Python script for Blender to generate spiral vase models that can be exported for use with 3D printers. All vases are heavily based on sinusoidal functions.
A number of example shapes are provided, and are defined in the
examples file. Use the generate.py script to generate the PNG and
STL files.
The following command will read the examples file and put the STL
files into a directly called stl directory and put the PNG files in
to a directory called png.
generate.py --stl-dir stl --png-dir png examples
The examples file contains a JSON representation of command line arguments for the sincircle.py script (see below).
# Run with default values
blender --python sincircle.py
# Print help
blender --python sincircle.py -- +h
usage: blender --python sincircle.py --
[+h] [++outputstl S] [++outputpng S] [++close] [++slices I]
[++slice-height F] [++slice-samples I] [++vase-radius F]
[++slice-scale-wave F F F] [++slice-rotate-wave F F F]
[++slice-wave-amplitude F] [++slice-wave-frequency I]
[++slice-wave-magnitude-wave I I I]
Generate Blender models that are based on repeated extrusion, scaling and
rotation of a circle. All transformation heavily rely on sinusoids, and as a
result can produce a range of vase-like objects that are capable of being 3D
printed. To avoid clash with Blender, the argument prefix char is changed from
'-' to '+'.
optional arguments:
+h, ++help show this help message and exit
++outputstl S Output stl file name. [type: str, default: none]
++outputpng S Output png file name. [type: str, default: none]
++close Close Blender when finished.
++slices I Number of slices (or layers) generated in the model.
[type: int, default: 200]
++slice-height F Height of each slice. [type: float, default: 0.2]
++slice-samples I Number of samples taken on the edge of each slice.
[type: int, default: 800]
++vase-radius F Base radius of each slice before scalling is applied.
[type: float, default: 7]
++slice-scale-wave F F F
Controls the scaling of each slice, when set to [0 0
1] no scaling is performed. The slice scaling is
calculated by a sine wave running vertically, where
the first and second arguments are used to linearly
interpolate (for each slice) a value in the domain of
the sine function (in degrees). The final argument
defines the amplitude of the sine wave. [type: float,
default: [0, 335, 0.6]]
++slice-rotate-wave F F F
Controls the rotation of each slice, when set to [0 0
1] no rotation is performed. The slice rotation is
calculated by a sine wave running vertically, where
the first and second arguments are used to linearly
interpolate (for each slice) a value in the domain of
the sine function (in degrees). The final argument
defines the amplitude of the sine wave. [type: float,
default: [0, 360, 30]]
++slice-wave-amplitude F
Each slice starts as a circle, and then has its edge
transformed into a sine wave. This value sets the
amplitude of the sine wave. To have each slice remain
as a circle, set this value to 0. [type: float,
default: 1]
++slice-wave-frequency I
Each slice starts as a circle, and then has its edge
transformed into a sine wave. This value sets the
number of resulting sine waves. Only complete waves
are supported, thus this value must be an integer.
[type: int, default: 12]
++slice-wave-magnitude-wave I I I
Controls the magnitude of the sine wave applied on
each slice by running a second vertical sine wave,
that is multiplied against the wave on the edge of
each slice. This can be used to create a bumpy texture
on the vase or chamfer the base/top. The first two
parameters define the start and stop of the sine wave.
E.g. values of [0, 180, slices] would result in a
round top and bottom with the ridges graduated in and
out. The final parameter is a cut-off (in layers), so
that its possible to chamfer the base of the base into
a circle, i.e. the default value of [0,90,20] will
start the base with a round circle (as the first value
is sin(0)=0) and over the subsequent 20 layers
graduate to the maximum ridges as sin(90)=1. [type:
float, default: [0, 90, 20]]