Pipes Sample
Pipes sample demonstrates programming and manipulation of various properties of
Pipe
Entity objects, including pipes and curved bars and programming of free form
and splined 3D curves.
See also: Sample List.
The application
On start the application displays a pipe, central
curve of which is constructed from three pieces: two arcs and a straight
line. The most important geometrical property of the pipe section - central
curve can be modified with the Central Line group on the right. Type of the
line can be changed dynamically between interpolated free-form
curve defined by raw points data and parametric Arc
Spline Curves.
Both types of lines have an array of data points, which can be edited with
Data group. Parametric Arc Spline
Curves are supposed to have much fewer data points, they act as the
connection points between consecutive splines.
In addition to data points geometry of the central curve is defined also by:
Free-form central curve
Interpolation Degree, which affects how smooth the curve (and the pipe) will
appear.
Arc Spline Curve
Array of spline normals
which define plane for each spline (passes through both ends of the spline) and curvatures
which defines an arc in the plane. The relevant set of
controls is enabled when type of the curve is chosen.
In the default pipe there are four data points connected with three splines.
Use Spline Frame and Spline Plane check boxes in the Render group to view plane
and normal of the spline. Use Current Point control to change the currently
displayed spline. Normal of the spline plane coincides with z axis of the spline
frame.
When the line is Arc Spline Curve "More" button is enabled, which
displays additional properties of the current spline. Calculate button allows
calculation of a point at any point on the current spline. Parameter of the
point in range [0, 1] can be entered in the "Calculate point at" box.
Other Pipe properties
Properties of the pipe other than related to the central
curve can be modified using the control group at the bottom. The sample can
help to tune in the Geometric
Resolution property, which affects quality of surface vs. performance trade
offs.
Filleted Pipe
Tools menu offers another way for creation of Arc Spline
Curves for central line as a line obtained by replacing sharp corners of a
sequence of straight segments with arcs of any radius.
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