usefulUtils

A bunch of utils I made to help me do shit.

Python Scripts

getCurvePoints.py

This is a script I run in blender to return the points of a bezier curve. To use this you will need to open up blender via terminal:

1. Open Blender via Terminal:

   • On a Mac, navigate to the Applications folder.
   • Right-click Blender and select "Show Package Contents."
   • Go to Contents > MacOS and drag the Blender application into your terminal, then hit enter.

2. Run the Script:

   • Once Blender is open, select your curve.
   • Switch to the Scripting mode in Blender.
   • Run the getCurvePoints.py script.

The outputted coordinates will be available in the terminal as an array of points, ready to be used in ThreeJS.

JavaScript/JSX Scripts

generateCirclePoints

This script generates a circle curve and returns an array of curve points.

Usage:

const curvePoints = generateCirclePoints(numPoints, radius);
console.log(curvePoints);

generateHelixPoints

This script generates a helix curve and returns an array of curve points.

Usage:

const curvePoints = generateHelixPoints(numPoints, radius, height, rotations);
console.log(curvePoints);

generateToroidalSpiralPoints

This script generates a toroidal spiral and returns an array of curve points. You can also now set the plane orientation using 'xy' or 'xz'

Usage:

const curvePoints = generateToroidalSpiralPoints(numPoints, torusRadius, tubeRadius, numRevolutions, offset, orientation);
console.log(curvePoints);

visualiseCurve

Visualise your curve by rendering red spheres at each point along the curve. It requires you to feed it both the curve points and the curve itself.

Usage:

const curves = useMemo(() => {
    const points = curvePoints.map(point => new THREE.Vector3(point[0], point[1], point[2]));
    const curve = new THREE.CatmullRomCurve3(points, true, 'centripetal', 0.5);
    return [curve];
}, [curvePoints]);

Feed the curvePoints (an array of your curve points) into the visualization script, and it will display them as red spheres. Additionally, provide the curves—typically, a CatmullRomCurve3 curve generated from the points.