Flattening curved survaces (to get 2d plans for construction)
Hi!
just busy evaluating Bricscad.
I'd like to know if the software will allow me to model a curved surface in 3D-space, and then to FLATTEN that surface, to obtain a 2D outline construction plan.
In particular what I'm interested in, is modelling the side of a guitar in 3D-space (example image - note also the arch at the guitars back, which needs to be carefully modelled into the side. The side's "height" is not constant).
For a construction template, I need to transform this side-surface, into a flat ("unrolled") 2D shape-template, so that a long piece of wood can be cut into the correct shape.
Can it be done?
Thanks for help and pointers.
J.
PS: I'm running Linux.
Comments
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Joe, personal opinion: because the wood has thickness it will bend about a neutral axis - neither face surface will exactly match the end product. You'd be ahead to do this manually by getting the length of that axis and laying it all out in 2D. (That's not all that hard to do).
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It's not really possible in 2D: the reason is the curved-arch of the guitars back.
The "flat piece template of the side" needs the exact shape, such that once it's bent into a figure-of-eight (of same surface area)... it will perfectly allow a guitar's ARCHED back to align with the sides.
As far as I can see this is often called "unrolling" or "unfolding"
see http://www.ant-ares.de/ (but that one overpriced piece of sw)0