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I want to replicate this mesh - https://youtu.be/lBMhGZ-iprw?t=16m27s enter image description here

I think the best way is using a particle system of cubes. So I need to create a sphere of simple circles. It is necessary that in each circle the vertices are at equal distance from each other. But I don't know how to create those circles.

Paul Gonet
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PlanetControl
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  • May be helpful: https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/65395/repetitive-carvings-holes-around-a-sphere – Paul Gonet Apr 29 '17 at 12:13
  • Thx, but he used Ico sphere, and vertices are not aligned on a horizontal axis. – PlanetControl Apr 29 '17 at 12:37
  • Possibly interesting: https://bendwavy.org/sphere.htm . Not listed there is a paper that I can't now find, a doctoral thesis at Univ New South Wales iirc, about partitioning the n-sphere into equal cells with lines of longitude and latitude. – Anton Sherwood Apr 29 '17 at 20:55

1 Answers1

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You can do it using both dupliverts or particle system, but you have to prepare the mesh properly first. enter image description here

Add an UV Sphere with default settings (I use these in this example) and delete the bottom half of it. Select the very first top edge loop, press Shift+S-->Cursor to Selected, then add a circle and set its vertices count to 6. Enable vertex snapping tool (magnet icon) and snap it to the default edge loop. Do the same with the lower edge loops, but this time add the circle with 6 more vertices. Delete the default loops with X. enter image description here

Repeat the process until you get to the sixth edge loop (It should be 32-vertices default loop). Every lower edge loop should get 6 more vertices- I know it's a silly work but I don't know how to script ;P. Add a cube in the middle of the sphere. enter image description here

In Object Mode select the cube, then the sphere, press Ctrl+P-->Set Parent To-->Object. enter image description here

Select the half of the sphere and give it the Mirror modifier (Z axis). enter image description here

Finally with the sphere selected go to the Object Data header (Duplication panel), select the Verts window and check the Rotation checkbox. enter image description here

Paul Gonet
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  • Thx, it was very helpful and helps me to replicate this effect in Unity! But I wonder, is there a script somewhere for creation those circles with perfect accuracy. Or a formula in case I want to create a sphere with more than 32 vertical loops. – PlanetControl Apr 30 '17 at 15:21
  • @PlanetControl I am curious if the script may work in this case too :) (I've mentioned it in my answer). I've also asked a question about it: https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/78817/how-to-create-a-sphere-with-different-ring-vertex-count-by-scripting Hope some scripting magicans can aswer it :). – Paul Gonet Apr 30 '17 at 23:55
  • Thanks to the efforts of amazing coders here you can now edit the sphere's rings number and it all work perfect :). Please check it out: https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/78817/how-to-create-a-sphere-with-different-ring-vertex-count-by-scripting – Paul Gonet May 02 '17 at 11:14