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Math issue
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Math issue // Archive: Tech Forum
Post by rjeff // Oct 23, 2007, 5:02am
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rjeff
Total Posts: 1260
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Ok I have a cylinder. I am trying to do some cuts out of the cylinder with a smaller one. It will kinda look like a gear once the cuts are out. How do I evenly space the drills around the main object? |
Post by frootee // Oct 23, 2007, 5:13am
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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Hi rjeff. You can use the circle-array tool to create several copies of a cylinder at once. It's been awhile since I've used that; I think it is only on Model side currently.
Basically, you enter the number of copies you want, select your object to be copied, then activate the tool. You can then LMB-drag to adjust the radius of the array.
Since I have not used this in awhile, my directions may not be in the correct order; but I do know the circle array tool can be used for this purpose. Note: there are 3 array tools, all accessible from the array icon menu; you access this just like any other tool. The array tools are arranged in a popup type icon menu. You have: linear array, cubic array, and circle array.
HTH!
Froo |
Post by Nez // Oct 23, 2007, 5:20am
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Nez
Total Posts: 1102
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This sort of thing is always a bit tricky!
If you're going with the boolean approach, you can change the axis location for your cutting object to be the same as the centre of the object to be cut; then copy and rotate about your axis and your cutting objects will all be arranged around the perimeter; you need to rotate each copy by the same amount, and that amount needs to be a nice factor of 360 (e.g. 36 degrees, 18 degrees, 45 degrees, 22.5 degrees, etc). Depending on the angle and cutter size, you may need to tweak one or the other to get the best arrangement to suit the result you're after.
I have a plug-in called copy-ex which is good for creating multiple copies at the same incremental translation/rotation - but depending what version of TS you are using, you may have array tools built in (I haven't in TS5). [edit - as frootee has noted whilst I was writing]
An alternative approach you can also use is to create a cylinder with x number of faces and then select alternate faces around the perimter and extrude/bevel to create 'teeth'. Depends on how close-up you're going to be seeing the gear but this can work...
Must be several other methods too, but I've tried both of those reasonably successfully. |
Post by rjeff // Oct 23, 2007, 5:23am
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rjeff
Total Posts: 1260
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yeah that works..I forgot about that tool..thanks Frootee! |
Post by frootee // Oct 23, 2007, 5:26am
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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you're welcome rjeff!
Hey Nez! wassup!
Froo |
Post by Nez // Oct 23, 2007, 5:37am
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Nez
Total Posts: 1102
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As an example:
main 'gear' cylinder radius 10, centred on 0,0,0
cutting cylinder (diameter 1) created at 5,0,0, axis redefined as 0,0,0
Copied at rotational increments of 12 degrees (divides nicely into 360).
Ideally I should probably have reduced the cutting cylinder diameter a shade and repeated so teeth aren't as thin or increased angle to 15 degrees (next integer to divide properly into 360). If it helps, 360 degrees is divisible by 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 15 (and multiples thereof - e.g. 18, 24, etc)... |
Post by Nez // Oct 23, 2007, 5:40am
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Nez
Total Posts: 1102
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Hey Frootee - waaaassssuuuuup to you too!:p:D |
Post by rjeff // Oct 23, 2007, 5:44am
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rjeff
Total Posts: 1260
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This is what you have helped me make. This is a column that will be in my castle scene I am going to finish up. |
Post by frootee // Oct 23, 2007, 5:50am
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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Nice rjeff! Lookin forward to the rest of the castle! :D |
Post by butterpaw // Oct 24, 2007, 5:33am
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butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
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That's an elegant column, rjeff... I'm workinq on something with columns too, although it's not a castle ;) -and I've been watching your castle development with great interest! :)
@frootee - the array tool is interesting, seeing this use of it.. I'm suddenly thinking I can use it for something a bit different... I seem to have been doing a lot of math lately...:D |
Post by frootee // Oct 24, 2007, 5:53am
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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Excellent butterpaw!
Yeah, Math Rocks! Now you have me curious.... :D
Froo |
Post by butterpaw // Oct 25, 2007, 3:46am
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butterpaw
Total Posts: 831
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@froo just have a look at the WIP Orbicles :D |
Post by frootee // Oct 25, 2007, 4:51am
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frootee
Total Posts: 2667
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oh yeah now I see what you mean butter! haha. |
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