Spline Loft Sculpture

I took a few days off to get a dual vaccination for covid and flu.
Now that I'm fully winterized, I'm ready to do the unwrapping process.

Newribs test.jpg
 
This time I'm setting up each section in a cluster surrounding the Ruler Box.
I will unwrap all three clusters at once to hopefully insure scale uniformity.

Red square is 1x1.

New Start First Tree.jpg
 
I just did the gang unwrap.

Now it goes on to an old version of Affinity Designer to remove extra lines.

C1abc UV editor.jpg
 
I am very happy with how this old version of Affinity Designer
removes extra lines with the Combine command.
I don't know why they ever removed it.

New PDF delivered.
 
Even though I unwrapped everything at once, objects
that are exactly the same come out slightly differently.

The good news is it's such a small amount it shouldn't matter.

For the first laser cutting session we will cut the first three sections
of the curved elements and the first three flat panel elements.

That way we will test the two different construction methods.

Here's the first three flat panel sections in Cheetah's UV editor.

E1 2 3uv editor.jpg
 
ZooHead said:
Even though I unwrapped everything at once, objects
that are exactly the same come out slightly differently.

The good news is it's such a small amount it shouldn't matter.

For the first laser cutting session we will cut the first three sections
of the curved elements and the first three flat panel elements.

That way we will test the two different construction methods.

Here's the first three flat panel sections in Cheetah's UV editor.

View attachment 38826
Click to expand...
I'm not sure if UV unwrapping maintains the parts surface area? You may try something like Unfolder, which I believe does maintain the surface area and edge lengths / angles. https://www.unfolder.app/

I have this app if you want me to test it on a 3d file and see what shapes it outputs. (Edit: It has a 30 day trial, so should be enough for you to do some tests with.)
 
Project Update: Thanks to Swizl for suggesting Unfolder, it's working perfectly.
Using the UV system for a laser cutting guide is a dead end, too many problems with scale.

Also there may be a small chance for the artist to have a custom built laser cutter made. :cool:
 
The process has gotten so much simpler with Unfolder.
I just use Cheetah to make the model, then save
as an OBJ, which is what Unfolder needs.

The main purpose of Unfolder is to make folding paper versions of 3D models,
but it should work great for a laser cutter since it can produce a PDF file.

I'm confident but until we do a practical test I won't know for sure.

It's been decided to use a box joint for construction for the flat panel elements,
so I went looking for some software to automate putting the "teeth" on.
But when I had no luck, I went back to good old C3D.

Here's a mock up render of one section.
All the teeth are long, so they can be sanded flush.

Box Joint Render.jpg
 
:unsure: So, one year later (posting #1 @ 17.04.2022) GS098 / Gerald is back at square one.
:mad: I suspect that he may not be amused.
 
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