Material vs. Reality
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Hey, my first post here bare with me.
I was recently utilizing SU to help me with my geometry inneptitudeness. I'm trying to learn how to unfold a structure so i can understand the angles so as to be able to build it in reality; pattern making. However, i noticed the limitations of a material are not accounted for in SU. Example: I take a 4',4' rectangle in SU (on earth it's a 4x4 sheet of copper), i put a smaller rect. in the center w/ the offset tool, and then stretch it up on the blue axis to make a truncated pyramid. I unfold the pyramid so i have a pattern so i can take measurements and measure angels. This may not be the best way to learn pattern making, but i'm pretty stoked i got this far just so i can learn some more complex geometry to use in my shop. The problem is the dimension don't really correspond to reality in the sense that i stretched the piece of "metal" beyond the dimensions of the copper; when really i just wanted to unfold a pyramid with the limits of a 4',4' sheet of material.
Sorry this is so long and maybe not so clear. But if anyone has some insight i'd appreciate it (in fabrication basics and/or SU to actual fab. techniques).
Thanks, David
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You want to know how big a pyramid you can make with a 4'x4' piece of copper?
I would take the shape you made, if its proportions are good. flatten out all the faces that need to be made, arrange the pieces in the most compact square, and proportionally reduce the size of all until it fits in a 4'x 4' square. Then you can make measurements.However, you will find people hereabouts who are really into this folding business, as well as woodworkers who do a lot of pattern making using SU. (Not me.)
Good luck.
Peter -
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Isn't this a better use of the material?
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Thanks for the responses everyone. It's given me some ideas to go on, particularly, the idea of making the pyramid, unfold it and then scale it to fit the material. I initially used the dimensions of the sheet of the copper (4',4'), made a square and then pulled it up into a pyramid, then unfolded it and took measurements which were larger than the 4' span. So it didn't compute with me. I actually made it out of copper last night, kind of guessing the angles, and it turned out o.k. My first fabrication attempt of that sort. It's a hood for a forge. It's a truncated pyramidal type thing. It's was a recycled piece of copper and a little beat, but it'll work. I'll reverse engineer it in SU and post it once i figure out how to post something on here. Thanks again everybody
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