Adding Geometry

For these functions it’s important to keep a correct orientation of meshes:

  • rotation should be applied to mesh (via Ctrl+A > Apply Rotation menu or Object > Apply Rotation menu);

  • visually mesh should be pointing towards Z axis (look at the sky);

  • for connectors and mesh cables ideally the mesh pivot point should be located at the bottom of the mesh (but that’s not necessary);

Correct axes and result on the left, wrong — on the right:

../_images/axes.png

Add Connectors

  1. Select one mesh that’s going to be a connector. Mesh should be directed towards Z axis;

  2. Select one or several curves and switch to Edit Mode;

  3. Select curves endpoints of one or several splines;

  4. Run the function and adjust points or connectors position, scale of the connectors in the modal;

Additionally:

  • Multiple connectors data is linked so editing one will modify every one of them;

Add Connectors keys:

  • Offset Point (S): offsets curve point to/from connectors;

  • Offset Connector (D): offsets connectors to/from the points;

  • Scale Connector (T): scales connectors;

  • Flip Direction (A): flips orientation of connectors;

  • Hook Point to Connector (H): adds a Hook Modifier to the curve and uses connectors as hooks;

  • Remove the Original Mesh (R): removes the originally selected objects (if they were made as temporaries for example);


Add or Edit Segments

  1. Select one mesh and one curve;

  2. Run the function and adjust offset (D) and rotation (F);

  3. Press Q to quickly duplicate the segment;

Additionally:

  • Note that this function doesn’t work on curves with multiple splines, separate those first: select points of one spline and use the P key (menu Curve > Separate).

  • Note that rotation might not work correctly if the parent curve is rotated.

Add or Edit Segments keys:

  • Offset Segment (D): offsets the segment along the curve;

  • Tilt Segment (F): rotates the segment along its Z axis;

  • Duplicate (Q): duplicate the segment and start editing it;


Convert to Mesh Cable

  1. Select one mesh and one or several curves;

  2. Run the function and adjust relative (D) or constant (E) offset if needed;

  3. Adjust cable offset with W;

Additionally:

  • Note that this function doesn’t work on curves with multiple splines, separate those first: select points of one spline and use the P key (menu Curve > Separate).

  • Note that rotation might not work correctly if the parent curve is rotated.

  • Cablerator 1.2.1 supports quick converting Decapped meshes from Hard Ops:

Convert to Mesh Cable keys:

  • Original Curve Width (S): to remove or adjust the width of the original cable (if applicable);

  • Relative Clones Offset (D): relative distance between meshes;

  • Constant Clones Offset (E): distnace in units between meshes;

  • Offset Cable (W): offsets the whole mesh cable along the curve;

  • Tilt Cable (F): rotates the mesh cable along its Z axis;