[LDCad] Template for rope / cord / string

[Ulrich Röder]

Template for rope / cord / string

Would be nice, but unfortunately not (yet) available.
Here is an example from the train set 4564-1:

https://ldraw.org/cgi-bin/ptscan.cgi?q=5...ope=header

(All important information is in the HELP section of the basic parts)

While it was still relatively easy to create this "straight" version with LDPE, it becomes almost impossible with arbitrary shapes.

At least I succeeded with C4d and a Python script, but unfortunately everything was "inlined" .... logically an extremely large file.
A proud 1,800 base parts along a Bezier spline with a continuous single twist of 22.5 ° and an overlap of 0.5 ldu.

Hopefully there will be a template at some point in which you can set these factors individually.

Still a few pictures about this:
   
   
   
   
   

It would of course be just as awesome to have such an option in LDPE with these parameters
basic subpart xyz
cloned 1799
twist 22.5
extension bezier spline reference
step 0.5 ldu

[Magnus Forsberg]

Don't you mean LDCad, and not LDPE?

[Ulrich Röder]

Don't you mean LDCad, and not LDPE?

Also....was meant.
My programming skills are rather modest, otherwise it would be my turn - an exciting job.

[Max Martin Richter]

Was the string really twisted in this modell?

[Ulrich Röder]

Was the string really twisted in this modell?

Of course - even have the set.

There are also some pictures on the net, but not particularly good ones.
In addition, there is a more modern variant - and a lot of different lengths - where I still see a naming problem - but we will surely find a good solution.

[Roland Melkert]

Hopefully there will be a template at some point in which you can set these factors individually.

You could make a template for this in the current 1.6 version I think, you'll need.

A static 'knot.dat' for use as a cap.
A single twist of the 2 strings spread over 4 or more .dat's (so it is more bendable).
The rolled portion could also be a static cap.

Whit this you could make a deform (HQ) template which, I hope, would approach the result you've got doing it the hard way. But the way you have it now will probably be the higher quality version.

If the large file size is an issue you can also use the 4 segments to do LQ plotting (overlapping semengts) but I think the roll of the 2 strings will make that very noticeable.

[Ulrich Röder]

You could make a template for this in the current 1.6 version I think, you'll need.

A static 'knot.dat' for use as a cap.
A single twist of the 2 strings spread over 4 or more .dat's (so it is more bendable).
The rolled portion could also be a static cap.

Whit this you could make a deform (HQ) template which, I hope, would approach the result you've got doing it the hard way. But the way you have it now will probably be the higher quality version.

If the large file size is an issue you can also use the 4 segments to do LQ plotting (overlapping semengts) but I think the roll of the 2 strings will make that very noticeable.

I am very pleased Roland, that you comment on this personally.


As you can see for yourself, if you call up the following PT link,

https://ldraw.org/cgi-bin/ptscan.cgi?q=5...ope=header

the segment sub-part (56823s02.dat) consists of 3, not two plys , and these are only indicated in their shape.

Of course, I also had the considerations about the division, as you are just describing it - but the core problem of achieving a continuous and clean twist, with a simultaneous directional course throughout, fails with the current possibilities, with our standard resources.


At least for me, which is certainly due to the fact that I am still quite virginal with your LDCAD software, because I have only been using it for a relatively short time.
(BTW - LDCAD is world class - Chapeau!)

The topic - just discovered to my surprise - was already there: "progressive roll" & "twisted strings"

https://forums.ldraw.org/thread-24138.html

With C4d I only have the possibility to get to ldraw via stl2dat and to transfer the basic elements individually with my python script. A specific subpart recognition of the LDraw library is not possible (which is not entirely true, stl2dat has a cylinder recognition, but only works if you have used solidworks)

I allowed myself the fun of doing the whole thing in C4D with a simple square as the base segment - then "stl2dat create all edges" .... and last but not least, used rectifier to display the (1 + 1799) cloned squares as recte3 objects.
The object names changed to 56823s02 ... Et voilá!

But ... actually not a stupid idea ... only the alignment was not clean - very arbitrary .. in parts even chaotic.

If you like, have a look at the Help! section in 56823s02.dat - all (if I haven't forgotten anything) essential information is listed there in detail.

Do you happen to have C4D available? - then I could send you the file for deeper insights.

[Roland Melkert]

I tried to make a template with the 56823.

I didn't apply any overlap, hence it being wrong. I'll have to determine the correct 16 orientations for this to work, but not having the time right now I just wanted to show you the initial setup.

This is what I got so far:

Code:

0 !KEYWORDS flexible, string, rope
0 Author: LDCad
0 Rope twisted LQ
0 !LDCAD CONTENT [type=path] [addFallBack=default] [looped=false] [displayKind=mm] [curveStep=0] [displayLenCor=0]

0 !LDCAD PATH_POINT [type=bezier] [posOri=0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 -1 0] [prevCPDist=25] [nextCPDist=25] [cirR=20] [cirDir=xyCW] [prevYRoll=0] [nextYRoll=0]
0 !LDCAD PATH_POINT [type=bezier] [posOri=0 0 140 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 -1 0] [prevCPDist=25] [nextCPDist=25] [cirR=20] [cirDir=xyCW] [prevYRoll=0] [nextYRoll=0]

0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]
0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=0.924 0 0.383 0 1 0 -0.383 0 0.924] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]

0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=0.707 0 0.707 0 1 0 -0.707 0 0.707] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]
0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=0.383 0 0.924 0 1 0 -0.924 0 0.383] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]

0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=0 0 1 0 1 0 -1 0 0] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]
0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-0.383 0 0.924 0 1 0 -0.924 0 -0.383] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]

0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-0.707 0 0.707 0 1 0 -0.707 0 -0.707] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]
0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-0.924 0 0.383 0 1 0 -0.383 0 -0.924] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]


0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri= 0 0 1 0 1 0 -1 0 0] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]
0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-0.383 0 0.924 0 1 0 -0.924 0 -0.383] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]

0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-0.707 0 0.707 0 1 0 -0.707 0 -0.707] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]
0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-0.924 0 0.383 0 1 0 -0.383 0 -0.924] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]

0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 -1] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]
0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-0.924 0 -0.383 0 1 0 0.383 0 -0.924] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]

0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-0.707 0 -0.707 0 1 0 0.707 0 -0.707] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]
0 !LDCAD PATH_SKIN [donCol=16] [donOri=-0.383 0 -0.924 0 1 0 0.924 0 -0.383] [donPart=56823k02.dat] [donYSize=100%] [donCen=absCen] [donCenYOfs=0] [donFinScale=none] [donPlace=refsStat] [donYAlign=0] [donInline=false] [segSize=100%] [segSizeTol=0] [segsCnt=0] [segsGrp=1] [segsMaxMerge=1] [segsMrgAng=0] [segsMrgRollAng=0] [segsEdgeDelKind=keepFirstLeft]

Do you happen to have C4D available? - then I could send you the file for deeper insights.

I'm not familiar with that program.