FFD(cyl) 2x6x4

[Anonymous]

Getting familiar with the workspace and modify assets. I'm trying edit the "Set Number of Points" on an FFD(cyl) modifier - I'm trying to set FFT Dimension to:

Side: 2

Radial: 6

Height: 4

The default side is 6, and I can't edit this to change it to the desired amount. I'm not sure what I'm missing?

N.B. Not sure if I'm posting in the right thread.

[Steve_Curley]

No quite sure I understand the question. Change the numbers (sides/radial/height) then click OK. They are not "parametric" in the same way as the initial Cylinder object - it won't update on the fly, you have to click OK.

Probably not a good idea to change those after modifying the model using that Modifier - you'll likely lose the changes.

[Anonymous]

Hi, thanks for the response.

With regards to changing the dimensions. Yes, they are not constrained values. I'm working from a reference that follows the steps:

"Go to 'Modifiers' list select 'FFD(cyl)' tool. Click 'Set Number Points' and change 'Dimensions' to '2x6x4'"

I'm adding the modifier and setting the parameters. As far as I can tell from the documentation, unless I'm using the preset FFD modifiers: FFD 2x2x2, FFD 3x3x3, FFD 4x4x4 etc. I should be able to edit the dimensions?

I'm beginning to wonder if my not being able to do so is a result of altered preferences or settings that might affect this modifier.

[Steve_Curley]

The FFD (box) and FFD (cyl) are the only ones where you can change the number of points. Are you saying that you physically cannot alter the 3 numeric values? Have you tried using the Spinners (the up/down buttons) rather than trying to type in a number? If neither are working then they're likely not working anywhere else, and yes - you then have a real problem and it may be down to corrupted settings.

[edit] Whatever the "reference" (or indeed Max itself) says, (for the FFD(cyl) they are NOT dimensions - they are simply the number of control points in the specified direction. The size (actual dimensions) doesn't change, only the number of points.[/edit]

[Anonymous]

Si, si, I only refer to the label "Dimensions". The reference and documentation I'm refering to highlight that they are simply the number of control points.

I get the same result clicking the spinners - nothing.

This totally sucks.

[Steve_Curley]

Regretably I still don't understand your problem. Look at your original image. On the right (in the stack rollout) it says "Dimensions: 4*6*4". Those are the current, existing values.
Now look at the dialog on the left - the values are clearly 6*6*4. so you CAN change them but you MUST click OK before those values will have any impact.

[Anonymous]

The values appear to be constrained.

I'm trying to change my "Side" to a value of 2, that is, a value less than 4. At the moment I can only increase this value - it only accepts a value higher than 4.

I have no difficulty changing the values higher than 4. I can select OK and confirm any values higher than intended. My issue is that for the "Side" value I'm not able to edit and confirm a value of 2. At the moment any value added less than 4 is void. Confirming, or clicking OK does not confirm an edit of an integer less than 4.

Apologies for being unclear.

[Steve_Curley]

Ok, now I see what you're after. On my system Sides won't go below 6 (Radial and Height both go down to 2). Not sure why you would want 2 sides - there'd be no space between them - like a page of a book - a thin sheet. Not much use for deforming a cylinder... An absolute minimum would be 3 as that's the smallest number of sides which can enclose a volume - 2 can't.

[PROH]

Hi. If you look at Steve's picture, you can see that in the stack roll out, the "side number" is the second number. So setting the Dimension to 2x6x4 = 6 sides. Your mistake is caused by inconsistency in the way the numbers are displayed in the stack vs. the dialog box.

[Anonymous]

Appreciate the responses.

@PROH The inconsistency with the values isn't my primary issue. It's that whatever value I changed it wouldn't change to the intended value - if that makes sense.

@Steve_Curley The restraints are duely noted. I'm being slighty contemptful here, because I'm only attempting to change the values to the specific values:

Side: 2

Radius: 6

Height: 4

Because I'm following a tutorial that demos this as working, and insists these values are necessary and possible. If this is simply something that cannot be done I would leave it at that. 

"An absolute minimum would be 3 as that's the smallest number of sides which can enclose a volume..." - I'm unable to do so. 

Sorry, I feel this question has sparked more frustration than anything; I apologise for my lack of clarity.

[Steve_Curley]

Is this a paid-for tutorial? If not, please post a link to it.
I didn't say it would go to 3 sides, I said the absolute minimum number of sides required to define a volume of space is 3 (think an extruded triangle). The minimum number of sides in the FFD (Cyl) is 6 - you cannot change that to 2.
Also, what version of Max are you using? I'm using 2014, this may (and I stress may) have been different in earlier versions. I pretty much never use the FFDs so I can't remember.

[PROH · Accepted solution]

Hi. I honestly believe you're missing my point. You wrote:

I'm working from a reference that follows the steps: "Go to 'Modifiers' list select 'FFD(cyl)' tool. Click 'Set Number Points' and change 'Dimensions' to '2x6x4'"

Assuming you wrote correct, then my point is that 2x6x4 means: Radial = 2, Side = 6, Height = 4, and that you are not beeing asked to set "Side" to 2.

Regarding how low numbers you can set, I can confirm that the lowest possible setting for the FFD(cyl) is 2x6x2. Meaning: Radial = 2, Side = 6, Height = 2.

Hope my point is clear.

[Anonymous]

Ah, I've been confusing myself, thank you!

I made something simple complicated fjhkisd (  > _  <  )

Thanks!

= (  ^  _  ^  ) =

[Anonymous]

Apologies for the misundertanding.

[Steve_Curley]

No worries - main thing is that we got there in the end 🙂