When I'm modelling something a little more complex with curved surfaces, they don't always join. I sometimes use the Select Naked Edges script to identify the open seams for 3D printing. I have to then scale the objects down by a factor of 1000 or more, click the join command and then scale them back up to the previous size. This fixes the problem of seemingly tight surfaces not being joined so I was wondering if a script exists that shrinks, joins and scales back up in one run.

I don't like scaling manually when the item is so small, because I have to select the same center point and sometimes the object I'm scaling is right next to it and interferes. So the scaling should automatically use the center point of the construction plane when shrinking and expanding to guarantee that nothing shifts during the process.

Does something like this already exist? Is there another solution? Any help is appreciated. I use MoI 3.0.

-- Cody

Hi Cody, when it is time to select the origin point for the scale, just type 0 and push enter. That will use 0,0,0 as the origin point. Then when scaling back up again do the same thing and your object will be back at its starting size again.

You can do the whole thing through typed operations, type Tab which puts focus in the XYZ input box, then type scale and push enter which runs the scale command, then type 0 and push enter to use 0,0,0 as the scale origin, then type your scale factor like 0.01 and push Enter.

- Michael

Beautiful!

Thanks, Michael!

Oh by the way maybe there is a way to press button "Bounding Box Center" without clicking on it when we move objects etc ?

Hi Bravlin, yes in v4 there is a way to make shortcut keys that trigger UI elements in the command without having to click them.

To do a move with the bounding box center button triggered automatically set this up on a shortcut key:

move BoundingBoxCenter

- Michael

Its good that we have this option for a script automation.
But this mean that for each tool we need to reserve its own button for "bounding box center" option.
I guess it may be easier if we just press RMB after move tool invocation to activate bounding box center.
This way we do not need additional shortcuts.
If it possible of course.

Hi Bravlin, sorry no right mouse button does a variety of things like a shortcut for "Done" or repeat last command if not in a command currently. There isn't any way to make it click the "Bounding box center" button.

It is possible though to set up a shortcut key script that will push the button on any command that is currently showing it.

To do that set up a shortcut key with this as the command on it:
script: moi.ui.fireUIEvent( 'BoundingBoxCenter' );

- Michael

Right the fireUIEvent ! That we use for adding trim points. Thanks Michael !
moi.ui.fireUIEvent( 'addtrimpoints' );