Hi Burr yeah there needs to be a way to adjust the seam manually to help out for cases like this. Probably some stuff like an "Edit seam" button can go on a detailed object properties dialog where I can jam in a whole bunch of special edit tools.

For the more regularly used tools like Loft I've tried to set it up so that you don't have to worry about seams since it will relocate them automatically but other tools especially kind of "quick and dirty" plugins will probably need them adjusted manually.

- Michael

Rememeber I'm great with this type of UI design.. Just ask me....

(Wasnt sure weather to laugh, or if you really planned on a detailed properties option...)

I'm now having "ask for more buttons remorse!!!"

I havnt run into this too often....

Hi Burr - actually that wasn't a joke - I really do plan on a detailed properties option that will have a whole bunch of stuff on it. It should be a good place for me to add a lot of additional functions but without adding any clutter to the main regular UI since it will be on a dialog box that you can pop up. Kind of like how Options works now.

- Michael

WOW!!

Thanks guys! LineWeb has potential. I saw mention of LineWeb before, but thought it was some kind of exclusive feature, overlooked it on that page. I use one or two other script plugins including SullScreen.

I took LineWeb and Pipe for a test drive here:


Had problems with Pipe. It didn't produce the inside dimension. (Does Pipe2 fix that?)


Michael, if it's possible for more plugins to be created, have you thought of some kind of pop-up screen, menu or single button activated window that comes up with an icon list of non-ui scripts (plugins). Reason I ask, ise plugins are real easy to forget about or "out of sight, out of mind", especially when a seldom used key or command line entry has to be used.
I really like your proposal to add a dialog for extra controls!

...some kind of pop-up screen, menu or single button activated window that comes up with an icon list of non-ui scripts (plugins)

I agree. There are some great scripts available and it would be neat to have them all in one place where they can be browsed and easily accessible via clicks from within MoI.

Ed

Maybe an icon and pop-up list down there where "options" and "help" are.

Hi Mike, yeah the current idea is to have a "Plug-ins" button on the bottom toolbar next to options, and it would pop up a menu with all your installed plugins on it.

Then the other part is a plug-in browser that would let you look through a centralized repository of plug-ins so you could find ones you wanted to install.

Probably the pop up menu will just be a text list of plug-ins though and not an icon for each one, because making good icons is difficult and if I had to make an icon for every plugin it would probably mean that not as many of them would be made.

Not sure exactly when this will happen - generally some other kinds of stuff like making new modeling or editing tools is at a higher priority.

- Michael

Michael, Cool Deal. It may inspire more programming inclined users to make more useful plugins.
A list would be just as efficient.

For the time being, the "plugin Gallery" from Petr's MoI page will do what you want.... I use it when i cant rememeber shortcuts I set for stuff.

Before I mess up my MoI installation, are the instructions for installing PlugInGallery3
the same as for MoI version 1?

bemfarmer,
It installs just like any other one and doesnt change your MoI installation.. You edit those files the same... Then make a shortcut to launch it.

To put the icon/button in your MoI UI like I have, you make the addition to the sidepane.htm file. Same as before.. (This is the file you may want to backup to be able to revert to a default install if you mess it up somehow.

Burr, that easy huh? :-)

Hi Magic,
Yeah, fairly simple stuff. I was just addressing that nothing has changed from V1... If you would like an explanation of what to do, I could do that....

But this is not prefered to Michael making his implementation... His will be much better. The plugin requires you to design it with notepad or something, but it's pretty basic stuff.

If you want to list the commands you want in one, and where you want it, I can set that up for you.

Burr,

Couldn't resist...
Spent a little time tonight getting familiar with the UI style html's.
I figured out how to colorize the remaining icons, and how to sneak in icons for added scripts.
So far, I have one for ArrayGem in the Arrays pop-up. Oooh yeah.
I moved the view chooser to the command bar right, same side as my side pane - as it makes logical sense to me, cutting down on a lot of cross-screen mouse travel.

