The script I put together here will do all of what I explained above. Simply select an edge loop and run the script. You can view the actual script just below. Any questions or problems please comment!

//——————————- Gz Average Verts Script ————————————-//
global proc vector snapToClosestSpan(string $curve, string $vert,vector $curveVector[])
{

vector $closestDistance[];

vector $positionVert = `xform -q -ws -t $vert`; // returns the position of the current Vert

vector $tempVec;
vector $tempCurveVec;
vector $finalVec;

float $span = `getAttr ($curve+”.spans”)`;
float $testDistWinner = 100000;
float $testDistChallenger;
float $j = 0;

float $tempDistance;
int $closestArray;
int $m = $span *100;
int $k = 0;

while ($k <= $m)
{ // all jacked up right here.

$distance = GzDistance($curveVector[$k], $positionVert);
$testDistChallenger = $distance;
if ($testDistChallenger < $testDistWinner)
{
//print “Challenger Wins!!!\n”;
$testDistWinner = $testDistChallenger;
$closestArray = $k;
//print $closestArray;
}
else
{
//print “Winner remains Champion!!!\n”;
}
//print $closestDistance[$k];
//print “\n”;
$j=$j+ .01;
$k++;
}
//print ($vert + ” is closest to ” + $curveVector[$closestArray]+”\n”);
$finalVec = $curveVector[$closestArray];
//print ($finalVec + ” Number ” + $closestArray+”\n”);
return $finalVec;
}

// ——————– Gz Distance Begin ——————–//
// Gz Distanc calculator between 2 vectors.
global proc float GzDistance(vector $tempCurveVec, vector $positionVert)
{
float $tempX;
float $tempY;
float $tempZ;
vector $tempCurveVec;
$tempX = (($tempCurveVec.x) – ($positionVert.x))*(($tempCurveVec.x) – ($positionVert.x));
$tempY = (($tempCurveVec.y) – ($positionVert.y))*(($tempCurveVec.y) – ($positionVert.y));
$tempZ = (($tempCurveVec.z) – ($positionVert.z))*(($tempCurveVec.z) – ($positionVert.z));
$tempDistance = ($tempX + $tempY + $tempZ);
$distance = sqrt($tempDistance);
return $distance;
}
// ——————– Gz Distance End ——————–//

global proc vector[] getPointsOnCurve(string $curve)
{
float $span = `getAttr ($curve+”.spans”)`;
int $k = 0;
int $m = $span *100;
float $j = 0;
vector $curveVector[];
string $infoNode;
while ($k <= $m)
{
$infoNode = `pointOnCurve -ch on -pr $j $curve`;
$curveVector[$k] = `getAttr ($infoNode + “.position”)`; // returns the position of the point on Curve
$j=$j+.01;
$k++;
}
return $curveVector;
}

// get your curve
{
string $selectionEdge[] = `ls -sl -fl`;
string $curveArray[] = `polyToCurve -form 0 -degree 1 -n edgeCurve01`;
string $curve = $curveArray[0];
rebuildCurve -ch 1 -rpo 1 -rt 0 -end 1 -kr 1 -kcp 1 -kep 1 -kt 0 -s 4 -d 3 -tol 0.00393701 $curve;
xform -cp $curve;

// get your verts
select -r $selectionEdge;
ConvertSelectionToVertices;
string $vert[] =`ls -sl -fl`;

int $vertsToSnap = `size($vert)`-1;

// get the amount of spans in this jig
vector $curveVector[] = getPointsOnCurve($curve);
//print $curveVector;

int $i = 0;
vector $move;
while ($i <=$vertsToSnap)
{
select -r $vert[$i];
$move = snapToClosestSpan($curve, $vert[$i], $curveVector);
move ($move.x) ($move.y) ($move.z) ;
$i++;
//print $vert[$i];
}
delete $curve;
select -r $selectionEdge;
}

//——————————- Gz Average Verts Script End ————————————-//

This is a really simple script to be used instead of the Maya’s polygon combine. It saves me a couple of cleanup steps while I’m modeling.

Normally when you combine polygons maya will pull the new poly out of any existing group and create transform nodes for every polygon that existed. If you delete history on your new poly these will go away. And possibly any group that contained your polys could have vanished as well.
Well this script fixes all of that. Just beware history will be deleted in the process too. I’m sure there are some cases where you want to keep history. Here is my Better Combine V2.3 Mel Script.

