By Chris K. Palmer and TJ Mcleish © 2007 ~ All commercial rIGHTS RESERVED
Typical Workflow
a. Bring mesh from another program to Rhino. Use the "MeshToNURB" command to convert the mesh to a polysurface.
b. Create a surface with rhino, then use the "Mesh" command to create faceted geometry that approximates your surface. Using "Detailed controls" and adjusting maximum edge length can sometimes produce well formed planar quads. Use the "MeshToNURB" command to turn the mesh back into a polysurface.
c. Create a surface with rhino, then use ArchCut or the included TriFolds paneling plugins (both require Archcut plugin to be installed, get it from RhinoLabs) to produce a mesh that approximates your surface. Use the "MeshToNURB" command to turn the mesh back into a polysurface if necessary.
Hide or delete the input mesh.
Surfaces/polysurfaces to be laid down must be planar (no saddles). Use the "TriangulateNonPlanarQuads" command on your mesh if needed.
Explode the polysurface and if desired "Join" the individual surfaces into logical polysurfaces, i.e. ribbons. The Trifolds command generates ribbons automatically.
Place the Tab block with the base that will be along the edge of the polygon down as shown and click from right to left.
The Tab must be a block. The Tab is scaled 1D or 3D. The included SlideTab block is 1.25" so scale reference your model setting the shortest edge to this length if you are scaling 1D.
Be sure to add different tab styles on layers in your block!
www.slidetab.com/gallery ~ chris@shadowfolds.com ~ tjm@tjmcleish.com