I have a cylinder (Pipe Actually cut at different angles at each end) I want to rip it along it's shortest longitudinal length - to do so i need to place a point on the cylinder where the shortest length occurs.
Any tips on how to do this?
I tried using the co ordinates with precise input to draw line. Weird results - I did it twice the two lines seemed parralell to each other but in different model space to that of the cylinder. I would have thought the model worked of one UCS base setting - I must be missing something yet again. Also it gave two different results for the xyz coords - I expected them to be the same as I did not change the UCS
Hi! I don't think this case needs to use complicated solution. The intersection of the two split faces defines a workaxis. Simply use Silhouette Curve based on the workaxis will find the shortest line. Please take a look and see if you have any question.
Thanks!
That shorter distance I found was not a suface distance hence why it was shorter than than yours. How ever it was a little way around the cylinder from your line.
Looks like that found the shortest paralell line to the central axis of the cylinder - Walter and I where looking at the real shortest line on the outer surface that being about 5mm shorter than the one you found. Still helpfull as in some cases I need that but I also want to cross check it with the real shortest line on the surface. In the process of me playing I actually found the very shortest possible line but that line actually passes through the surface.
In fact there may even be a shorter line if i took the edge on the inner of each end of the cylinder. Any way looks like I now have the methods to do what i want regarding this issue and I thank every one for there help and input on this.
Hi, Chipping
Based on WH's solution, and there is a workaround for you referece.