Is there a plugin for this?
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@dropout said:
I am given the inside dimension, the arc height, the inner radius and the width (in this case, 44.25, 7.25, 37.77 and
although in this instance it didn't quite work out that way. I made this one by making a circle with the 37.77 radius, added another 8" larger on the radius, made a rectangle of 60.25 by 15.25 located at the top of the outer circle and deleted what I didn't need. Lots of steps and an inaccurate result.i might not quite get it but my understanding so far is that you're being given a radius AND an arc height? for the same arc? (and in this example set of numbers, they don't quite match up)
just draw the line (44.25).. select the arc tool then click once on one end of the line, click again on the other end of the line, start moving the cursor in the direction you'd like the arc then type 7.25 <enter>..
no need for a circle or secondary radius or rectangle etc.. this thing is super easy to draw -- especially if the profile always stays the same.
and yes, you could make a DC but it's going to be crazy convoluted to draw that arc and you'll still have to explode then extrude the profile afterwards..
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Following on from Jeff.
Once you've got the base arc, very simply made as he suggested, you can use the offset tool the get the top arc... or add a cpoint at the arc's center [standard plugin context-menu item] and draw a circle.
The draw in your 'end parts' for the horizontal/vertical, typing in the required bearing dims etc.
Before doing much else ensure that the two arcs have the right number of segments etc...
Erase the unwanted parts and there you have your 'banana' form in 2d - it's quicker to draw that to type it... -
TIG
The hour has to do with the fact that I currently only have 2D and need to do this in 4 layers and each layer has multiple components due to tricking my CNC into doing what I want. This allows me to create the 3D component and machine it in one piece rather than 4 (or more).
As I said, maybe I'm just being lazy.
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Hi Jeff
I tried the offset tool but the arc it creates isn't wide enough to cover the 8 inches that I need in the horizontal plane. This gives me an idea though and that is to go from larger to smaller rather than the other way around.
Thanks.
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Rather than use Offset why not draw the whole Circle based on the initial arc's center and a short temporary line for the 'height' ? Draw the rest of you bits and erase what's not needed...
Tip: work with grouped geometry so it doesn't stick to other stuff unexpectedly...
We seem to be talking at cross purposes...
Once you've got the 2d form what can't you use followme to add the profile and quickly get a 3d form?
Where does this 'I've only got 2d' [CNC?] and 'in 4 layers' come in ?
Are you trying to make four 'horizontal slices' through your molded 3d object??
Have you thought about using my Slicer tool to make them ??You can easily make the 3d object for 3d CNCing using the pushpull and/or the followme tool on the templates face and a molding 'profile' face stood-up an that [this could be a stored component for later use] - I am still unsure about what you are doing here that some manual techniques wouldn't accomplish within minutes...
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@dropout said:
Hi Jeff
I tried the offset tool but the arc it creates isn't wide enough to cover the 8 inches that I need in the horizontal plane. This gives me an idea though and that is to go from larger to smaller rather than the other way around.
Thanks.
what do you need the secondary arc for anyway? you said the profile always stays the same.
(again, maybe i'm missing something here) -
OK, based on everyone's help I tried this real quick:
What I need is the second arc (first plus 8 inches) to extend to the two vertical lines. Since it won't work adding 8" to the first arc I added 16" and then moved back 8". I don't know why I thought that would make a difference, but it doesn't. Is there an easy way to do that? That'd get me where I need to be.
Thanks.
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Hi Jeff
I need (at least I think I need) the second arc because the molding profile takes a turn at the end. I have only been successful in getting it right using the outer arc with the vertical "returns" back to the base plane. Maybe there's another way to do this, but I'm not familiar enough with Sketchup to do it.
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see this video
[flash=800,500:1q6xsgi2]http://www.youtube.com/v/lYR6gHJsKBw?version=3&hl=en_US&rel=0&hd=1[/flash:1q6xsgi2]
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Hi TIG
I tried with circles but was not able to accurately place what I would call the base plane. The arc tool works great for that. If I could just figure out how to go from there, I'd be good. Maybe using the arc as a start and then generating a circle for the second arc is the answer. Do I need a separate plugin for that?
I don't have any trouble creating the 3D model, it's the 2D I'm having trouble with.
Appreciate you guys help!
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Hi Jeff
The reason I didn't try that is because the sharp change in direction is only apparent in the second arc. Looking at this though, it occurs to me that I could do as you have suggested and then use the push/pull tool to bring the "return" back to the base plane.
Thank you so much for your help.
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You can draw the first 'base' arc as explained by Jeff.
Draw a temporary base line representing the extent of the arc, draw the arc and type in the 'bulge' you want...
Erase the base-line.
Now you need to add a short temporary line to mark the extent of the second top arc.
So draw a vertical line, starting at the 'apex' of the base-arc and type in its length, let's say 9",
Now we need to mark the center point for the base arc as the top arc will share this as the arcs are parallel.
I've attached a script that adds a right-click context-menu 'Point at Arc Center' item if you have an arc/circle/polygon selected [it's the old @Last one with some tweaks of mine...] put it into Plugins and restart Sketchup to get the tool available to you... If you already have one use that ??
Use that to mark the center.
Use the circle tool to draw a circle centered on this cpoint snapping to the top end of the temporary 9" line we just added.
Erase the 9" line.
Draw in the rest of the stuff and erase the unwanted parts...
You can adjust the segmentation of the two arcs by selecting one and using Entity Info...
ArcContextmenu.rb -
@unknownuser said:
I am given the inside dimension, the arc height, the inner radius and the width (in this case, 44.25, 7.25, 37.77 and
although in this instance it didn't quite work out that way.Thats because you have to use the inside dimension and height and calculate the inner radius or use the inner radius and calculate the inside dimension. So I guess the question is which one of these is the most important.
The model referenced below shows the differences between the Arches using either the radius or the chord length.
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