tutorials

Polyhedra


Polyhedra Shapes

There are fifteen polyhedra that can be created simply by setting its type number from 0 to 14, and one, the icosphere that is created by name to which more variations can be applied. However there are plenty more to choose from, just follow the instructions under Custom Polyhedra.

Polyhedron

Example :

var octahedron = BABYLON.MeshBuilder.CreatePolyhedron("oct", {type: 1, size: 3}, scene);

Properties, all optional :

property value default value
type (number) polyhedron type in the range [0,14] 0
size (number) polyhedron size 1
sizeX (number) X polyhedron size, overwrites the size property 1
sizeY (number) Y polyhedron size, overwrites the size property 1
sizeZ (number) Z polyhedron size, overwrites the size property 1
custom (polygonObjectReference) a polyhedron object, overwrites the type property null
faceColors (Color4[]) array of Color4, one per face Color4(1, 1, 1, 1) for each side
faceUV (Vector4[]) array of Vector4, one per face UVs(0, 0, 1, 1) for each side
flat (boolean) if false, a polyhedron has a single global face, faceUV and faceColors are ignored true
updatable (boolean) true if the mesh is updatable false
sideOrientation (number) side orientation DEFAULTSIDE

To understand how to set faceUV or faceColors, please read about Face Colors and Textures for a Box taking into account the right number of faces of your polyhedron, instead of only 6 for a box.

Provided Polyhedron Types :

type name side number
0 Tetrahedron 4
1 Octahedron 8
2 Dodecahedron 12
3 Icosahedron 20
4 Rhombicuboctahedron 26
5 Triangular Prism 5
6 Pentagonal Prism 7
7 Hexagonal Prism 8
8 Square Pyramid (J1) 5
9 Pentagonal Pyramid (J2) 6
10 Triangular Dipyramid (J12) 6
11 Pentagonal Dipyramid (J13) 10
12 Elongated Square Dipyramid (J15) 12
13 Elongated Pentagonal Dipyramid (J16) 15
14 Elongated Pentagonal Cupola (J20) 22

Custom Polyhedra

If you need to use a custom polyhedron visit https://www.babylonjs-playground.com/#21QRSK#14 -


: minimize the code editor by unchecking box by Editor under Settings and note the polyhedron names under the mouse pointer. The data for each name can be found in the polyhedra.js file here https://github.com/BabylonJS/Extensions/tree/master/Polyhedron Find the name and copy/paste the wanted polyhedron object in your code like this :

var heptagonalPrism = { "name":"Heptagonal Prism", "category":["Prism"], "vertex":[[0,0,1.090071],[0.796065,0,0.7446715],[-0.1498633,0.7818315,0.7446715],[-0.7396399,-0.2943675,0.7446715],[0.6462017,0.7818315,0.3992718],[1.049102,-0.2943675,-0.03143449],[-0.8895032,0.487464,0.3992718],[-0.8658909,-0.6614378,-0.03143449],[0.8992386,0.487464,-0.3768342],[0.5685687,-0.6614378,-0.6538232],[-1.015754,0.1203937,-0.3768342],[-0.2836832,-0.8247995,-0.6538232],[0.4187054,0.1203937,-0.9992228],[-0.4335465,-0.042968,-0.9992228]],
"face":[[0,1,4,2],[0,2,6,3],[1,5,8,4],[3,6,10,7],[5,9,12,8],[7,10,13,11],[9,11,13,12],[0,3,7,11,9,5,1],[2,4,8,12,13,10,6]]};

var mesh = BABYLON.MeshBuilder.CreatePolyhdron("h", {custom: heptagonalPrism}, scene);

IcoSphere

This a sphere based upon an icosahedron with 20 triangular faces which can be subdivided.

var icosphere = BABYLON.MeshBuilder.CreateIcoSphere("ico", {radius: 5, radiusY: 8, subdivisions: 6}, scene);

Properties, all optional :

property value default value
radius (number) radius 1
radiusX (number) the X radius, overwrites the radius value radius
radiusY (Vector3) the Y radius, overwrites the radius value radius
radiusZ (number) the Z radius, overwrites the radius value radius
subdivisions (number) the number of subdivisions 4
flat (boolean) if true, the mesh faces have their own normals true
updatable (boolean) true if the mesh is updatable false
sideOrientation (number) side orientation DEFAULTSIDE

An example of an IcoSphere: http://www.babylonjs-playground.com/#24DUYD#1 -


and one with animation: http://www.babylonjs-playground.com/#E3TVT#1 -


Updatable

Where a polyhedral shape has an updatable parameter in its options it means that it is possible to alter the data associated with each vertex of the mesh and so alter the shape of the mesh. For more information see Updating Vertices

Further Reading

Mid Level - L2

Set Shapes
Parametric Shapes
Ribbons In Detail
Maths Makes Ribbons
Decals