Update: V2.3 I fixed an error, added merge verts with a tolerance of .001 and centered the pivot. you can check the code below and download the file just above. If you like you can change the tolerance in the mel file within the area noted and you can also turn off the merge verts option. Enjoy! =D


// ---- EVEN More Better Combine V2.3 ----- //
// Combines Polygons deletes history and keeps it within it's Group if it is in one.
// Also Keeps the name of the first Poly selected.
// Now it merges verts and Centers the pivot as requested. =D
// the initial Tolerance of the merge vert can be changed below or you can change it in the history after.

}
int $selNumTokens = `tokenize $sel[0] "|" $selBuffer`;
$i = $selNumTokens -1;
$newPoly[0] = `rename $newPoly $selBuffer[$i]`;
if ($onOff == "on")
{
polyMergeVertex -d $k -am 1 -ch 0 $newPoly;
}
xform -cp $newPoly;
select -r $newPoly;
}

Key Features
The file exported is in a .txt file in the same location of the file you are working on
The layers in the txt file are in the same order as they are in the Maya scene

You can download the Mel here And you can view the script just below. Enjoy!

/* Display Layers to txt file V 0.75
Sorts and prints Layers to external .txt file within the
directory of the current Maya file */
/*————————————————————————————–
File name extractor
————————————————————————————–*/
global proc string filepart( string $path ) // Setting up Directories
/* Extracts the name of the current open Maya file.
Input: e.g. “D:/projects/default/scenes/myScene.mb”
Result: e.g. “myScene.mb”
Filepath can be delimited with
either slash (“/” or “\”) */
{
string $filepart = match( “[^/\\]*$”, $path );
return $filepart;
}
/*————————————————————————————–
File Path extractor
————————————————————————————–*/
global proc string pathpart( string $path )
/* Extracts the path out of the absolute filepath of the
current open Maya file.
Input: e.g. “D:/projects/default/scenes/myScene.mb”
Result: e.g. “D:/projects/default/scenes”
Note: Requires that the filepath be delimited with
_forward_ slashes (“/”) */

{
string $dir = match( “^.*/”, $path );
int $sz = size( $dir );
/* Strip off trailing ‘/’ */
if ( ( $sz > 1 ) && ( substring( $dir, $sz, $sz ) == “/” ) )
{
$dir = substring( $dir, 1, ($sz – 1) );
}
return $dir;
}
/*————————————————————————————–
Layer name File Output
————————————————————————————–*/

/*—————————————————————————————
Prompt for DisplayLayers or Render Layers
—————————————————————————————*/
global proc string userPrompt()
{
string $returnVal = `confirmDialog
-title “Export Display/Render Layers as a text file”
-message “Would you like to Export the Display Layers or Render Layers as a Text File?”
-button “Display Layers”
-button “Render Layers”
-button “I’m not sure”
-defaultButton “Display Layers”
-cancelButton “I’m not sure”
-dismissString “I’m not sure”`;
return $returnVal;
}

/*—————————————————————————————
Prompt for DisplayLayers or Render Layers
—————————————————————————————*/

string $fullpath = `file -q -loc`;
string $file = filepart( $fullpath );
string $directory = pathpart( $fullpath );
string $projPath = `file -q -loc`;
string $userInput = `userPrompt`;
string $selectionSyntax;
string $input;

if ($userInput == “Render Layers”)
{
$selectionSyntax = “renderLayer”;
$input = “Render_Layer”;
}
else if ($userInput == “Display Layers”)
{
$selectionSyntax = “layer”;
$input = “Display_Layer”;

select -r ($selectionSyntax + “Manager”);

string $layerManager[] = `ls -sl`;
string $layer[] = `listConnections $layerManager`;
// select -r $layer;

string $path = ($projPath + “_” +$input + “_List.txt”);
int $fileId = fopen($path, “w”);
int $layerCheck = size ($layer)-1;
int $intDispOrder[] = {0};
int $intDispOrderSize;
int $i=1;

// fprint($fileId, “\r\n -=Beginning of Layers=- \r\n”);

/*————————————————————————————–
Testing Code Area
————————————————————————————–*/

// print $intDispOrder;
// print $intDispOrder[6];print $intDispOrder[7];print $intDispOrder[8];
// print $intDispOrder;

$i=1;

while($i<=$layerCheck)
{
select $layer[$i];
$intDispOrder[$i] = `getAttr ($layer[$i] +".displayOrder")`;
$i++;
}
$i=1;

print $intDispOrder;
// int $intDispOrderSize;

int $intDispOrder[] = `sort $intDispOrder`;
int $intDispOrderSize = size ($intDispOrder) -1;

fprint($fileId, "\r\n \r\n -=Beginning of " +$input+ " Layers=- \r\n");

