micheus, that video you've shared is impressive! (and so is the cost of the software)
1) right, I get it now. that was just an example because I have yet to see hydroforming of 3D shapes, in my case it's somehow "too basic and coarse" to be of any real use.
2) why does your illustration in #post14 show that the columns of each color sets are detached? there still is the problem of vector output...
I wrote another reply which was somehow lost, so I'll repost its content.. basically it's aout how I managed to create the first unfold illustration I posted for my egg.
- select one face only
- view -> align to selection
- file -> export selected -> cartoon edges > [OK]
loop over for all wanted faces, import the resulting SVGs in [inkscape, ...] to rotate/assemble them.
I had some scaling issues with a few parts, probably because I inadvertently changed the zoom level at some point.
maybe it's easier to automate this rather than use the auto-UV method*? in this case, what I would suggest is let the user select a number of edges. then, recurse over the faces attached to one edge, then if not all folds have been processed create a new group and so on.
ssmeier, this is better than nothing but I still see some issues.
first and most important, I notice there is some co-planarity problem with pentagonal faces that were subdivided (and shouldn't have been). I suppose this is due to rounding errors somewhere along the line, so even if I don't cut the superfluous edges I will have problems to assemble afterwards.
Couldn't figure out a way to change the size of the tabs or remove them completely.. not a major issue I suppose though.
again, it goes by selecting the cuts, but _any_ real-life problem will have more cuts than folds so it (mathematically) makes more sense to select where to fold (as opposed to where to cut).
regarding the difficulty of selecting an edge, selecting both faces touching that edge is also an option (edge selected? excellent, fold this. face selected? never mind, prompt to select another face and figure out which edge connects these two faces.
I am not in favor of on-line browser-based software.
a software that unfolds should imperatively output the folds and cuts on different layers or groups. For papercraft this is not an issue, but when it comes to laser/waterjet/milling these need to be treated differently because of the depth dimension (folds will just be engraved a few micrometers, while cuts will go all the way through).
Will now send an e-mail to phuocdh to lete him know about those bugs.
* auto-UV method has the advantage of being able to apply a texture and preview how the result's gonna be. in the case of CNC machining, the texture would need to be vectorial anyway and that can be added later on.
1) right, I get it now. that was just an example because I have yet to see hydroforming of 3D shapes, in my case it's somehow "too basic and coarse" to be of any real use.
2) why does your illustration in #post14 show that the columns of each color sets are detached? there still is the problem of vector output...
I wrote another reply which was somehow lost, so I'll repost its content.. basically it's aout how I managed to create the first unfold illustration I posted for my egg.
- select one face only
- view -> align to selection
- file -> export selected -> cartoon edges > [OK]
loop over for all wanted faces, import the resulting SVGs in [inkscape, ...] to rotate/assemble them.
I had some scaling issues with a few parts, probably because I inadvertently changed the zoom level at some point.
maybe it's easier to automate this rather than use the auto-UV method*? in this case, what I would suggest is let the user select a number of edges. then, recurse over the faces attached to one edge, then if not all folds have been processed create a new group and so on.
ssmeier, this is better than nothing but I still see some issues.
first and most important, I notice there is some co-planarity problem with pentagonal faces that were subdivided (and shouldn't have been). I suppose this is due to rounding errors somewhere along the line, so even if I don't cut the superfluous edges I will have problems to assemble afterwards.
Couldn't figure out a way to change the size of the tabs or remove them completely.. not a major issue I suppose though.
again, it goes by selecting the cuts, but _any_ real-life problem will have more cuts than folds so it (mathematically) makes more sense to select where to fold (as opposed to where to cut).
regarding the difficulty of selecting an edge, selecting both faces touching that edge is also an option (edge selected? excellent, fold this. face selected? never mind, prompt to select another face and figure out which edge connects these two faces.
I am not in favor of on-line browser-based software.
a software that unfolds should imperatively output the folds and cuts on different layers or groups. For papercraft this is not an issue, but when it comes to laser/waterjet/milling these need to be treated differently because of the depth dimension (folds will just be engraved a few micrometers, while cuts will go all the way through).
Will now send an e-mail to phuocdh to lete him know about those bugs.
* auto-UV method has the advantage of being able to apply a texture and preview how the result's gonna be. in the case of CNC machining, the texture would need to be vectorial anyway and that can be added later on.