Extensions:2.6/Py/Scripts/Modeling/EdgeTools

Edge Tools

Introduction

Edge Tools is designed to bring some CAD-style edge-based modeling tools to Blender. These tools are predominately inspired from several tools found in CATIA's "Geometric Design" workbench.

EdgeTools
Edge-base modeling tools

UI location	Specials Menu (W-key)
Version	0.8	Author(s)	Paul Marshall (brikbot)
Blender	2.63	License	GPL

Executable information

File name	mesh_edgetools.py
Current version download	Blender SVN

Links	Forum Thread @ BlenderArtists

Installation

Edge Tools

• Download script
• Place in Blender's scripts folder
• Enable add-on from Blender's add-on menu

Tools

This addon is found within the "Specials" menu of Blender while in "Edit Mode". By default this menu is accessed by pressing W. The tools are then found in the "EdgeTools" submenu.

Extend

"Extend" takes the selected edges and extends them. From the Tool Shelf, you can set the length of the extension and enable/disable extensions in each direction.

Spline

"Spline" builds a spline between two selected edges. The edges serve as the end points and as the tangents for the spline. The user then sets the tension for each tangent (how much that tangent effects that spline), and the end point to use for the spline. By setting the tangent to a negative value, the direction of the spline at the chosen point will reverse. The user may specify the number of segments to use to create the spline (how many edges to use), and also the type of spline for the calculation.

Note: Using the built-in Blender API spline generation results in what is normally very inexplicable behavior. I highly discourage using it.

For the math geeks, the splines are all cubic based.

Angle Off Edge

The primary purpose of "Angle Off Edge" is to allow the easy creation of an edge at an angle off of an existing edge. However, Blender does not allow for explicitly defining the plane the new edge is to fall in. Therefore the tool assumes that two edges are selected, and that they are planar. This creates the plane to place the edge in.

By default the tool will create two new edges at the four vertices (two per edge, two edges), one edge going in each direction. These can be enabled and disabled with the "+" and "-" controls found in the "Tool Shelf". The edges at each vertice is disabled by unchecking their corresponding boxes.

Shaft

"Shaft" uses an edge as an axis for the creation of a cylindrical shape. The shape is defined by selecting either 1) another edge, 2) A point (vertice), or 3) radius set in the option panel found in the "Tool Shelf". Each method allows the number of segments used in the shaft to be set in addition to the start and end positions in degrees.

Slice

"Slice" is used to cut an edge at a plane. This works by selecting the edges to be cut and then selecting the face to use as the cutting plane. It is then possible to choose to either keep or discard each side of the sliced edges individually.

Warning: non-planar quads my result in unpredictable results, as the tool will choose three random points from the quad to discern the definition of the plane.

Project

"Project" is not really an edge tool, as it simply takes every selected vertice and projects them onto the select plane. The tool provides the option to, instead of moving the selected vertices, create copies of the vertices at the projection locations.

Warning: non-planar quads my result in unpredictable results, as the tool will choose three random points from the quad to discern the definition of the plane. This behavior may change in future updates to instead project the points onto the surface defined by the quad allowing for non-planar quads to yield predicable and accurate results.

Project (End Point)

The more edge-based projection, "Project (End Point)" serves to project one of the vertices of the selected edges onto the selected face (plane). The projection by default is in the direction of the edge, but the tool provides the option to instead project along the direction of the normal of the plane.

Warning: non-planar quads my result in unpredictable results, as the tool will choose three random points from the quad to discern the definition of the plane. This behavior may change in future updates to instead project the points onto the surface defined by the quad allowing for non-planar quads to yield predicable and accurate results.

Support

Links

• Forum Thread at BlenderArtists
• Python & Plugins forum at BlenderArtists.
• Author's homepage/blog

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