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BACKGROUND
Panels are repeated patterns on surfaces, polysurfaces or a grid of points. PanelingTools offer two ways to create panels. The first is to use an ordered paneling grid of points (ordered by row and column) and the second is by objects (NURBS surface or polysurface). Panels are added in the form of edges, faces borders, face patches, flat faces and a mesh. All panels are serialized.
PanelingTools use some geometry concepts such as NURBS curves and surfaces, the U and V direction of a NURBS surface, trimmed vs untrimmed surfaces and polysurfaces. For a quick review, you can check the NurbsSurfaces wiki page.
Paneling by ordered grid of points:
- Step one: Create an ordered grid of points'
Points must be ordered in rows and columns. Each point location is marked in its object name (shows in the object properties).
Syntax is: Name(intRow)(intColumn)
While PanelingTools offers many commands to create the ordered grid, users can create their own, through scripting for example. All that is required is to name point-objects and use for paneling.
Another advantage of separating grid generation from paneling is that users can edit the grid before paneling. They can run commands like pull, project or transform to edit the grid, then panel.
- Step two: Create panels
Select an ordered point grid, a reference object (optional), pattern and the kind of output you like to get. Custom paneling and quads is also possible.
Paneling surfaces and polysurfaces directly:
These are tools to panel directly using a reference surface or polysurface.
It is also possible to combine grid generation commands with paneling by grid commands using macros. Here is an example where you can have a PanelByGridArray:
ptGridArray Pause Pause ptPanelGrid _Enter
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COMMAND DESCRIPTIONS
Toolbars
PanelingTools toolbars offer two sets of scripted commands that combine grid generation with paneling. Toolbars are available for download.
Menu
Note that PanelingTools drop-down menu shows only after PanelingTools is loaded (usually after calling one of the plugin commands for the first time in a session).
Available Commands
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ptDivideCurveSpan
Find curve division points by number or distance on curve.
Command Options:
Method (Number, ArcLength)
Method=Number:
NumberOfSpans: Number of spans on curve.
Method=ByDistance
Length: on curve, between divide curves.
Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
RoundingMethod: Up or down
Group: Option to group result
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ptDivideCurveByDirectDistance
Find curve divide points by direct distance
Command Options:
Distance: Direct distance between points
AddEndPoint: Add end point
Group: Option to group result
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ptPanelSurface
Using a base surface, the command generates the paneling grid and panels.
Command Options:
DivideMethod (BySurfaceUV, BySurfaceDistance)
DivideMethod=BySurfaceUV:
U_Method (Number, ArcLength) – First surface direction divide method.
U_NumberofSpans: Number of spans.
U_Length: Distance on base (first) iso-curve.
U_Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
U_RoundingMethod: Up or down
V_Method (Number, ArcLength) – Second surface direction divide method.
V_NumberofSpans: Number of spans.
V_Length: Distance on base (second) iso-curve.
V_Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
V_RoundingMethod: Up or down
DivideMethod=BySurfaceDistance
U_Length: Distance in first direction
V_Length: Distance in second direction
Extend: Option to extend surface when calculating the grid (get better converge)
Pattern (Box BoxX Triangular TriBasic Dense Diamond AngleBox Wave Brick New)
PanelShape (Straight, Pull)
AddPointsGrid: Add grid of points
AddEdges: Add paneling edges
AddFacesBorder: Add face outlines
AddFaces: Add face patches (this can be time consuming for large sets of panels)
AddFlatFaces: Calculate and trim best fit planar panels.
BestFit - Best fit through all four panel points (0,1,2,3)
TangentToCenter (only when there is a bse surface) - plane tangent to surface at the center of panel
AddMesh: Add a mesh
Group: Option to group result
Name: Name of panels
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ptPanelCurve
Generate panels for a surface or polysurface using direction curve. Curve can be open or closed.
Command Options:
Line: Option to define direction curve with two points
CurveOptions
NumberOfCuts: Number of curves to be projected to object
Spacing: Distance between curves
ExtrudeDirection: Extrusion direction
ProjectionDirection: Projection direction
GridOptions
Method (Number, ArcLength) – curve divide method.
NumberofSpans: Number of spans.
Length: Distance on base (first) iso-curve.
Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
RoundingMethod: Up or down
Pattern (Box BoxX Triangular TriBasic Dense Diamond AngleBox Wave Brick New)
PanelShape (Straight, Pull)
AddPointsGrid: Add grid of points
AddEdges: Add paneling edges
AddFacesBorder: Add face outlines
AddPatchFaces: Add face patches (this can be time consuming for large sets of panels)
AddFlatFaces: Calculate and trim best fit planar panels.
