Bend Modifier and custom stairs

[Billabong]

Ive started another personal project here and I just finished making my custom stairs, using the bend modifier. The problem is that the bend has squished the left side of my stairs. You can see how it gets more narrow on the steps from right to left. Is there any to prevent this type of thing from happening or is there another way I can go about to create these.

 

Thanks for any help

[Claudio Branch]

You might try moving the position of the Bend modifier's gizmo or modeling the custom stairs using a Helix and the Spacing tool.

[Billabong]

Thanks Claudio. I spent about 3 hrs.last night moving that bend modifier all over the place, but I didn't think about the spacing tool, Ill give that a shot.

 

Thanks

[SandmanNinja]

I think the spacing tool is a good way to go. I think you'd need to play with the original object's pivot point.

[intero_ua]

Hi Billabong, honestly I do not see why you not liking it, it looks just like it would look in real life, I nean the fact that the step gets narrower toward the virtual center of rotation of the stair. I got that by checking out some google images ("helix stair" or "round stair")

 

However, if you asking that, then you probably designed it some special way.... also you did not mention that, but once you apply bend modifier you also get sides of the steps slightly curved, which i believe you do not like as well.

 

Of cause there are many other ways to build this stair the way you need, but the way I can think of right now and the way that i believe will be one of the fastest solutions at this particular example is this one:

 

I modeled similar stair myself for example.

This is the result that we do not like (see illustration 1), what it was before applying bend is shown at the left and what it turned out to be is shown at the right.

At the second illustration i tried to show the steps to get the result that you want (if i understood it correctly)

 

1. Do not tessellate the steps

2. Delete all polygons that makes the step leaving only the polygon that represent the right size of the step

3. Apply Bend modifier

4. Apply SHELL modifier to the object the steps, and grow the objects toward the center or outside of the stair to the value you like more.

 

Or (hmmm.. i think it is even easier then first way)

 

If mapping of the steps is already applyed and you do not want to mess it up, you can go this way (illustration3)

 

1. Do not tesselate the steps

2. Bend

3. Scale up in X-axis all polygons that represent left side of the steps using local coordinate system.

 

That's it.

 

PS: Array tool will be even better solution, but, you must fixure out the center of rotation for steps very precisely to be able to array steps with incremental Z axis offset and rotation.

[Billabong]

@Joel,

 

I gave the spacing tool a shot, but did not like it at all. It does not rotate my boards.

 

@Alexander,

 

After looking at google images just has you said, I see you are correct. The steps do get more narrow as they go in. Which in my opinion is fantastic,because I really don't want to make those things over.I Was just a little worried that once I started posting wips, someone would say something about that.

 

Using the array tool was my first idea and is how I did my previous spiral staircase, but since this isnt exactly spiral and finding the pivot point for it would like finding a needle in a haystack, that idea was out.

 

So now that I do see that is correct. I can continue on. So thank you again Alexander

 

-B

[Claudio Branch]

 

I gave the spacing tool a shot, but did not like it at all. It does not rotate my boards.

 

 

odd...

[Billabong]

Hey Claudio,

 

Yeah maybe I'm just not using it right, but i tried every option in the drop down box and I also tried to tick follow, none seemed to work