nothing. Pwr_Tube and Pwr_Pipe should offer the same easy extension option as the Pwr_RailSweep.

Sketch_Trim_Extend_Issues.max: Shows the issues with trying to extend curves. Trying to extend a CompSkt produces an illegal shape. Converting to a EditSkt and trying to extend extends all edges the specified percentage. Join the edges and extending the same amount produces extremely large results. All 3 of these cases should produce the same or similar results.

-Eric

[Olaf Finkbeiner]

Dear Eric,
one problems is in the "label" percentage. It is not a real length percentage but some mathematical value. Something like the x axis in a graph displaying a formular...
So depending on the shape of the curve the length of the percentage changes.
It is not easy to calculate the length of a curve. I agree howerevr that this would be great if it could be changed into real length percentages.
Also i agree that this should also work on sketches with multiple splines.

Olaf