Also, changed my diskette icon to a USB flash drive. MoI is product of the future and diskettes are sooooo 1980's. lol!
Actually the "Cloud" is the future, and everything, including your favorite software and precious family photos will exist on Cisco servers!
Speaking of which, God forbid if MoI should ever drink that Kool Aid!
How bad would that be to get the "moment of inspiration" and be CAD-blocked by a message reading "DNS failure, line down, no MoI for you!"

Very good!

I'm well pleased -
MoI is like the easy chair of modeling apps (and one that can be worked from the easy chair - I have): You can plush the head rest, adjust the incline, kick up your feet on the foot rest and add a drink holder if you wish.

Hi Mike,

> Speaking of which, God forbid if MoI should ever drink that Kool Aid!
> How bad would that be to get the "moment of inspiration" and be
> CAD-blocked by a message reading "DNS failure, line down, no
> MoI for you!"

I don't have any plans to make MoI totally dependent on cloud services.

A couple of specific features may benefit from it, like the plug-in browser that I was mentioned previously would probably connect to a web server to get the list of all current available plugins and let you download the ones that you want. But a browser/download mechanism like that is a lot different than requiring a connection just to run the program.

Actually the worst thing that can happen with a fully cloud dependent service is not just that your line is currently down, it's that if they decide at some point that you've violated the service agreement and that your entire account is suspended - maybe all due to someone else hacking accounts or something like that. We seem to be on the verge of seeing that kind of thing happening more frequently now.

- Michael

Ahhh Magic, very nice....

"""""""""""""""""MoI is like the easy chair of modeling apps (and one that can be worked from the easy chair - I have): You can plush the head rest, adjust the incline, kick up your feet on the foot rest and add a drink holder if you wish.""""""""""

The biggest secret about MoI???? = "It's very powerful!"

"""""""""God forbid if MoI should ever drink that Kool Aid!""""""""

Only after google gives Michael 50 million for MoI so he can retire with his family... :o Though I think then I will private message Michael and ask to buy whatever his new pet project is that he's working on... Surely it would be better than GooI ver.5.6 2015...

Tweaked a little more and managed to throw in some known scripts in UI button form.



I added toggle buttons in the View panel to turn on and off the global wire frame and edge views without having to do this in more clicks in the Browser.
I think I want to make those check boxes under the "show hidden lines" one when I can figure out how to go from toggle button to on/off by checkbox configuration.

One neat thing: "Reset" (on the view controls strip in each window) will center your selected object and then center all objects, but it zooms in too.
I liked the script that tells just the object to center (without zooming in).
So I added a button for it on the view controls strip.

Working with the UI is interesting, but gets a little convoluted having to figure out which .html's to change stuff in.


By the way, the center selected script only worked in "3d" view. I changed one part so that it worked in any current view:

script:var objs = moi.geometryDatabase.getSelectedObjects(); if ( objs.length > 0 ) { moi.ui.getActiveViewport().targetPt = objs.getBoundingBox().center; }

I think I'll add that cool auto rotate thing to the side panel. It's good for showing stuff off.

It's time again for another exhilarating tutorial! ;-)

I found this 1950's style hand-held mixer (egg beater) and here is how I reconstructed it. (It was made from memory.)



Make the body first. It's made of chrome-plated steel and is in two parts held in place by bolts on the side.
Start with the profile using one freeform curve. Keep the ends perpendicular, or in a straight line, so that the revolved surface remains flat.


Revolve the profile. Also stretch the new shape out in a side view to whim.


There is a rest stand foot on the back end made as part of the same cabinet.
Come out of the side, follow along and end with two points perpendicular at the end. Copy/mirror it and join it together as one curve.


Draw a 'U'-shaped profile and Sweep it on the path.


Boolean Union this to the body. You may need to try a series of other procedures such as Boolean Merge along with hiding and deleting to get what you need.
Join anything separate together and try a nice Fillet.


