Advice on creating curved sides/surfaces

[Dee Earley]

Hi all.

I've got back onto LDraw and part authoring after a few year's break, and I've started with some curved surface parts, specifically 11291 (http://brickset.com/parts/6019163).

Is there any advice on methods to measuring and creating the curved edges, (rather that trying to repurpose a 2d circular primitive) and top face given that the curve on each side is different?

Thanks.

[Max Martin Richter]

Please note that 11291 is on PT. Maybe you can see how your 'problem' was solved there?!

/Max

[Philippe Hurbain]

Hi Dee,
For this kind of part, I measure and create line edge for each side (using MLCad). Then I build the top skin using Coverer (http://philohome.com/isecalc/coverer.htm).
I have created a lot of tools in this spirit that help parts creation (http://philohome.com/ldraw.htm), and Michael Hidemann has created a GUI around them (and other useful tools such as Windz to BFC parts, or Stl2dat to convert 3D stl files to LDraw format), LETGUI. LETGUI installer contains all tools binaries.

[Dee Earley]

Errr, so it is, I couldn't find it yesterday..

Thanks

[Dee Earley]

Thanks for the hints, I'll check them out