Drawing shapes in TMCAD - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

abrogate · 03-06-2010, 02:40 PM

I know how to get the shapes I want, I just don't care for the process. I am cutting some gussets for the truggy and I hate that it takes ten steps to draw a triangle in TMCAD. I have to be doing something wrong. EDIT:ten steps to get a triangle that measures what you need it to AND have the correct angles

I do not have a scanner, so that isn't an option.

I made templates of the gussets with card stock, measured the angles and the lengths of the sides, but the CAD program will only let you draw an equilateral triangle. I could do node editing, but that doesn't tell me what angles I end up with.

Essentially, I need to draw a scalene triangle (no sides are equal and no angle s are equal)

desertfabmotorsports · 03-06-2010, 04:48 PM

I use guide lines then snap lines where I want

abrogate · 03-06-2010, 05:10 PM

DUH, great idea. Now, I have the triangle drawn out but the nodes don't seem to want to snap to the angled guidelines. Are there any additional options for the snap, other than snap to grid?

BESRK · 03-06-2010, 05:48 PM

Sometimes, I'll make one point (lower left) at 0,0 and then plot the other points relative to that point.. When you click on a point and turn it red, you can type in the position you want.

HardcorewannabeXJ · 03-06-2010, 06:18 PM

The nodes should snap to the guidelines, but they may not end up exactly on top of each other, you'll still have to go through and connect them together and fine tune the position.

The way I would recommend to draw a triangle is with lengths and angles. Go to the pencil tool on the left hand side of the screen and click Node Edit. Then left click once somewhere on the screen to place a node. Once the node is on screen, at the top toolbar there is two entry fields with two boxes under each. Make sure under the first entry field, select the right box which should say Relative. Now under the second entry field, select the right box which should say Polar Angle & Distance. Now the left entry field defines a length, and the right defines an angle. Now I don't have the CAD open in front of me, but I believe 180 degrees is located at 3 o'clock, and 0 at 9 o'clock. Once the distance and angle are typed in hit the enter key and it will place the next node. Then type in the new parameters and continue on repeating with the new values.

Hope this helps!

03-06-2010, 02:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
abrogate Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Member # 31552 Location: Belleville, IL Posts: 2,015	Drawing shapes in TMCAD I know how to get the shapes I want, I just don't care for the process. I am cutting some gussets for the truggy and I hate that it takes ten steps to draw a triangle in TMCAD. I have to be doing something wrong. EDIT:ten steps to get a triangle that measures what you need it to AND have the correct angles I do not have a scanner, so that isn't an option. I made templates of the gussets with card stock, measured the angles and the lengths of the sides, but the CAD program will only let you draw an equilateral triangle. I could do node editing, but that doesn't tell me what angles I end up with. Essentially, I need to draw a scalene triangle (no sides are equal and no angle s are equal) __________________ [B][CENTER][SIZE="6"][FONT="Impact"][COLOR="DarkRed"]Temet Nosce[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/CENTER][/B] [QUOTE=ashmanjeepXJ;7641445]All you will probably ever have in common with this forum is a steering wheel. [/QUOTE] Last edited by abrogate; 03-06-2010 at 02:48 PM.

03-06-2010, 04:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
desertfabmotorsports Rock God Join Date: Mar 2004 Member # 28821 Location: Apache Junction, Arizona Posts: 1,087	I use guide lines then snap lines where I want __________________ Desert Fab Motorsports 480 288-4213 480-980-2681 Todd

03-06-2010, 05:10 PM	#3 (permalink)
abrogate Registered User Join Date: Jun 2004 Member # 31552 Location: Belleville, IL Posts: 2,015	DUH, great idea. Now, I have the triangle drawn out but the nodes don't seem to want to snap to the angled guidelines. Are there any additional options for the snap, other than snap to grid? __________________ [B][CENTER][SIZE="6"][FONT="Impact"][COLOR="DarkRed"]Temet Nosce[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/CENTER][/B] [QUOTE=ashmanjeepXJ;7641445]All you will probably ever have in common with this forum is a steering wheel. [/QUOTE] Last edited by abrogate; 03-06-2010 at 05:11 PM.

03-06-2010, 05:48 PM	#4 (permalink)
BESRK Rock God Join Date: Jan 2004 Member # 26393 Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 1,158	Sometimes, I'll make one point (lower left) at 0,0 and then plot the other points relative to that point.. When you click on a point and turn it red, you can type in the position you want. __________________ Little CJ5 on 35s.

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03-06-2010, 06:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
HardcorewannabeXJ Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Member # 84593 Location: Reno, NV Posts: 3,004	The nodes should snap to the guidelines, but they may not end up exactly on top of each other, you'll still have to go through and connect them together and fine tune the position. The way I would recommend to draw a triangle is with lengths and angles. Go to the pencil tool on the left hand side of the screen and click Node Edit. Then left click once somewhere on the screen to place a node. Once the node is on screen, at the top toolbar there is two entry fields with two boxes under each. Make sure under the first entry field, select the right box which should say Relative. Now under the second entry field, select the right box which should say Polar Angle & Distance. Now the left entry field defines a length, and the right defines an angle. Now I don't have the CAD open in front of me, but I believe 180 degrees is located at 3 o'clock, and 0 at 9 o'clock. Once the distance and angle are typed in hit the enter key and it will place the next node. Then type in the new parameters and continue on repeating with the new values. Hope this helps!