Batch Blocks

Rhino Rhino for Windows
1

Hi,

Is there a way to make a number of closed curve geometries into blocks in one batch rather than having to block command each one which is very tedious with multiple parts?

Thanks in advance

2

Hi Andrew - youā€™ll need a script, I guess. How do you want to specify names and insertion points - if these are not somehow handled by the script automatically, I am not sure how much of an advantage it would be over just doing it one by one as you are now.

-Pascal

3

Hi Pascal,

Thanks for the speedy reply.

I guess just a consecutive number for the names?

If there was a way to be able to include any other objects encompassed within the closed curve, that would be ideal!

Basically, I am creating 2D patches for cutting on a CNC machine using the DXF AAMA format. The cutting machine requires that all parts must be defined as a block using a closed cut line that is on a layer named ā€˜1ā€™,

So, it could be that the script uses the layer 1 as the block definition rather than simply the closed curve, but either way, it would be great if you could help me out with something like that?

Many thanks.

PS, slightly off topic, but I tried to find a way to do this in Grasshopper, but am I right in thinking there is no way to define a block in Grasshopper?

Cheers, Andrew

4

Hi Andrew - Iā€™m happy to take a poke at scripting this, but it would be good if you can post or send me me a simple ā€˜before and afterā€™ example so I have a better idea what Iā€™m doing. Each curve in its own block, all blocks on layer ā€œ1ā€, or all curves contained by a curve in one blockā€¦ ?

-Pascal

5

Hi Pascal,

Fantastic, thank you very much.

Attached is a VERY basic example. demo.3dm (64.0 KB)

There are two panels - both defined by the closed line on layer 1 in red.

On each panel are some plot lines (on layer 8) and some text (on layer 19)

Everything inside of the closed red curve on layer 1 needs to be in an individual ā€˜blockā€™, and all of the resulting blocks need to be on a new common layer (The default layer is fine, as long as it is not the same as the layers used to define cut, text or plot items)

Many many thanks, Andrew

6

demo as required.3dm (65.4 KB)

This attachment is how they should be defined.

Thank you!

7

Youā€™ll need a plugin to work with blocks in Grasshopper. Havenā€™t used it myself, but check out Human.

8

Andrew, will the curves always be polylines?

-Pascal

9

Hi Pascal -

Mostly, although arcs can be used too.

10

Thanks for the tip gregb!

11

OK, well hereā€™s a start- letā€™s see if it does what you want. Use RunPythonScript and browse to where ever you save the py file. Weā€™ll make it friendlier when it works the way you like it.

This one should work on all types of curves and contained text.

AutoBlocker.py (1.3 KB)

-Pascal

1 Like
12

Hi Pascal,

Thatā€™s awesome thank you!

If itā€™s possible to give each block a consecutive object ā€˜nameā€™ that would be perfect!

Thanks very much again for taking the time to do this!

regards, Andrew

13

I just tried the script on another file, but had this warning?

Thanks, Andrew

14

Hi Andrew - the thing is looking for curves and text only, so far - if you have the text as blocks, Iā€™ll need to allow for thatā€¦

-Pascal

15

Hi,

Very strange, I ran the test on the same file again and it worked just fine?

I did ā€˜purge allā€™ first, so maybe that flushed some things out?

Many thanks again!

Andrew

16

@solosails Andrew, hereā€™s an updated, friendier (numbers the blocks, lets you set a base name) version, plus a compiled plug-in so you can just load it up once and have this command in Rhino

BatchBlock

AutoBlocker.py (2.1 KB)

BatchBlock.rhp (9.5 KB)

-Pascal

1 Like
17

Pascal, I am indebted to you!

Thank you so much for developing that tool, it is incredibly time saving for me, and I hope others too.

Very best regards, Andrew

18

Ooh, one last requestā€¦ (sorry!)

Is it possible to make it work with selected components only?

So that if you have an initial design model with various stages of unrolling and seam allowance adding etc, then you can just batch the developed components required, rather than it trying to search the entire file?

Thanks again!

19

Hi Andrew- It should be easy enough to make it work on selected objects but I need a better idea what you intend there - I made the thing look at Layer 1 and use that as the driver - anything on this layer is a candidate for an enclosing curve. How do you want to select - only selected inner objects and enclosing curves participate, or only selected enclosing curves are candidates and find anything inside themā€¦ or? Do we still need to only consider Layer 1 objects as possible enclosing curves? etc.

thanks,

-Pascal

20

You are welcome - itā€™s a teeny bit specialized for general use I think - I donā€™t know if there is a way to make it more useful ā€˜at largeā€™. Perhaps just making the user select outer curves only and ignore the special layer name that you use, and allow more objects to be the interior objects.

-Pascal