Hey guys, how is it going.
My name is Martin and this is my 1st post on the forum, however I've been a silent observer for more 3 years.
This community is absolutely stunning.

My main background is 3D CAD (Solid Edge/Moi3D), besides that I have basic knowledge on polygonal modelling (3D Coat/Cinema4D)
I checked the search option but I couldn't find an appropriate answer for my design problem.

Okay here we go. What I want to achieve is ...
1. I want to place spheres on all knots/vertices of a polygonal net automatically (see image).
2. The dimension (radius/diameter) of each sphere shall be defined by a parametric value, if possible stored in the same file like the polygonal mesh/net.

So my question is, do you know a script/routine to realize an automated placing of parametric spheres (or other objects) on knots/vertices?
Doing that manually for few objects is not a big deal, while having thousands of knots/vercities this will become impossible.
I know that there is a script from the one and only Max Smirnov (SMIRNOV) http://moi.maxsm.net/item/2, however as I know it is made soley for distributing objects on spheres equaly.
Thank you so much for your help guys, and have a great weekend.

Hi Martin,

if you have a text file (generated from an .obj file etc) with only the vertices coordinates you could try the FileToShapes script.

http://moi3d.com/forum/messages.php?webtag=MOI&msg=7171.1&highlight=yes

Regards
Stefan

Hi Stefan,

I didn't know either about that excellent scripts written by libelle (Engrave and FileToShapes) until today!!

Thank you very much!

best,

You're welcome Marco!

Regards
Stefan

Hi Stefan, thanks a lot for the advice.
I guess this is exactly that what I've been looking for.
I'm going to test this script and show off the results later.

Best regards, Martin

Hello Martin,
you can also use the node editor for that. Use nodeeditor.v.0.85mod3.zip. First construct/curve/intersect all lines. You will get the point objects. Let the points selected and create a point node under Test/Point. This point version evaluates the coordinates of all points. Now create a solid/sphere and an transform/orient node. And wire them. Ready for run:-)

Have a nice day
Karsten

You're welcome Martin!

I'm curious what you will create!

Regards
Stefan

There is a script in the MoI resources page under petr's MoI page, under custom commands called CopyToPoints...

This achieves the first part of what you need.

Lacking is the ability to use a "magnitude" with the points... I can do it randomly with the randomize script, but to "control the value specifically", Needs that method added somehow....

Thank you guys. Great community here!
@Karsten
I read interesting things concerning the node editor. I will check it out.

@Stefan
To be more concrete according my project.
I have a file from a finite element mesh incl. outer and inner nodes with specific outer loadings for each node stored in the file.
As mentioned above, I want to place a sphere in each node paramterized with the outer loading (stress value).
After that I want join all neighbouring spheres with cylinders and perform a boolean operation.
At the and I'm going to perform a retopo operation to gain somekind of a metaball like structure (can be done in Cinema4D too via workarounds).
The aim is to generate a lightweight structure for solid real world workpieces made of selective laser melting/sintering.

You will hear from me.
:)

Thanks for the explanation Martin, sounds interesting!

Regards
Stefan

Thanks Karsten
Now it is clear to the use of your new Node ....
have a nice day
al

Yep!
... and an individual scaling is also possible now:-)

Have a nice evening
Karsten

Hi Martin,

As Karsten stated, this is easily achieved in node editor.
Select your net, then "ShowPts" Copy/Paste points.
In Node editor place Object/Selected to capture point array.

To adjust scaling alter num string in "Const" node.

This is the perfect exercise to start exploring parametric design in MOI.

-James



P.S. Of course all the numerical inputs could be dial widgets
for total parametric control. See attached screen grab below.

Hi James
By placing in a timely manner
points and working with ranges and interpolated
you get something near Metaballs (GH)
very interesting
best
al

Hello Martin,

can you post an example of the fea file-format?

Have a nice day
Karsten

Hi Karsten.
Yes I can do it.
Unfortunatelly at the earliest on Friday, have a lot of other stuff to do.

I'm going to use this tool for meshing.
Non commercial version allows only 1000 nodes, however for a proof of concept this is satisfactory.
http://www.visualfea.com/download.htm

Best regards,
Martin

Hello Martin,
I've made a short test with the 3dSolid example and exported the result to txt. Unfortunaly the output seems not to give loads (x,y,z-forces) for all fea-nodes. Afer an reorder in libre office I saw some gaps?! That makes parsing more difficult. Is it a uniquely job?

Have a nice day
Karsten

Hi Karsten,
nope the routine has to be performed for different geometries/models after the proof of concept was successful.
I will check (FEA node export) this during the next days.
I performed a similar operation last year while using an export from ANSYS result txt-file (x-y-z & forces) and used this input in Cinema 4D for meatball modelling.
It worked very well for each node.

Best regards,
Martin

Hello Martin,

sounds interesting:-)
I've written a node to import text/csv-files. And a first test looks good! Read back the xyz coords works good (pointarray), if you have the sequence separated in a csv-file. The node supports also numarrays but it can't parse for fea-node numbers and fill missing infos.








Have a nice day
Karsten