Library of Blender Bolts for Your Use

[Riff_Masteroff]

Here is a 'library' of nine SAE bolt sets for your use. They were made in Blender and exported to LightWave.

This is my first experiment in using Blender as third party software to LW. I used a python script for Blender (authored by "spudman"). And I had to learn enough of that app to do this work.

If you are interested, these are my comments in working with Blender:
a) Blender's interface is different but OK, someday I will know more about it.
b) Bolt Factory, the Python script works very well, but is unpolished.
c) Blender's LW export is just wonderful. The mesh's were not in need of any geometry cleanup in LW
d) Scaling shouldn't be needed. It was. The Blender scale was exactly 100x too large when imported into LW.
e) The numeric inputs did not go out four places to the right of the decimal. This is a strong negative for my use of Blender.

Concerning the nine sets of SAE bolts in the lwo:
a) Each size has a bolt/nut/washer to specs gleaned from the net.
b) Included with each are an extra nut & washer without the shank hole.
c) Please access the included spreadsheet for more information.
d) The specs in bold in the spreadsheet have been checked in the model.
e) Decent surfacing is not provided.

Enjoy. For myself, I intend to use this library for a very long time indeed.

Soth: I pushed the submit button before I was finished writing.

[Soth]

hm... where? :D

thanks!

[probiner]

Thats what i love about ppl around here. They try no nail something and when they do it, they share.

Have fun screwing :D

[dee]

Thanks! :thumbsup:

[colkai]

Riff, thanks for the info, good to know, dipping my feet in the 2.5 waters myself. :)

[Riff_Masteroff]

This version (V1.1) adds six metric sizes each of hex cap and phillips dome screws. Once again, the mesh source is Blender Bolt Factory python script (by "spudman"). I used the script settings only and did not check the dimensions against specs. And I did not provide nuts or washers for these additions.

[digefxgrp]

How does Blenders Bolt Factory compare to the LW plugin "Quick Bolt"?

http://www.iemedia.co.uk/product/plugins.htm

Just curious...

[Riff_Masteroff]

How does Blenders Bolt Factory compare to the LW plugin "Quick Bolt"?

http://www.iemedia.co.uk/product/plugins.htm

Just curious...

Well, I do not know. My needs were to obtain threaded bolts & such, not to compare what is out there in the 3d market place. I have a WIP that needs them!

Blender's Bolt Factory, along with Blender cost $0. The cost of "Quick Bolt" is modest, but doesn't provide the synergy that I look for. That is, Blender might prove to be quite useful in many other ways. My plan was to try out Blender on a very modest level and to obtain results. That worked out OK, but was a gamble initially.

I did spend much more time obtaining real world specifications for these threaded items and checking them against the mesh in LightWave. I would have been miffed if the specs didn't closely approximate the object. They did! Measure them for yourself: I provided the info in the spreadsheet.

On the down side, as I have said, the numerical inputs in the Python script did not "go out far enough". And the script was metric only, I had to convert, laboriously, the specs for Python input.

Hope that helps. Why don't you pick up the ball and compare the two?

[erikals]

WOW, great!! thank you so much!! http://erikalstad.com/backup/anims.php_files/smile.gif

edit, you might find this Quickspring plugin interesting,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o74R02BF5iM



....

[JohnMarchant]

Thanks alot Riff

[cresshead]

thanks for sharing!

that was a bolt out of the blue huh!

[3DBandit]

thx for the nice Bolts :)

Best,
3DBandit

[Riff_Masteroff]

Folks, I have made a few revisions and additions to the first posted library.

List of whats included in V1.5:
LWO:
A) SAE Hex Bolts (nine sizes): each with large & small washers (SAE & USS) and nut. Nuts and washers each with a no shank hole version.
B) Metric Cap Bolts (seven sizes): no nuts or washers
C) Metric Phillips Dome Bolts (seven sizes): no nuts or washers
D) Construction Shackles (three sizes)
E) Construction Shackle Layout Geometry (four sizes)
F) Approximations of Electrical Connectors (three sizes)
Spreadsheet: Published specifications for LWO objects
Screengrabs: Just to see what the objects are looking like

Major Changes:
A) Relabeled the layer names with various diameters (much easier to pick from on the fly)
B) Added three sizes of Construction Shackles (most ppl might not be interested in these, but I am)
C) The SAE bolts also will fit the larger USS washers, so I included these also.

For your use, except for resale of the geometry on the likes of Turbosquid.

[JeffrySG]

This is a great resource, Riff! Thanks for sharing! Many times on jobs I just need to put in a bolt or a screw and it will be nice to have these available.

