>John, > >There is another solution, one well-known to machinists. > >Recalculate ALL your lines, positions etc. as x-y coordinates and >then set out the dial in whatever size you want from some convenient >origin. The only question is the resolution of points used to draw >curved lines. If too sparse, the curves look like straight segments >joined together. If too close, there is a lot of work! > >Thus you can plot it using units of mm, feet, or metres. This allows >you to have a look at it beforehand. > >Another advantage is that you can also use just about any computer >software to plot it for you.
Hello again John P. and everyone else: Your solution, which is very similar to Waugh's unit square method, could be very precise and would only involve the use of a tape measure that would measure the proper distances perpendicularly from the x (north-south meridian) and the y (east-west) axises. And no giant protractor would be needed. Is this correct? I've already thought of a practical way to do this at the site. (will save for later) I must admit that I would need help in determining the (x,y) coordinate values, as my computer skills are quite limited. You make it sound so easy! But I imagine that Mr. Computer would need to know the hour angles (which I know how to do myself) and the distances from the tip of timeline to the center of the dial. Right? One wonderful additional application of the coodinate plotting technique would be to plot the x/y points which constitute dial artwork and furniture! The computer could scan the artwork and determine the coordinates of the pixils (sp?) which would then be physically located on the sundial face. When I attack this project, I think that I will use a combination of several plotting techniques. A mistake would be just too embarassing! Thanks again John P. for your input, John C. http://www.azstarnet.com/~pappas
