How can I create a 3D Grid in scenekit

Question

how can I make a grid with 3d objects(box). I already know how to setup scnscene and how to create an object. But I don't know how to make the layout. The grid should look like this one, with 3d object in a 3D space.

Here's what I tried:

           convenience init(create: Bool) {
        self.init()

        let geometry = SCNBox(width: 0.8 , height: 0.8,
                              length: 0.1, chamferRadius: 0.005)
        geometry.firstMaterial?.diffuse.contents = UIColor.red
        geometry.firstMaterial?.specular.contents = UIColor.white
        geometry.firstMaterial?.emission.contents = UIColor.blue
        let offset: Int = 10

        for xIndex:Int in 0...2 {
            for yIndex:Int in 0...2 {
                // create a geometry copy
                let geoCopy = geometry.copy() as! SCNGeometry

                var images:[UIImage]=[]
                for i in 1...5 {
                    if let img = UIImage(named: "\(i)"){
                        images.append(img)
                        let material = SCNMaterial()
                        material.diffuse.contents = img
                        geoCopy.firstMaterial = material

                    }
                }

                let boxnode = SCNNode(geometry: geoCopy)
                let boxCopy = boxnode.copy() as! SCNNode
                boxCopy.position.x = Float(xIndex - offset)
                boxCopy.position.y = Float(yIndex - offset)
                self.rootNode.addChildNode(boxCopy)
            }
        }
    }

But I only see one box.

Thanks!

Picture of my Images:

Answer 1

You need to create one geometry, one box node and then copy that boxNode. You use clone when you have node with children and flattenedClone when you want to merge geometries/materials of the entire subtree at the node. In your case, copy should suffice. Just change the position of your copied node.

GameScene

import Foundation
import SceneKit

class GameScene: SCNScene {

    override init() {
        super.init()

        let geometry = SCNBox(width: 0.6 , height: 0.6,
                               length: 0.1, chamferRadius: 0.005)
        geometry.firstMaterial?.diffuse.contents = UIColor.red
        geometry.firstMaterial?.specular.contents = UIColor.white
        geometry.firstMaterial?.emission.contents = UIColor.blue
        let boxnode = SCNNode(geometry: geometry)
        let offset: Int = 16

        for xIndex:Int in 0...32 {
            for yIndex:Int in 0...32 {
                let boxCopy = boxnode.copy() as! SCNNode
                boxCopy.position.x = Float(xIndex - offset)
                boxCopy.position.y = Float(yIndex - offset)
                self.rootNode.addChildNode(boxCopy)
            }
        }
    }

    required init?(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
        super.init(coder: aDecoder)
    }
}

In your view controller, viewDidLoad:

override func viewDidLoad() {
        super.viewDidLoad()

        // create a new scene
        let scene = GameScene()

        // retrieve the SCNView
        let scnView = self.view as! SCNView

        // set the scene to the view
        scnView.scene = scene
        scnView.pointOfView?.position = SCNVector3Make(0, 0, 100)

        // allows the user to manipulate the camera
        scnView.allowsCameraControl = true

        // show statistics such as fps and timing information
        scnView.showsStatistics = true

        // configure the view
         scnView.backgroundColor = UIColor.white

    }

Note that I have just pushed the camera point of view back on the +Z axis to have a better view of your grid.

The grid screenshot

---

Edit: New material for each geometry

If you want to assign a new material to each geometry, you need to create a copy of the geometry and assign a new material to that geometry copy. See the code below which randomly assign a UIImage for each diffuse property, from a set of seven images named 1.png to 8.png.

import Foundation
import SceneKit

class GameScene: SCNScene {

    override init() {
        super.init()

        let geometry = SCNBox(width: 6 , height: 6,
                              length: 6, chamferRadius: 0.5)

        for xIndex:Int in stride(from: 0, to: 32, by:8) {
            for yIndex:Int in stride(from: 0, to: 32, by: 8) {
                // create a geometry copy
                let geoCopy = geometry.copy() as! SCNGeometry

                // create a random material
                let r = arc4random_uniform(7) + 1
                let img = UIImage(named: "\(r).png")
                let mat = SCNMaterial()
                mat.diffuse.contents = img
                geoCopy.firstMaterial = mat

                // create a copy node with new material and geo copy
                let boxnode = SCNNode(geometry: geoCopy)
                let boxCopy = boxnode.copy() as! SCNNode
                boxCopy.position.x = Float(xIndex - offset)
                boxCopy.position.y = Float(yIndex - offset)
                self.rootNode.addChildNode(boxCopy)
            }
        }
    }

    required init?(coder aDecoder: NSCoder) {
        super.init(coder: aDecoder)
    }
}

Screenshot

Answer 2

You need to put the statement -let boxnode = SCNNode(geometry: self.geometry) - inside the loop. If you wish to use the same materials, you can use the same geometry for all nodes (just store the geometry in a variable and assign it). Otherwise, if you wish to have different materials, copy the geometry and assign different materials each time.