vcp
Well-Known Member
CONFIGURABLE FIN ALIGNMENT GUIDE (UPDATE)
This is a fairly significant update to the FAG posted earlier in this thread. It includes the following updates:
Usage is pretty much self-explanatory, and the best way to figure it out is just to play around with the slider controls a bit. See the blurb below, if you haven't used the Customizer before.
Changes in operation from the previous FAG are as follows:
The attached 'Fin Guide2.TXT' file needs to be renamed to 'Fin Guide2.scad' to use it with OpenSCAD.
====================== OpenSCAD Customizer================================
This file has been created with the intention to use the OpenSCAD 'Customizer', which allows
the use of Windows-style selection tools to set parameters of the component. The use of this
feature requires the following steps:
1. You must install and use the OpenScad 'Development Snapshot' version, available at:
https://www.openscad.org/downloads.html
Scroll down to Development Snapshots, use version OperSCAD 2018.09.05 or later.
2. Open the 'Fin Guide2.scad' file with OpenSCAD.
3. In the OpenSCAD [Edit] menu, select [Preferences] then open tab [Features], check
[Customizer], then close the window when the check is shown.
4. In the OpenSCAD [View] menu, uncheck the option [Hide Customizer]. The Customizer
window should open at the right side of the screen.
5. At the top of the Customizer window, check 'Automatic Preview' and select 'Show Details'
in the dropdown box.
6. If you are comfortable with the instructions above, then also in the [View] menu, you can
check the option [Hide editor], which will allow the full screen to view the model. You
can also check to [Hide Console].
This is a fairly significant update to the FAG posted earlier in this thread. It includes the following updates:
- Now allows selection of an existing body tube -or- direct entry of a tube diameter value.
- Now has optional cutouts at the root for fillets.
- Choice of fixed fin spacing (e.g., 6 fins gives spacings of 60 degrees) -or- you can choose irregular spacing, for those oddball models.
- When choosing irregular spacing, you can also choose an individual fin width for each fin.
Usage is pretty much self-explanatory, and the best way to figure it out is just to play around with the slider controls a bit. See the blurb below, if you haven't used the Customizer before.
Changes in operation from the previous FAG are as follows:
- Under 'Select Tube Diameter' select an existing tube from the dropdown list -or- set it to 'use direct entered value' and enter a diameter value with the slider or direct entry box below.
- Under 'Guide Parameters' a slider has been added for 'Root Gap', which controls the spacing at the fin root for fillet clearance.
- Under 'Fin Parameters' the number of regularly spaced fins is selected. Selecting '0 fins' will turn off regular spacing and use the irregular spacing. 'Fin Span' in this section controls the span of both fin types.
- Under 'Discrete Fin Angles' is where you set the angular position of each discrete fin. Fin one is always placed at zero degrees. Unused fins are kept at zero degrees; position a new fin by changing it to a non-zero value. Up to nine fins can be positioned.
- Under 'Discrete Fin Thickness' the thickness of each individual fin is specified. The largest thickness also needs to be set as the 'Fin Thickness' under the basic 'Fin Parameters'.
The attached 'Fin Guide2.TXT' file needs to be renamed to 'Fin Guide2.scad' to use it with OpenSCAD.
====================== OpenSCAD Customizer================================
This file has been created with the intention to use the OpenSCAD 'Customizer', which allows
the use of Windows-style selection tools to set parameters of the component. The use of this
feature requires the following steps:
1. You must install and use the OpenScad 'Development Snapshot' version, available at:
https://www.openscad.org/downloads.html
Scroll down to Development Snapshots, use version OperSCAD 2018.09.05 or later.
2. Open the 'Fin Guide2.scad' file with OpenSCAD.
3. In the OpenSCAD [Edit] menu, select [Preferences] then open tab [Features], check
[Customizer], then close the window when the check is shown.
4. In the OpenSCAD [View] menu, uncheck the option [Hide Customizer]. The Customizer
window should open at the right side of the screen.
5. At the top of the Customizer window, check 'Automatic Preview' and select 'Show Details'
in the dropdown box.
6. If you are comfortable with the instructions above, then also in the [View] menu, you can
check the option [Hide editor], which will allow the full screen to view the model. You
can also check to [Hide Console].
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