BestFit - Best fit through all four panel points (0,1,2,3)
TangentToCenter (only when there is a bse surface) - plane tangent to surface at the center of panel
AddMesh: Add a mesh
Group: Option to group result
Name: Name of panels
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ptManage3dPatterns
User can create new 3D patterns that connect grid points, save, delete or edit them. These patterns are saved to document and are listed in commands like ptPanel3D with other built-in patterns.
Command Options:
New: For creating new pattern
Edit: To edit existing patterns
Delete: To delete existing patterns
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ptPanel3D
Panel with 2 grids. There are few pre-defined patterns to select from. There is also the option to create new pttern that connects grid points. Panels are added in the form of edges, faces and polysurfaces. Spacing of unit patterns depends on grid spacing.
Command Options:
Pattern (WireBox Partitions Box Wedge Pyramid1 Pyramid2 New). The '''New''' option for patterns allows creating a user-defined pattern.
Group: Option to group result
Name: Name of panels
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ptPanel3DCustom
Morphes 3D patterns between 2 bounding grids. There is the option to select a base surfaces.
Command Options:
Base_x: Start x index relative to grid
Base_y: Start y index relative to grid
Shift_x: Spacing betweenpattern un itis in x direction
Shift_y: Spacing betweenpattern un itis in y direction
X_Length: Scale is x direction
Y_Length: Scale is y direction
Z_Length: Scale is z direction
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ptOrientToGrid
It allows selecting any number of objects, then orient (flow) them along paneling grid. It is possible to select a base surface. the user select 3 reference points and the fourth point is option to deform pattern to fit the grid.
Command Options:
Base_x: Start x index relative to grid
Base_y: Start y index relative to grid
Shift_x: Spacing betweenpattern un itis in x direction
Shift_y: Spacing betweenpattern un itis in y direction
X_Length: Number of unit grids to map to in X direction
Y_Length: Number of unit grids to map to in Y direction
Flip: to change normal direction.
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ptManage2dPatterns
User can create new patterns that connect grid points, save, delete or edit them. These patterns are saved to document and are listed in commands like ptPanelGrid with other built-in patterns.
Command Options:
New: For creating new pattern
Edit: To edit existing patterns
Delete: To delete existing patterns
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ptPanelGrid
Panel with ordered grid of points. Reference object (surface or polysurface) is optional. There are few pre-defined patterns to select from. There is also the option to create new pttern that connects grid points. Panels are added in the form of edges, faces borders, faces (edgesrf or patches), flat faces and a mesh.
Command Options:
Pattern (Box BoxX Triangular TriBasic Dense Diamond AngleBox Wave Brick, etc(user defined patterns))
PanelShape (Straight, Pull)
AddEdges: Add paneling edges
AddFacesBorder: Add face outlines
AddFaces: Add face patches (this can be time consuming for large sets of panels)
AddFlatFaces: Calculate and trim best fit planar panels.
FlatFacesMethod
BestFit - Best fit through all four panel points (0,1,2,3)
FitBasePt0 - Fit through points 0,1,2
FitBasePt1 - Fit through points 1,2,3
FitBasePt2 - Fit through points 2,3,0
FitBasePt3 - Fit through points 3,0,1
TangentToCenter (only when there is a bse surface) - plane tangent to surface at the center of panel
AddMesh: Add a mesh
Group: Option to group result
Name: Name of panels
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ptPanelGridCustom
Panel grid with user-defined pattern curves and points. There are options to scale pattern relative to the grid.
Command Options:
GridWidth: Width of the grid. Default to pattern width.
GridHeight: Height of the grid. Default to pattern height.
U_Spacing: Unit spacing in first direction.
V_Spacing: Unit spacing in second direction.
Group: Option to group result
Name: Name of panels
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ptPanelGridQuads
Adjust paneling grid to create maximum number of quads within tolerance.
One way to have better quads coverage is by increasing MaxDeviation, but that wouls increase distortion. Another way is to use more dense grid.
Command Options:
MaxDeviation: Deviation from base grid - higher deviation=better coverage and more distortion
Triangulate: option to split remaining non-planar faces into triangles
Group: Option to group result
Name: Name of panels
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ptAnalyzeFlatFaces
Color panels or faces (perviously created with FlatFaces option in paneling commands) from red to blue based on their deviation from base point grid or surface (red=furthest).
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ptPanelRandomPoints
Select base surface, any number of points on surface or have the command generate points.
