Horizon Construction Line - Rhino V2 & V3

- Horizon Construction Line (Rhino command prompt: HCL) Plug-in for Rhino (constructs a horizon line~ waterline)
- Show points (Rhino command prompt: SHPTS) on a surface (similar to DrapePt but allows you to select an object)
 
- What is HCL
Horizon Construction Line is a Plug-in for Rhino3D nurbs modeler (version 1.02)

-What is HCL's task?
HCL will draw points on Surface#1 that are closest to Surface #2.
Take a look at the pictures below:

We would obtain the best results if we "project" the Surface#1 onto the Surface#2 and then run HCL.
This time the Surface#2 would be one we got by projecting the curves from Surface#1

- How to use the HCL?
    o- type LoadPlugin at the Rhino's command prompt
    o- select horizoncl.rhp
    o- type HCL at the Rhino's command prompt
        - you'll be prompted to "Select surface#1 to draw line on"
           A line will be drawn on that surface
       - After successful selection of the surface#1 you'll see the following prompt: "Select surface#2"
        We want the line (points) on the Surface#2 that is closest to the Surface#1
        - The next prompt is a grid size "Number of Rows<10>" and "Number of Cols<10>"
         default #of Rows and Cols is 10X10. these two values will set the grid density=precision
        -At the end you will be prompted: "Select direction (Both=Default RowDir ColDir ShowPoints=No)"
        Both = points will be shown in both directions by Columns and by Rows
        RowDir = points will be shown only in the RowDirection
        ColDir = points will be shown only in the ColDirection
        ShowPoints=No/Yes will toggle visibility of the points that are on the Surface#1

       The final step:
       The InterCrvOnSrf isn't available for "direct" access trough Rhino's SDK, so the following step needs to be done manually:

        Run the InterpCrvOnSrf selecting both Surface#1 and the points obtained from HCL to get the Horizon CURVE.

- Where I can use HCL

Recently I got a manufacturing problem that was requiring exactly what HCL accomplishes. Take a look at the picture below.

The above part needed to be made with only one tool size and thus, one finish PASS only. This means that I needed only one line as a tool path. Because the goal surface is in 3D it needed a little tweaking. Yes, I did accomplish this in Rhino manually and I got the desired tool path-line.
Someone may use it to simulate waterline or to make a split line in the dia/mold design..., so definitely there is a practical use of the HorizonCL plug-in.

-Download HorizonCL (exe 333kb) - (run setuphcl.exe and it will install and load the plug-in automatically)
Download HorizonCL(zip 8kb) - (horizoncl.zip; you'll need to unzip it and load horizoncl.rhp manually-> loadplugin at Rhino's command prompt)

-How HorizonCL works?
Coming soon

-ShowPoints (SHPTS)
Will show the points on selected surface. Rhino's command SHPTS
 

Type SHPTS at the Rhino's command prompt - You'll be prompted to "Select surface" The points will be shown on that surface - The next prompt is a grid size "Number of Rows<10>" and "Number of Cols<10>" default #of Rows and Cols is 10X10. these two values will set the grid density=precision