Path Trace help

[Uncle Eli]

So I'm trying to generate a bicycle gear cut art. I was wondering if there was a way to free rotate a object in Path trace ie: one of the teeth on the gear. In an effort to only draw one tooth, and copy it over and over? This feature would also bee extremely helpful on a wide range of designs. I have tried to use the mirror object feature, but that only allows mirroring on 90 degree increments.

 

[CAframer]

This might work:

• Design the object (in this case a gear tooth) in PathTrace and save as cut art.
• In MatDesigner add the object then use the Advanced tab to rotate the object the requisite number of degrees.
• Copy and repeat as necessary
• Reopen PathTrace to join them together (the copy feature can be useful in "moving" elements together)

Alternatively find an image that works, scan, and trace.

 

[Uncle Eli]

sounds like that might be a decent work around, I'll give it a shot. Thanks for your help. However, it would still be nice to free rotate objects in Path Trace, for a whole bunch of other applications.

 

[DBecker]

When I'm working on a project with radial symmetry, I start in MatDesigner with the star template #506. Setting the Mode parameter to 1 on that template will force all the points to be the same angle. You can approximate the layout using reveal, number of points and spikiness. Then, pull it into PathTrace, and you have a symmetrical framework.

PathTrace will mirror objects at any angle. Looking at the attached image, I drew lines between the points on the upper and lower layers of a star template. Those lines can be used as the axis when mirror. Draw a tooth in one of the 'cells' and mirror it all the way around. If the tooth has several lines/arcs, join them first, then they'll mirror as a group.
Once you have your sprocket, delete the guide/mirror lines and your on your way.

Good Luck and Have Fun!

Dave

 

[Uncle Eli]

That's Awesome. Thanks for your help DBecker. I guess I wasn't using the mirror tool properly either. i didn't realize it would mirror based on the angle of the second object that you clicked. Too bad i already drew the whole thing by hand