Command Options:
GenerateRandomly: Random generation of points.
PointCount: Number of points. Appears only when GenerateRandomly=Yes
PanelShape: Straight or Pull
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ptPanelSubDivide
Select base surface, any number of closed polylines with end points on surface.
Command Options:
Degree: Number of subdividing steps.
Method: All/SubsOnly/MainOnly. Different methods of sub-paneling as in the image.
PanelShape: Straight or Pull
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ptTriangulatePoints
Use Delauney triangulation to create a mesh from points.
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ptGroupSimilarPanels
Group similar curves together within given tolerance.
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ptGridArray
Create array of ordered points. User defines first and second directions (these need not be orthogonal).
Command Options:
U_Number: Number of elements in U (first) direction.
U_Spacing: Distance between elements in U direction.
U_Direction: Option to set new U direction.
V_Number: Number of elements in V (second) direction.
V_Spacing: Distance between elements in V direction.
V_Direction: Option to set new V direction.
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
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ptGridArrayPolar
Array need not be flat. User selects rotation center and axis, then sets base point and direction of the polar array.
Command Options:
U_Number: Number of elements in U (first) direction.
U_Spacing: Distance between elements in U direction.
U_Direction: Option to set new U direction.
V_Number: Number of elements in V (rotating) direction.
V_Angle: Angle between elements.
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
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ptGridExtrude1
Select a direction curve and create a parallel or polar grid.
Command Options:
U_Method (Number, ArcLength or DirectDistance) – Curve divide method.
U_NumberOfSpans: Number of divide points.
U_Length: Distance on curve.
U_Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
U_RoundingMethod: Up or down
U_Distance: Direct distance
U_AddEndPoint: Option to ad end point on curve
V_Number: Number of points in second direction.
V_Method (Parallel, Polar) – extrusion method
V_Distance: Distance value.
V_Direction: Option to define second direction
V_Angle: Angle value
V_RotationAxis: Option to define rotation axis
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
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ptGridExtrude2
Sort of like extrude along a curve. Select 2 curves and define the divide method of each curve (by number, by distance or by direct distance).
Command Options:
U_Method (Number, ArcLength or DirectDistance) – First curve divide method.
U_NumberOfSpans: Number of divide points.
U_Length: Distance on curve.
U_Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
U_RoundingMethod: Up or down
U_Distance: Direct distance
U_AddEndPoint: Option to ad end point on curve
V_Method (Number, ArcLength or DirectDistance) – First curve divide method.
V_NumberOfSpans: Number of divide points.
V_Length: Distance on curve.
V_Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
V_RoundingMethod: Up or down
V_Distance: Direct distance
V_AddEndPoint: Option to ad end point on curve
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
SwitchCurves: Switch which of the two direction curves is rail and witch is cross section.
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ptGridUCurves
Divide parallel curves (or usually non-intersecting). Selection must be in the order of desired rows. The command divides those curves by selected method. It also unifies directions of curves.
Command Options:
Method (Number, ArcLength or DirectDistance) – Curves divide method.
NumberOfSpans: Number of divide points.
Length: Distance on curve.
Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
RoundingMethod: Up or down
Distance: Direct distance
AddEndPoint: Option to ad end point on curve
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
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ptGridUVCurves
This is for those who have all curves in both directions and would like to make a grid out of curves intersections.
Command prompts to select curves in each of the two directions to make the grid. Selection order defines order of rows and columns in the grid.
Command Options:
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
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ptGridPoints
Input grid u and v directions, base point, and u and v spacing. Using input, a base grid is created. Input points are rounded to the closest grid intersection points. This is why the result might be fewer points then the input (multiple points can be rounded to same index). For random set of points, the higher the spacing, the more successful it will be to panel these points as illustrated in the image below.
If align option is set to “Yes”, points will shift location slightly to align with the defined spacing.
Command Options:
U_Spacing: Reference grid spacing in the first direction.
U_Direction: Option to set first direction
V_Spacing: Reference grid spacing in the second direction
V_Direction: Option to set second direction
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
DeleteInput: Delete input points
AlignPoints: Align resulting points grid with reference grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
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ptGridPointsOnSurface
Use this command to order existing points on a surface by that surface's UV.
Command Options:
Tolerance : Round points by this tolerance (reference spacing = 2* tolerane)
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
DeleteInput: Delete input points
AlignPoints: Align resulting points grid with reference grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
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ptGridSurfaceUV
Divides a surface following its U and V directions. Division can be by number, distance or a combination. Note that grid name follows surface name.
