Splitting a spiral line into equal segments

davecon

I have a flat surface with a spiral pattern on it that I wish to divide in equal portions. Normally I use the "divide" option on the context-menu but it is not there for a spiral. The spirals are created using both the displaced arc method and the curvemaker plugin. I can do it manually, but it is exceptionally time consuming.

Any help is much appreciated

pilou

Right Click/ Divide by Cpoint

I must refind the author

Edit Maybe Didier Bur

divide_cpoint.rb

davecon

Thanks for the quick reply

I have just tried that and I am getting an "Unsupported Curve, aborting" error.

pilou

You have also the Bezier who have some divider/Convert tools inside by Fredo 6

pilou

You can also use Curvyloft by Fredo6 (put your curve between 2 other)

pilou

But maybe the more simple is Copy a long a path by Rick Wilson at Smustard
Copy groups or components along a path, at set spacing or node spacing

pilou

Another one inside the 1001 bits tools!
Divide by place construction points !
Or Copy Group / Component along a path !
(works much better than the copy along a path above: just enter number of copy ! )
No need to put the group on the spline!
(So take a vertical line and Menu: Edit / Group it )
There is a group at the beginning and a group at the end of the spline!
Seems the best
Select Spiral + group, Launch the Plug, select that you want, click base of the group, click start of the Spiral
Explode all / Intersect = you have your spline splited

Click for Zoom

davecon

I have tried your other suggestions and none of them seem to work for me. Attached is a picture of the spiral I am trying to divide.

As you can see in the image, the spiral is just 2D which is why I was hoping for a simple "select and divide" option. The 1001 bits tools just do nothing. I follow the steps and while I get no error, I also get no points appearing anywhere.

davecon

here is the file I think I must be doing something wrong but I just don't know what!

spiral.skp

pilou

Post your skp file in V6 (Menu "save as" and scroll for choose V6)

I have no problem here
As you see as Spiral is "polygonal lines" some of divisions will not on each original vertices!

jeff hammond

use BezierSpline
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=13563

once installed, right click on the spiral then go:
BZ convert to -> polyline segmentor (to divide by # of segments)

or polyline divider to divide by desired segment length

davecon

@unknownuser said:

use BezierSpline
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?t=13563

once installed, right click on the spiral then go:
BZ convert to -> polyline segmentor (to divide by # of segments)

or polyline divider to divide by desired segment length

I have that installed but I don't seem to have those options. My only options from "BZ convert to" are "polyline" and "polyline divider for animation". If I try the divider for ani option, it places marks on the spiral but not at the specified intervals and they disappear if I switch to another tool (such as Draw Cpoint)

pilou

Absolutly no problem with your file!

Then Click the Base of the vertical Group and move without release the Blue cross cursor to the start of the spiral!

jeff hammond

@davecon said:

I have that installed but I don't seem to have those options. My only options from "BZ convert to" are "polyline" and "polyline divider for animation". If I try the divider for ani option, it places marks on the spiral but not at the specified intervals and they disappear if I switch to another tool (such as Draw Cpoint)

hmm.. strange.. in the case of your spiral, first select the curve then right-click -> explode curve.. now, with all the segments selected, right-click again then all the BZ options should be available.

pilou

Before I have seen your file

pilou

@ Jeff
What is the workflow of the Bezier Polyline Segmenter ?

Seems You must by hand make 50 clicks on the spiral!
Or I miss something

The other polyline Divider by measure is not very accurate and you must make a division and don't end exactly on the end following number of segments!
(and where are the intersections of the divisions ?

jeff hammond

@unknownuser said:

@ Jeff
What is the workflow of the Bezier Polyline Segmenter ?

Seems You must by hand make 50 clicks on the spiral!
Or I miss something

i think you're missing something
just enter the number segments in the dialog and click 'OK'… then click the mouse in a blank part of the screen (when the green arrow says done/exit tool)

@unknownuser said:

The other polyline Divider by measure is not very accurate and you must make a division and don't end exactly on the end following number of segments!

right.. there are times when that's needed.. for instance, building a stud wall that's 120" long with 16" centers.. dividing with bezierspline will layout at 16" then leave the odd segment at the end.

pilou

Seems there is a glitch somewhere
I have not that

@unknownuser said:

(when the green arrow says done/exit tool)

Maybe an old version

Curve is redrawn with the numbers of segments asked ?

jeff hammond

@unknownuser said:

Curve is redrawn with the numbers of segments asked ?

correct.. it's a handy command that i use quite often..

davecon

@jeff this has solved my issue My mistake was thinking that it was going to create construction points on the spiral, when it was actually changing the length of each component part to 50mm and so I just had to snap to the endpoint of each short length.

Many thanks to both of you for helping me to get this sorted out.