Hey all, I'm a relatively new user, and I'm stumped on how to solve a problem in Inkscape. Hopefully someone has advice!
I'm designing a project that will be cut into wood via a CNC (Origin Shaper). One element of the design is a curved channel that will fit a bendable LED light strip, which has a specified maximum bend of a 25mm radius. I'd like to freehand a curved path, but set a constraint that the curvature can never be tighter than the required 25mm radius. Is there any way to do this in Inkscape? I'm hoping for a whole-path control, but maybe with more work I can do it one element at a time, working my way down the path?
Thanks in advance for any advice someone can provide!
Hi. Polygon's suggestion may be just what you need.
Another possible idea - to serve as a visual aide - may be the following:
Create a circle exactly with a radius of 25 mm. Set the stroke to 1 mm or 1 pixel. No fill.
Create a second circle with a radius of 1 mm ... stroke of 1 mm or 1 pixel. No fill. Different color.
Enable snapping so these are aligned vertically and horizontally.
Use this as a reference for your intended designs.
Perhaps include a horizontal and vertical set of intersecting lines as guides ... for snapping or aligning those 2 circles or your other design elements.
You may even would like to create a bitmap copy of things so that you can use it (or all of it) as a visual set of "guides" for your work.
You can create additional layers if need be ... for designing or setting or manipulating curved areas.
@Hum: I follow your suggestion about making 25mm circles as a guide. But you lost me with what you're suggesting I might do with 1 mm circles. Could you clarify?
Beyond the Basics Setting a minimum curve radius?
Inkscape.org
Hey all, I'm a relatively new user, and I'm stumped on how to solve a problem in Inkscape. Hopefully someone has advice!
I'm designing a project that will be cut into wood via a CNC (Origin Shaper). One element of the design is a curved channel that will fit a bendable LED light strip, which has a specified maximum bend of a 25mm radius. I'd like to freehand a curved path, but set a constraint that the curvature can never be tighter than the required 25mm radius. Is there any way to do this in Inkscape? I'm hoping for a whole-path control, but maybe with more work I can do it one element at a time, working my way down the path?
Thanks in advance for any advice someone can provide!
-Michael
I'd try Path-effect "Corners".
Hi. Polygon's suggestion may be just what you need.
Another possible idea - to serve as a visual aide - may be the following:
Create a circle exactly with a radius of 25 mm. Set the stroke to 1 mm or 1 pixel. No fill.
Create a second circle with a radius of 1 mm ... stroke of 1 mm or 1 pixel. No fill. Different color.
Enable snapping so these are aligned vertically and horizontally.
Use this as a reference for your intended designs.
Perhaps include a horizontal and vertical set of intersecting lines as guides ... for snapping or aligning those 2 circles or your other design elements.
You may even would like to create a bitmap copy of things so that you can use it (or all of it) as a visual set of "guides" for your work.
You can create additional layers if need be ... for designing or setting or manipulating curved areas.
My 2 cents.
@Hum: I follow your suggestion about making 25mm circles as a guide. But you lost me with what you're suggesting I might do with 1 mm circles. Could you clarify?
Look at this attached file for the general idea.
A maximum and minimum radius pair of circles.
These can be aligned. Moved
Any number of "in-between" sizes can be created and used. As visual aides for the curvature(s) of your design.
One more potential idea. To "see" possible curves and limitations when designing.
Made a straight line and a curved one.
Used Live Path Effects > interpolate Sub-Paths to create ideas.
Have fun.
@Hum, thanks those are helpful suggestions!
Sure. Glad to help.