[Requested Plugin] Lathe tool

watkins

Dear Rick,

Thank you for considering the problem. I'm really surprised that such a plugin doesn't already exist.

Possible mode of operation:

Preparation:

Draw shape to lathe
Draw axis about which to rotate shape (alternatively, draw on X-Z plane and lathe about Z-axis)

Use of plugin:

Select shape to lathe (double click on shape to select all entities)
Select axis of rotation (or Z-axis if set up that way with shape drawn on X-Z plane)

Regards,
Bob

cosycat

Not the lathe tool you were after, but if you want a reasonably quick way to find the centre point of a circular group.
Draw two chords at right angles to each other (using the magenta inference) across the 'circular' group. The line joining the ends of the chords is a diameter i.e. its mid point is the centre

watkins

Dear Cosycat,

I use the protractor tool at the mid-points of line segments and create normals, the intersection of the construction lines being the centre of the circle. This is okay for simple profiles, but gets tedious when dealing with a complex shape.

Kind regards,
Bob

Ecuadorian

A workaround:

Make sure the circle/curve you'll use as a path touches an edge of the profile
Before using the follow me tool, select the edge of your circle/curve and press Ctrl+C
After using the tool, go to Edit > paste in place.

Now you have your original circle back, ready to give you its center by inference.

If you do this frequently, set Ctrl+Shift+V as a shortcut for "paste in place".

Click Draw

Nice thing about SU is there is always more than one way to skin a cat.

1- download the "projections" ruby and use the "insert construction point" tool. Click insert Construction point, touch one edge of the circles edge, touch another edge of the circles edge and then put your cursor towards the center and it should snap to center, click to insert point.

2-download the "Set Center Point" ruby. As soon as you first draw your circle, click on the surface to select it, then click Plugins, Set Center Point. This places a construction point in the center. Delete the face and carry on with the follow me steps.

I hope this makes sense and I hope I haven't told you something you already know.

Cheers, Jeff

Jim

So do you need a lathe tool or a center-point tool? Because all the edges would have the same length and have the same connected angle, It would be fairly easy to find the center-point from a single selected edge...

watkins

Dear Jim,

The ideal would be a proper lathe tool that created proper circle entities. Would this be difficult?

Regards,
Bob

AcesHigh

pardon me, but there is ALREADY a lathe plugin available at Didier´s website. Go at google and search for lathe.rb

the first result should be from Didier´s site.

watkins

Deare AcesHigh,

Nope, the lathe.rb script is no better than using follow me. In fact it is worse, and has to use 'soften' to hide unnecessary edges.

Back to the drawing board. Anyone working on this?

Kind regards,
Bob

watkins

Dear All,

Is anyone working on this? Just thought I would ask as I could really do with a proper lathe tool.

Kind regards,
Bob

Chris Fullmer

Hi Bob, its something I've thought about a little, but I have not started working on. I can't speak for anyone else, but I'd guess no one is working on this one right now,

Chris

watkins

Dear Chris,

Many thanks for replying. I am a very patient man, and besides, I have work-arounds, albeit long and tedious.

Kind regards,
Bob