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    Convert real world curves to Cad, help.

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    • bazB Offline
      baz
      last edited by

      Hi guys,
      I have to fit a furniture piece to a curved wall. Basically its a bunch of shelves.

      I want to get the shelves cnc'd. So I need a dxf.

      I can take an accurate template off the wall, but then the only way I can of think of to get it into Cad is to laboriously and very accurately take measurements from a reference line along the curve. (See drawing)

      Can any of you guys suggest a more accurate and elegant solution?

      Thanks.

      sample-measure-template.jpg

      rough-layout.jpg

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      • KrisidiousK Offline
        Krisidious
        last edited by

        In my cabinet shop we would scribe things to get a good field dimension. But I don't know about getting it into cad. you might consider taking a picture of the template from above. or scanning it piece by piece.

        By: Kristoff Rand
        Home DesignerUnique House Plans

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        • pilouP Offline
          pilou
          last edited by

          Some arcs circles ? So you will have some radius ?

          Frenchy Pilou
          Is beautiful that please without concept!
          My Little site :)

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          • bazB Offline
            baz
            last edited by

            @unknownuser said:

            Some arcs circles ? So you will have some radius ?

            Well no, not really, the builders followed the plans, but this is the real world, I have to fit my unit to what is there.
            I have been thinking about it all day, I'm pretty sure it has to measured carefully on site and transferred to cad.

            PS: cooking a render as we speak...

            5=cooking- 26passes-5rs.png

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            • pilouP Offline
              pilou
              last edited by

              don't very well understand the problem πŸ˜„
              you speak about arcs or circles who are not real circles with dxf export ?
              etagere.jpg

              Maybe the Pro version of sketchup has a DXF or dwg export with real circles ? (not sure)
              Else maybe use some Nurbs Modeler ? Moi 😎
              or very low cost Viacad 2d/3d v9 79$ 99 (top page + use code) I believe the best for the price/possibilities! πŸ˜‰ (you can import SKP file inside )

              Frenchy Pilou
              Is beautiful that please without concept!
              My Little site :)

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              • S Offline
                Stephen
                last edited by

                The best and most accurate way is to plot out the points as you mentioned. Afterwards, I would plot it out full size and see how it fits, make any adjustments, then do it again. It's waaay easier and cheaper to do this on paper than wood.

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                • jeff hammondJ Offline
                  jeff hammond
                  last edited by

                  maybe in the not-too-distant future, we'll have an affordable and accurate means of doing this via 3D scanning but i don't think that solution exists just yet..
                  plot away πŸ˜‰

                  dotdotdot

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                  • M Offline
                    mac1
                    last edited by

                    Any approach you select the issue of frame of ref calibration for your measurement system must be addressed. At my previous company we used: Photogrammetry ; a cluster of 4 theodolites mounted on piers with a invar surveyor chain 50' long laid on floor to calibrate to make surface contour measurements. Even state of art of 3 d scanner are getting to large area scans
                    Those first two above would be too expensive for you but the point I am trying to make is there are companies that do such measurements and few phone calls may help at least with possible ideas. I have no ref for you at this point. Been retired too long πŸ˜’
                    As a home owner was thinking about a large pin board, like small ones used to meas molding contours etc. Frame of ref probably rented laser. Think you are looking for stable relative meas not absolute.
                    Just some crazy thoughts.

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                    • BoxB Offline
                      Box
                      last edited by

                      Baz I think you are on a hiding to nothing trying to get the shelves machined to fit flush. It doesn't matter how many points you measure you'll always miss a high point or low point somewhere along the way and the curve can throw one way or the other causing gaping or binding between the shelves. Not to mention, if you manage to follow the curve perfectly if it isn't a perfect curve it will look awful. I've been involved in many installations of professional constructed curved walls, they are never to plan and never even.

                      To options spring to mind for me that would make like easier for you.
                      Use uprights at the back to shift the shelves forward. This way you can use your template to calculate a suitable radius that will fit within tolerance and look like a smooth curve. This gives another benefit of having a place to drop the odd electrical cable down the back.

                      Or if the flush look is critical, use a false back on the shelves to look like it is the wall. This way you can construct the full unit to fit in the workshop and it's only important to get an edge or two spot on so it appears built in.

                      Anyway, just random thoughts because when god made curves it was so he could laugh at as when we tried to build with them.

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                      • bazB Offline
                        baz
                        last edited by

                        Hey thanks for the replies.
                        You have given me two great ideas;

                        Use a handheld laser to plot the points along the template board, this is essentially the same as the hand method but takes out several opportunities for error. ( And I've been looking for an excuse to buy one:)

                        Box's idea of the false wall wont play but the idea of a gap between the wall and the unit is a ripper. The shelves are 32mm thick, so I could run a rebate top and bottom on the back edges to give a nice shadow line. This would hide the lumps and bumps.
                        This also allows me to hopefully use pure arcs as Pilou was mentioning, if the wall isn't too far out from the design.

                        Thanks.
                        Baz

                        shelf rebate.jpg

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                        • BoxB Offline
                          Box
                          last edited by

                          And if you only have meat at the fixing points therefore reducing the points of contact, you get away with a multitude of sins in the wall finish.

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                          • bazB Offline
                            baz
                            last edited by

                            @box said:

                            And if you only have meat at the fixing points therefore reducing the points of contact, you get away with a multitude of sins in the wall finish.

                            Even better! πŸŽ‰

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                            • bazB Offline
                              baz
                              last edited by

                              Lotus-Shelves-web.jpgThought I would show you the installation, (crap phone photo), all went well, ended up using a 'false' wall of 4mm mdf behind. With the dark colour it's almost invisible.
                              The curves matched the existing wall very well.
                              Cheers
                              Baz

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                              • KrisidiousK Offline
                                Krisidious
                                last edited by

                                Looks great Baz...

                                By: Kristoff Rand
                                Home DesignerUnique House Plans

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                                • BoxB Offline
                                  Box
                                  last edited by

                                  Excellent solution there Baz, wish I'd thought of it.

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                                  • bazB Offline
                                    baz
                                    last edited by

                                    @box said:

                                    Excellent solution there Baz, wish I'd thought of it.

                                    You did think of it!

                                    @box said:

                                    Or if the flush look is critical, use a false back on the shelves to look like it is the wall.

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                                    • bazB Offline
                                      baz
                                      last edited by

                                      @krisidious said:

                                      Looks great Baz...

                                      Thanks Kris.

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                                      • BoxB Offline
                                        Box
                                        last edited by

                                        Well roll me in beer batter and call me a Battered Sav, so I did.

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                                        • bazB Offline
                                          baz
                                          last edited by

                                          @box said:

                                          Well roll me in beer batter and call me a Battered Sav, so I did.

                                          That might need translating for the the non-aussies here
                                          I await your reply in anticipation...πŸ˜†

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                                          • BoxB Offline
                                            Box
                                            last edited by

                                            I'm afraid Baz even a translation would be over their heads. We do have a certain uniqueness to some of our local delicacies.

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