I'm sure you remember about SR 3D Builder. A rich featured CAD tool for 3D modeling of LEGO models, being developed by Sergio Reano.
This week I crossed with an explanation at YouTube, about how does he envisions the modeling of flexible parts in a 3D space. 
I guess this may be not innovative in terms of professional 3D CAD tools, but definitely it will be a great advance for LEGO users of CAD tools.
It looks to me, there is a lot of B-spline mathematics running in there...
But it looks also easy and intuitive for the user (maybe after some practice). At least I guess it would have made the last TBs Technic Challenge [1, 2, 3], a lot easier for many.
However please remind this is a preview, and not yet released into the latest public SR 3D Builder version available for download.
Edit:
If you thought to have seen everything, Sergio shown us the latest developments (yet to be released) on his interface to add flex parts in your models.
See them on the video below.
Last Update: 2010.Jun.16 00:14 CET
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4 comments:
Ooh, bendy! :P I wonder whether that functionality will be available (if it isn't already) for other non-hose flexible parts, such as rubber bands/belts, strings, and rubber treads.
By the way, some of that animation reminds me of Indiana Jones' whip. I wonder if someone will make a little movie featuring an Indy minifig wielding a pneumatic hose against flexing corrugated hose "snakes"... :D
-Toa Of Justice
Besides the interactivity, what I like about this as opposed to LSynth is the fixed length of the flexible part. An Lsynth part is just the most direct path between constraints, but there is no way to tell it that you want the overall flexible part length to be longer (have more slack) unless you add another constraint. Another constraint ruins the flow of the spline. This new tool appears to avoid that problem by allowing an independent length. I like it!
Hi,
I'm the author of the program.
Please notice that the video is a preview.
THE FEATURE IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE IN THE CURRENT DOWNLOADABLE VERSION.
Anyway hope you like it.
Another video preview is next to come hopefully in this week.
The first version will include the following:
- Auto Orient the flex with final destination connection
- Possibility to tension/release the flex working on tangent direction of the connection and/or with the curve angles (harder to describe than to work with)
- Real time display flex length (in LegoUnits)
A next version will include hopefully:
- the ability to work in realtime with 2 additional control point inside the flex
- the enforce and continue feature allowing a tube to cross a peghole, automatically adding a constraint point, and continue the flex (just to know: how many tube can cross a peghole together?)
- maybe more to come... wait for hints also, but not too complex please ;-)
Byes
Sergio
Here is the link to the new video.
You wont believe. It's fantastic...
yes, ok, it's my opinion, but it worth a look.
To Conchas:Please replace the link in the first video with the following
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxREdU4Xaws
please be patient for some days before new release...
Sergio
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