How to Bend a flexible piece?
madmatt667 started this discussion in Help and Tips

I am trying to bend Hose Soft Axle 7 just slightly for my London architecture build - if you do a quick google, it is the blue hose on the bridge I am trying to re-create with the bend.
Any help would be appreciated as I cannot progress - perfectionist here!
Thanks!

23 replies · Page 1 of 2

*Nevermind, I figured it out. The bend is not perfect but you will see that once the set is finished and published 😉

Avatar of Scrubs
Administrator

Select the part to bend and press F (or click on the flex tool icon in the left hand side bar).
The part will be converted to a bezier curve. From there, you can change the shape of that curve and divide it in multiple sections. press F again to generate the geometry when you are done.

Yeah I didn't realize that once I pressed F, I had to click one of the red vertex points on the piece but it's fine. Thanks for the help

Avatar of Scrubs
Administrator

No worries 😃 To subdivide a curve, select 2 points (next to each other) using the CTRL key. Then press "Sudivide" in the tool panel.

Hi Scrubs - I am having trouble with a string - it is set to flexible and when I press F to bend, I cannot select more than one point - even when I hold CTRL. I tried this in Chrome (primary browser), Firefox and IE. Is it just certain parts that can have a subdivide? The points are next to each other as well.

It is String 30m

Avatar of Scrubs
Administrator

I tried with part 63142 and it works. Did you make sure that you are only selecting the string and not the whole assembly (63142 is made of 3 parts - string plus 2 knobs)?

Yes I deleted the knobs as I just wanted a longer string but no joy 😦

Avatar of Scrubs
Administrator

For a simple string you have this one: 56823
I pressed F then press CTRL and click on handle number 2. Does it works for other parts or you cannot do it for all flexible pieces?
http://i.imgur.com/lWGUQMx.png

My bad, I was clicking the wrong points, I was clicking 1 + 2 and it was not working. Sorry - think it's time for sleep haha

Ahhhhh, set done! That was so much easier, I was struggling with that trying to get the shape with the basic points! I think I can sleep soundly now 😃

Avatar of Scrubs
Administrator

👍

I wish there was a mirror function lol. Duplicate helps but I have to redo a lot of the flexing 😛

A mirror function has been requested before(off topic), But I agree that it would be a very nice tool but I know that it will take Scrubs alot of time for coding that and I think he has other priorities.

Ok, I finally figured it out but it would be cool if it was only the string that bent and the not the stud (so the stud to stay in place).

Hi all - this has been really helpful. I'm just wondering if there is a way to constrain a flexible part so mechabricks does not stretch it while flexing it. I've found that we are able stretch peices longer than they would go in real life, so its hard to know if your model would work in real bricks.

thanks in advance

Avatar of Scrubs
Administrator

No, there are currently no constraints however you have the information about the length of the part in a relaxed position. You can checked the actual length and the default length.

It doesn't really make super sense to constraint flexible elements as per the name it can be stretched.

Hello! I am trying to build a custom helmet with tubes. I need help finding and bending the tubes.
Can you help, @Scrubs?

I think I know what digi_brick is talking about. With the rope with bar attachments piece (the segmented one that is used in white for Spider-Man's webs in modern sets), when you try to bring the knobs closer together, the clips will begin to be sucked into each-other creating something resembling a thick coil. Perhaps individual stretch/give constraints would help to create a more "wiggly" (or slightly more "bunched") sort of bend to be possible? Like pre-determined physics, not necessarily strict, concrete "constraints." More like parameters.

Wait- Where can you find the strings? Because there are tiny ones (I've seen them in models). And I can only find the big ones.

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