How to create a Helix along path

[ssd160]

Hello,
I'am doing an old dial phone.How can i create a Helix along a curve path?
I've tried to bend the Helix,which was created with polygon prmitives,with the bend deformer but this is not working well.

[clocker1]

You Tube spiral along a curve in maya. That tutorial is concise.

[ssd160]

I've tried that Tut..Yes, I even downloaded it in 1080p.But somehow that won't work for me.Maybe because my curve goes in all 3 directions.His cuvre is only x and z.

[Stephen]

Best way to manipulate it would be to skin it to some joints.

[ctbram]

I have a twisted wire video tut someplace on the sight. I am running out the door at the moment, so I can't search for it. If you can't find it I'll be back later and will post a link.

But the main idea is start with a cube and a path. Extrude the cube along the path. Modify the twist parameter of the extrude node. Extract one of the edges and you have your helix along a path and best of all its history is still attached to the original curve so you can move it around.

[ssd160]

Hi ct,
That sounds good,better then try to rig it. I will try it out,but could you post the tut anyway please?? I think I don't know how to extract edges.
TnX for the Support man!!

[ctbram]

I think a variation on this method would get you what you need.

I am still not sure why some of my links show an image and some only show a hyperlink???


Here are a couple links....Sorry about the length, I tend to ramble on a lot.

http://simplymaya.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37724&highlight=twisted+wire

and

howto - model a twisted wire that follows a path.mp4 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRqok3lzQ4s)

[ctbram]

I found this while looking for some other stuff and it uses nHair to create the helix and dynamic control curve. His accent is a bit hard to take but it seems this would be the perfect approach.

Phone cord Maya tutorial pt 2 - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rsul51bCy4)

Maybe Dave would have a chance to watch it and then remake something that is more understandable as he is the MAC-DADDY of the nSystem stuff!!! (smile)