Blender 3D and python scripting - part 012.

In this tutorial I will show you how you can add an extra branch to the existing one.

The source code was structured a bit with two createBranch and createNewBranch functions.

However, it is still in a raw structured format because such source code is aimed at using classes.

I did not solve the new branch size for the added vertex.

In the function that creates the new branch, the second parameter receives a number that represents the vertex from where the new edge will be created.

createNewBranch(obj_branch, 1)

In the source code we have the variable branch = 4, because the number of vertices starts in the list from 0 then argument 1 immediately means the next vertex from the first one in the list.

A random peak with close values ​​is generated and an edge is added to link it to the previously selected one.

Here is the source code that adds a new branch.

import bpy
import random

# import bmesh 
import bmesh

MinNubmer = -10
MaxNumber = 10

# Clean up the area , uncoment the next two row to keep
# branch after running the script
bpy.ops.object.select_all(action="SELECT")
bpy.ops.object.delete()

# Number of branches
branch = 4
# Create the verts array
verts = [(0,0,0)]
# Create the edges array
edges = [(0,0)]
# Create the faces array
faces = []

# define random number for X and Y axis 
def RN():
    return  random.randint(MinNubmer, MaxNumber) / 20 

# define random number for positive Z axis
def RNZ():
    return  random.randint(10, 50) / 10  

# create a list of branch thicknesses
rand_list = []

name_branch = "TreeMesh"
# define createBranch 
def createBranch(branch, name_branch):
    # Create the mesh for branch 
    mesh = bpy.data.meshes.new(name_branch) 
    for i in range(1,branch):
        rand_list.append(RNZ()/30)
        # sort all reverse by thicknesses
        rand_list.sort(reverse=True)

    # generate vertices list for drawing the branch
    for i in range(1,branch):
        rand_list.append(RN())
        verts.append((rand_list[i-1] +0.1,rand_list[i-1]+0.1,RNZ()))
        edges.append((i-1,i))
    
    # sort the list of vertices by last number witch is Z axis 
    verts.sort(key=lambda x: x[2])
    # create branch update and validate, see documentation
    mesh.from_pydata(verts, edges, faces) 
    mesh.update()
    mesh.validate()
    # Create object to hold the mesh branch with the new name for object
    obj = bpy.data.objects.new(name_branch+'_Obj', mesh)
    return obj

# use the createBranch
obj_branch = createBranch(branch, name_branch)

# ... and add it to the scene
scene = bpy.context.scene
scene.collection.objects.link(obj_branch)

# create a new branch     
def createNewBranch(obj_branch, n):
    bpy.ops.object.mode_set(mode="EDIT", toggle=False)
    me = obj_branch.data
    bm = bmesh.from_edit_mesh(me)
    bm.select_mode = {'VERT'}

    for i,v in enumerate(bm.verts):
        # select only by the index of list 
        if i == n:
            v.select = ( v.co.x > 0.0 )
            v2 = v    
        else: 
            v.select = False
    # flush and update view 
    v1 = bm.verts.new( (RN()+(v.co.x) + 0.1 , RN()+(v.co.y) + 0.1 , (v.co.z) - (v.co.z)/3) )
    #v1 = bm.verts.new(1, 1, 3)
    bm.edges.new((v1, v2))
    # update 
    bm.select_flush_mode()   
    me.update()
    #bmesh.update_edit_mesh(obj_branch.data)

# add the skin modifier - NOT FIXED FOR THE LAST BRANC ADDED
obj_branch.modifiers.new(name="SK", type="SKIN")
bpy.context.view_layer.objects.active = obj_branch  
# get the skin vertices layers
skin_vertices = obj_branch.data.skin_vertices
# get the layer
skin_layer = skin_vertices[0]

for i in range(0,branch):
    # assigns radius for each vertice to sized the branch 
    skin_layer.data[i-1].radius = (rand_list[i-1], rand_list[i-1]) 
    #Indices 0 and 1 are the vertex indices
    skin_layer.data[i].radius = (rand_list[i-1],rand_list[i-1])

# set modes for user 
bpy.ops.object.mode_set(mode="EDIT", toggle=False)
bpy.ops.object.skin_root_mark()

createNewBranch(obj_branch, 1)

bpy.ops.object.mode_set(mode="OBJECT", toggle=False)