I always try to create a 2d outline of any 3d Warehouse models I create and try to maintain the accuracy of the 3d form, but this little handlebar element is testing my patience. Anyone care to suggest a quick technique ?
I usually just project down and draw on the ground plane most 2d outlines or use the wonderful extension “Drop Vertices” to flatten the object on the zero plane but with a tubular form and sloping and angled bar axes that becomes a mash of overlaying surfaces.
I also tried enclosing the flattened object in an larger rectangle to define the edge but that failed to discretely isolate the boundary edge of the handlebar,
I created a plan view scene of the handle bar and sent the model to LO. After setting a suitable scale I exported a .dxf file which I imported into SU.
The shape is simple enough in plan view I might have just modeled the flat version from scratch in SU. I would have made it symmetrical though and that might not be right since the original doesn’t appear to be.
I don’t know if it’s more efficient but it’s pretty straightforward and easy enough to do. Select a paper size that is large enough to display the plan view at 1:1 so when you import it into SU it’s the correct size right away.
