Modeler

Rail Clone ToolThe Rail Clone command (Multiply > Duplicate: More > RailClone) works just like the Rail Extrude command, however,instead of resulting in an object with a smooth skin, it createsskinless segment clones along the background curve(s).Rail Clone will create clone or clones of a point, polygon, orobject along a curved path (single rail clone) or multiple paths(multiple rail clone). It is nearly identical to the Rail Extrudecommand. The difference is that Rail Clone creates individualcopies of the object instead of forming a continuous skin for theobject.The curve(s) must be in the background layer and the polygonsmust be cloned in the foreground layer. The orientation andposition of the foreground polygons will affect the result.Generally, they should be at the very beginning of the curve andoriented perpendicular to it — as if the curve was a thread youwere threading through the polygons.Chapter 5: Multiply Tab 171The direction that the curve faces (which end is considered thebeginning) will have bearing on both the shape and direction ofthe cloning. If you don’t get the results you expect, try flipping thecurve’s starting point with Detail > Flip. If you are using multiplecurves, they should generally run in the same direction.Single CurveThe Rail Clone: Single dialog will appear when a single curve isin the background.Segments is the number of clones in the resulting object. SelectAutomatic to distribute a number of clones along the rail curve(based on the Curve Divisions setting on the General OptionsPanel) according to the curve’s knot (point) spacing.Select Uniform Lengths to distribute some number of clones(which you specify) evenly along the length of the entire curve.No matter what the knot spacing is, the clones will remain evenlyspaced.Select Uniform Knots to distribute some number of clones(which you specify) evenly between the knots that make up thecurve. Whether the knots are close together or far apart, there willbe the same number of segments between each.