Points along curve

graham_lock

Hi,

I'm new to Onshape and I'm trying to place points at known distances along a curve to allow me to setup Curve Point planes at those points.

I can place points and set point to point distance but that doesn't give the distance around the curve.

Any help appreciated.

SethF

I'm guessing you don't really want to pattern the curves, but instead go straight to a pattern of planes:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/b4a598e478a442a901f95f15/v/37c8b35281c273fd047c15e8/e/086f9c8ca51c6bf3f813f908?renderMode=0&uiState=65a133d851170622f59d9f43

Depending on what you're doing, it may even be better to pattern whatever it is you're planning to do with the planes, instead of patterning the planes!

martin_kopplow

@graham_lock I've tried to position points along a curve before, and also found no way to do this in Onshape, neither could this forum, when I asked. I doubt this has changed since. Point-to-point distance can be dimensioned, but distance on a curve cannot.

It would be very helpful if

• Dimensions in a sketch could be made along a curve.
• Curve pattern was available in sketches.
  
• Curve Point Planes in a 3D model could be placed with an offset to another point on a curve, measured along the curve.
  
• Patterns could be made along a curve with point-to-point or on-curve distance at user's choice.
  
• The sweep feature had a 'length along path' option.
  

This might be a good candidate for an enhancement request, since distance on a curve is important and appears to be pretty much state of the art in all other current CAD packages.

eric_pesty

One way to get a "point" at a certain distance along a curve is to use something like the "multimate connector" that lets you create a MC along a curve. It's a 0-1 parameter along the path but you can use a variable to measure the length of the path first to get an actual distance along the path.

martin_kopplow

Yes, that is a possible workaround, though limited by decimal resolution, and I think it is not what could be called an elegant solution. The whole complex of defining distances along curves in OS should IMO get a review.

graham_lock

Thank you for your replies.

What I and I guess everyone is looking for is the equivalent of Fusion 360’s plane along path.

romeograham

The 3D Points custom FeatureScript from Ovyl adds planes along a path.

Add it from here: https://jps.onshape.com/documents/309e817bcaf616677a834985/v/2a5b0d5c7243e2a8e6a93479/e/76d8abc457676e82f84a3ece?renderMode=0&uiState=65a59117f7aaee0160474b80

glen_dewsbury

Have a look at Greg Browns video and see if it helps.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0GLmOJVqho

eric_pesty

graham_lock said:

Hi,

I'm new to Onshape and I'm trying to place points at known distances along a curve to allow me to setup Curve Point planes at those points.

I can place points and set point to point distance but that doesn't give the distance around the curve.

Any help appreciated.

The "3D Point" feature by Mbartlett actually lets you place points by distance along a path:

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/576d1e60c6cb90985345ac37/v/40afeaf7532ba1a17781f6fd/e/0ea78f371cbafb95ea304449

graham_lock

Thank you for your replies - I will look through your suggestions.

eric_pesty

@graham_lock, @martin_kopplow
Maybe a bit late the party but just figured this out while working on something else and thought it was worth mentioning...
Here's one way to add a bunch mate connectors (this method also works with the 3d point FS) at specific distances along a path:
https://cad.onshape.com/documents/294f1e87f5207d879a7ab487/w/6d4a055c18c84ce3043cd3a7/e/1f9e8b8d1ffe592f3cec2bbc

The way the multimate connector works you can put both dimensions and 0-1 parameter in the array and it will add MCs accordingly.

graham_lock

Just what I was looking for - thank you!