Thanks again! :D

[blondimage]

Thanks Riff. Will come in very handy!

[Titus]

You have to announce this library on Flay and similar sites.

[Riff_Masteroff]

All: thank you for your kind responses. In return I am posting this fourth revision of the "Threaded Library". That is version 1.8 I sincerely hope that you are able to put it to good use.

List of whats included in V1.8:
lwo:
A) SAE Hex Bolts (nine sizes): each with large & small washers (SAE & USS) and nut. Nuts and washers each with a no shank hole version.
B) Metric Cap Bolts (seven sizes): no nuts or washers
C) Metric Phillips Dome Bolts (seven sizes): no nuts or washers
D) Construction Shackles (three sizes)
E) Construction Shackle Layout Geometry (four sizes)
F) Approximations of Electrical Connectors (three sizes)
G) Cotter Pins (six sizes, each with a straight and bent version)
H) Cotter Pin Layout Geometry
I) Machine Eyebolts (six sizes)
J) Machine Eyebolt Layout Geometry
Spreadsheet: Published specifications for LWO objects
Screengrabs: Just to see what the objects are looking like

Major Changes(from V1.5):
A) Added Cotter Pins (Note: Layer Name provides the correct spec dia. hole to drill for each)
B) Added Machine Eyebolts

Notes:
A) Layout Geometry Layers - use "colored wireframe" to view - these are proof of conformation to spreadsheet specs.
B) Spreadsheet - cells in bold are "tested" in lwo geometry - provides real world specs

Comments:
A) The single lwo contains 65 layers to choose from
B) The spreadsheet contains 192 rows of info
C) Various sizes of each item are included because mere scaling in LW will not account for real world differences
D) The spreadsheet specs reveal subtle variations. For example: Eyebolt machine screw shanks are always of a slightly larger dia. than the ring cross section dia.

Major Plugins Used:
A) Python script: Bolt Factory by "Spudman" (for use within Blender 2.49b)
B) LW Torus+ primitive
C) LW Bridge tool
D) amazingly this project didn't call for a whole lot of LWCAD use

Once again: For your use, except for resale of the geometry on the likes of Turbosquid.

[Hopper]

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

Really nice library to have. It's much appreciated!

[Riff_Masteroff]

You have to announce this library on Flay and similar sites.

I have taken your suggestion to heart, and posted a link on CGTalk and Spinquad. I also sent an email to Christopher Stewart of Flay. For sure, I worked up this library lwo selfishly, for myself and for my use in the coming years. But, gee, the LW community is great . . . I am happy to share.

[Lewis]

This looks great, thanks for sharing Riff :)

[hrgiger]

Great resource Riff, thank you!

[ken_g9]

Great stuff here! Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup:

[probiner]

Nice improvements. Thanks for sharing.

[kojean]

Thanks very much!

[inkpen3d]

How does Blenders Bolt Factory compare to the LW plugin "Quick Bolt"?

http://www.iemedia.co.uk/product/plugins.htm

Just curious...

I have only just come across this thread (excuse pun), hence my late contribution to it…

First of all, a standing ovation to Riff for all the time and effort he has put into producing the library of models and the very informative spreadsheet!:thumbsup:

Had Blender’s Bolt Factory existed in the early 90’s when I first considered the problem of producing accurate models of nuts and bolts and screws, then my quickBolt plug-in would probably never have seen the light of day.

I have designed quickBolt to fully automate the rapid production of very accurate threaded bolt and screw shaped objects within LW Modeler. The user can select from a wide range of common preset thread types and sizes, or they can specify their own using the comprehensive set of controls provided (see below). Parameters defining a given bolt/screw can be saved and then reloaded at some future date. Using quickBolt, you can create a nut/bolt combination or a screw in literally just a few seconds!

In addition to the 32-bit Windows version that is currently available, 64-bit Windows and 32/64-bit MAC OSX/UB versions of the plug-in should be available very soon.

FYI, the main quickBolt controls are:

Presets Tab - enables you to quickly select from a wide range of common thread types and sizes. Thread types available are Unified National (UN), Metric, Whitworth, National Pipe Taper Thread (NPT), and National Pipe Standard Straight Thread (NPS). Control over Coarse / Fine, Thread Fit Class, and optional HiLo settings are also provided. Visual feedback showing the chosen combination in standard thread notation is supplied. Other component dimensions (e.g. the head and nut sizes) are automatically calculated.
Thread Tab - allows you to fully specify your own thread configuration (e.g. length, pitch, major/minor radius, direction, HiLo, taper).
Thread Extras Tab - gives you options for incorporating a Shank and Tip into the chosen thread with full control over dimensions.
Head Tab - provides you with the option to add a variety of head types (e.g. Square, Hexagonal, Round, Oval, Countersunk). You can also apply chamfers to the top / bottom of hexagonal and square heads. Various finishes can also be optionally applied to the base of the head (e.g. High Tensile Shoulder, Integral Washer, Integral Flange). A wide range of Drive Bit recesses can also be specified (i.e. Slotted, Philips, Allen, TORX, and TORX Plus).
Nut Tab - enables you to produce a Square or Hexagonal nut with the option to have chamfers on the top, bottom, or on both surfaces.


