Rails surface node

Generates surfaces by stretching cross-sections between two guide rails.

All Inputs Parameters Example files

See also: Sweep, Skin

The Rails op generates surfaces by stretching cross-sections between two rails. This is similar to the Sweep SOP, but it gives more control over the orientation and scaling of the cross-sections. The first op input is the cross-section which will be replicated, and is typically placed in the XY plane. The second input op source is the rails along which the cross-section is replicated.

Using Rails

  1. Click the Rails tool on the Model tab.

  2. Select the cross-section and press Enter to confirm your selection.

    You can attach multiple cross-sections to rails by selecting more than one.

  3. Select the rails and press Enter to confirm your selection.

    You can scale the cross-sections in the parameter editor or the operation controls toolbar.

You can skin the finished product using the Skin tool on the Model tab as long as the cross-section is a polygon, NURBS, or bezier curve.

Inputs

Input 1

The Cross-section geometry.

Input 2

The Rails geometry.

Parameters

X-Section Groups

Subset of cross section geometry to use.

Rail Groups

Subset of rails geometry to use.

Cycle Type

How the cross-section should be applied to the rails.

Sweep Along Pairs of Rails

Sweeps along rail 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6 etc. instead of 1 & 2, 2 & 3, 3 & 4 etc.

Sweep Along First and Last Rail

Sweeps along the first and last rail.

Stretch to Rails

Stretches cross-section geometry to rails geometry.

Use Vertex

Specifies two cross section vertices to be placed on rail1 and rail2 respectively.

Connection Vertices

The vertices used by Use Vertex.

Scale

Scales the cross section in x & y.

Roll

Rolls the cross section in z.

Fix Flipping

Tries to correct flipped normals.

Use Direction

Uses specified direction vector.

Direction

Direction to point cross sections.

Create Output Groups

Places created rails in a new primitive group.

Group Name

Name of group to create.

Example files

BasicRail

$HFS/houdini/help/examples/nodes/sop/rails/BasicRail.cmd

Load | Launch

In this example simple curves are taken by the Rail SOP to create a surface based upon the path they describe.

With only simple changes to the SOP’s parameters different surfaces can be created. In the end the curves are gone, but their surface remains.

Usages in other examples

Example name Example for