How to design a straight edge on a developable surface

Discussion in 'Software' started by DCockey, Nov 19, 2010.

  1. DCockey
    Joined: Oct 2009
    Posts: 5,229
    Likes: 634, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 1485
    Location: Midcoast Maine

    DCockey Senior Member

    I posted a note on how to design a straight edge on a developable surface on the "Boat Design" forum. http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/bo...rfaces-method-designing-35552.html#post419955

    It uses the ShortPath command in Rhino which draws the shortest path between two points on a developable surface. Does other software commands have the same capability to determine the shortest path? Does any other software have another method for mapping a straight line on an unrolled surface to a developable surface?
     
  2. DCockey
    Joined: Oct 2009
    Posts: 5,229
    Likes: 634, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 1485
    Location: Midcoast Maine

    DCockey Senior Member

    To clarify, what I'm talking about is a curve which goes across the ruling lines of a developable surface and is straight when the surface is unrolled, not how to determine the ruling lines.
     
  3. Gilbert
    Joined: Aug 2004
    Posts: 525
    Likes: 5, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 28
    Location: Cathlamet, WA

    Gilbert Senior Member

    Surely you must know this. Any two points on an unrolled developable surface are or can be connected by a straight line. I think you have to clarify your question.
     
  4. DCockey
    Joined: Oct 2009
    Posts: 5,229
    Likes: 634, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 1485
    Location: Midcoast Maine

    DCockey Senior Member

    Yes, I know that. The corresponding line on the curved, rolled surface will not be straight unless it happens to coincide with a ruling line. It will be curved, and will be the shortest path on the rolled surface between the ends of the curve.

    My questions are:

    Does other software than Rhino have the capability to determine the shortest length curve between two points on a developable surface which is not flat?

    Does any software have a method for showing the curve on a curved developed surface corresponding to a straight line on a flat, unrolled surface?
     
    Last edited: Nov 19, 2010
  5. Felix Muehlhoff
    Joined: Sep 2008
    Posts: 14
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Germany

    Felix Muehlhoff Junior Member

    Yes, NX and Catia can do this. I'm sure there are also other software that can do this.

    Regards

    Felix
     
  6. DCockey
    Joined: Oct 2009
    Posts: 5,229
    Likes: 634, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 1485
    Location: Midcoast Maine

    DCockey Senior Member

    An example of what I'm interested in doing is designing a plywood boat so that the sheer and/or chine edges of the side panels will be straight when the sides are unrolled flat. In general these edges will intersect the ruling lines. Another another way to express it is to determine a curve on a developed surface which will be a straight line when the surface is unrolled.

    A special case sometimes seen in simple plywood boat design is if the ruling lines are parallel and lie in the section planes perpendicular to the centerplane, and the sheer and/or chine are perpendicular to the ruling lines which means they will be a straight line when viewed from the ends as in the section view of a lines drawing. This is obviously very restrictive though.

    I've been looking for a way to develop the more general case. That's where the realization that the shortest curve between two paths on a developed surface will unroll to a straight line. Since Rhino has the ShortPath command it's straight forward to develop a preliminary design, unroll the preliminary side panels, and if the sheer and/or chine are close to straight then go back to the preliminary design and create a new sheer and/or chine using the ShortPath command.

    If software has a simple way to map a curve or line from the unrolled surface to the rolled surface then it would simple to draw the desired un-rolled edge shape on the unrolled surface and then map it back to the design shape. Unfortunately I haven't been able to find that capability in Rhino.
     

  7. ancient kayaker
    Joined: Aug 2006
    Posts: 3,497
    Likes: 147, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 2291
    Location: Alliston, Ontario, Canada

    ancient kayaker aka Terry Haines

    I have used sheer planks with straight sheer and chine edges in several of my canoes. I go a little further and keep the sheer angle constant. The primary reason is to maximize material usage and simplify construction; a decent looking canoe with a respectable performance can be obtained from a single 4 x 8 ply sheet using this approach - single sheet designs are an obscure but intersting offshoot from boat design. I have also applied the same system to a sailboat, with excellent results.

    It is a very restrictive approach as you noted. However, a significant advantage is the ability to produce a design without recourse to computer software or advanced drafting skills.
     
Loading...
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.