mcjGCodeToPathTube

Introduction

Usually when i want to visualize a path in daz studio i use the mcjTracePath script and the mcjTracer plugin

when i want to make sinuous tubes i use mcjRibbons or mcjTransport

There’s a few other of my scripts which let you create/fashion tubes

notably https://sites.google.com/site/mcasualsdazscripts3/mcjbuildera

This script here lets you make a simple tube from a node path

( simple but very well UV mapped )

Now this was actually the introduction for the mcjPathTube script

found here: https://sites.google.com/site/mcasualsdazscripts5/mcjpathtube

mcjGCodeToPathTube is based on mcjPathTube

BUT it also contains functions to import paths produced by the vector graphics freeware InkScape

those paths must be in the very special file format called G-Code

and it has to be the G-Code produced by the J Tech Photonics Laser Tool

So this Daz Script can only be of use for people who know how to use inkScape to produce those G-Code files

History

May 22nd 2018 7:42 PM V2 cleaning laser node animation before re-use

May 22nd 2018 2:42 AM V1 release

Installing

The zip package is found at the bottom of this page

unzip it in your daz content folder, typically

C:\program files\daz\studio\content\

C:\Users\YOURNAME\Documents\DAZ 3D\Studio\My Library

once installed the prop will appear in your library under

content/props/mcasual

My Library/Props/mCasual

Using

Phase 1

If the Laser-On and Laser-Off commands used to create your GCode file were not M106 and M107 change those

Click the "Load" button

select your gCode file ( which was produced by InkScape with the Laser GCode extension )

The script immediately created a null node named mcjLaser in your Daz Studio scene

the node position was animated to follow the path specified in that file

the node's XScale property inherited the Laser-On/Laser-Off events

Phase 2

- specify the number of sides your tube will use

- specify the radius in cm

- Click the "Build" button

you will have to give a location and filename for the .obj file which will contain the tube geometry

the .obj tube prop will automatically be loaded in the scene

note the values displayed in the script's window, in this case 3.14 x 754.2

those values can be handy for your texture tiling adjustments

- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -

Options

- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -- - -

Twist

This setting is an angle in degrees. When you create a 4-sided tube, the Tube's outline is

more like a diamond shape, by twisting it 45 degrees you obtain a grounded square

Mirror UVU

flips the UV Map layout along the Horizontal axis

Mirror UVV

flips the UV Map layout along the Vertical axis

Invert Normals

If you use a shader and the renders show the tube as all pitch-black, it's because the tube happened to be built inside-out ( normals pointing inward )

by inverting the normals you are telling the shader "the exterior of the tube is ..... outside the tube

If you experience problems with Displacement maps or Bump maps, it may also be due to this issue

Also for mcjElevale )

License

// mcjgcodetopathtube

// by mCasual/Jacques

// You can use this software freely for personal or commercial use.

// You may not resell, sub-license or rent this software in any way.

// You may credit this software to mCasual/Jacques

// THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,

// INCLUDING "wasBUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR

// PURPOSE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE

// FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE,

// ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.