Create equilateral triangle?!

[herod2221]

i'm finding it very difficult to create a triangle, specifically equilateral.
WHAT I DID: create a plane w/ only 1 subdivision to make a square; give it a width of 3.464 and length of 4; subdivide using triangles instead of quad[editpolygons>subdivide]; select all interior edges and delete them [editpolygons>delete edge].
THERE MUST BE A SIMPLER WAY! ADDITIONALLY, THIS IS STILL NOT 100% PRECISE...
any ideas?
thanks

[joojaa]

use the create ppolygons tool and make the triangle form scractch.

now for the trick make any triangle, make sure you end the operation hit enter. open the script editor read what maya has done. copy paste the command to the white part. Then pluck your own cordinates intead of what you got. and hit numpad enter! if you wish to do this a lot select the text and drag it to the shelf and viola youre set for life.

or you can first put locators to the exact cordinates and draw using them as guide whatever rocks your boat.

or you can split up the plane with split polygons tool and if you want more preciion then plunk some more numbers inb the cordinate fields (there is more procision than maya actualy shows you! especialy if you use mel).

also theres no 100% presicion for animation apps if you need more prc you must go into eingeneering apps.

[joojaa]

oha and a hexagonical circle is a good guide! (a linear nurbs circle with 6 sides that is)

[herod2221]

thanks.
-i used the create polygon tool as u said: i just started maya today, there are so many tools i've been searching and using everything but the simplest...
-i also created an outline/model of an equilateral triangle in AutoCAD, which i imported. i then used the create polygon tool and snapped to the vertices. now i've got my triangle! i only hope i can now get it to do what i need it to...
thanks again

[nazgul]

Create a 6-sided Nurbs circle of "linear" type. Delete the odd points.

Triangle party at my house! -J.

[goggle]

Why is everyone suggesting a 6 sided linear NURBS cirlce? Why not just go all the way there and make a 3 sided linear NURBS circle? Voila.

-James

[nazgul]

It's not quite as "Voila" as creating a 3-point circle.

The standard menus don't allow you to create anything less than 4 points (at least in versions 3.5-4.5).
You would actually have to create the circle with construction history on and then modify the makeNurbsCircle "sections" attribute to 3 after the fact.
-J.

[goggle]

I just did it. It took 3 seconds. I don't think working with construction history on and then modifying after creation is that bizarre of a workflow.

And technically it is 4 points. just that two of them happen to be in exactly the same position.

-James

[joojaa]

Wich would mean on would have to merge them... oh well it was simple allright!

[goggle]

No, you don't have to merge them. It's built from a NURBS circle. which means it's a closed curve.

At the very least it's a reference about where to put your points when making your equilateral triangle by hand.

-James

[z-bomb17]

Ok, i have a big problem- i need to make an equilateral triangle with a twist- its slightly modified to resemble an "A"

the bottom would look like a mitsubishi symbol. I've never used maya in my life- somhow i need to create this and animate it so it revolves.

Could someone tell me, step by step, how to do this? I would even pay if neccesary.

[goggle]

Follow the previously mentioned procedure to make an equilateral triange.

Extrude to Polys.

Merge the top vertices.

PolySplit to create the cutouts.

Like this:

Hope this helps.
-James

[z-bomb17]

It helps, but there are like 3 different techniques posted above- i just need the quickest, easiest way to do this, from the very beginning, explained as if it were directed at someone with down's syndrome.

Sorry to be a pain in the ass.

Thanks

[goggle]

I don't really know how to make it any simpler.

Make a NURBS cirlce.
In the shapes/history area of the channelBox click on makeNURBScircle.
Set the degree to linear.
Set the sections to 3

extrude.
merge (Polygons->Merge Vertices) the top points
use polysplit to sculpt your shape. split the sides of your pyramid down the side. Then add another cifcumference. Make some triangle-shapes on the bottom of the sides. Push the cut-outs in.

To go into any more detail I'd have to spend pages explaining concepts like extrude and merge. And that's what Maya classes are for, to build that foundation of base knowledge of 3d concepts. It isn't possible to condense weeks/months/years of experience into one post.

Would a wire frame help? I've got an extra circumference in there just to get the proportions right.
-James

[z-bomb17]

James-

Check your hotmail account.

Thanks