// potentially dangerous loop will keep increasing file size forever.
$j=$intDispOrderSize;
while($j >= 1)
{
$k=1;
while ($k <= $layerCheck)
{
int $currentDispOrder = `getAttr ($layer[$k] + “.displayOrder”)`;
if ($intDispOrder[$j] == $currentDispOrder)
{
fprint($fileId, “\r\n” + $layer[$k]) /* + “.displayOrder ” + $currentDispOrder)*/;
$k++;
}
else
{
$k++;
}
}
$j–;
}

fprint($fileId, “\r\n \r\n -=End of Layers=-”);
fclose $fileId;
print (“A “+$input+” list “+ $file +$input+”_List.txt was output to ” + $directory);

}
else
{
warning “user is confused and should take a break”;
}
/*————————————————————————————–
Idea for making this work
————————————————————————————–

get the list of layers
get the display order number on all the layers
find the highest number on the display order and run a loop that many times
loop and check from 1 to highest number
print it if it’s next in line.
*/

If you know anything about tire dimensions you have for example a “255 65 R18″. So what does all that mean? Well the first number is the tire width in millimeters. If you haven’t changed Maya default units that would be 25.5 units or centimeters. the second number is the side wall height which is 65% of the width. That comes out to 165.75 mm for the side wall height. Then R18 is the diameter of the rim in inches the tire will fit on. Sometimes there is a speed rating after the diameter, it’s not all that important for modeling a tire.

The tire needed to be an accurate size to be able to fit on the rim nicely so I was building a cylinder with the right tire dimensions so I could get the correct circumference when wrapping the tread around. Time and time again I would pull out a calculator and type in the sizes I would need then build the cylinder. I started noticing these very repetitive tasks like create cylinder, change radius, change height, rotate 90, etc etc… So I started copying things from the script editor and running them so I could just get a cylinder set up then I could change the values. That was step 1 and it saved a little time.

I just wanted to be able to hit a button and put in these dimension and boom there’s my reference. So I present you the Wheel Measuring Device! Mel script. Keep in mind this is the first script I have written so be gentle on my fragile ego when commenting. I have also learned quite a bit since I made this but I’m sure there could be something to take away from this script. Enjoy!

You can either copy and paste this into the script editor or drop it into your script folder and “source” it. I recommend the later. You can also download the mel script here

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

// Creating Wheel Measuring Device v0.90//
string $dummywmd[] = `polyCylinder -n WheelMeasuringDevice1 -ch on -o on -r 9inch -h 235mm -sa 90 -sh 2 -sc 1 -cuv 3` ;
string $wmd[] = `polyCylinder -n WheelMeasuringDevice1 -ch on -o on -r 9inch -h 235mm -sa 90 -sh 2 -sc 1 -cuv 3` ;
delete $dummywmd;

// Extruding Side Wall //
hilite $wmd ;
setAttr ($wmd[0] + “.rotateZ”) 90;
select -r ($wmd[0] + “.f[0:179]“) ;
string $sw[] = `polyExtrudeFacet -constructionHistory 1 -keepFacesTogether 1 -divisions 1 -twist 0 -taper 1 -off 0 -smoothingAngle 30`;
setAttr ($sw[0] + “.localTranslateZ”) 15;
GrowPolygonSelectionRegion;
ConvertSelectionToFaces;
string $outerFaces[] = `ls -sl`;
InvertSelection;
string $innerFaces[] = `ls -sl`;
string $rim[] = `polyExtrudeFacet -constructionHistory 1 -keepFacesTogether 1 -twist 0 -taper 1 -off 0 -smoothingAngle 30`;
setAttr ($rim[0] + “.localTranslateZ”) -2.5;

// Selecting Pieces //
select $outerFaces;
select -add $innerFaces;
InvertSelection;
string $innerEdgeFaces[] = `ls -sl`;
GrowPolygonSelectionRegion;
InvertSelection;
select -add $innerFaces;
select -add $innerEdgeFaces;
InvertSelection;
string $sideWallFaces[] = `ls -sl`;

