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Here is a picture of what I am trying to make :

enter image description here

I am trying to make that pink factory belt but I cannot find any references :( How can I make those repetitions of rectangular shapes (pink) and make them smoothly wrap around the round roller sticks (grey) below them?

Thanks a lot

CONQUERER HOON
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    https://blender.stackexchange.com/questions/172266/setup-constraints-for-modular-conveyor – susu Jan 18 '21 at 04:05

1 Answers1

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Start by adding a Bezier Curve. Enter edit mode and select the whole thing with A. Press V + V and then V + L to straighten it and align the handle vectors.

Curve1

Now duplicate the curve with Shift + D, and translate it up a bit on the Z axis.

Curve2

Now duplicate the pair and move it an equal distance away on both the X and the Y axis. Rotate 90 degrees to make the L shape.

Curve3

Now, select the points you want the path to follow and join them by either right-clicking and selecting "Make Segment" or by pressing F (For example, the top and bottom end points, and the "elbows").

Curve4

Now add a plane to make your "planks" (you can make a block if you want, I just did a plane for ease.)

Curve5

Give the plane an Array Modifier, and a Curve Modifier. Select the Bezier Curve as your curve object, and adjust the repeat amount and the offset of the array to your liking.

Curve6

For the rollers, go back into edit mode (on the curve) and select only the top points. Duplicate them and translate down on the Z to halfway between the top and bottom "edges" of your main curve. Press P and select "Separate". Keep in mind that you may need to extend the ends slightly to make it fully take up the space beneath the conveyor belt (The "conveyor belt" is hidden in this image)

Curve7

Now, go back to object mode and create a cylinder to your liking:

Curve8

Now do the same thing as before, add an Array Modifier and a Curve Modifier to the Cylinder, but this time choose the new (separated) curve as your curve object:

Curve9

Final result all together looks like this (be mindful as the "corner" cylinder stretches a little - try and scale it or hide it to compensate. If anyone else knows of a way to not have this happen, I would really love to know what it is.)

Curve10

Christopher Bennett
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  • Thanks again and I appreciate it much, I was stuck for an entire hour – CONQUERER HOON Jan 18 '21 at 06:10
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    "be mindful as the "corner" cylinder stretches a little - try and scale it or hide it to compensate. If anyone else knows of a way to not have this happen, I would really love to know what it is" - I don't think it's a coincidence that there is a crate hiding the corner of the conveyor belt in the source picture – RUOK_ Jan 18 '21 at 12:10
  • In the past, you rarely made a corner in a conveyor. Simply stick two pieces together at 90 degrees and your product will usually work just fine. We can cheat a bit with rollers(1, 2), expanding the area between links (modern conveyor belts look more like chain mail than like strips/slats) or with tension. – Mast Jan 18 '21 at 20:15