cross-section

[buggy]

What is the best approach to animating a cross-section (slice plane) through a powerNURBS model?

I made a powerNURBS model by blending several shapes but if I add the Max slice modifier, it looks pretty messed up.

I also tried converting the model to a mesh but the result was also messy if I add a shell modifier. If I set it to weld and to Fine before converting it, it looks okay with the slice modifier set to operate on triangles (doing this with quads is messed up as is the quad option in the viewport display settings prior to conversion to polys). But if I shell it, it looks all shattered again.

When I try using the Shell option in the powerNURBS Filleting/Offsetting rollout or with a powerShell function, it removes the fillets I have at the points where the shapes connect.

I had to rebuid the model using polys (loft tool) in order to have something that looks okay and is sliceable but it would be nice to know how to overcome these hurdles with a powerNURBS model. Any suggestions would be welcome.

Perhaps I could use the powerBoolean to move a block through the pN model to cross-section it. Even so, I would still need to shell the model without losing my fillets.

Thanks,

James

[nPower_Dave]

Hello James,

I think the best approach is to animate a Boolean operation (or Power Cutter). Do a Boolean operation (subtraction) that slices through your object. Then animate the operand (the cutter object) by moving it through (or deeper into) your object. That will produce an animated slicing effect.

[buggy]

Thank you for the feedback Dave. If I can get the NURBS model to retain the fillets then I will probably do this since it looks better than my poly model with fillets.
Do you know why my fillets would dissapear when I try and shell the model?
They also dissapear if I make them anything other than .1mm or .2mm

James

[PiXeL_MoNKeY]

Sounds like some edge crossing is causing the fillets to fail. What is your order Shell then fillet or fillet then shell? Have you tried the other? Hard to say without seeing a sample file or image of course.

-Eric

[nPower_Dave]

Yes, it's hard to tell without at least an image of the model. Depending on how you shell, it will round the corners. So I would do the shell operation first and then the fillets. If you can't create fillets of larger size, there is probably a small edge that would intersect with larger fillets.