modelling question

[aflack]

See the picture attached.

 

I've just been given a bar to model. I have the profile on the long side and I have the path I need to to sweep around, but the problem is the bar needs to be stretched at the ends so in effect the profile gets twice as long. How do I go about modelling this in Max 7.

 

Hope that makes sense.

[JamesTaylor]

sounds like a loft may be suitable, you can add extra profiles at any point and it'll loft between the profiles. look it up in the help file for a better explanation!!

[aflack]

Thanks for that but then see below I have my two profiles one for the side and one for the end when I try and creat a loft why does it all like like it has been inverted?

 

Thanks

[notamondayfan]

personally id box model it. start at the bottom and work up, using ur lines as guides.

[JamesTaylor]

Thanks for that but then see below I have my two profiles one for the side and one for the end when I try and creat a loft why does it all like like it has been inverted?

Thanks

 

 

i'd guess its something to do with the orientation of the section (its local axis) in relation to the path. I usually find i have to create the loft a few times when i'm doing it - still trying to get the complete hang of it myself!!

 

one tip to make it a little easier would be just work with one section shape to begin with, when you get it right you can add the extra sections in and the loft will update, also check the modifier panel with the loft selected, there are some check boxes which can be useful like flip normals etc.

 

box modelling it is an option but i personally don't think its as efficent as a loft, if you know how to do both properly, lofting should be quicker and allows easier control / editabilty and texture mapping options (unless unwrapping UVW - again takes time)

[raterry]

I've found that sometimes the spline, or even just a segment of the spline is reversed similar a flipped normal. there is an option to flip it in the edit spline modifier. You could also use the bevel profile modifier instead of loft.

-=Rob

[a_w]

If you do decide to loft this, then after you click the Get Shape button, hold the Ctrl-key while you click on the various profiles. That should get rid of the inversion.

[aflack]

Thats great and holding down the control key stopped the inversion.

 

But the two profiles are different so as I click between them it just changes the whole profile from one to the other doesn't use the thinner profile on the sides and the larger one on the end.

 

At the end of the day I can use the larger profile and scale it down onm the sides. But is there no way to use different profiles along the length?

[a_w]

Glad to hear the Ctrl-key worked for you.

 

To have the profile change from side to side, look at the Path Parameters rollout menu in the lower section of the Loft menu. Path should be set at 0.0 percent by default. This parameter determines how far along the path you want to set a new profile shape. You can express the profile's offset from origin in either percentage or distance by selecting the corresponding radio button in the Path Parameters rollout.

 

I hope that made sense. In a nutshell:

 

1. Get Shape > hold Ctrl-key > click the first profile.

2. Increase the Path amount > Set Shape > hold Ctrl-key > click the second profile.

3. Repeat step 2.

 

There's more to consider when you use multiple profiles, such as: number of vertices, order of vertices, and smoothing. I would say, if you can accomplish your goal with just one profile and some scaling, then use one.

[Iain Denby]

It might be worth trying the Deformations. Loft it with the one shape, then go into modify and scroll down to the bottom. Click Deformation and using iether the X or Y (not both, unlink them) you can scale it in the areas around the curve at each end.