Lisp to "unfold a solid?

Discussion in 'AutoCAD' started by DrewJones, Mar 10, 2005.

  1. DrewJones

    DrewJones Guest

    Hello all,

    My boss loves the hand built architectural model....so much so that he hardly takes a look at my "virtual" models. I model mainly with solids in Autocad. In turning these virtual massing models into real massing models, i have to print out the volumes "unfolded". What I am interested in is a Lisp that would take a valid solid and "unfold" it for me. If it's a cube or an otherwise rectangular volume i have no problem. The issue comes if i chamfer a corner or tilt a face, then things get a little more tricky...not that i can't build it but i would love a little help laying the "unfolded volume" out. Does something like this exist? If not, I am going to try to make one...and probably spend gobs of time trying.

    Thanks,
    Drew Jones
     
    DrewJones, Mar 10, 2005
    #1
  2. DrewJones

    MP Guest

    If not, I am going to try to make one...and probably spend gobs of time
    trying.

    and have gobs of fun trying!
    :)
     
    MP, Mar 10, 2005
    #2
  3. DrewJones

    DrewJones Guest

    Man, I sure hope so. LOL :)

    Drew
     
    DrewJones, Mar 10, 2005
    #3
  4. DrewJones

    Doug Broad Guest

    Drew,
    Since acad solids are encrypted, unless you have a de-encryption algorithym,
    you will not only be spending gobs of time, you will be completely wasting the
    time.
    Spend the time better by using solview and soldraw to automatically project
    the views. That will give you everything but developments.

    For developments, you will probably need to consider a program to work from
    other acad entities.
     
    Doug Broad, Mar 10, 2005
    #4
  5. DrewJones

    DrewJones Guest

    Doug,

    If I explode a solid, it turns into regions...right? I was thinking that I could then use those regions to make the unfolded version. Basically here is my thinking: I then extract the rotational info from those regions, alter the ucs accordingly, then rotate the regions to flat. repeat it for each face an then stitch it together somehow....man that seems lame. I will have to check out solview and soldraw...thanks for the suggestions.

    Drew
     
    DrewJones, Mar 10, 2005
    #5
  6. DrewJones

    Doug Broad Guest

    Sounds interesting. Please post your solution if you
    come up with a good one. I'd like to see it.


    use those regions to make the unfolded version. Basically here is my thinking: I then
    extract the rotational info from those regions, alter the ucs accordingly, then rotate the
    regions to flat. repeat it for each face an then stitch it together somehow....man that
    seems lame. I will have to check out solview and soldraw...thanks for the suggestions.
     
    Doug Broad, Mar 10, 2005
    #6
  7. DrewJones

    jochen Guest

    For unfolding 3D-surface areas (not the surface of a closed "facetted"
    solid) try out www.black-cad.de too .
    Regards
    Jochen

    hardly takes a look at my "virtual" models. I model mainly with solids in
    Autocad. In turning these virtual massing models into real massing models,
    i have to print out the volumes "unfolded". What I am interested in is a
    Lisp that would take a valid solid and "unfold" it for me. If it's a cube
    or an otherwise rectangular volume i have no problem. The issue comes if i
    chamfer a corner or tilt a face, then things get a little more tricky...not
    that i can't build it but i would love a little help laying the "unfolded
    volume" out. Does something like this exist? If not, I am going to try to
    make one...and probably spend gobs of time trying.
     
    jochen, Mar 10, 2005
    #7
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