Shaper-Editor problem?
5 messages in this thread
I've been building vintage WWII aircraft in 3DS. I've been tracing shapes in
acad and importing them via dxf into the shaper. Then I line up the shapes
with the geometry in the editor using 3D display. Then I bring the shapes into
the editor with create/object/get shape. The problem: the resulting object
comes into editor nowhere near the position I set for it in the shaper. When I
reset and repeated the procedure with some simple test objects and shapes, the
shapes came in right on the money. But my real shape file always screws up.
Docs don't seem to mention position of shapes and lofts aligned usinf 3d
display, but if memory serves it always worked in the past. What's going on?
Thanx for all replies.
– andy
You need to turn on the 3D Display in the _Lofter_ to align the lofted objects
with the meshes in the Editor. Its the position of the path in the Lofter that
determines the position of the resultant lofted object. Also, the orientation
of the path determines the rotational orientation of the lofted object. Keep in
mind that the 2D Shaper is just that — two dimensional, so it can't represent
a location in 3D space.
– Jack
I didn't mention that the problem occurs in the lofter also; I import
my shape, rotate and position the path just so using 3D display, loft
the object, transfer to 3D editor, and bang – it's _way_ the heck off
in the corner somewhere, nowhere near where I had positioned it in
the lofter. I'm still trying to figure this out.
Re: >> Keep in mind that the 2D Shaper is just that — two
dimensional, so it can't represent a location in 3D space. <<
Is there then no correspondence between X-Y coordinates in the Shaper
and the coordinates of the Editor viewport active when
Create/Object/Get Shape command is issued? Thanks for the replies;
can't wait til our copies of r3 show up.
Actually, the XY coordinates in the Shaper correspond to the XY
coordinates in the Front viewport of the Editor/Keyframer. If you
transfer a shape into the Lofter and then loft an object WITHOUT
changing the position of the shape in the Lofter in relationship to
the path, the object should be properly positioned in the Front
viewport of the Editor. Also, take a look at the Shape/Hook command
in the Shaper, which lets you determine exactly where a shape will be
positioned on the path.
As for your problems with 3D Display and alignment in the Lofter, I
can't really say where you might be getting off the track, unless
you're not checking the placement in at least two orthographic
viewports in the Lofter.
Thanks for the info. I'll keep at it.
– a