Boolean with bevel bezier curve

Question

I have loaded an stl file and want to do some boolean stuff on it using python API (see code below). First I create the bevel spline and move the end points where I want them. Then I create a boolean modifier and try to union with the bevel-curve. After that want to subtract the union from a cube to make a hole.

But the curve can't be assigned as the object of the union; not even manually and I don't even get an error. Nothing happens. I can set the surrounding cube as the object and that works fine.

So is there something wrong with using bezier curves in boolean modifiers or am I doing something else wrong.

# ------- Model stuff -------

#bpy.ops.import_mesh.stl(filepath="K:/PQJ/Mold Generator/Blender test/Sphere_Full_40.stl", filter_glob="*.stl", files=[{"name":"Sphere_Full_40.stl", "name":"Sphere_Full_40.stl"}], directory="K:/PQJ/Mold Generator/Blender test")
bpy.ops.import_mesh.stl(filepath="K:/PQJ/Mold Generator/Blender test/898L-OutputModel-SLA[]_09.stl", filter_glob="*.stl", files=[{"name":"898L-OutputModel-SLA[]_09.stl", "name":"898L-OutputModel-SLA[]_09.stl"}], directory="K:/PQJ/Mold Generator/Blender test")
model = bpy.context.active_object


# ------- Mold stuff -------

mold_size = (20,30,30)
mold_displace = (mold_size[0]/2.0,mold_size[1]/2.0,mold_size[2]/2.0)
#mold_displace = (10,10,15)
bpy.ops.mesh.primitive_cube_add(enter_editmode=False, align='WORLD', location=mold_displace, scale=mold_size)
mold = bpy.context.active_object # New objects are selected by default

# ------- In- and outflow stuff -------

bpy.ops.curve.primitive_bezier_curve_add(radius=10, enter_editmode=False, align='WORLD', location=(0, 0, 0), scale=(1, 1, 1))
curve = bpy.context.active_object
bpy.ops.curve.primitive_bezier_circle_add(radius=0.5, enter_editmode=False, align='WORLD', location=(0, 0, 0), scale=(1, 1, 1))
profile = bpy.context.active_object

curve.data.bevel_object = bpy.data.objects["BezierCircle"]

curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[0].co = (-0.01, mold_size[1]/2, mold_size[2]/2)
curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[0].handle_left  = (-1, curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[0].co[1], curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[0].co[2])
curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[0].handle_right = ( 1, curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[0].co[1], curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[0].co[2])

curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[1].co = (5,13,10) 
curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[1].handle_left  = ( 1, curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[1].co[1], curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[1].co[2])
curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[1].handle_right = (-1, curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[1].co[1], curve.data.splines[0].bezier_points[1].co[2])

# ------- Boolean -------

bool_model = model.modifiers.new(type="BOOLEAN", name="bool mold") # create and store a modifier
bool_model.object = curve
bool_model.operation = 'UNION'
#model.hide_viewport = True

#bool_mold = mold.modifiers.new(type="BOOLEAN", name="bool mold") # create and store a modifier
#bool_mold.object = model
#bool_mold.operation = 'DIFFERENCE'
#model.hide_viewport = True

!!! EDIT: I see the same when I try manually. I find this totally bizarre. I have subtracted large objects from stl with 50000 faces each. So why can't I use bool on a simple bend cylinder? It is even meshed! I just happen to know even more about it than just the mesh. So just forget that it's a curved bevel and just use the mesh.

Answer 1

So why can't I use bool on a simple bend cylinder? It is even meshed!

In your screenshot it's not a mesh. You can't use the boolean modifier with a curve object, even if it's beveled. You have to first convert it to a mesh.

I am not a Python developer, so I don't know how to perform that step in code, but that is likely what your problem is.

Edit: Here is another question that has a Python implementation.