An ACAD Geometry Problemo

[chicopee]

Two arcs of different radii having their centers offset from each otherin the X and Y directions. I would like to draw a horizontal line, of a certain length, touching the arcs. I do not want to eyeball. Any suggestion?

 

[CarlB]

Looks like you'll have to draw a sketch, write some geometric & trigonometric formulas.

 

[chicopee]

And there is one more condition, that is the arcs are not intersecting. If they were intersecting, it would be easy to draw the horizontal line.

 

[IFRs]

Draw the line. Center it between the two arc centers. Draw lines perpendicular to the line through the arcs. Move the line to the intersections. ???

 

[655321]

How about this:

Draw the line to the correct length so thats it's touching the arc with the larger radius (doesn't matter where), then copy the arc (the larger one), from the point at the end of the line that is touching it, to the other end of the line. Then, move the line itself down along the copied arc to intersection with the smaller arc.

This works in the couple cases I just tried.

 

[chicopee]

IFR, I tried your method (which reminded me of vertical curves devolopment in C.E. problems), however it did not work. I have worked a geometric formula as suggested by CarlB, however,it is very cumbersome with bunches of squared values in square roots and I'll be dipped if I can translate that formula into an ACAD procedure.

 

[chicopee]

655321- your method worked perfectly (perfecto) for my situation- thks and good night to all of the responders!!!