Hello Steve,
 
As I think to remember you asked for a procedure to calculate a "monofilar" sundial.
I will try to give such a procedure for a dial with a circular scale of datelines.
 
Solving the problem may be done in a number of ways of course, however the best is the way one is used to.
Therefore I make use of the mainprocedure as described on my site "A uniform method to compute flat sundials"
This mainprocedure also is suitable for this problem.
I don't rewrite that mainprocedure in this mail. 
Of course the procedure can be changed to suite your needs.
 
Happy dialling,
 
Fer.
 
Fer J. de Vries
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.iae.nl/users/ferdv/
Eindhoven, Netherlands
lat.  51:30 N      long.  5:30 E
 
______________________ 
"Monofilar" sundial.
 
Procedure for normal year with 365 days as in 2002, 2006 and so on.
Inner circle is january 1
Outer circle is december 31
 
Define :
 
latitude phi
longitude LM
standard meridian SM
inclination of sundial's plane i
declination of sundial's plane d
radius of inner circel startR
radius of outer circle endR
 
Coordinates of style :
Define the style with 2 angles, related to the plane ( B ) and to the x-axis ( C ).
see attached figure )
We need 2 points to define the style
The footpoint is in x4 = 0  y4 = 0  z4 = 0
The footpoint of the style also is the center of the date circles.
The second point is x5, y5, z5
To calculate these coordinates some basic trig is used ( see attached figure )
Think of the proper sign of x5 and y5
g = z5 ( must be > 0 )
Remark : g is dummy perpendicular gnomon at point x5, y5, 0 with length z5
 
Calculate :
difference between inner and outer circle diffR = endR - startR
longitude correction LC = SM - LM
 
 
The calculation of the wanted points :
loop for hourline : u = 0 to 23.9999 step "whatever you want"
loop for month : m = 1 to 12
loop for day : day = 1 to number-of-days-in-month
Calculate daynumber dn
Calculate the sun's declination decl for daynumber ( dn + 0.5 )
Calculate equation of time E for daynumber ( dn + 0.5 )
Calculate hourangle t = ( u - 12 ) * 15 + E + LC
Call mainprocedure as in "Compute flat sundials"
 
Output is : coordinates x, y of the shadowpoint of gnomon g ( = z5 ) related to point x5, y5, 0
or point isn't real.
In the last case start with the calculation of the next day
 
If point is real :
Related to the footpoint of the style the coordinates of the shadowpoint are :
x6 = x5 + x
y6 = y5 + y
 
The line of shadow now is along the line from 0, 0, 0 to x6, y6, 0
 
Calculate the angle A between this line of shadow and the y axis of the coordinate system on the sundial's plane.
This y axis is the line of greatest slope, positive in upward direction.
( or north for horizontal dial )
 
Calculate the radius of the proper circle.
R = startR + ( dn - 1 ) * diffR / 364
( there are 365 circles and 364 spaces between the circles)
 
coordinates of point of hourline on the sundial :
x = R * sin(A)
y = R * cos(A)
Output this real point.
 
next day    ( loop for day )
next m       ( loop for month )
next u        ( loop for hourline )
 
 
Of course it isn't necessary to draw all the 365 circles.
Just draw the circles you want.
Also you may skip any number of days as you want.
 
 
Attachment converted: Macintosh HD:monofil.gif (TIFF/JVWR) (0000F88B)

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