The body is two pieces, but it was easier to draw one with a faux seam. Just next to the seam, there are ventilation ports.
A rectangle with rounded corners will work.
Rotate and copy them around. They should probably only be on top as food may splash into the holes on the real one.


Project each port shape to the body surface and Trim them to the surface. Delete the extras.
There is a non-UI feature called "Merge". I am not sure if this is the same as the Boolean Merge command, but since the segments of the new curve may be in pieces, you'll need to put them back together in one whole.


Here I Extruded the edge shape inward a little to get depth, I used a line to guide the direction of the extrude to 45 degrees where needed.
You can also shrink all of the port shapes (copies of them) inward and perform a Loft between the edge curves and the copy.
Join these new walls to the body. Try to Fillet them to get a nice "punched-in" contour.


For the blade connection neck, make a rounded rectangle, extrude it, place it partially inside of the body shape and Boolean Union.
Trim, delete and etc then join it to the body and Fillet it.


I added more shapes and more fillets.


Here we make the handle. A broad slopping arc is needed for the path course. On the profile end, I made a good shape from one freeform curve so that there would be no BRep lines. Those sometimes cause problems. I used reference construction lines to help.


Sweep the profile along the path.


Two lines in the right view plane allowed me to Boolean Trim (via projection magic) the sweeped shape to remove excess and give a nice set of edges.


A freeform curve was made to cut the profile forming the handle shape. I shaped it so that the mixer could sit flat on the handle and stand while leaning back a little. Boolean trim the curve and delete the rest.


Fillet the edges for comfort. :-)


There are two large bolts on the side. These not only hold the two metal shell halves together, but those are affixed to the motor chassis.
On some models I've seen, taking one bolt out at a time allows access to an oil fill hole to service the motor.
Use a series of extruded circles or cylinders that are Unioned and Filleted to look nice. Mirror to the other side of the body before union is executed.


Needed a place for the on switch. Make a rounded rectangle. Extrude it and give it a rounded Fillet.
Trim it from the handle and Fillet again to make it look nice. Keep in mind that the Fillet does not play nice with BRep and edge lines, especially intersections.
(murmur...)


To make the switch, I used the Custom Star tool and applied a Fillet to smooth the points out. Added a toggle lever.
Tried to Fillet the edges... whoa boy... scratch that... Blend, no... Loft, no... Okay, to keep it from looking like it was cut from glass and would cut you if you used it I gave it as much shape as I could by performing a Sweep between two copies of the toggle profile and augmented it with a Sizing Path.


Hmmm... need some mixer blades. Those are tricky...
Lets see... Made a super-ellipsoid profile shape and Revolved it to make a kind of an egg. I copied them and move them to where they slightly coincided. Unioned them together. Separated them and holes were left. I Blended the hole edges together so that the curvatures of the revolved surfaces would dictate the new shape. Since the edges were only so much apart, it made a nicely shaped ring with a 'c'-shaped curvature to it's profile.
Made a rotated copy and tried to Union the two blades together...
There was some tricky patchwork to follow, but all I had to do was Revolve a rod to complete the mixer blade.
I'm sure there are easier ways to make these things: maybe some kind of sweep along paths...


Position the blade and a rotated copy (as blades are situated on common egg-beaters).


Voila!!! Why it's a nice retro egg beater. Here are some details...


Give it some color and final details...


Rotate the whole assembly so that it sits on its handle-end and body stand.



Now that I made you an egg-beater go on and make me a cake!... ;-)

I'm speachless...
Thanks for your tutorials, really.

With the new lighting your model shine!

Regards
Luca

Hey Magic,
Very nice again.. You present your workflow well...

I wanted to inject something.. regarding the switch.. You wanted to soften the edge and had some failed commands??? (Not suggesting I dont like your switch)

When you make the initial "star" shape, dont fillet it yet.. Go ahead and add your thumb extension and create the solid, then attempt to add the fillet to the solid..



Surely it can depend on the shape too, and not succeed, but "pre-filleting" the curve, will pretty much ensure only a very tiny fillet will fit...

Great stuff again...