Help with Geometry

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carbidetooth
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Help with Geometry

Post by carbidetooth »

Hi all. I'd like to duplicate or get close to this interlocking shape.

I'm being up-front and telling you that I (regrettably)avoided math in school and I imagine this is a geometry exercise. I've been putzing around for a couple of hours without success. I think all sides have to be equal, right? I just don't know how to get there. Help appreciated.
Interlocking shape.jpg

Samson
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by Samson »

I only spent a few minutes, but this is what I came up with. It's all triangulated. Fairly simple using copy array.





Image

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carbidetooth
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by carbidetooth »

Thanks Samson. I'd love to be able to do that in few minutes. I'm afraid triangulated means little to me in this context. Could you walk me through process it a bit more so I can latch on conceptually? I should add that I think I can manage the array if I can get the process of creating a single shape.

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mtylerfl
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by mtylerfl »

Hi Peter,

I made a quickie video (less than 3 minutes long) of one way how to create a shape like what you are working with. The shape can be varied easily via how you alter the original triangle shape that it is based upon.

Here is the video link:

https://www.screencast.com/t/wZ2uRMWZiie
Michael Tyler

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carbidetooth
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by carbidetooth »

Michael, you are the MAN! I can't tell you how grateful I am that you took the time to make that.

I muddled through a number of what I thought were reasonable approaches, all ending in frustration of some level or another. In the end I chose desired angles and stepped around the shape using a single dimension which worked but felt really clumsy and prone to error.

FWIW, this is for a puzzle of sorts I'm going to make for my grandson's third grade class. Each student gets a single shape to decorate as they wish and then all come together on backboard. The theme being something along the lines of "many yet one".

I didn't anticipate Grandpa would get stumped right out of the chute, so I guess we both get to learn something!

Thanks again.

garylmast
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by garylmast »

Here's another way.

Gary
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array.JPG

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carbidetooth
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by carbidetooth »

And thank you Gary. Yet another bit of Vectric Wisdom. "Polar" array is new to me. Is that a "circular" array by a different name?

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highpockets
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by highpockets »

Sounds like a great project!

Remember to allow for the diameter of the bit you choose to cutout each piece or the puzzle won't fit together correctly.

If you're using a laser to cutout the piece then ignore the above....
John
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garylmast
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by garylmast »

Yes, it's the circular copy. Once you do the copies, you'll still have to move them to connect the ends. Once you get the hang of it, it should just seconds to do.

Gary
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carbidetooth
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by carbidetooth »

One other aspect of this I could use some help on. All MDF so no grain orientation, I'll cut the shapes separate from the "big picture" pocket they'll fit into, so no tool clearance concerns. I'm thinking clearances between pieces perhaps .030 for easy assembly and disassembly, but that's a guess on my part. If anyone has done similar perhaps you can advise what works well.

Thanks again.

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adze_cnc
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by adze_cnc »

One thing to remember is that all the "inside corners" will be cut rounded. You should use the fillet tool to radius all the outer corners (or all corners for completeness) so they nest in with the rounded inside corners.

See attached file. Knowing that I'll cut this shape with a 1/4" router bit I used a fillet with 1/8" radius on all corners. I didn't need to do the three "inside" corners as you get a fillet for free when cutting them. But! I did fillet them just in case I decide to use a smaller than 1/4" bit (say 6mm, 3/16", or 1/8").

Steven
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BrianM
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by BrianM »

mtylerfl wrote:Hi Peter,

I made a quickie video (less than 3 minutes long) of one way how to create a shape like what you are working with. The shape can be varied easily via how you alter the original triangle shape that it is based upon.

Here is the video link:

https://www.screencast.com/t/wZ2uRMWZiie
Michael,

That is a very impresive and consise answer to the question, Adze that identifies the practicalities of actualy cutting it. Teamwork at its best! I love this forum :-)

Brian

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FixitMike
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by FixitMike »

And yet another method.
array.jpg
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Experience comes from bad judgement.

tomgardiner
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by tomgardiner »

I love reading through the variety of solutions. Maybe this should be a weekly event. One drawing problem per week.

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WNC_Ed
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Re: Help with Geometry

Post by WNC_Ed »

Wow, that poor cat got skinned over and over :lol:
The Vectric software is pretty dang amazing but what puts the software over the top is the users on the forum.
I learn something on here just about every day.
Thank you all!
Maker of sawdust

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