Command Options: DivideMethod (BySurfaceUV, BySurfaceDistance)
U_Method (Number, ArcLength) – First surface direction divide method.
U_NumberofSpans: Number of spans.
U_Length: Distance on base (first) iso-curve.
U_Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
U_RoundingMethod: Up or down
V_Method (Number, ArcLength) – Second surface direction divide method.
V_NumberofSpans: Number of spans.
V_Length: Distance on base (second) iso-curve.
V_Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
V_RoundingMethod: Up or down
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
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ptGridSurfaceDistance
Select a surface, divide by direct (spatial) distances. This command uses an algorithm where points are calculated incrementally (every new point depends on previously created points). This is why it might not give complete coverage. Note that grid name follows surface name. The command allows to select a point on surface to use as base.
Command Options:
U_Distance: Distance in first direction
V_Distance: Distance in second direction
Extend: Option to extend surface when calculating the grid (get better converge)
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
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ptGridCurve
Generate a grid based on an object and direction curve. Curve can be open or closed.
Command Options:
Line: Option to define direction curve with two points
CurveOptions
NumberOfCuts: Number of curves to be projected to object
Spacing/Angle: Distance between curves
ExtrudeMethod=Parallel/Polar
ExtrudeDirection: Extrusion direction (for parallel)
ProjectionDirection: Projection direction
GridOptions
Method (Number, ArcLength) – curve divide method.
NumberofSpans: Number of spans.
Length: Distance on base (first) iso-curve.
Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
RoundingMethod: Up or down
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
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ptGridCurve2
Generate a grid based on an object and 2 direction curves. Curves can be repeated in parallel or polar direction.
Command Options:
Line: Option to define direction curve with two points
FirstDirCurvesOptions (same for SecondDirCurveOptions)
NumberOfCuts: Number of curves to be projected to object
Spacing/Angle: Distance between curves
ExtrudeMethod=Parallel/Polar
ExtrudeDirection: Extrusion direction (for parallel)
ProjectionDirection: Projection direction
GridOptions
Method (Number, ArcLength) – curve divide method.
NumberofSpans: Number of spans.
Length: Distance on base (first) iso-curve.
Round: Option to round distances to fill the span of the curve
RoundingMethod: Up or down
Group: Option to group resulting point grid
NameOfGrid: Grid name
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ptDirection
Flip U and V directions of the grid. This changes the names of point in the grid.
Command Options:
Degree: Number of subdividing steps.
Method: All/SubsOnly/MainOnly. Different methods of sub-paneling as in the image.
PanelShape: Straight or Pull
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ptRowsDirection
Reverse row directions in a grid.
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ptCompactGrid
Remove holes in the selected grid.
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ptCloseGrid
Close selected grid in U or V direction.
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ptGridSeam
Change grid seam. The selected grid must be closed.
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ptCleanOverlap
Remove overlapped points in a grid or merge them within tolerance:
a: Delete grid points that are within tolerance in the u direction.
b: Move points within tolerance in v direction to overlap.
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ptShiftGrid
Shift the index of selected grid pointed by specified amount. Helps space out a grid and create holes.
Command Options:
RowShift: shift in u direction
ColShift: shift in direction
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ptOffsetPoints
Offset points on surface or polysurface by specified amount.
Command Options:
OffsetAmount: Offset distance
Group: option to group points
Connect: To draw a line between each point and its offset
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ptTagObjects
Tag objects with thier names.
Command Options:
TagMode (Dot, Text)
Height: Text height
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ptSerializeObjects
Adds serializing to objects (points, curves, surfaces) relative to:
a. Selection order
b. World coordinate
c. User-defined direction
d. Reference surface
Command Options:
SortMethod: using the above four methods
Prefex: Name that shown before serial number
StartIndex: Start index of serlized numbers
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ptUnifyCurvesDirection
Unify the direction of curves to point in the same general direction.
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ptSurfaceFromGridOfEditPoints
Create a NURBS surface using grid as edit points.
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ptSurfaceFromGridOfControlPoints
Create a NURBS surface using a point grid as surface control points.
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ptExtrudeEdges
Extrude paneling edges normal to a base surface or by a user-defined direction
Command Options:
Distance: Extrude distance
NameEnding: suffex added to edge name to serialize extrusion
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ptOffsetEdges
Offset paneling edges uing base surface.
Command Options:
Distance: Offset distance
NameEnding: suffex added to edge name to serialize offsetted curves
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ptFinEdges
Fin paneling edges using pase surface.
Command Options:
Distance: Fin distance
NameEnding: suffex added to edge name to serialize fins