Hello,
I need a little help with drawing a circuler object like this (did it in Paint):I had the idea of doing multiple segmented circles, then deleting whatever parts I don't need and connecting the remaining segments with straight lines. Unfortunately, I don't really know how to do this. The only help I got from the Internet so far was how to add nodes on the ring, but it seems the Delete Virtual Segment tool works a bit differently (maybe because adding nodes was in Curves mode?)
So all in all, I'm a total newbie in this. Help is appreciated.
Cheers
In Draw, the circle tool can also make arcs and 'pie' shapes. You could make your different concentric circles, change them to arc shape of correct size then connect the ends of the arcs with lines. It would be easy enough, use snapping to get the lines to snap to the arc endpoints and eventually combine it all together.
Hope it helps
Thanks for the answer, helped me a lot.
I used the arc shape, made an arc of the needed size and duplicated it around the "center" enough to make a full circle.
Though I'm now having trouble snapping correctly, can't get a solid corner, the connecting line ends at the arc midsection (I tried all Snapping options).
I need the file to have the image laser-cut from a sheet of metal and if the corners aren't correct, the machine might go berserk.
Lets see if I understand what you need :)
For one, I think what you are seeing is the thickness of the line. In Wireframe view you can see where the lines/nodes actually line up. Also, if you were to use the outline pen dialog (F12) to change the line and end-caps to rounded I bet it would look more like what you want. BUT for cutting that probably isn't good enough.
I suspect that for cutting you need this to be a single unified object without extra nodes etc.
So, when I test this I start with 2 arcs. Each arc has 2 nodes, beginning and end. I draw the connector, it snaps to the nodes that end each arc. This connector also has it's own 2 nodes.
Select the 2 arcs and connector line & menu Arrange -> Combine. Now you have one single object.
With the Shape tool (F10) select this object. Now you can see where the nodes actually are and you'll also see 2 'trouble spots' where nodes are doubled up. Like this:
With the shape tool, drag a small selection marquee around one of the trouble spots to select both overlapping nodes. Then click the "Join two nodes" icon on the property bar. Repeat for the other trouble spot.
You'll have to repeat this all the way around your shape, but it's not too bad.
Andrew said:I suspect that for cutting you need this to be a single unified object without extra nodes etc.
Andrew said:You'll have to repeat this all the way around your shape, but it's not too bad.
Alternatively to joining each of the nodes manually, he could use the smartfill to create a closed shape (he would then need to delete the original curves), the join curves docker, or in X5-SP2, holding the shift key with the virtual segment delete tool will allow you to join curves (either click to join a single pair of nodes, or draw a marquee over all of the nodes you wish to join)
einomida said:So all in all, I'm a total newbie in this. Help is appreciated.
Hi.
Here's one way. The only parts you can't see is where I duplicate the shape by pressing + on the nuber pad and holding the right mouse button when rotating to get a copy of the pie piece.
I goofed a little trying to hurry to get a small short video but you might get the basic idea.
-John