Hi Lara (Mala),

The base line (or base surface), is created by the user to guide the placement of the text.
For your torus surface case, the base should (most likely) be a base surface.

So make a plane in proximity to your text. The plane is the base surface.

So the user may have to do some math to get the size of the plane rectangle, versus the surface dimensions of the torus, to guide where the text is "flowed" to. This is where unwrap of the two radii of the torus could help with plane dimensions times desired fraction. Also PI * 2* some radius could help.

Sizes of base line or surface, and placement at a base of the text, (Either the bottom of the letters, or the backside surface of the letters,) and point selected on torus, all influence the final result.

- Brian

Like Burr says, the text can be lying on top of the base surface, or standing on top of the base surface...( or base line)

Think of the base surface and the text being made of stretchy or compressible rubber. Consider the text as lying down on the rubber sheet. The Flow command does some math, translations, scaling, rotation, alignment...
The base surface is stretched and curved to match a section of the torus, and the text stretches to match.

- Brian

The user may want to cut out a section of the torus where the letters are to be located, and unfold the dimensions, (like unwrapping), to make the base suface, with a copy to be placed below the text. The target of the flow is the unwrapped section of torus. This would preserve some of the spacings.

The torus section could be a section of its outer semi-circular surface...

Hi Mala,

Here is a picture of the required steps.
I hope it is of some help to your question.

Michel

Edit Pilou suggestion made me realize it was simpler to do it in one step, by unwrapping the whole torus.
You will get a plane of the size of the ring, and it will be easier to place ornaments on the surface.
Here is a second picture (the one with the grid) showing the process and a tip on how to move the seam of a torus.

Michel

Another cool method!

Draw any surface on your cylinder (trim it)

Now you can Flow anything you want! :)

Maybe sometimes orient your letters + base Surface (here perpendicular) before the Flow! :)

Et voilà :)

Hi Mala, please let me know if you are still stuck.

- Michael

Very nice method.
Let MoI do the math whenever possible.
- B

Hello,
not ready, but I checked the concept.
Thank you very much for your kicks...

Cheers, Mala

I do not often work with moi. But if I do, I cannot believe what you can do with it....my deepest thank you, Michael (and to all you, kind, friendly and constructive folks...)

Hi Mala, is that going in the direction that you wanted? If not please post the .3dm file with the objects in it so I can show you where you need to click to control the alignment for surface to surface flow.

- Michael

Ok - i got problems with the 3-axis-cnc machine where I intend to produce the ring. The idea is to make it with a polyline of the font. I created it. But...I cannot bend it on the surface. Is it possible that polylines cannot be formed on a bended plane?

Why not...

As you can see font is just curvated along the curve
so just take surface(s) as start and target and you will obtain perfect fit in all directions! ;)

Meanwhile it it clear. Tried it with a base line. Failed. With a base plane it works...

Thanks Pilou. But it is not wrapped...or just not ready?

...besides...how did you change so fast the text direction axis?

PS Speed is because i just record the "do redo undo"! ;)

So you don't see the mouse go to the icons and times to click! :)

Even that it's very speed naturally!
With the "Edit frame" (Options / Views (enable Show "Edit Frame") ) it's also very speedy!

Orientations of results depend of the place(s) where you click on surface(s)! (base & target)

And yes a "line" base can't be wraped on a surface curvated on 2 directions!
A "surface" base yes! :)

Hi Lara.

Watch the video on the links in my message, they are based on the method that was published above.
In the video, instead of pressing the done key, I replaced it with pressing the right mouse button.

https://yadi.sk/i/Iqgz1wWfLr8ezw

https://yadi.sk/i/Ruspmko-matIqA

https://yadi.sk/d/ptjocdCUPLJh6A

Hi Lara,

re:
> Ok - i got problems with the 3-axis-cnc machine where I intend to produce the ring.
> The idea is to make it with a polyline of the font. I created it. But...I cannot bend it on
> the surface. Is it possible that polylines cannot be formed on a bended plane?

You can use Flow in either "curve to curve" mode where you have a base line and a target curve (both being curve objects, no surfaces), or "surface to surface" mode where you have a base plane and a target surface (both being surface objects).

It looks like you're trying to go from a base curve but your target is a surface and not another curve?

For applying onto a surface you will need to use surface to surface mode which means you will need to make a base plane instead of a line.

If you're still stuck please post the .3dm model file that corresponds to the screenshot.

- Michael