Divide oval

Quail333 · 28 Dec 2018, 01:25

I am trying to divide an oval into equal segments, also I would like to array elements equally around an oval. This would be to create settings for jewelry design. Thanks

Dave R · 28 Dec 2018, 02:51

You could use Polyline Divider in Fredo's Bezier Spline toolset. (Right click on the oval and select BZ-Convert to Polyline> Polyline Divider. Then you could use Chris Fullmer's Component Stringer to place instances of a component around the edge. Or use Path Copy for that. All are in the Plugin Store accessed at the top of the page.

Quail333 · 28 Dec 2018, 02:58

Thanks, I am still getting a handle on basic Sketchup skills do you think using plugins would be confusing or should I dive right in?

Dave R · 28 Dec 2018, 03:09

My general advice is to get a handle on the basic tools before you dive into plugins and extensions. There are some folks who jump right into plugins and never learn what the native tools can actually do and then when they need to do something new to them, they start looking for another plugin instead of looking at the native tools. I don't think that's a great way to learn SketchUp.

There isn't a native too for equally dividing the oval (is it an oval or is it really an ellipse?) so an extension would be the way to go unless you want to do some math. Actually, an oval (parallel sides and semi-circular ends) wouldn't be terribly difficult to sort out manually but an ellipse would be rather involved.

As for arraying the elements for the setting (prongs?), if you draw the first one and make it a component, you can set the component's origin, which is it's insertion point, in the proper location so you can basically drag and drop them into place from the Components panel. It's certainly not difficult but it can be a little tedious. It doesn't require any extensions, though.

Quail333 · 28 Dec 2018, 04:09

David R, that was kind of you to answer my question in depth, I will keep working with my 'Dummies" book and You Tube tutorials for a while. I just need to be patient, I know what I want as a designer and I want it now! Happy New Year! Michael

Dave R · 28 Dec 2018, 04:25

Happy that helped.

HNY2U2

Box · 28 Dec 2018, 04:43

Here is a link to quite a bit of info on this subject.
https://forums.sketchup.com/t/elliptical-array/17102

Quail333 · 28 Dec 2018, 15:11

Thanks, I have been banging away on this issue for a couple days.

baz · 29 Dec 2018, 22:32

@quail333 said:

Thanks, I have been banging away on this issue for a couple days.

Or you could do it all by eye. Artists have been winging it forever.
In fact, 'exact' spacing can often look wrong aesthetically, compare a kerned to an un-kerned font or the margins around a framed picture for example.
I have learned to trust my eye.

slbaumgartner · 30 Dec 2018, 15:59

I agree with @baz, with the caveat that it depends on whether your goal is aesthetic or precision. Sometimes the precise answer looks awful, but might still be the correct answer to the problem at hand. Also, despite the myths about famous artists drawing a perfect circle by eye, the more likely explanation is that their circles are actually imperfect but close enough that the eye doesn't care.

Quail333 · 1 Jan 2019, 04:58

It is for a jewelry component and getting what you want on a small scale and symmetrical and to fit a stone is not easy by hand that is what I hope Sketchup can help me do. Incorporating an organic element is tougher than symetry when the whole thing has to come together to make a composition.

tibet · 2 Feb 2020, 10:51

hi guys,
i have the same problem, but somehow it doesn´t work for me:-(
i do not play with su too often like before, so i ve´forgotten some stuff for sure.
i ´d like to divide two ovals, an each into 8 segments with the same length.
it´s for my teepee project.
any help is very appreciated! thanks

kifaru_teepee.skp

Box · 2 Feb 2020, 11:53

One option using some of Fredo's tools.
Curvizard and Divide Edges, Part of Fredo Tools.

Explode the Oval first, otherwise it is seen as a circle, add one edge to specify a start point and weld it back together then divide it.

tibet · 2 Feb 2020, 12:24

wow, thank you kindly for your effort!
that´s exactly what i need it!
best of luck!

Box · 2 Feb 2020, 12:28

Happy to help.

tibet · 2 Feb 2020, 13:01

a small question please!
what is the plugin for "divide edges" you have been using?
once again, thanks a lot!

Box · 2 Feb 2020, 13:12

@box said:

and Divide Edges, Part of Fredo Tools.

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