Hi Pilou!

> 3 Different colors for the basic "background curves" depending of the 3 axes?

Eventually this will be possible when there is stuff added to change object properties.


Re: Tangent

The circle tangent tool does something a little different - it gives a circle tangent to two curves, of the specified circle radius, it then calculates the points for you. This is different than using specified points.

To use specified points, you can use the regular Circle/Center and construction lines.

For a circle to be tangent to a curve at a point, it means that the center of the circle must be on the perpendicular from that point.

So to draw such a circle, start the Circle/Center tool, then drag out a construction line perpendicular from the first point, and drag another one perpendicular from the second point, and then the center will be where they intersect, but the solution is only possible if the intersection is of equal distance from each point.

But that is a lot of constraints, so if you just pick any 2 points I think that most of the time you won't find that there is a solution.

- Michael

> the solution is only possible if the intersection is of equal distance from each point
It's the definition of the center of a circle :)

Your tangent tool circle is like a rolling ball bearing :)
I suppose that is its use :)
Many circles are possible in my funny example without 2 specifics points
(circle tangent between big curves restangle/circle)
Geometry is always amazing :)
Thx for te explanations & precisions

Michael,

Will constructions lines be able to "stick" in the next version?

> Will constructions lines be able to "stick" in the next version?

No, I probably won't be able to do this for a while. I would like to eventually make it possible for them to stick around after the current command by hitting some option, but there are a few complications that go along with that.

Probably they should stay more in the background and not interfere with selecting other objects, but on the other hand there also has to be some way to select them so you can delete them at some point.

If you do need a more permanent line that will last through more than one command, right now you have to just draw a regular line for that...

- Michael

> Different than a normal save in 3dm where lines will be saved even they are not made a surface :)

Also IGES - curves are only written to 3DM or IGES files.

- Michael

A fully screen without UI?
Practical for a maximum "snapshot image" and total immersion :)

> A fully screen without UI?

It's not perfect, but this will get you mostly there.

First, create a new "scripts" directory underneath the main MoI program directory (on an equal level as "commands" and "ui").

Unzip the attached FullScreen.js and put it in there. So the path for this file should be something like: C:\Program Files\MoI beta Dec-1-2006\scripts\FullScreen.js

Go to your moi.ini and add a line:

[Shortcut Keys]
F11=FullScreen.js

Now pushing F11 will toggle the UI on or off. Right now there will be a little blank area left, I think I should be able to remove that for the next beta. (edit: yes, this is now fixed for the next beta so there won't be any extra blank space).

- Michael


EDIT: updated attached script to work with new UI panels added in v2.

Thx :)
Try that in a short while

> About the "ini" file : how this file is managed when a new beta is released?
> Adding, crushing, overwriting?
> Automatic or we must copy/past some lines of the the previous file?

The new beta will use the same file .ini file as the old beta. The .ini file will get things added to it if there are any new settings in the new beta, but all the old stuff will stay as it is. So that part is automatic.

But you will need to copy the FullScreen.js file again for the new beta though, that is separate from the .ini file.

- Michael

Sorry no time now for think of that, but I suppose it's a classic construction :)
How draw the red curve "Developping of circle" with moi ?

> No time for think of that, but I suppose it's a classic construction :)
> How draw the red curve "Developping of circle"

Hi Pilou - many of these types of mathematical curves are not really suited for "drawing" with the mouse exactly. This is the type of thing that you would probably need to generate using a more specialized program, maybe something like Mathematica.

It would be possible to construct this in MoI by using some fairly complex scripts to generate a point list and create a curve using those points. But that will be pretty involved.

- Michael

So I must think more about this little problem :D
Graphic construction must be possible with only clipers(?) and ruler and "Through point line" :)

What is the exact name of the curves that is used in Moi :"Through point?"
Nurbs yes but what about the tangent ? or the degre of tension (streching) between 1 point between 2 points?

Something cool that I have not yet seen ! :)
Circle "tangent" can be draw along the "helpers lines"

Take the Circle "tangent" function
Draw somes "helpers lines"
Clic 2 points on these helpers lines
The possible circles are drawing moving !

Ps Request : "Helpers lines" can be also " Helpers circles"
Seems that will be great :)
Rules and dividers are the bases of geometry :)

> What is the exact name of the curves that is used in Moi :"Through point?"

The method for creating that type of curve is usually called an "interpolated curve". One good reference for this is The NURBS Book, Les Piegl & Wayne Tiller, Springer-Verlag 1995–1997.

You may be able to find something online about "NURBS interpolation".


> Nurbs yes but what about the tangent ?
> or the degre of tension (streching) between 1 point between 2 points?

The version MoI uses creates a tangent automatically. You can edit it later by turning on control points and moving the second-to-last point around.

The tension is actually updated for the next beta release, it will use a type called "centripetal knot spacing".


But the "Through point" method is not really the best way to create a curve for the method that you are thinking, though - because it forces the curve to go exactly through every point, it tends to create wiggles in the curve when you have many points. For creating a curve through many points there is a different process called "fitting" which creates a curve that is guided by the points (to a certain tolerance) but is not forced to go exactly through them. That is usually a better way to get a smooth curve. MoI doesn't expose a way to do this right now, but Rhino does with the FitCrv command.

- Michael

> Ps Request : "Helpers lines" can be also " Helpers circles"
> Seems that will be great :)
> Rules and dividers are the bases of geometry :)

Hmmm. But it's not too hard to just draw a circle to use for such a construction, and delete it after you are done...

A line is kind of a special case since a construction line extends infinitely in each direction so it gives something extra (beyond the automatic cleanup) than just drawing a regular line.

A "construction circle" wouldn't really give very much extra benefit over just drawing a regular circle.

- Michael

> Just for the beauty of the thing :)
> So for the permanent figures
> a nature of the draw (solid, dashed, dotted...)?(as the grid lines)

Yes, I think that this will happen eventually. It would make sense to be able to take any object and sort of "lock" it like this so that it can be used as a construction/reference type object without getting in the way too much.

I'm not quite sure when though.

- Michael