Hi Mala,

re:
> Is there a workaround to get the flow-object started exactly at beginning of the circle segment?

Can you please post the .3dm model file that you're showing in the screenshot?


re:
> Is it possible not to get the mirror forming? I tried with different placing of the scale line - always mirrored.

If you could post the .3dm model file with the piece that is being mirrored that you don't want mirrored that would probably help me to better understand what you're asking here. I can't figure it out from the description and screenshot alone, I need to be able to examine the file.

- MIchael

No sorry there is no problem with the limit of perimeters :)
Start Face : Target Face!

If it's tangent on start, that will be tangent on the target!
It's not marvelous ?

Look in deepth this section! ;)
http://moi3d.com/4.0/docs/moi_command_reference8.htm#flow

Mirroring scale line, file.

Thank you WN. I fear that form has nothing same with the form I need. You may see what I try to reach it in the very first post and image.

Why you don't use the circles as frontier to the curve ?
It's not more easy for control every thing ?

im the beginner - you are the pro. I guess you are right, becausce you got the experience.
But I do not know what exactly you mean as frontier? it is not almlost the same? I tried pretty often the circles to modulate (I think this is what you mean). Smoother are my results with the scale spline.
What I dont like is that the peak is so fat. But if I slim the peak - the surface is not so smooth how I need it.

here a little render with your shape...

Frontier = limit
It's just more easy to have curves touching themselve for see what happend when you move one of them! ;)

Hi Mala,

re:
> Mirroring scale line, file.

Thanks, so yes when using the "scaling rail" function for sweep the way it works is it scales the profile curve using the point on the path curve as the scale origin. That will then produce shaping on both sides of the rail like you're seeing here.

You could try trimming the sweep with a plane to cut off the bottom half and then make a half cylinder for the bottom part separately.

But I'd recommend using the Loft with Loft style = "Loose" like I showed above instead:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=10120.12

If you're having difficulty with that method please post the 3dm model file for it so I can see what's going wrong.

- Michael

Frenchy could probably do some SubD techniques with you...

Lofting profiles and sweeping various profiles are an easy way to accomplish this object as explained in earlier postings. One thing to consider is that the result is an averaging through the various profiles. Getting a precise result often involves tweaking multiple profiles and their positions.

I’ll offer this approach, using a sweep with a Scaling Rail for consideration. Getting the hump and dip is a matter of adjusting a few points on a single curve.
As you discovered, a Scaling Rail will affect the bottom of your object as well. This approach avoids that issue:

1. Draw a Circle in the Right View and Extrude (Cap Ends) it into a solid Cylinder. (Or start with an Oval if that’s the desired shape of the object)
2. In Front View draw a Rectangle and position it so its bottom is at the centerline of the cylinder.
3. Using the rectangle as a cutting object, Boolean Diff with the cylinder. The result is a notch in the cylinder.



4. Select the two edges of one of the end surfaces that form the notch, Ctrl-C, Ctrl-V, Join. This creates a D shape closed curve which will be used later in a Sweep operation.



5. In Front View use the Freeform drawing tool to draw the profile of the camel hump & saddle. Turn on Show Pts and add a new point near each of the two end points. Align each of these new points horizontally with their respective end points. This insures the camel profile will be tangent with the cylinder and not introduce any unwanted kinks or wrinkles.



6. Select Sweep and select the D shaped closed curve from step 4 as the Profile. Click “Done”. Select the two outermost straight edges of the notch as the Rails. Click Done. Click “Pick Scaling Rail” and select the camel profile curve. Click “Done”. Click on the camel section and verify it’s a Solid.



7. Because History remains on for the Sweep, you can go to Front View, select the camel profile curve, select “Show Pts” and move the points on the curve to fine tune the results.
8. Select the two Solid objects and Boolean Union. Now the resulting solid object can be bent into a curve using Flow.



9. If the camel hump is too wide you can modify step 2 so the notch is not as deep, and thus not as wide.

Ed Ferguson

Hello Ed, I tried your version out. Thank you for that suggestion, and also very much for the other ideas where I learn very much in deed.

Ok, Ed, if I follow your steps my result is almost good. Your version looks much slimmer then mine at the peak. Is is a question of the perspective or is your slimmer in deed?

If by "slimmer" you mean the hump should not be as wide as the diameter of the "pipe", then try reducing the depth of the notch so it does go to the center line of the pipe. This will reduce the length of the arc in the D shape ends of the notch.

Ed Ferguson

I already tried that.
May you perhaps put your file in here please ?

If you want the hump to be pointier at the top, you could also add more profiles to the sweep, with a pointy one in the middle.

Here's with 3:

I´m near at my idea of the shape.
Then I thought - yeah - then I noticed the seam...
What is this?
This brings me again to my all time question - what is the difference of Bool/Connection and the normal connection command?
Because I´m not sure, I do both mostly - first the bool then the normal connection...but...seams....

Hi Lara,

re:
> Then I thought - yeah - then I noticed the seam...
> What is this?

That's a display artifact from the display mesh having "T" junctures along the edge areas. There may be a couple of pixel dropouts in the shaded display at surface edges.

The export mesher does not make T junctures, if you do a mesh export you should see those will go away:



- Michael

Fine! This is good...Thanks to you All for your patience and help...

A perfect method! :)





Free to you to regulate the Bulge! (here it's a little excessive and of course altitudes of surfaces can be regulated too! :)

Hi Frenchy, thanks for your suggestion. But, malheuresement, this is not the shape I tried to reach...