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Hi. Let's say I have a part that looks like this:
How can I find the minimum diameter of the outside circle? Of course, trial and error would work, but I was wondering if there's a way to find it automatically. Like a parametric dimension or something like that?
The reason I'm asking is that I need to figure out what the minimum stock dimension can be, assuming that round stock is the way to go which it obviously is in this case.
Solved! Go to Solution.
Coincident constraint between the center of the construction circle and the center of the line. Add tangent constraint to the construction circle and the projected arc.
ETFrench
I was looking for a more general solution that works for any shape.
Like this shape for instance:
Draw a line between the arc centerpoints which are furthest apart, then follow previous steps. Attach your file(s) to the thread if this doesn't work for you.
ETFrench
Hi IsacAndersson85,
There are multiple options to address your circumstance.
At first …
On the shop floor … wrap a flexible stripe around the object of interest. Measure the resulting diameter or approximate it from the stripe length. Note in this way… you save on the F360 subscription
The second.
If you are pure-pedant-loving-precision, F360 can offer; open the attached file to … have fun with a different approach. You will find two sketches. One facilitates finding the minimal circle eclipsing a profile, and the other profile enclosing a circle. The profile consists of only a single spline here, although an appropriate algorithm could permit any outline constitution.
Now … lets Gambol Begins!
Open one of the sketches and mouse-drag the side of the rectangle or 'rotate' it by its internal construction lines. Try to position the triangle and the subscribed/inscribed to it circle so that the latter entirely eclipses a spline profile (or vice versa).
Share our experience … how many hours it takes to receive a reasonable result? State diameters of the circles.
Well … it will not be easy … but it might be enjoyable for some.
…continuation of this method at the end of this post.
The third.
F360 API offers two bounding regions (boxes) functions. They output external XY-min-max and oriented minimal rectangle outline of selected objects (2D & 3D).
Unfortunately, internal outputs for these functions are not available. Algorithmically they would be much more complex. Similarly, min-max sketch/body circle subscription/inscription is not implemented in API also. In this case, algorithms are almost trivial.
Consider posting such a request … and we will see what will happen.
DON'T SCROLL TO THE END OF THE POST.
… as it states, the Gambol Hack.
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Gambol Hack:
Most humans have genetically built in their brain triangulation computer. We always use it to measure distances around us … yes ... by triangulation. Fire yours once more and intuitively find the larger (smaller) triangle. Constrain-Fix one or two of its vertices. The process of finding the solution will be much quicker.
Regards
MichaelT
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