Hi Alan, there isn't currently any tool for directly bending an object.

To get text on a sphere, the way I would do it now would be to create the text and then from the top view, rotate each character individually in the Top view so that each one intersects the sphere at a different angle, like this:



Then select all those pieces and use Boolean union to fuse them into one single solid.

After that, you can draw another sphere slightly larger than the first, and use boolean Intersection between that larger sphere and the text, to trim off the outside straight part and leave a curved outside like this:




Also this recent thread covers some other techniques for making raised text off of a surface:

http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=1303.1

Hope this helps,

- Michael

Another solution for have a concentric projection :)

Ps Better : remplace the circle by a sphere
make the merge (or better Boolean Intersection)
keep the faces intersection, Curves/Project/ mode Closest point!!!
More precise than the Michael hand solution :)

Thanks for the advice. I must be doing something wrong as the projection tool doesn't seem to be working correctly.

If I project with mode = Direction, then the text places curves on front and back sides of the sphere. If I project with mode = closest pt., then no curves are placed on the sphere surface.

Any thoughts?

Regards,

Alan

Without your file seems difficult to answer :)
Upload your 3dm in zip format (button Attachments)
Maybe you deselect something....

Hi Alan - one quick note - the project mode = closest pt is a bit unreliable especially if the curves involved would cross over the "seam" edge of the sphere.

So you may need to rotate your sphere so that the seam edge is not in that area.

Also I don't think that the projection method will work very well with a longer string of text because the projection will tend to kind of collapse down.

You can also try the rotation method that I mentioned before.

- Michael

<the projection will tend to kind of collapse down
You right ! Letters can't overpass the front diameter, and are deformed on the extremity sides :)
So an another method must be used :)