Extrude along a path

# 1 13-01-2011 , 09:35 AM

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hi guys
another simple and easy problem that I got, but As I said sometime small and easy things can be big headache,

I am trying to create an door frame. so I created 2 curves which you see in the Attachment image, I applied the surface extrude option, It does work but that is not what i am looking for. I want to small curve be extrude from the point of the position that the curve in it, but the extrude happened from the first vertex or curve point of the second curve(long curve). I want to be extruded from the position of the mall curve.

?= why extrude option missed this part

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# 2 13-01-2011 , 10:45 AM

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I can't make sense of your description, the grammar is really bad.

From the screen shot I see two profile curves and two path curves. Are you trying to create some kind of miter? If so wouldn't you want the miter at both ends of the extrusion?

I just cannot visualize what you are trying to accomplish, so it's impossible for me to suggest a solution.

Maybe sketch what you are trying to achieve or attach a photo and then I will may be able to suggest something.

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Isaac Newton, 1675

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# 3 13-01-2011 , 10:53 AM

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if you're working with polys I think you can easily fix that by moving vertex and or extruding edges.
If it's surfaces I would add the little curve at the beginning of the path curve and then project a curve on it from the front view and cut the surface in the desired position.
hope it helps

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# 4 13-01-2011 , 11:31 AM

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I am going to make some assumptions and say you are looking for a arch with a 45 deg (or some other angle) miter at each end.

The way you are trying to achieve it is a common beginner modeling mistake. You are trying to do to much in a single step.

First, you cannot extrude the profile curve from an angle because the entire extrusion will then be asymmetrical that is to say skewed.

Second, the angle at the other end of the extrusion will be incorrect. I am assuming that you want the miter to be a mirror of the other side.

So one way to do this is to break it into three steps.

1. extrude the profile normal along the path to create half the arch

2. if using polygons then use cut faces to create the mitered end, if using nurbs then loft a short section between the flush edge of the arch and an angled curve

3. mirror the arch to create the other side.

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Isaac Newton, 1675

Last edited by ctbram; 13-01-2011 at 12:20 PM.

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# 5 13-01-2011 , 12:44 PM

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I think that you got it ct....I would say that dubai wanted the mitre to be part of the extrude. I agree either loft or cut faces or even just shift the verts manually....

cheers bullet

bullet1968

"A Darkness at Sethanon", a book I aspire to model some of the charcters and scenes

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# 6 13-01-2011 , 05:10 PM

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Thanks guys for the reply, sorry i was bit busy with the screen shots and update.
I know its bit difficult to explain the scene. but I hope this new Screen-shot can explain what I am looking for ,BTW its only 2 curve in the scene. I know its not possible but it can be done with edit curve-Birail or boundary option, but i thought maybe its possible with extrude option.

image 3 is the final result .

in second image I have the window frame with can be created easily with loft option, than i need duplicate the profile curve in every corner and loft the curve one by one. than I need to attach the surface,
I know its possible with melscript from creativecrash website, but i am trying to install the melscript on my mac. but please say something if you know something,
Thanks

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Last edited by dubai3d; 13-01-2011 at 06:01 PM.

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# 7 13-01-2011 , 05:26 PM

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You can extrude with the profile curve at an angle if you want the entire extrusion to be skewed. Look at the current image, the edges are perpendicular to the path and so the cross section is uniform. If you set the extrude options to extrude the profile curve and maintain that angle all the edges would be angled and result would not be uniform especially around the top.

Also please clarify, you want a miter on the left side and for it to be 90 degree on the right side as your screen shot shows?

Also if you are achieving the miter by simply moving and rotating the bottom edge then you are losing thickness.

Put another way Maya has no way to extrude the profile at an angle to some arbitrary point then become normal to the path. It either has to be angled to the path for the ENTIRE path or normal to the path for the ENTIRE path.

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Isaac Newton, 1675

Last edited by ctbram; 13-01-2011 at 05:32 PM.

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# 8 13-01-2011 , 06:05 PM

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Thanks Ctbram you have been great helpful person . i am working on architecture project which there is alot of windows, doors, column, and architecture curve's. so i am trying to achieve the easy way to save my time with good result,

Thanks again

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# 9 13-01-2011 , 06:18 PM

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Think about the way that door molding would be made. It would be two vertical molding pieces and a curved section at the top. The curved section would be milled and routed to order but the profile would be perpendicular to the curved path. For the miter at the end they would make the straight pieces longer then needed and saw them at the desired angle.

I am going to upload some images to try and show you why you cannot do it the way you are trying and the way I would recommend you do it.

It will take me a couple minutes so stand by please.

1. you can extrude with the profile at an angle to the path but it must be angled for the entire extrude! You can see this creates a non-uniform (skewed) result.

2. Also when you rotate the profile curve you change the width of the molding!

3. You want to create the molding in a similar way to how it is actually manufactured by extruding along the profile normal with these settings.

4. step 1 - extrude along profile normal. I did the entire arch because I am still unclear about whether you want the miter at both ends! Note that I extruded a polygon solution and I used "control point" which matches the edit points in my path curve. To get higher resolution use the "general" method and then set the number of spans you wish in u and v.

5. step 2 - extend the verts at the bottom and use the cut faces tool to create the miter cut

6. step 2a - there you go your miter at one end a not at the other solution

7. step 3 - for the solution I think you want cut the arch in half

8. step 3a - mirror the right side

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Isaac Newton, 1675

Last edited by ctbram; 13-01-2011 at 06:56 PM.

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# 10 13-01-2011 , 07:17 PM

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Thanks guys ( bullet and Ctbram)
I tried your what you have been explained. it works very well, take bit of time with this mirroring but the tricks works very well.
I would say thank you agin for your time and explanation, you guys are great and helpful.

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Extrude along a path

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