Choosing Breps from a list or set?

I want to make jewellery chain from different links. I have included the links and I have a Value list that I use to chose the correct link. This is fine for most chains, but some are a combination of different links. I cannot add the grouped Breps to a list and choose both at the same time.

I have 2 chains that are made up of a combination of different links. In my attached definition, I have one chain that uses 2 links and one that uses 4 links. I have included all the links together and as separate Breps. How can I combine them so I can choose a complete set to array along curve. This part is not included.

Any info on culling items and selecting the right ones to regroup together would be useful as well.

Thanks, Randy

Attachments:

chain - Links List.ghx, 662 KB

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joseph Oster on August 4, 2016 at 11:02am

Here is code that generates a chain using random numbers but that 'Random' component could just as easily be replaced by a panel with a list of link numbers...

I tried to offset each link by half its length. Not sure I did that right or if it's the right thing to do? Might require a parameter for each link?

Rotation seems to also be an issue in the sense that alternate links must be rotated ninety degrees? But not all the links have the same original orientation?

Attachments:

chainLinksList_2016Aug4a.gh, 413 KB

Permalink Reply by Joseph Oster on August 4, 2016 at 11:14am

I got better results for spacing by shifting lists differently, though it's still not perfect:

Again, you can define a chain manually by supply a list of index values instead of the 'Random' number generator:

Attachments:

chainLinksList_2016Aug4b.gh, 417 KB

Permalink Reply by Randy Gregory on August 4, 2016 at 11:22am

Thanks Joseph, that gives me something. I do have a distance for each link, but I was trying to keep this part simple. It always gets more complex than i think. Just opening it now, cool.

I will try an integer Number slider for the list.

But not all the links have the same original orientation?

I know now, I will change this in the next version. Usually the chain is made from the same link, just every second one is rotated. Each link will make a different chain. I am using this to set up renders of jewellery. Hopefully to save me time down the road. Now it is an excuse to learn more Grasshopper. Cheers!

Permalink Reply by Joseph Oster on August 4, 2016 at 11:50am

I believe you need a parameter for each link that is the X-offset needed to clear the "wire thickness", meaning the loop of material that makes each link. And the offset between any two links is the sum of those two parameters. In other words, the offset/overlap is not determined by the length of the link alone but also by its "wire thickness".

As to rotation, I believe you need TWO parameters for each link type, start and end, with values of either "horizontal" or "vertical". That would allow the code to handle many variations in link styles.

Fun project, not too complex. Enjoy.

Permalink Reply by Randy Gregory on August 4, 2016 at 12:11pm

Thanks again, fun project, yes. Learning simple stuff!

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