It would be very interesting and useful command “flange”, which allows to perform extrusions with different types of patterns: linear, cubic, constant … different angles, and you can insert the intermediate points…
Here is a example very comprehensive:
Or, if you do not want to create a new command, expand the possibilities offered by the extrusion curves, for example, offer the opportunity to make an angle interactive (with handle around goniometer, very comfortable!), Insert the intermediate points and change the upper profile of the extrusion surface (as is already the case for the command "Fin).
What do you think?
In my opinion, Rhino should be as well as simple to use, also comfortable, through an easier manipulation of interactive forms that are generated.
Currently make an extrusion with a generic angle is not to be suitable, also perform angles to the command “Bend”, for example…
I think it’s more comfortable to make deformations as in the video, contrary to what happens in Rhino:
It’s very interactive. Given the amount of work they put into it, I suspect that they made that for turbo rotors.
Although it’s more work, you could accomplish the same result by projecting or pulling a curve onto the surface, or even sectioning it, and then using offset and other curve commands to create the top curve, which could be lofted. Putting Record History on would make it a little more interactive because you could modify the curves and see the updated result.
Perhaps with the $9000 savings, you could hire someone to script that?
It would not be the same thing …
The NX control is very complete and well done; Rhino could approach while not a parametric CAD.
Yes, I agree, Rhino is not parametric. Though, interactively, you could change the angles of the ends as in the video, but I don’t think you could change/rebuild the interior degree, per node.
Still, if you knew what you wanted for an end result, that’s makeable in Rhino.
I think you can do a similar operation exists for the command “FIN”
yes also i miss the fillet flange in Alias
Hello - in case it helps at all, here’s a script that might be of some use -
To use the Python script use RunPythonScript, or a macro:
_-RunPythonScript "Full path to py file inside double-quotes"
-Pascal
I am experimenting with vehicle body parts in Grasshopper. I have been working on a windshield maker that forms thickened conical windshield sections made from two diameters, and some heights. The windshield is simple, like a Porsche 917’s.
Using sliders, the whole thing is adjustable, with an real-time angle readout, as well. When I make one that looks pretty good, I just bake it. The cool thing is: after materials are applied, I can get some idea how bad the reflections would be.
If you really need to mess with it, Grasshopper might be helpful.
That windshield shape looks very similar to the windshield of Race car replicas’ Superlite Coupe (RSR SL-C). 
Free plugin called Math_3DE makes smooth degree 3 curves and surfaces from parametric equations: http://www.rhino3.de/_develop/__v3_plugins/math/
This plugin is simple and easy to use. Its last version works in Rhino 6 except library of common curves and surfaces.
[That car looks like fun.
Oddly enough, I used to work as an assistant auto-fabricator at a Kit Car company, making GT-40 replicas, and occasionally some Cobra parts.
At times, Grasshopper is pretty handy. I am still fairly new to it, but it’s allowing me to work on some complicated what-if parts.]
It would seem that the flange tool would be a pretty esoteric use case, to make a tool to do only that.
In Rhino, you could project a line down onto the surface, and go from there, such as using a control surface to trim the top of your fin-like surface, if you like. Even without Grasshopper, the Record History function could give you some more interactivity.
The final surface in the video, looks like it could just be lofted, or swept with 2 rails using profile curves if all 4 edges are critical, like in the image below.
In Grasshopper, you you make lines, and set their angles with a slider, fillet the curves with a radius controlled with another slider, and use those as a basis for creating the bottom rail, and then create a surface from them.
Hi, I have tested in Rhino6.24 it show 'Message: Local variable ‘crvId’ referenced before assignment. ’
Hello - I just updated that Github file with the latest I have here - as far as I can see it works- can you please try the new one?
-Pascal
@pascal
When I select the edge of the face, it still reports an error. Please see the attached image.
Hm - works here - can you post a surface for whit is fails, or it does it always fail?
-Pascal
@pascal I uploaded the surface file, you can check the surface edge flange.
test surface edge.3dm (85.9 KB)
Hm - all edges work just fine here - I’l attach the exact py that I am using.
FinTools.py (13.4 KB)
-Pascal
