9 Replies Latest reply on Oct 19, 2016 8:00 AM by Rob Edwards

Centerline between 2 different curves

Wesley Prins Mar 19, 2008 9:28 AM

Hello,

I want to draw a centerline between 2 curves like shown in the picture. But i got no idea how. Is there a function in SW who can do that?
Or maybe someone got a idea how to sketch it fast because i got an entire contour to do?
thx

Curves2.JPG 12.4 KB

Centerline between 2 different curves

Deepak Gupta Mar 19, 2008 9:50 AM (in response to Wesley Prins)
Hi Wesley,

Make lines at several points between the curves, plot points at the center of those lines and then draw a spline through those points. I don't think there is any direct method.

cl.JPG 13.8 KB
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- Centerline between 2 different curves
  
  Wesley Prins Mar 19, 2008 9:56 AM (in response to Deepak Gupta)
  
  pfff thats gonna take some work then better get started maybe i will be finished before the weekend :s
  
  If SW cant do this, does anyone knows a programme who can.
  I will have to do this for more then 1 part.
  
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  - Centerline between 2 different curves
    
    Dwight Livingston Mar 19, 2008 12:44 PM (in response to Wesley Prins)
    
    Wesley
    
    I played around with this and was able to use a sweep to show the centerline between two splines. One spline was the Path and the other a Guide. I swept a thin triangle that had it's point halfway between the two two splines.
    
    Dwight
    
    between splines.jpg 41.8 KB
    
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    - Centerline between 2 different curves
      
      Wesley Prins Mar 19, 2008 2:18 PM (in response to Dwight Livingston)
      
      Thank you dwight,
      
      I tried it but it doesnt seem to work on a big scale, it doesnt goes through the center of the 2 lines everywhere. could you tell me which options you use. I used follow path and 1st guide curve. thats the only one who seems to work.
      
      Your trick did gave me a good line more or less though, but now im stuck again.
      
      I want to create a dxf with points(i made in SW). But when i make a drawing of the sketch and save it as dxf it doesnt show the points in the dxf.(probably should go to another topic but since im here)
      
      Is there something i have to change in the save as options?
      
      Thx in advance
      
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      - Centerline between 2 different curves
        
        Terry Howard Mar 20, 2008 3:26 PM (in response to Wesley Prins)
        
        I think this will be accurate, but I have not given it a lot of thought.....
        
        Create a parallel plane 1" above the plane your splines are on.
        Create a sketch on this parallel plane.
        Select one of the original splines and do a Tools>Sketch Tools>Convert Entities. Exit out of this sketch.
        Create a loft between the not converted spline on the first sketch and the spline on the second sketch.
        Create a second parallel plane at 1/2" from the first.
        Create a sketch on this plane. In this sketch insert a Tools>Sketch Tools>Intersection Curve, picking the lofted surface. This should be your midspline.
        
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        Centerline between 2 different curves
        
        Dwight Livingston Mar 20, 2008 4:01 PM (in response to Terry Howard)
        
        Hey, T H. I like your way better.
        
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        Centerline between 2 different curves
        
        Terry Howard Mar 20, 2008 4:12 PM (in response to Dwight Livingston)
        
        Dwight,
        I am not sure this is accurate though.
        My other method for creating this was to make a Planar surface and add Face Curves (make sure you are in a 3d sketch first or you will end up with a 3d sketch for each curve), then draw a spline through the centerpoints. I do not get the same spline though, and I am not sure why.
        
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        Centerline between 2 different curves
        
        Wesley Prins May 7, 2008 1:31 PM (in response to Terry Howard)
        
        Thx TH
        
        This method works fine for me, i tried it on serveral parts now and i havent seen anything wrong.
        
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        Re: Centerline between 2 different curves
        
        Rob Edwards Oct 19, 2016 8:00 AM (in response to Terry Howard)
        
        Thankyou Terry
        Thats perfect for something I've been wrestling with I offset my first plane 100 and then I could use the intersection plane offset as a percentage
        
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