2 Rail Sweep

[mezalick]

Greetings,
I have a few questions about the 2 rail sweep.
1. What is the max number of "shapes" ( for lack of better words on my part) that can be used between the 2 rails?
2. How does the program arrange or deside, the spacing between the several "shapes" within the area to be swept?
Thanks,
Michael

[tmerrill]

Hi Michael,

You can use 3 cross section profiles at a time for one two rail sweep. If you use all 3 profiles, Aspire determines the distance for each profile and blends them together. This is shown in the top picture.

If you have a detailed two rail sweep with multiple profiles, I would recommend breaking it into sections and doing one section at a time, with each section having a starting and finishing profile as shown in the middle picture. Then merge the sections as shown in the bottom picture.

This is how James did the banners and swirls in Pittsburgh (and on the User's Group DVD).

Let me know if you need more.

Tim

[mezalick]

Tim, Thanks for the quick reply.
I have used up to 10 so far with great results.
So with that many, the question of spacing come into play.
There is some mathamatics to it but it's not clear as to what it might be.
I don't know if it is where the shapes are positioned or are they averaged across the 2 rail area.
Michael

[tmerrill]

It will probably take Brian for the exact answer, but just looking at the top picture where Aspire did the spacing it appears to be equally divided into 3rds. Of course, this is a simple design with parallel rails and a more complex design may end up being different. Also, these were with all the default setting for the 2 rail tool, different results would be obtained using some of the options.

Tim

[Greolt]

Well I learn something every day.

I never new you could use more than three shapes. Never tried.

Have to have a play with this.

Greg

[tmerrill]

I've never tried it as the help contents state 3. Perhaps it has been changed....

Wouldn't be hard to do a test run.

[atripp]

Wow, you guys must be reaching the genius level. Once I get past 2 cross sections, my brain begins to meltdown and I have to hit the E-stop!

Andy

[gravirozo]

when i sarted to use aspire, i found this too... i'm not sure about answer but aspire doesn't make error message... i mean if selected more than three...

as i remember the first three aspire used in order as clicked and also layed out from the rails startpoint...
what i really remember did not used all selected...


viktor

[tmerrill]

Here are 12 profiles in 12 inches.

[tmerrill]

Michael,

Good find on the increased limit of profiles. You do loose some control if shape/dimensions need to be exact. However, the tradeoff is slightly quicker design time.

Here I was having fun with 8 profiles. Took about 5 minutes. Will probably cut a couple for my grandson.

Tim