X Y Z coordinates airfoil

[Anonymous]

I imported 30 different airfoils (for propeller blade - each of them has 170 points) with "script" function (the points have 3 coordinates and they are different - every point has a unique X Y and Z). After that I used "loft" function to make the solid; and for this I used also "join" function for take all the points of an airfoil together. And finally I loft them and...the result is: the interior is empty and I just have the contour without the ends.

I tried also to close the ends to make a close volum and to transform this surface in solid with "sculpt" function. Dosen't work... If is possible in another way to do this, another alternative...If somebody has the kindness to help me... I can tell more details in privat with this project..

[Alfred.NESWADBA]

Hi,

>> the result is: the interior is empty and I just have

>> the contour without the ends

Please upload the dwg-file so we really know what you have.

Also please let us know which version of AutoCAD you are working with.

- alfred -

[leeminardi]

"I imported 30 different airfoils (for propeller blade - each of them has 170 points) with "script" function (the points have 3 coordinates and they are different - every point has a unique X Y and Z). After that I used "loft" function to make the solid; and for this I used also "join" function for take all the points of an airfoil together. And finally I loft them and...the result is: the interior is empty and I just have the contour without the ends.

I tried also to close the ends to make a close volum and to transform this surface in solid with "sculpt" function. Dosen't work... If is possible in another way to do this, another alternative...If somebody has the kindness to help me... I can tell more details in privat with this project.."

Some suggestions.

1.  170 points per profile is too many.  I would try to use a dozen or so with spline in fit-point mode to get an approximate shape and then tune the shape by manipulating the CVs (control vertices).

2. To create the solid just place boxes or planes at the open ends to form a watertight volume then use surfsculpt to make a solid.   You will then need to determine how you want to hand the portion of the blade that lies outside the last profile.

3. The blade tips may be difficult to model as the sections might come to a point at the end and this zero sized section will not be processed well, if at all, by loft. 

Feel free to post a partial model or send via private message.

Lee

[Anonymous]

The version is AutoCad 2020.

[Anonymous]

I put the script that I used (first 30 series are the half's of airfoils and the 30 are from the other one half's airfoils) and 2 dwg, one with the airfoils and one with what I was trying to do "to form a watertight volume then use surfsculpt to make a solid".

I put also there the initial notepad of the project, the first coordinates are from rotor, but now only the blade metters...

[Anonymous]

Update. This is the script with the closed airfoils.

[leeminardi · Accepted solution]

My first question is what is your end goal?  It is to make a pretty picture, do an engineering analysis, make a 3d print, something else?  This will determine the precision you need in the model.

Using 270 points to define each profile is way too many.  YOu should first concentrate on creating a more appropriate model.

I changed "line" to "3dpoly" in your script. I then copied the data for the first 5 profiles into Excel and created a data list using every 18th point of the 270  for a total of 16 points for each profile  and used spline to create 5 splines.  The results can be seen in the attached file.  The original line data is on layer 0 (note the data error at vertices 94 through 97 on the second profile).  Layer splines contains the spline.  Zoom in to see how well (or not) the splines duplicate the line profiles.  I then used loft to create a surface. 

Once you have the airfoil defined as more efficient surfaces you can use them to create the watertight solid model by defining surfaces that include an edge of the surface model.

I suggest you make a surface model as I described of the first 5 sections and the complementing  opposing profile and then I can detail how to create the solid model.

Note, here's a snapshot of the Excel file and the formula I used to extract every 18th profile (column D).  Column D and E are copied to sheet "spline data" and then sorted on the value of E to yield the input to AutoCAD.  I just copied and pasted  and column A of the spline data sheet into the command prompt of AutoCAD.  For some unknown reason making a script file of this data did not create all 5 splines.

[Anonymous]

I have also coordinates from a spinner and after I will finish this structure, I will study the  aerodynamic structure to find the best solution in material, mesh, all this stuff and after that I will work in PowerFlow tu study different flow and parametters.