Arcs change to short line segments
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Arcs change to short line segments
I am a new user trying Aspire 9.5 Trial version, as an alternative to Artcam.
I have created a drawing 15" x 15" and have created inside this box approximately 70 shapes with curved lines (like a mosaic).
All these lines were made as arcs.
At some time during the drawing process all these arcs changed to many short straight line segments along the curved shape.
a-I don't know how that happened, and
b-I don't know if I can change them back. (without redrawing the design).
Appreciate any thoughts on this.
Thanks
I have created a drawing 15" x 15" and have created inside this box approximately 70 shapes with curved lines (like a mosaic).
All these lines were made as arcs.
At some time during the drawing process all these arcs changed to many short straight line segments along the curved shape.
a-I don't know how that happened, and
b-I don't know if I can change them back. (without redrawing the design).
Appreciate any thoughts on this.
Thanks
- martin54
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
Have you tried converting to Bezier curves?
Edit- Curve fit vectors You then have a couple of different options
Edit- Curve fit vectors You then have a couple of different options
- Adrian
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
There are a few different operations that will do that such as offsetting but you would need to retrace your steps to find what you did. As Martin says you can use the "Fit Curves to Selected Vectors" tool to convert those segments to arcs or beziers.
- ohiolyons
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
Adrian could you list all the operations that do this?
John Lyons
CNC in Kettering, Ohio
CNC in Kettering, Ohio
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
Not without going through every tool and operation to see the result.
- Leo
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
Since I started using Vectric in 2007, every program I create is tiny short lines MOST of the time. Occasionally I see a G2 or G3.
I would expect the G2-G3 a LOT more often, but it just does not post out that way MOST of the time.
WHY - I don't know. Sure you can node edit, but why is that necessary?
Is it really important to have G2-G3 --- I used to think so, but the really small short straight lines do just fine. I get round circles.
Maybe, the file could be a little smaller - maybe.
I have reserved myself to not really care is I have a lot of really short lines in the g-code
In the Vectric graphics, if I draw a circle, I use 4 nodes, it can be done with 2. If I offset that circle I get a LOT of nodes, I don't know why or what to do, but it still works OK, so I don't bother with it. Generally I draw with as few nodes as possible, but offset is something different.
I would expect the G2-G3 a LOT more often, but it just does not post out that way MOST of the time.
WHY - I don't know. Sure you can node edit, but why is that necessary?
Is it really important to have G2-G3 --- I used to think so, but the really small short straight lines do just fine. I get round circles.
Maybe, the file could be a little smaller - maybe.
I have reserved myself to not really care is I have a lot of really short lines in the g-code
In the Vectric graphics, if I draw a circle, I use 4 nodes, it can be done with 2. If I offset that circle I get a LOT of nodes, I don't know why or what to do, but it still works OK, so I don't bother with it. Generally I draw with as few nodes as possible, but offset is something different.
Imagine the Possibilities of a Creative mind, combined with the functionality of CNC
Re: ARCS change to short line segments
Since V9.5 offsetting operation should also preserve arcs. There shouldn't be that many operations that would convert arcs to the straight lines (at least in the drawing tab).
The only one I could think of is 'Fit Curve To Vectors' with 'Straight Lines' option selected.
Greg K
The only one I could think of is 'Fit Curve To Vectors' with 'Straight Lines' option selected.
Greg K
- Leo
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
I don't see that.gregk wrote:Since V9.5 offsetting operation should also preserve arcs. There shouldn't be that many operations that would convert arcs to the straight lines (at least in the drawing tab).
The only one I could think of is 'Fit Curve To Vectors' with 'Straight Lines' option selected.
Greg K
Just now - I created an elipse which has 4 nodes
I offset outwards .25
The offset elipse has many many nodes.
edit in ---- code is posted as G1 straight lines
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
Leo, if it's an ellipse, there are no arcs.
Best regards
Didier
W7 - Aspire 8.517
Didier
W7 - Aspire 8.517
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
FYI
I use mach2/3 arcs PP
I use mach2/3 arcs PP
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
A True ellipse can not be drawn with arcs, which is why you see straight lines. An ellipse that uses arcs is just an approximation of an ellipse.
Gerry - http://www.thecncwoodworker.com
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
I wonder if the OP's arcs were definitely arcs to start with? It's definitely an area of the software that has improved over the years as it used to create short lines a lot. After a bit of testing I'm struggling to find any way (short of Fit Curves as Greg suggested) that will do it with true arcs. Beziers definitely but not arcs.
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
OK - I agreeger21 wrote:A True ellipse can not be drawn with arcs, which is why you see straight lines. An ellipse that uses arcs is just an approximation of an ellipse.
I did the same test with a circle
the drawn circle was 4 nodes
The offset circle was 4 nodes
I output the code and I got 4 blocks of G3 on one profile and 4 blocks of G2 on the other circle. That is acceptable.
Works as expected.
My take is that on a true arc, where the radius is constant there will be an output of G2 or G3 - but on an arc like an elipse, whereas the radius of the arc is constantly varying and changing all throughout the line, then the output will be a series of G1
In this sense - everything works as it should.
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
No, a true arc is just a section of a circle, with a constant radius. If there is no constant radius, then it's a Bezier curve, or a spline (in some other software). Not an arc.My take is that on a true arc, where the radius is constant there will be an output of G2 or G3 - but on an arc like an elipse, whereas the radius of the arc is constantly varying and changing all throughout the line, then the output will be a series of G1
You can fit arcs to a Bezier curve, and then get G2/G3 moves, which on some controls can be faster and/or smoother.
Gerry - http://www.thecncwoodworker.com
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Re: ARCS change to short line segments
Ahhhh - ok
I understand "SPLINE"
BEZIER - is a new term for me.
Glad you pointed that out.
Rather than referring to it as an arc - referring to it as a curve would be better as it is not an arc.
I understand "SPLINE"
BEZIER - is a new term for me.
Glad you pointed that out.
Rather than referring to it as an arc - referring to it as a curve would be better as it is not an arc.
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