Mcneel.3dm (270.8 KB)
I’m going to sweep the two rectangles with the curve. However, I want radiuses on the corners of the rectangles. The fillet function doesn’t seem to work on those rectangles probably because they’re arced in the z-direction. What the best way to fillet these corners?
Fillet and FilletCorners only work on curves which are planar in the region of the fillet.
If the desired end result is a surface with filleted corners then the surface using the rectangles with sharp corners, and then fillet the surface.
An alternative is to create a temporary surface for each rectangle. ProjectToCplane the rectangles. FilletCorners the projected rectangles. Then Project the fillets on to the temporary surfaces.
The curved portions of the rectangles are very bumpy with a lot of control points. Is this desired?
One method you could use:
_Rebuild the curved curves to a simpler structure (I used degree 4, single span)
_Extrude these
_OffsetSrf
_FilletEdge
_BlendSrf (position)
_MatchSrf (tangent) twice
Here’s a thing you can try to fillet non-planar curves - works OK most of the time I think. Right now it just bails oif the radius is too large, I’ll see if I can tune that up.
FIlletNonPlanar.py (11.0 KB)
To use the Python script use RunPythonScript, or a macro:
_-RunPythonScript "Full path to py file inside double-quotes"
-Pascal
Create sphere at the intersection/end point and trim the curve; then arc blend curve. Probably the easiest way ?
Works like a charm Pascal.
Thanks so much.
The only thing I can’t figure out is how to get that script into the proper place in the file system. It’s in the downloads folder right now. I’m not much of a windows expert.
rex
hi @black33ford see if this page helps
Thanks to Pascal’s FIlletNonPlanar.py, I was able to attain my goal. Only now, I’m trying to figure out how to construct surfaces on the top and bottom, so far with no success. I’m a little at the border of my expertise with this project. Thanks for all the help so far!
Mcneel.3dm (555 KB)
Hi Rex, I would go the other way - make surfaces - looks like they are arcs, and then build the transitions around the edges
-Pascal
Pascal, can you tell me the process for getting from the 2nd pic to the 3rd? I’ve tried a few things, but so far no luck.
Thanks,
rex
Hi Rex - the far object is the middle one with FilletEdge applied to all of the top edges at once.
-Pascal
The issue with fillet-edge is that is prescribed by a radius. The customer I’m machining the part for wants me to play with different fillet curve shapes, which is why I was trying to sweep. Is there any way I can sweep a curve around that workpiece?
Thanks,
rex
I was hoping I could sweep a curve around the part that would create a surface I could use to trim with.
Hi Rex there are other ways - I’ll see if I can cook something up that makes sense - the transition can be some ellipitical shape then correct, or is it a variable arc cross section?
-Pascal
I create the arc myself by drawing it by hand and digitizing it into Rhino. Is that what you mean by variable cross section? This is to be a valve cover on a Corvette and the customer is particular about how that curve looks, so I need to be able to iterate it. I really appreciate your help!
For instance, this is the curve I swept. The part just needs a top and a bottom. Perhaps if I constructed oversize surfaces for top and bottom, the swept curve could trim them?
Corvette VC0531.3dm (731 KB)
Hi Rex - see if this helps at all - I did one quadrant, very quickly but basically:
Now, think about how to buiold the transition -As is, the gap cannot accommodate a true arc that is tangent to both top and side surfaces at all locations. A blend surface may do - it has the advantage of being adjustable.
Or Loft between edges and MatchSrf
V8/WIP has some tools that may help as well - with FilletSrfToRail you can specify a curve on a surface that will drive the fillet and the fillet will vary to make sure it is tangent -
This works with History so it can be adjusted.
-Pascal
This is very helpful Pascal.
BTW, I did put oversized surfaces on the top and bottom of the sweep and the sweep did trim them. I think it looks right.
I’ll play around with your suggestions too.
Thanks!
Hi Rex, your transition surface is a bit of a mess though - I don’t think you can get away with this
if that is the one… if you are going to Sweep2, make sure to use the Add Slash feature to add shape curves at every corner segment to true up the surface.
-Pascal
Now that you mention it…
Looks like it’s fine on two corners, but messed up on the other two.
I’ll work on your approach.
thanks
