Using the VRML output from the Ty Harness Sheet Metal Applications first created 16/05/06 - last modified 16/08/06 Page Author: Ty Harness
The above vrml shows the output from all the current Ty Harness Sheet Metal Applications (full version only).
Although each shape is a complex collection of vertices and faces which are too verbose to type in by hand you
can create a complex scene by using the inline url command and then with the translation and rotation commands
you can start to build up assemblies. Right Button and save any of the below wrl files and use a text editor to mess about
with the structure.
The Translation X Y Z and Rotation X Y Z A (where A is in radians) allows you move the parts around. Understanding the
translation is fairly straight forward but when there's rotation involved it's a bit more tricky.
The segmental bend is the most interesting case shown above where each segment
is translated and rotated to form the bend. For a 3 segment oblique bend it's relatively simple to
calculate those translations and rotations but for many sections the math starts to take some time.
Also, the right segmental bend is based on the half segment and full segment is 2 halves mirrored which then
becomes quite involved to mirror and assemble.
From the above vrml output you can see SEGB application only produces one segment from
the bend and it's orientation is not the ideal starting position.
First we need to know a few basic parameters from the initial design like the bend radius and
the inclusive angle of the oblique segment.
Figure XX - Translation and Rotation of a 3 segment oblique bend
I've now made SegB software V1.032 assemble the bends to
make life easier but you can still export the 1/2 or 1 segment if you prefer to assemble the
bend yourself.
TINK draws one branch and then instances the rest of the branches take a look at the source.
