Graded curves

jukanight

I dont know if I am going about this the complete wrong way, but what is the best way to set up the spiral before I use the follow me and keep me tool? If I simply select the lines and rotate them, sketchup automatically breaks a curve up into a million lines, and the spiral shape doesnt flow right. I know there is an easier way of setting up a spiral shape, I just dont know what the best way to go about it is!
thanks for your help!

print page.jpg

Gaieus

What are you using to draw your spirals? There are various "helix" plugins like this one for instance:
http://sketchuptips.blogspot.com/ or an extremely complex one: http://www.drawmetal.com/curvemaker

mitcorb

Do you need to "Weld.rb" that path? And that would be a single linear path, not multiple rails. My assumptions based on your comment and image.

jukanight

I just use the curves imported as a DWG, but I presume now that would be the wrong thing to do. Curve maker looks good, and from there I can specify the angle of my my curve structure, as I have a continous curved ramp that loops throughout the building. Ive always avoided curves in sketchup, but now the building I have designed for my thesis has curves, and ramped curves at that! not a good time to start learning..

Gaieus

It's always a good time to start learning.

gilles

Here is a little tut.

fak.skp

wyatt

You could also try using CurviShear http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=29230

jukanight

thanks! that really helps! its grand to get a step by step.
Might be a silly question, but how do you 'weld' lines in sketchup?

Gaieus

@jukanight said:

...Might be a silly question, but how do you 'weld' lines in sketchup?

(www.smustard.com)

mitcorb

Now, if that were a highway ramp, you'd need to set the inner radius curb a bit lower than the outer radius curb for the duration of the turn. Just an observation that does not have anything to do directly with the problem at hand.