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Using splines to draw the profile of corrugate metal roofing

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:04 pm
by nigelblake
I am using QCAD 3.0 to design a simple outbuilding with a corrugated metal roof. I think one of the spline tools would be the best way to draw the profile of the corrugated roofing material. Here are the dimensions: 76.2 mm is the horizontal distance between the peak of each corrugation. The vertical distance from the trough to the peak is 19mm; the width of each sheet is 1104.9mm. The profile has a simple sinusoidal character. Can you suggest the best way I might do this? Thanks in advance for your help.

Re: Using splines to draw the profile of corrugate metal roo

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 6:44 pm
by Clive
Welcome nigelblake to the forum
I see you have ' double-posted', here and also in the 'QCAD Community 'How Do I' Questions' forum!
Are you using QCAD community Edition 2 or QCAD pro 3?

Re: Using splines to draw the profile of corrugate metal roo

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 7:57 pm
by Clive
Based on QCAD 3, one way of doing this is:
1. Set up layers - construction (color e.g. magenta)
point (color e.g. yellow)
spline (color e.g. blue).
* To set up layers > Main menu > View > Layer list and add (+) and name a new layer.
2. On layer 'construction' draw a line 1104.9 mm long.
3. On layer 'point' - using 'N points on line' tool, place 15 points on the line.
4. On layer construction again (switch between layers by selecting the layer you wish to work on in the layer list > View > layer list) draw vertical lines (19 mm long) from the 'center/peak' points (see snap shot).
5. On layer 'spline' draw a spline (Fit points).
* dxf file attached

Re: Using splines to draw the profile of corrugate metal roo

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:38 pm
by Husky
Just a different thought of doing this is:

Working with Circles and Tangents ...
roof 1.png
roof 1.png (3.92 KiB) Viewed 8437 times
Break out, trim and delete what you don't need ...
roof 2.png
roof 2.png (2.6 KiB) Viewed 8437 times
Move/Copy until you reach your estimated length ...
roof 3.png
roof 3.png (2.52 KiB) Viewed 8437 times

Re: Using splines to draw the profile of corrugate metal roo

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2012 9:51 pm
by nigelblake
Thanks Clive and Husky for your quick and very helpful response. I am using QCAD 3.0 the full edition and finding it an impressive tool. Your responses help show how flexible it is. Much appreciated Nigel