Really basic Maya Question

[DeadMeatGF]

I need a nice bent pipe ...
Just a tube that is bent through 180 degrees.
What's the simplest way to do it.
I'm a total n00b @ Maya.

Please help ;)

[saka]

nonlinear deformers.
Maybe this (http://www.unrealplayground.com/forums/showthread.php?t=23409) link can help you a bit. I use deformers all the time. :)

[DeadMeatGF]

Looks like it'll be helpful - cheers, mate.
I'll check it out later and come back with some really stupid questions ;)

[DeadMeatGF]

Errr OK - so I made a tube from a cyliner primitive, and when I "bent" it, it kinda went oval and move to the side rather than bending ... what am I doing wrong?

[saka]

Make sure the object is in object selection mode. This means the whole obect is selected and has a green color (default) You can switch between modes by pressing F8.
k, now goto Deform>nonlinear>bend.
The cylinder turns purple and the bendhandle green.
Now the bendhandle should be in the center of the cylinder. In order to create a nice bend it must be in the center.
Now, adjust the curvature value in the channelbox to bend the cylinder.

O btw, the more hight subdivisions you use the more smooth the cylinder will become. You can change that too in the channelbox.

And if your cylinder is horizontal just put the bendhandle horizontal. Or whatever kind of angle. Just make sure its the same for both.

[King Mango]

also one more way if you do not need a sweep in the bend is to use edge turn.

Make a cylinder, highlight one of the end edges, then click the box next to edge turn and you can prolly figure the rest out. I use that alot just because if you are going to have a ton of pipe it can save beacoup polys.

[saka]

Some pics to show you what I mean.
So, you,ve given up on deformers King? :)

http://home.planet.nl/~kamps119/mayaol.jpg
http://home.planet.nl/~kamps119/maya2ol.jpg

[King Mango]

yeah no matter what I do I get crazy results. Nothing at all even close to what you get. :/

[saka]

Why don't you give me one of your trial. Perhaps I can figure out whats going wrong. They make live much easier you know. :D

[King Mango]

Thank you saka I will take you up on that. But as of now I really haven't anything requiring a bend. I was at one point working on an acqauduct system but scrapped it. I'll need to start it again for this one concept I'm working on but if I can't get it, I'll give you a ring. ty

[DeadMeatGF]

Aaargh!
(Thanks for the help, by the way - I'll get there eventually)
I'm doing something wrong, and I don't know what!
I'm really sorry for my total ignorance, but any ideas what I'm doing wrong to get this:

[saka]

Your bendhandle isnt in the center of your cylinder.
And your cylinder needs more hight subdivisions. Without at least 2 it wont bend.

[DeadMeatGF]

Ahah!
See how much of a n00b I really am!



DMGF: Slowly plugging away

Did it!

:):) Thanks for the help man :):)

[jedilaw]

I need a nice bent pipe ...
Just a tube that is bent through 180 degrees.
What's the simplest way to do it.
I'm a total n00b @ Maya.

Please help ;)

Another way would be to select the top face of your cylinder, then select an outer edge, go to edit polygons - wedge faces. Tweak the settings, you can get a good pipe bend with it.

No idea if the nonlinear deform is better, never used that one myself.

See the Maya docs for a better explanation of wedge faces.

[DeadMeatGF]

Cheers guys - I subdivided(?) the height, and got a nice curve.
I'm gonna keep popping in here to ask questions when I can't get my head round the docs, as you're all so helpful!
I'll have a look at wedge faces too, as I'm sure they'll be useful - if not for this bit, for another bit further down the line ...

[King Mango]

BTW I meant wedge faces not edge turn... Where the heck do I get edge turn from?