C-Hook Name: flatsrf.dll/.txt - Surface flattening Date: January 20, 1998 The purpose of this program is to take a 3-dimensional non-planar surface and produce a planar surface from it. The mapping algorithm to do so uses a "spine with ribs" approach of stepping in constant u or v, preserving the segment length along the backbone, and preserving the segment length along each rib. The input is a surface entity in the Mastercam database. The user can toggle the backbone spine direction. The output is a planar parametric surface. FLATTENING MENU: Surface Flattening: Surface use this to select a surface with the mouse Spine div number of spine points to go into the parametric surf Rib div number of rib points to go into the parametric surf Subdivide number of subdivisions for stepping for accuracy Analy srf lengths of the middle flowlines, area of surface Flatten Execute flattening with surface and parameters set To run, create surface(s) to flatten. Set the spine divisions, rib divisions, subdivisions (to refine stepping along ribs), and then select "Flatten." Menu will come up with a toggling arrow to select the direction for the spine to go in. If the spline is in the wrong direction, select "Flip". Select "OK" to procede to do the flattening, creating the surface. The flattened surface will always be created in the top view, at z = 0 Distributor: CNC Software 344 Merrow Road Tolland, CT 06084-9970 Contact: CNC Software Phone: (860) 875-5006
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