Best way to create wire

[Anonymous]

Whats the best way to go about creating wire? Ive been extruding along spline but my cylinder extrustion never seems to follow the spline correctly.

[blakestone]

The key is to "Center The Pivot" and "Reset Xform" both the Spline and the Object before the PathDeform otherwise there is a strong chance they won't align.

my screenshots...

01. Create Tab : Create a Line

02. Hierarchy Tab : Click "Affect Pivot Only" > "Center To Object"

03. Utilities Tab : Click "Reset Xform" > Press Button "Reset Selected"

04. Modify Tab : Showing the "Xform" modifier has been applied

05. Right-Click "Xform" modifier and click "Collapse All" which converts to an Editable Spline

06. Create a Box the same length as the Line and set the segments so that each face are about equal "square" size

07. Repeat Steps "02 - to - 05" and the Box will become an Editable Mesh
08. Modify Tab : Add the "Path Deform Binding (WSM)" Modifier and Press Button "Pick Path" > Select Line then Press Button "Move To Path"

Please let me know if you're unsure of any of the above steps.

I have provided the .MAX file used in the screenshots (requires 3dsMax 2011 or higher to open)

[Anonymous]

Got it thanks path deform is awesome! Most helpful!!!

[Anonymous]

In addition to what Blakestone suggested, there's a couple other solutions.  Standalone wires can be done simply by making a spline renderable, and converting to poly.  If I need a wire that is attached at one end, or both ends, to a base object, then sometimes I find it easier to just create a renderable spline and adjust the segments to match the base object, convert to editable poly, select all non quads using the Graphite ribbon command and delete them, then bridge the open ends to the base object(s).  All depends.  There's also a few Maxscripts out there that make extrusions along a spline very simple, and more controlled than the standard Max operation as well:

Super Extruder comes to mind.  Maxscript isn't necessarily best for beginners, but intermediate to advanced users often find them helpful.

[Steve_Curley]

Or, depending on the circumstances, a Hose object.

[paulneale · Accepted solution]

You can make splines renderable with a thickness as well you can apply a sweep modifier and choose any shape.