rots = totRots(len(p)-1);
 for(i=[0:len(p)-2]) hull(){
     translate(p[i])
         multmatrix(rots[i+1])
             rotate(i*ang/(len(p)-1))
                 linear_extrude(height=0.01)
                     children();
     translate(p[i+1])
         multmatrix(rots[i+2])
             rotate((i+1)*ang/(len(p)-1))
                 linear_extrude(height=0.01)
                     children();
 }

I rarely use mirror. But I realized that any rotation can be expressed by two reflections and so mirror would have other uses. It would be useless to do what rotate() does. But it is useful for instance to get the minimum rotation that brings a vector to another: // the minimum angle rotation from di to do module rotFromTo(di,do) if( norm(di-do)==0 || norm(di)==0 || norm(do)==0 ) children(); else mirror(do/norm(do)+di/norm(di)) mirror(di) children(); This module has many uses as we will see. If the module mirror is useful we should define also a function mirror returning the matrix to produce its reflection: > function fmirror(v) = > norm(v)==0 ? [[1,0,0],[0,1,0],[0,0,1]] : > let(u = v/norm(v)) > [ [1,0,0] - 2*u[0]*u, [0,1,0] - 2*u[1]*u, [0,0,1] - 2*u[2]*u ]; The function fmirror() returns a 3x3 matrix that may be apllied to reflect points. If needed a function returning a 4x4 matrix may be written based on that one. With fmirror(), we can define a function counterpart of rotFromTo(): > // function format of rotFromTo > function frotFromTo(di,do) = > norm(di-do)==0 || norm(di)==0 || norm(do)==0 ? > [[1,0,0],[0,1,0],[0,0,1]] : > fmirror(do/norm(do)+di/norm(di)) * fmirror(di); The function frotFromTo() in a very different (and complex) code is central in Oskar Linde's sweep.scad <https://github.com/openscad/list-comprehension-demos/blob/master/sweep.scad> where it is called rotate_from_to. Inspired by the code of the Celtic knot by Camacho <http://forum.openscad.org/simple-Celtic-knot-tc21141.html> , I have written a boolean operation based sweep code: > function identity() = [[1,0,0],[0,1,0],[0,0,1]]; > > module sweep(p,ang=0) { > // tangents to the path p > tgts = concat( [[0,0,1]], > [4*p[1] -p[2] - 3*p[0]], > [for(i=[1:len(p)-2]) p[i+1]-p[i-1]], > [p[len(p)-3] + 3*p[len(p)-1]-4*p[len(p)-2]]); > // rotation between two steps > function localRot(j) = frotFromTo(tgts[j], tgts[j+1]); > // list of total rotation until step i > function totRots(i, j=0, M=[identity()]) = > j>i ? > M : > totRots( i, j+1, concat(M, [ localRot(j)*M[j] ] )); > > rots = totRots(len(p)-1); > for(i=[0:len(p)-2]) hull(){ > translate(p[i]) > multmatrix(rots[i+1]) > rotate(i*ang/(len(p)-1)) > linear_extrude(height=0.01) > children(); > translate(p[i+1]) > multmatrix(rots[i+2]) > rotate((i+1)*ang/(len(p)-1)) > linear_extrude(height=0.01) > children(); > } > } This version of sweep, different from Camacho's one, has some advantages over the Linde's original: it has less twist (and avoids some wild twists that happens due to the instability of rotFromTo) and it allows self-intersecting paths. Besides, the parameter ang may be used to increase or decrease the twist along the path. It is also possible to make it to close a path with good fitting between the two ends. It has its drawbacks, though: it relies on many boolean operations and very higher render times should be expected and it is restricted to convex shapes due to the internal hull. A simple example of application of this sweep(): > n=60; > p = 1; > q = 1; > sphiral = 20*[for(i=[0:n]) > [ sin(180*i*p/n)*cos(360*i*q/n), > sin(180*i*p/n)*sin(360*i*q/n), > cos(180*i*p/n)]]; > > angi = 1.95+45; > for(i=[0:4]) rotate(i*360/5) > sweep(sphiral) rotate(angi) square(2,center=true); <http://forum.openscad.org/file/n21256/sphiral_60_1_1.png> <http://forum.openscad.org/file/n21256/sphiral_60_2_1.png> The second image was generated with p=2. -- View this message in context: http://forum.openscad.org/Mirror-rotations-and-sweep-tp21256.html Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

Very pretty. You keep making my brain hurt extracting those old memories from Uni Maths 101... ----- Admin - PM me if you need anything, or if I've done something stupid... Unless specifically shown otherwise above, my contribution is in the Public Domain; to the extent possible under law, I have waived all copyright and related or neighbouring rights to this work. Obviously inclusion of works of previous authors is not included in the above. The TPP is no simple “trade agreement.” Fight it! http://www.ourfairdeal.org/ time is running out! -- View this message in context: http://forum.openscad.org/Mirror-rotations-and-sweep-tp21256p21275.html Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.

You know you could make a few bucks refining those and putting them up on Shapeways. I think the math art <https://www.shapeways.com/marketplace/art/mathematical-art/> sells reasonably, particularly if it is functional, like a lamp shade <https://www.shapeways.com/search?q=lamp+shade&type=> (where you'd need to add the functional interface - ie hole the right size/spot) or earring or pendent (add a small loop to hang). But there is a learning curve once you get into it, material properties etc... ----- Admin - PM me if you need anything, or if I've done something stupid... Unless specifically shown otherwise above, my contribution is in the Public Domain; to the extent possible under law, I have waived all copyright and related or neighbouring rights to this work. Obviously inclusion of works of previous authors is not included in the above. The TPP is no simple “trade agreement.” Fight it! http://www.ourfairdeal.org/ time is running out! -- View this message in context: http://forum.openscad.org/Mirror-rotations-and-sweep-tp21256p21276.html Sent from the OpenSCAD mailing list archive at Nabble.com.