How to calculate edge normal like PolyExtrude

[bastian]

Hello there!

How would you calculate the vector depicted as the red arrows in the image.

PolyExtrude node uses it when given an unshared edge group.

I've tried a polyframe's tangentu and tangent crossed in vex with the Normal. Without luck.

It doesn't seem to be just a continuation of each points inner edges (the not unshared ones.... :/ ). But can't wrap my head around where to go with it.

Thanks

Edited February 15, 2023 by bastian

[islamoos]

Add a pt. wrangle, you will need to compute 2 vectors:

First vector is a cross between v@N and a vector {0,1,0}.
Second vector is a cross between first vector and v@N.
The second vector should be the one you are looking for.

Cheers

[Librarian]

@bastian
Prim wrangle (tangent)
 

int vtc[];
vtc = primvertices(0, @primnum);

int n = len(vtc);
int jm1, j, jp1;
int pm1, p, pp1;
vector A,B;
for (int i = 0; i < n; i++)
{
    jm1 = i - 1;
    j = i;
    jp1 = i + 1;
    if (chi('mode') == 0)
    {
        jm1 %= (n-1);
        jp1 %= (n-1);
    } else
    {
        jm1 = max(0, jm1);
        jp1 = min(n-1, jp1);
    }
    pm1 = vertexpoint(0, vtc[jm1]);
    p = vertexpoint(0, vtc[j]);
    pp1 = vertexpoint(0, vtc[jp1]);
    
    A = point(0, 'P', p) - point(0, 'P', pm1);
    B = point(0, 'P', pp1) - point(0, 'P', p);
    setpointattrib(0, 'tangentu', p, normalize(lerp(A, B, 0.5))); 
}

Point wrang-set normal by tangent
 

vector up = chv('up');

v@N = normalize(cross(v@tangentu, up));

if (chi('reverse'))
{
    v@N *= -1;
}

 

[bastian]

Damn, had a hunch Odforce was the place to ask this question.

I'm afk but just gotten done testing @islamooss suggestion on a graphing calculator app I found.

@Librarianserve this up! It's a little more than I have patience testing on the app but I'll test it first thing in the morning!

Thank you!

[animatrix]

You can try implementing something like Slide Edges to compute the vectors but your topology doesn't seem to have consistent edge loops and rings to make the directions work.

So it depends on how robust you need it vs a one-off.

[bastian]

So I tried your suggestions and both don't work on corners and place where two edges meet, or on edges "facing upwards".
The picture in the post doesn't quite show how inconsistent the mesh is. My mistake.

I've done another pretty "hacky" way of just doing a extra PolyExtrude, wrangle a vector to the extruded edge.
But can imagine it breaking easily with a denser mesh.

I can definitely work with the results here, but would love a consistent method as it isn't the first time I've come across this problem.
Thanks again!

Edited February 16, 2023 by bastian
comprehension

[Librarian]

@bastian Can you post please that mesh.
here is Slide edge + some offset..maybe for someone useful.
 

edgeslide.hiplc

[bastian]

@Librarian

Yes, here it is!

 

VectorFromPolyExtrude.hiplc

[Aizatulin]

Hi,

it seems to work this way:

For each point -> loop over all neighbours where the edge is an open edge. Calculate the cross product of the normal (of incident primitive of the half-edge) and the half-edge direction. Take the average of both normals.

VectorFromPolyExtrude_mod.hipnc

Edited February 16, 2023 by Aizatulin

[bastian]

That's it!

Thank you @Aizatulin!