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modifying an electrical wire without distorting the shape
I modeled an electrical wire (with both the inner metal threads and the outer rubber casing) using straight cylinders. I used 3 of the bend modifiers to bend the wire in different directions and give it a more realistic appearance.
But it wasn’t brilliant, it was difficult to adjust the bends without it affecting everything else and distorting the shape of the wire. I was wondering if maybe there’s a way to attach it to maybe a spline so that I can more the points accurately and position the wire exactly how I want it without distorting the shape of the wire too much?
Would my other option be to learn how to use bones perhaps?
What would be the best way so that I had full control over the positioning of my wire?
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8 Replies
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use a spline with the cross-section shape of your wire then extrude that along a spline with an ExtrudeNurb
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Would it be possible to use a twist on the wires sticking out at the end too using this method?
Like they appear inside a real wire?Thanks for your response, I’ll give this a bash, cheers.
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earth to my brain….. sorry, I meant SweepNurb not ExtrudeNurb
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Yes, the sweep nurbs object has a spline graph for twist, so you can add more at the end.
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I’m afraid I’m stuck again guys, if you look at this image:
https://z.about.com/d/create/1/0/D/s/-/-/BasicWire2.jpgCan I apply the individual inner copper wires (with a twist at the end), as well as the outer plastic casing all to a single spline?
I imagine this will have to be done using 2 splines (one for the copper wire and one for the plastic casing) but wouldn’t that mean I’d have to position each spline in exactly the same position individually? I also want to make the copper wire stick out at the end of the casing like in the photo?
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Ok, I’ve figured out how to do the inner wires and the plastic casing, but they are both on separate splines, can they both be on one spline that I can move to affect both the inner and outer of the wire?
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probably the simplest thing to do is to use the spline for one of your sweeps then use Instances of the spline for the other sweeps. It’s really only one spline that way so when you edit it they all change.
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