Need help putting 24 evenly spaced holes around a circle

[deemon328]

Does anyone have any ideas for placing 24 evenly spaced holes around the circumference of a circle?

When you make a circle in designer, it has four vertex attachment points to which drill holes can be placed. I know I can add vertex points to the circle, but there's no way that I can see to check if they're perfectly aligned. Accuracy is critical.

The end goal is to have a 5 inch circle with a 1/4" center hole and 24 evenly spaced 1/4" holes around the circumference of the circle.

I'd really appreciate any advice or help. Thanks!

[Ike]

Dustin, have you tried making 12 holes where you want them and then right click and use the mirror horizontally function?

Ike

[brdad]

Or 6 holes and mirror all? :p

[Ike]

Dustin it will work, but still trying to make them even.

Ike

[roughcut]

Does anyone have any ideas for placing 24 evenly spaced holes around the circumference of a circle?

When you make a circle in designer, it has four vertex attachment points to which drill holes can be placed. I know I can add vertex points to the circle, but there's no way that I can see to check if they're perfectly aligned. Accuracy is critical.

The end goal is to have a 5 inch circle with a 1/4" center hole and 24 evenly spaced 1/4" holes around the circumference of the circle.

I'd really appreciate any advice or help. Thanks!

Why can't you just turn on the grid function and place them at intersecting lines

[Ike]

Ok this should be even, it looks off to the eye, but it has 24 even holes and a center hole. Take a look and adjust it as needed. I used the grid after sending it to you and on the grid it looks even.

Ike

[brdad]

some of those don't look equal from the center hole? Maybe it's me.

I had the idea of 24 equal length lines radiating from 0,0. But you can only adjust the angle in one degree increments, and for 24 holes they should be 7.5 degrees apart. :confused:

Oh wait, maybe It's 15 degrees....

[Ike]

Don't know, did say it looks off to the eye, with the grid it looks even. Each hole is the same measurement with equal distant between them. Was just trying to help, the basic pattern is there.

Just selected all groups and used the layout function/ align and center. Nothing moved, so I think it is square, even though it doesn't look like it! Can't go off me anyway I am off a few degrees!!



Ike

[deemon328]

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies!

One of the problems is that even with a grid at .062, it still isn't perfect. My imperfect method involved making a 5" circle, then creating equilateral triangles inside the circle. For each triangle, I mirrored it diagonally, then had to repeat that 4 times to get all 24 points. Now I have approximate locations of evenly spaced points, so I made drill holes at those points.

At this point, I was eyeballing the drill holes around the circle, not getting good results. So, I used the attachments to evenly space each drill hole from the edge. I suppose this is as close as I will get barring an automated tool.

I'll enclose the MPC for future reference. index_circle.mpc is the original file with the triangles, and circle_index_24.mpc is the finished product.

If anyone has a better idea, of course I'd love to hear it.

Thanks all!

Edit, thanks for the idea on shooting out 24 radii at 15 degree increments. That seems easier than what I did.

[Firedkm]

Try this one out.

[Ike]

Dang you Dustin!!!! Now my head hurts!!! :) I feel stupid now, oh nothing new to me! You had it figured out! I just simplified it and of made myself look dumb!:(


Ike

[FiddlemakerMills]

Here is a 15 degree layout on a 5 inch circle. The line data numerals (windows) set the legnth of each line when you click on the line location vector at the center of the circle, the data window for that position will open, type in the value of that point (0.0), press enter to complete the command and lock that position. Left click on the mid point vector number, change that value to 5" then press enter. The degree can be changed in the data entry window below the edge rout symbol. Type the number of the degree (15,30... -15, -30 ect.). Negitive for the lower half, positive for the upper. Press enter after each entry to set that value/vector/point.

You can then position the drill point to the bolt circle diameter of your choice. Delete the lines when the drill positions are set.

Carl

[brdad]

All of these ideas help me see new ways of doing things.

Perhaps in the future, there would be a way to attach the center of a circle or drill point to the ends of those radial lines.

Another great feature would be if there was a radial snap to grid.



I think I have also had some glitches from the newest software. I can move the radial line to edit the angle, but if I type the angle in the toolbar, it just reverts back. I've had a few other menus issues as well.

Edit: aha! I figured out the data entry issue. If I use the enter key on my number keypad, it reverts back, but if I use the enter key on the alpha keyboard it takes. Guess the programmers missed the numeric enter key as an option, unless my numeric enter key is broke. Maybe someone else can verify this?

[Amonaug]

All of these ideas help me see new ways of doing things.

Perhaps in the future, there would be a way to attach the center of a circle or drill point to the ends of those radial lines.

Another great feature would be if there was a radial snap to grid.



I think I have also had some glitches from the newest software. I can move the radial line to edit the angle, but if I type the angle in the toolbar, it just reverts back. I've had a few other menus issues as well.

Edit: aha! I figured out the data entry issue. If I use the enter key on my number keypad, it reverts back, but if I use the enter key on the alpha keyboard it takes. Guess the programmers missed the numeric enter key as an option, unless my numeric enter key is broke. Maybe someone else can verify this?

I can use my keypad to enter angles

[deemon328]

I just wanted to update you all on what has been a pretty interesting topic.

I've enclosed a few photos of the treading jig that I'll be using for my tires on my truck. For prototyping purposes, my method of getting the evenly spaced holes worked ok, but I'll be moving to the 15 degree radii method for my next version.

Today was a frustrating day with the CW. I installed a new QC and new bit holders to try and get peak performance, but the new QC had some built in wobble, so it ruined my first piece. I broke my rjustice QC removal tool, then eventually got the new QC off and replaced it with my old QC.

I did discover something critical, and that is that I got much rounder circles when I did small depth passes of .1" rather than through the board depth passes. The difference is critical. I was originally a proponent of full depth passes, but I've seen nothing but problems with them since my initial testing when 1.130 came out.

Regarding the treading machine, my axle was off by a couple degrees which turned my wheels into a cone. Revision 1 of the treading machine will include axle height adjustments on both sides to allow me to zero in on a straight axle.

[Hank]

I created an EXCEL worksheet that gives the dimensions to locate up to 36 (drilled) holes around the circumference of any size circle. Two inputs are needed (1) number of holes (2) radius of circle.
There is a picture on the spreadsheet for information only. This can be deleted. The EXCEL file is zipped.
I find it helpful to place the (drilled) holes in the upper right quadrant then use the X and Y calcs to ATTACH the hole. (see picture) Use the negative sign when the calc shows a negative number. If all the holes are the same diameter use the copy/paste method for the next hole etc, etc.

Hank

[Woodhacker]

This has the holes placed at 15 degree increments. Hope it helps.

Richard