Spline

[CFDruss]

how do you create a spline from two or more points but you want it to end on an exsisting spline.

I.E, the dots are the points and the explamation mark is a vertical curved spline,

. . !

 

[cowski]

Must the spline pass through the given points or are they more like control points (poles)? Do you need to maintain tangency or curvature with the existing spline?

 

[CFDruss]

what do you mean when you say retain tangency???

its just a point at which the spline will end at

 

[Xwheelguy]

Regardless, Studio Spline (as it is called in NX2) could be used quite easily in this situation. If you toggle Associative to ON, NX2 will allow you to edit the spline & assign continuity should it be required.

It would also help to know which version of UG....as I believe some minor menu changes occured for Studio Spline between NX2 & NX3. At least UGS was thinking about incorporating the newer Studio Spline as the 'main' spline creation method versus the old Spline command.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[CFDruss]

Im only using v18 :s

 

[Xwheelguy]

He is asking if the transition to the "vertical" spline will be smooth or have a sharp corner.

I would use the old Spline command, then pick Through Points. Turn on single segment & then use point constructor & pick the 2 points followed by the end of the "vertical" spline....IF you don't require a tangent transition into the "vertical" spline.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[CFDruss]

Oh got you, yes it will just me a sharp corner.

What is mean by tangent transition

 

[Xwheelguy]

Think of the corners of a cube. If you apply an edge blend to the corners they are now tangent (the cross sectional angle between the radius of the blend and the straight lines of the adjacent surfaces is 0° or 180°). It's a level of continuity or smoothness between curves and/or surfaces.

I cannot stress enough that reading the documentation will help you out with these definitions. It's lengthy, but will be well worth your time in the long run.

You also may want to get a UG CAST license, which has basic courses that will help new users get introduced to common modeling tasks & techniques using UG. Call your sales rep for information & pricing. It's fairly reasonable but doesn't offer high-end modeling solutions (in my opinion).

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[CFDruss]

Thanls mate, your help is brill. One question you can probably explain well for me, is what is meant by parametric??

 

[cowski]

Most of the features you create in UG will have parameters that you set at creation time and can change later (or is that WILL change later?). For example, an extrusion has parameters of start distance, end distance, and taper (among others depending on what you are extruding). Say you make an extrusion with 0 start distance and 2 end distance, as your design evolves you can change these values instead of recreating the extrusion.

 

[CFDruss]

I have put a link to a screen print of the nose Im making.

http://www.home.no/mrbard/pictures/nose.JPG

Im not sure im building it in a correct way, but its built from surfaces. I am now trying to add the very rounded tip of the cone, how is best to do this??? and also, Im a bit worried that where the two surfaces (as the nose is made in two) meet at the side, that its not smooth??

 

[Xwheelguy]

I'm going to give you step by step instructions with the assumption that in your very FIRST post, you have 2 existing points along with the 'vertical' spline (as displayed in your post). I'm also assuming that the points & 'vertical' spline are all lying on the same plane & that you want to create a spline that ends at the same endpoint of the vertical spline.

Select the Spline icon.

From the Spline dialog, select Through Points.

From the Spline Through Points dialog under Curve Type, select Single Segment & then OK.

At the next dialog, you will prompted for the spline point creation method. Choose Point Constructor.

From the Point Constructor dialog, select the Point icon.

Now, select the left-most point followed by the right-most point. DO NOT HIT OK YET! With the Point Constructor dialog still showing, select the End Point icon & then select the end point of the 'vertical' spline then select OK.

The Specify Points dialog pops up & you want to select Yes & your spline should show up & pass through the 3 points you defined.

If this doesn't do the trick, then you haven't told us enough information or you need to be more descriptive of the existing geometry.



Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[CFDruss]

Is the above instructions, for making the end bit of the nose cone, or for the original query??

 

[Xwheelguy]

The original post....I must have mis-read one of your earlier posts or we posted at the same time or something. It took me a bit to type all of that in.

Does v18 have N-Sided surface? If so, that will be your best bet. If not, then you'll have to create a mesh of curves & use through curve mesh in the freeform modeling application.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[CFDruss]

Hmmm, I dont know how to do that, will have to read about that in the documents. Is it fairly simple, I tired just revolving the nose end curve but it did not revolve perpendicular to the nose surface, and it looked like a big blob on the end!!!

 

[CFDruss]

just to let you know, V18 has studio surface nxn if thats the right one

 

[Xwheelguy]

nXn will require a mesh of curves. I'm not sure if v18 has it, but the name of the command is N-sided surface (look in the documentation). Using N-sided surface, you will not need a mesh of curves, or you can construct the N-sided surface & use it to extract the mesh, repair continuity of curves, then rebuild using through curve mesh or nXn.

If this doesn't make sense to you, then I'd strongly suggest reading the documentation & getting some training. For me, it would have been easier to do the part myself & send it to you at this point in time.

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[CFDruss]

its ok, i have found my documentation now sorry

Where would it be under about surfacing....sorry to be such a noob, its just very daunting when you first start up

 

[Xwheelguy]

Modeling -> Freeform Features

Tim Flater
Senior Designer
Enkei America, Inc.

http://www.enkei.com

 

[javo]

cfdruss:

i saw the part you are trying to make, you are making your life too difficult! for a part like that is not good using surfaces, and if you add the cone you want to make, you are talking about expert skills.

i would advice you to spend the time trying a solid and start making blends. you may use surfaces to cut it and shape it, but remember to use them only when necessary.

javo.