Lofting in 3ds Max

AstroZombie

Does anyone know if it is possible to create a loft object from a path spline that has one or more T-intersections? I did not think that it was possible but one of my co-workers claims he has seen it done. Any help would be much appreciated.

Mark Dygert

How in the hell would you get a continuous spline that had multiple T-junctions, in the first place? You can't weld a new spline to a center vert in another spline without first breaking it, then it wouldn't let you weld all of them together. Daft I tell you DAFT!

I think you would be stuck creating separate lofts.

If he suddenly remembers how I would really really like to know.

CrazyButcher

nurbs can do that, that is joining nurbs surfaces, but regular splines I dont think so.

Mark Dygert

I don't think it will let you select a nurbs if it has been fused that way? I'll have to test it out in a few hours when I can get back to max.

CrazyButcher

you are probably right, I thought about fusing two nurbs (each made of one "line" of the T)

mikebart

What are you trying to make using this technique? if you're box modeling have you tried using the extrude polygon along spline tool in edit poly?

Noren

Have a look at the sweep modifier perhaps, introduced in Max 7 or 8. You can have splines with several intersecting segments there. In that case you also have the option for an automated boolean union. Results vary

Jesse Moody

yeah i was gonna say try out sweep. i've used it for quick wall layouts combined with max 9s pro booleans. Autodesk showed the process at GDC this year as well.

low odor

I remember way back in the stone ages when I was in school..one of our assignments was to make a fork using the loft tools..and there was a way in the spline tools to do it...dont remember how though

Ruz

well i still have the first new riders book for 3dsmax 1.0 and they build a fork in this manner I am sure.

Eric Chadwick

The fork is probably done with Deform Fit, or whatever its called. Lets you specify 3 shapes for left/front/top, then it figures out the intersection. Kinda works, but you get a fugly mesh.

Sweep is the way to go. Good for branching caves and the like. Automatic UVs. Intersection mesh can be ugly, but easy to optimize.