Array modifier along a spline: corner handling

[mgmcgill]

I am wanting to use an Array modifier along a spline with sharp 90 degree corners and to have the arrayed object be oriented along one segment or the other without a gradual rotation. (see image). I can't figure out how to do this with the Array modifier. I suspect that I cannot unless I sever the splines at the corners.

My purpose is to create a dentil molding pattern along with a sweep along the same spline. This is why I don't want to just sever the spline into segments at each corner point in the clone of the floor plan line. 

Am I missing an option somewhere?

Array modifier along spline: corner handling

[MartinBeh · Accepted solution]

I must admit I have not fully understood why you do not want to break the corner vertices.

If you want to use the spline also for a continuous sweep without broken corners, you could try something this:

1. Create spline A and break corner vertices

2. Create reference copy of A and call it B

3. On B, add an Edit Spline modifier to weld the corner vertices again

4. Add Sweep modifier to B

5. Select the box (or other object) and add Array, set to Spline mode and select spline A

[mgmcgill]

This is a good workaround. And it is what I'll do. (I had actually thought of doing it the opposite way where the reference spline did the breaking of corners rather than welding, but I'll try yours to see if it works better.) The step you described breaks a bit of the purely procedural workflow that I would like by inserting a manual step. That is, if the original spline path gets changed, it won't automatically update the array properly I assume.

I wanted to report it here partly because I think that it is a minor flaw and the Array modifier could be slightly improved by having an option where sharp corners do not interpolate between orientations but, instead switch suddenly depending on which side of the vertex it falls.  

This would, I think, allow the array and sweep to coexist a little more seamlessly.

[MartinBeh]

I agree that Array could use some more control options on how the copies are oriented; this is also true for mesh-based distribution.

A better place to make such suggestions would be https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/3ds-max-ideas/idb-p/3ds-max-ideas-en since I am not sure whether anyone from the 3ds Max developer team will read it here...

PS: As long as the vertex count of the original spline does not change, the steps I described should be fully procedural. Maybe there is also a procedural way of breaking spline vertices with an angle larger than X degrees...