Hi Matadem, a surface that can be flattened down to a plane such that it can be cut out and bent back into the 3D shape along ruling lines is called a "Developable surface".
Moi does not currently have any tools specifically for working with developable surfaces. Rhino does have such tools, there is an "UnrollSrf" command in Rhino that you could use to generate the flat pattern from the 3D ruled surface.
But in MoI it could be possible for a pretty simple case like you have here to use the Curve to Curve variant of the Transform > Deform > Flow command.
You'll need a centerline curve, here I made it by squishing down one of the 3D curves but if you have an original 2D construction curve use that:
Then you'll also need to draw a line like this:
Select the object:
Then run Transform > Deform > Flow and at the first prompt for the base object select the centerline curve and at the second prompt select the line as the target curve. That should generate your flat pattern:
The length of the curved centerline will match the length along the flattened centerline.
- Michael |
