How to change blocks individually and then replace them?

Rhino
,
1

Dear all,

I created a necklace which is made of a chain on which pyramidal elements are assembled on it. These elements have the same style with diferent sizes, sometimes different definitions. This is all along the chain more of less. So I created the elements, then the pair as a block in order to keep a low file size. This is how it looks for this first step :

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Second step, I replaced the block to see how I arrange the design in a global aesthetic, this works well. But of course as the elements are assemble with rings, the reality is different and the elements shall “fall down” as if the necklace was on the chest of a person. So I unblocked everything and I grouped the elements with the rings, changed the origin of the manipulator in order to rotate it, not automatic process and long, not acurate. Some of the rings are not into the chain link anymore…

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Final step, I have to replace by another “material” element, so I did it one by one with 3 points orientation tool :sweat_smile:

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If I have to do it each time I think it’s not the correct process, so I was wondering if blocks can recognize the same element in a different position, because what I understood from block is that they all follow the same direction, and in this case I don’t want.

Thank you for your lights,
Thierry

2

Yes, you can change the orientation of block instances independently, but if there are multiple parts in your block, they will be in a fixed orientation relative to each other.

I would recommend making one block for the small circular link and another for the pendant, and I would include reference geometry (rotation axes and arcs, center points, etc.) within the blocks so that you can easily adjust their orientation.

If you have elements with different materials, there are a couple of ways to do it.

  1. You can make a new block for each new material. Make sure it has the same base point and orientation as the original block. Then you can use _ReplaceBlock to change the existing elements to the new material.
  2. You can use a single block for all the elements but assign the pendant object within the block to material “By Parent”. Then you can control the individual element materials by changing the layer of the block instances.