ok so lofting is giving me a headache now

[SgWRX]

i have some line work i've imported into max9. the first problem i ran into was adding an extrusion modifier to a rectangle that was imported. i extruded it 4", but it showed up at about 8 feet. i just created a new rectangle and extruded that 4 inches. next, i created a curb-shape and tried to loft it along another line, as soon as i clicked the shape, the loft appeared but it was about 400% too big (just a guess on how big it was). any thoughts?

 

i imported as autocad legacy, derive objects by layer (this was so i could get some names according to the file vs. entity) and all other options unchecked.

 

this is a site plan vs. building plans i imported earlier but they didn't give me any problems afaik b/c i didn't use any of those lines to create objects.

 

thanks

[SandmanNinja]

first guess - check your units. it sounds like one is set for inches and the other feet? I use metric, so it's all sorted for me.

[mattclinch]

try the sweep modifier rather than loft. i've always found it far easier to use.

 

and as joel says, units, and maybe reset xform on everything just to be safe.

[dean@pikcells]

maybe you need to reset xform?

 

the sweep modifier may work, but loft is best for kerb as you can apply mapping along the loft.

[selos69]

try the sweep modifier rather than loft. i've always found it far easier to use.

 

and as joel says, units, and maybe reset xform on everything just to be safe.

 

Bloody hell i wish i knew about the sweep modifier before you mentioned it.

 

Thanks!

[SandmanNinja]

I learned about sweep here about a year ago, and just love it!

It's like a loft, only the line can be broken. If the path is a bit complicated, it does 'funny' things sometimes, but overall it's great.

 

Not sure why you can't apply mapping to a loft...?

Just slap an UVWMAP modifier to it.

I also understand that Max 2009 has something called "UV spline mapping tool", which sounds interesting.

 

edit: ah - material to a sweep. But I still think you could with the uvwmap modifier. Am I wrong?

[dean@pikcells]

you are correct. were still on 2008 at the moment. i just find using loft is good for kerbs simply for the mapping part of it.

[SgWRX]

sorry forgot to mention units are correct.

 

sweep produced the same thing - HUGE curb. i ended up recreating the path this morning and lofted with the shape, no problems.

 

and also, the lines/paths are all scaled properly in the scene. it's just when i work with them. hm.

[WAcky]

yeah i was getting some probs when i imported a shape for my loft. As soon as i re-drew it, the loft was fine. you know you can use the size function to control the loft? Its not as accurate but if theres no other way it's ok to use.

 

I've been trying to use a loft for my roof caps but my god are they frustrating. It keeps flattening my shape along the z-axis so i have to rotate it back to where it should have been. But of course this is no where near as accurate as it needs to be.

 

Lofts blow when you're counting on them...

[SgWRX]

yep, know about the size and other transformations. thanks. so i just ended up redrawing. surprisingly, using the bezier curves were a lot easier than i thought. i've always feared bezier handles

[SandmanNinja]

I think it's because they're French.

 

I think of everything in ying and yang. So, if the vector handle on this side is HUGE, and I adjust it, it should have more weight.

 

It's a funny animal.

[SgWRX]

yep, plus i am surprised every now and again when the bezier handle (well the line) snaps into place on vertical or horizontal lines! - haven't figured that one out yet.

[Jackie Teh]

maybe you need to reset xform?

 

the sweep modifier may work, but loft is best for kerb as you can apply mapping along the loft.

 

but i always facing a problem that the shape doesn't go along with the path, something the shape go againts the path, some time the shape go up side dowm too...????