// Buldging Sidewall
string $polySub[] = `polySubdivideFacet -duv 1 -dvv 2 -sbm 1 -ch 1`;
ConvertSelectionToEdges;
ShrinkPolygonSelectionRegion;
string $sideWallEdgeLoop[] = `ls -sl`;
string $SWBuldge[] = `polyMoveEdge -constructionHistory 1 -random 0 -localCenter 0`;
setAttr ($SWBuldge[0] + “.localTranslate”) -type double3 0 0 2;
string $SWBBevel[] = `polyBevel -offset 0.5 -offsetAsFraction 1 -autoFit 1 -segments 2 -worldSpace 0 -uvAssignment 0 -fillNgons 1 -mergeVertices 1 -mergeVertexTolerance 0.0001 -smoothingAngle 30 -miteringAngle 180 -angleTolerance 180 -ch 1`;

// setting up Procedures //
global proc remScale (string $object)
{
setAttr -k off ($object + “.scaleX”);
setAttr -k off ($object + “.scaleY”);
setAttr -k off ($object + “.scaleZ”);
}

global proc leaveRHeight (string $CylInput)
{
setAttr -cb off ($CylInput + “.roundCap”);
setAttr -cb off ($CylInput + “.createUVs”);
setAttr -k off ($CylInput + “.subdivisionsAxis”);
setAttr -k off ($CylInput + “.subdivisionsHeight”);
setAttr -k off ($CylInput + “.subdivisionsCaps”);
}

global proc leaveDivV (string $leaveDivV)
{
setAttr -k off ($leaveDivV + “.divisions”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveDivV + “.divisionsU”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveDivV + “.mode”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveDivV + “.subdMethod”);
}

global proc leaveLTZExt (string $leaveLTZ)
{
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.offset”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.taper”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.taperCurve[0].taperCurve_FloatValue”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.taperCurve[0].taperCurve_Interp”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.taperCurve[0].taperCurve_Position”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.twist”);
setAttr -cb off ($leaveLTZ + “.smoothingAngle”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.divisions”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.keepFacesTogether”);
}

global proc leaveLTZ (string $leaveLTZ)
{
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localDirectionX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localDirectionY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localDirectionZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localRotateX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localRotateY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localRotateZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localScaleX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localScaleY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localScaleZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localTranslateX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localTranslateY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.pivotX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.pivotY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.pivotZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.random”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.rotateX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.rotateY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.rotateZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.scaleX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.scaleY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.scaleZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.translateX”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.translateY”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.translateZ”);
setAttr -k off ($leaveLTZ + “.localCenter”);
}

//Removing unwanted Cylinder Attributes //
leaveLTZExt($sw[0]);
leaveLTZ($sw[0]);

leaveLTZExt($rim[0]);
leaveLTZ($rim[0]);

leaveLTZ($SWBuldge[0]);
leaveDivV($polySub[0]);
remScale($wmd[0]);
leaveRHeight($wmd[1]);

// Adding Tire Attributes //
select -r $wmd[0] ;
addAttr -ln “SideWallHeight” -at double -min 0 -max 100 -dv 65 ;
addAttr -ln “SideWallBuldge” -at double -min 0 -max 500 -dv 260 ;
addAttr -ln “TireWidth” -at double -min 0 -max 500 -dv 235 ;
addAttr -ln “WheelDiameter” -at double -min 0 -max 100 -dv 18 ;
addAttr -ln “WheelPassThrough” -at double -min 0 -max 1000 -dv 0 ;
addAttr -ln “OuterCircumference” -at double -min 0 -max 10000 -dv 0 ;

// Making Tire Attributes Keyable //
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.WheelDiameter”) ;
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.SideWallBuldge”) ;
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.TireWidth”) ;
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.SideWallHeight”) ;
setAttr -e -keyable true ($wmd[0] + “.OuterCircumference”) ;

// Making Circumference Dimension //
select -r $wmd[0] ;
string $WMDGroup = `group -n “WheelMeasuringDeviceGroup”`; xform -os -piv 0 0 0;

string $CircumDimension = “CircumferenceDimension1″;
string $DummyLoc1[] = `spaceLocator -p 50 50 50 -n DistanceLocator1`;
string $DummyLoc2[] = `spaceLocator -p 50 50 51 -n DistanceLocator1`;
distanceDimension -sp 50 50 50 -ep 50 50 51;
string $DummyDimen[] = `ls -sl`;
string $DummyCircumDimension = `rename $DummyDimen[1] $CircumDimension`;
string $DistLoc1[] = `spaceLocator -p 0 1 0 -n DistanceLocator1`;
string $DistLoc2[] = `spaceLocator -p 0 1000mm 0 -n DistanceLocator1`;
distanceDimension -sp 0 1 0 -ep 0 1000mm 0;
string $DistDimen[] = `ls -sl`;
select -r $DistLoc1;
xform -cp;
move -r 0 -1 0;
select -r $DistLoc2;
xform -cp;
move -r 0 -1000mm 0;
FreezeTransformations;