Lastly, the quickBolt plug-in is narrowly focused/specialised regarding the type of objects it produces (i.e. nuts/bolts/screws) and so there's no way that it will be able generate anything like Riff's shackles, cotter pins, etc., which, together with whatever else he comes up with in the future, will prove to be an extremely useful resource to all of us.

All the best,
Peter

[Riff_Masteroff]

inkpen 3d (Peter), thanks for your posting here. I would guess, for machine threads, that your quickBolt plugin out performs, by far, Blender's Bolt Factory python script (spudman). Given my limited use of Blender, I would say that LW has better precision for small objects. I could only get the Blender machine threads to closely match real world specs, and that means "not right on the money". Therefore I believe LW is a better condition for a machine thread plugin/script. As for the cotter pins, eye bolts & construction shackles (sans threads) - they were not difficult for me to model, and I did. I would expect many others here to have that skill level. I did review LW tuts for nuts & threads before starting this "project". Nuts are difficult and time consuming. Threads, for me, are next to impossible (noting real world precision). Yes, my pride was injured. The run out and run in of the thread as it starts and ends along the shank is also tough. Therefore, for nuts & threads I would prefer to use a script or plugin. Please keep development current (CORE?).

My WIP views the stuff snatched from the threaded library from a distance. Attached is a recent render of that. Its really far too early to post it on the forums, but so what. Alot of work still needs to be done on the surfacing, and a number of objects here are completed but not turned-on for render. I had some discussion with Lewis3d and need to incorporate his suggestions.

Off topic notes: a tower crane is emblematic of the sort of construction I have been involved with. This is about as far as I care to go with Archviz (involves visualization of a project but you can't build it from the model). But a real tower crane has its tales to tell: here is one of them:

The my story relates to what a TC operator experiences when picking up a bucket of concrete from the jib end (you know the trolley thingy at its furthest distance from the operator). Well the operator maneuvers his rig so that the guy with the bucket way, way down below can hook it up. Then the operator snugs up ever so gently on the load line. And it tightens. And he keeps gently (slowly) adding up pressure. The bucket DOES NOT lift off the ground. The whole tower crane bends towards the bucket. Really. And the tower crane bends more and more and more. And still the bucket doesn't lift up. The operators inner ear senses all this, its really scary if your are not used to it. Finally, at long last, the bending stops- the crane is drawn in its entirety towards the bucket only so much. And only now can the bucket go up and be slewed (rotated heading wise) over to where it will be emptied.

Looking at the image I have provided, the load sensors are at the bottom right of the image. The whole load unit consists of the motor (blue), the transfer case (pink) and the wire rope load line spool (not shown). Its on a three point pivot, one being the heavy spring (shown). The round cams on the sensor unit provide input to the tower crane cab computer and WILL shut down the entire crane if that bucket weighs too much.

Sorry, I was just hoping to give the forum another taste of the reality that our 3d work can be part of.

Riff

[inkpen3d]

Riff, I guess you're right about the accuracy, though not having used Blender's Bolt Factory to date, I cannot give a definitive answer to that question. However, what I can say is that the nuts/bolts/screw produced by quickBolt are generated to the inherent accuracy of Modeler (so I suppose we're talking about at least 0.001mm tolerance here).

One quickBolt user has produced nuts and bolts models that were subsequently fed into a 3D-printer to generate physical prototypes - the nuts actually screw onto the bolts without binding (this is where the "Fit Class" parameter comes into play as it provides a standard clearance between the threads of the nut and bolt).

Your work-in-progress image is really outstanding (great attention to detail there) and I take my hat off to you. The final image promises to be stunning. How long did it take you to get thus far? How much was LWCAD involved in the work?

Hmm, not having a good head for heights, and especially after your vivid description of what actually happens to the crane itself when lifting big loads, I think I can definitely cross "tower crane operator" off my list of jobs to try out - being up a swaying 30 foot ladder hanging on for dear life picking fruit from tall cherry trees whilst on a summer holiday farm job in Kent when I was a student, is as high as I ever want to go!

All the best,
Peter