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RingEditor

Interactive rings editor

Syntax

RingEditor();

Description

Interactive and graphical editor of the rings of a workpiece. It can be used to define the rings properties: number of segments, wood species, spaces/spacer...

Various 2D and 3D display are available to visualize the current state of the rings or the full workpiece;

When this function is executed, a Scilab window opens with a configuration panel, a display panel and menus.

A view of the RingEditor window where the Bowl demo has been loaded

Configuration panel description

Ring properties

This sub-panel allows you to specify the current ring and its global properties.

Ring index

Here one can select the ring to be set (current ring). The ring #1 is the base of the workpiece.

Ring height mm

Here one can specify the height in mm of the current ring. Depending on the given value warning messages may be issued:

  • If the sum of all the ring heights causes the top rings to be out of the workpiece. In this case these rings are ignored

  • If this sum is less than the workpiece height. It is then possible either to add rings or increase some heights.

Number of segments

Here one can set the number N of segments of the current ring.

Rotation angle

This parameter specify the rotation of the current ring with respect to the previous one. It must be given as a ratio of 360/N (where N is the number of segments).

Ring type

Here we can choose if the current ring is a standard ring or zigzag. According to the choice made the second configuration sub-panel allows either to specify the properties of segments or the properties of zigzag.

Segments properties

This sub-panel allows you to specify the properties of the segments for the current ring.

Segment Wood

This dropdown list allows to choose the wood specie to be assigned to the segments whose indices are given in the "Segment indices" area.

Segment indices

Here one can enter an array of indices. The syntax of the array is a Scilab valid syntax like [1 3 5] or 1:2:5,...

Number of spaces

This parameter allows to design an opened segmented ring or a ring with spacers. The number of spaces must be a divisor of the ring's number of segments.

Spacing angle

This parameter sets the aperture angle of the space/spacer. It must be given as a ratio of 360/N.

Spacing type

One can specify here if he wants open ring or ring with spacers

Spacer wood

If the ring includes spacers, this drop down list may be used to specify the wood specie used for the spacers.

Apply to

Here you can enter a selection of rings to which apply the properties of the current ring. The rings indexes must be entered using the Scilab syntax (for example [2 6] or 2:3).

Zigzag properties

This control sub-panel, displayed if the ring is of "zigzag" type, allows you to specify the characteristics of the zigzag.

Zigzag Height

This value specifies the height between the top and bottom points of the zigzag, it is a value less than or equal to the height of the ring.

Layers thickness

This field allows to specify the number and the height of the layers (the stratification is supposed to be symmetrical). the first value corresponds to the central layer, the second corresponds to the two layers on either side of the central layer, etc.

the last value must be taken large enough, but its real value will be automatically calculated according to the other parameters.
Layer index

This parameter is used to specify the current layer.

Layer wood

This drop-down list allows you to specify the wood species of the current layer.

Display type

Here, you can choose the desired type of display:

  • 2D view

    This display shows the interior and exterior profiles and a cut of the rings (assuming no ring rotation).

    Raw ring 2D

    This one shows a 2D view of the current ring with the raw segments.

    Raw ring 3D

    This one shows a 3D view of the current ring with the raw segments:

    Turned ring 3D

    This display shows the aspect of the current ring after it has been turned:

    Raw workpiece

    This display shows a 3D view the whole workpiece build with the raw rings:

    Turned workpiece

    This view shows how the workiece will look after being turned:

    Unrolled

    This display shows an unrolled view of the set of rings. It can be used to select the wood species for segments in case of complex design:

    To assign a species to a segment, left click on it, a dialog opens where you can select the species. After that you can apply this same species to other segments just by a click with the middle button on the segment.

    Zigzag design

    This view, available if the current ring is a zigzag, shows the characteristics necessary for the realization of the zigzag: Below is an example for the creation of a zigzag with three layers.

    The top design gives the characteristics of the laminated board which is then cut to form the elements of the zigzag. The lower drawing shows the assembly of 2 sections of the laminated board to form a segment of the zigzag.

    The red lines represent the cut lines.

  • Description of menus

    "File" menu description

    Import profiles...

    With this menu one can import the workpiece profiles created by the ProfileEditor function. It is with this menu that the design of the rings of a new piece begins.

    A dialog first asks for the path of the profile file (*.pf). Then a second dialog opens to claim properties used to design the initial workpiece. It will be possible to modify some of these properties later using the configuration panel.

    Here one has to specify:

    • The heights of the rings. One can enter a single value or an array of values. In the first case all rings are supposed to have the same height and the number of rings is automatically computed, In the second case, the number of values gives the number of rings and the values give their heigths from bottom to top. the sum of heights must be greater or equal to the height of the profile.

    • The "Fudge factor" is an extra precautionary width added to the segments to account for error or unanticipated circumstances.

    • The number of segments used to form each ring.

    • The rotation angle between a ring and the next one. It must be given as a percentage of 360/N (where N is the number of segments).

    • The main wood specie one intends to use for the workpiece.

    • The wood species for vertical spacers if one intends to have spacers.

    Load...

    This menu allows to load a previously saved design.

    Save

    With this menu one can save the current state of the workpiece design in a file for further use or in case of unexpected crash. The file extension is .ts .

    If the file has not been saved before, the designed is saved in the current directory in the file Untitled.ts else the previous path is used.

    SaveAs

    This menu allows to save the design in a file whose path is given by the user.

    Export display

    With this menu one may export the content of the display panel in a Scilab standard graphic window. It is then, for example, possible to export this display in various graphic formats (svg, png, jpeg, ...)

    Export ring

    With this menu one can export a 2D view at actual size of the current ring in pdf file named Ring#n.pdf in the current directory (where n stands for the ring index).

    Printing this file can be used as a guide for the assembly of the ring and its centering.

    Export cuts

    This menu generates a worksheet file describing all cuts needed to make the segments. As in the following example corresponding to the "Bowl" demonstration.

    This action generally ends the computer design, the concrete works can start!

    Close

    This action closes the RingEditor. If the design has not been saved the user is asked for confirmation.

    Tools menu description

    Insert ring...

    During the design it may happen that the user wants to add one or more segments, this menu opens a dialog where the user has to specify its height. The new ring is added above the current ring.

    The new ring properties (Number of segments, wood specie,...) are the default ones.

    It may happen that adding this new ring makes the top rings unuseful. In such a case a warning message is displayed and the top rings are ignored in the design.

    Remove ring ...

    Conversely, it may be necessary to remove a ring. Using this menu removes the current ring.

    It may happen that the removal of this ring causes the sum of the heightsof the rings beeing less than the profile height. In such a case a warning message is displayed. If at the end of the design process the sum of ring heights is always lower than the profile height, the workpiece will be truncated.

    Author

    Serge Steer, Serge.Steer@laposte.net

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