string $CircumDimension = `rename $DistDimen[1] $CircumDimension`;
delete $DummyCircumDimension;
delete $DummyLoc1;
delete $DummyLoc2;

string $DummySphere[] = `sphere`;
select $DummySphere;
string $DummyCDG = `group -n “CircumferenceDimensionGroup1″`;

select -r $DistLoc1 $DistLoc2 $CircumDimension;
string $CDGroup = `group -n “CircumferenceDimensionGroup1″`;

delete $DummyCDG;
parent $CDGroup $WMDGroup;

// Making Annotation //
select -r $DistLoc2[0];
xform -cp;
string $CircAnnotateShape = `annotate -tx “Circumference” -p 300mm 2500mm 300mm`;
select -r $CircAnnotateShape;
string $CircAnnotate[] = `pickWalk -d up`;
parent $CircAnnotate $CDGroup;

// Connecting Attributes //
select -r $wmd[0];

string $swBuldgeStr = $SWBuldge[0] + “.localTranslateZ = (” + $wmd[0] + “.SideWallBuldge – ” + $wmd[0] + “.TireWidth) * .1″;
expression -s $swBuldgeStr -o $wmd[1] -n “SideWallBuldgeExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

string $swhExpStr = $sw[0] + “.localTranslateZ = ” + $wmd[0] + “.SideWallHeight * 0.01 * ” + $wmd[1] + “.height”;
expression -s $swhExpStr -o $wmd[1] -n “SideWallHeightExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

string $wdExpStr = $wmd[0] + “.WheelPassThrough = ” + $wmd[0] + “.WheelDiameter * 2.54 * .5″;
expression -s $wdExpStr -o $wmd[0] -n “WheelDiameterExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

string $cirExpStr = $wmd[0] + “.OuterCircumference = ((” + $wmd[1] + “.radius * 2) + (” + $sw[0] + “.localTranslateZ * 2)) * 3.1415926535″;
expression -s $cirExpStr -o $wmd[0] -n “WheelCircumferenceExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

string $tireWidthStr = $wmd[1] + “.height = ” + $wmd[0] + “.TireWidth * .1″;
expression -s $tireWidthStr -o $wmd[1] -n “TireWidthExpression” -ae 1 -uc all ;

/*TireWidth Passthrough
*/
connectAttr -f ($wmd[0] + “.WheelPassThrough”) ($wmd[1] + “.radius”);
connectAttr -f ($wmd[0] + “.OuterCircumference”) ($DistLoc2[0] + “.translateY”);

/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\

Mouse over image for wire frame.

I don’t know how to embed this flash rotate thingy into wordpress yet so I put it up here.

http://www.bg3d.com/vids/cg/GaugeMux/

Click image for Full Size

Click For Full Size

Click below to see the previous versions.

Updated! This is my first attempt at RealFlow with Maya. I did a simple blend to kind of show how this animation will be implemented with the logo. This will probably need some more adjustmenting.

This is an animation I’m working on for Bleu Current Multimedia. I attempted to use Maya Fluids although I’m pretty sure I’m unable to get the result I want with it so I’m changing gears and going to give Real Flow a shot. This is the progress up to this point.   If anyone has any advice, feel free.

Mouse over image for wire frame.

I’ll be at Embarcadero and Bryant in San Francisco  after 2pm.  Come on out and have a go on some jumping stilts!

This is my latest project here.  I basically know very little about building a website.  I’ve been introduced to these things called wordpress (which is this site) and Drupal (which is basically wordpress on steriods(Which is kick ass by the way!))  So I just made a website with like no programing knowledge and it’s functional and I’d say it looks pretty cool.  I’m working on getting some music working in the Tavern and there’s a couple of chat rooms and a forum.

The Library will feature books of legends based in the world of Akralon.  Also any maps and such will be in there.

For now the Town hall isn’t much but we plan on having important discussions take place here. (Forums)

The Tavern is where you go to chat with others and can listen to the music of Akralon.  Looking at getting an open mic night going.

The Museum is currently under construction and will be open to the public soon.

www.AkralonWorld.com

See you in Akralon!