Polar Coordinates in Rhino?

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Permalink Reply by MARIA GILLMAN on August 18, 2011 at 10:07pm

Try using Rhino Terrain, or otherwise create a .csv file in Excel & import it as points.

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Permalink Reply by Charles Fee on August 19, 2011 at 8:23am

If you're familiar wit using Cartesian coordinates in AutoCAD, the same principles apply in Rhino, except that RHINO uses the letter "R" in the place of AutoCAD's @ Symbol. SO-

1. Apply the "Right-Hand Rule" of Cartesian Coordinates to keep mental "track" of your orientation in Cartesian space. The Right-Hand Rule corresponds directly with Cartesian Coordinates:

Extend your Right Hand, palm up. Extend your thumb straght out- 90deg to your right.  Straight in front of you- extend your index finger. The thumb coresponds with the X-Axis, the index finger with the Y axis. Extend the 3rd finger straight up at 90-Deg from the X-Axis (thumb) and Y-Axis (Index finger) along the Z-Axis, and you've described 3-Axis "Cartesian Space" uysing the Right-Hand Rule. The remaining fingers naturally curl closed, in a POSITIVE degree rotation around each of the 3 axis. Try it. It always works !

 

There are 2 primary methods- Relative and ABSOLUTE. the first exaple below is Relative, where the second point is Relative to the First point. The method works IDENTICALLY in Absolute- leave off the "r" and points will be interpreted from Zero-Zero-Zero of the CURRENT working Coordinate System:

   Having placed a starting point, say the first point along the axis of your part, lets say the X-Axis, and you are in mid-command and want to place a second point, use something LIKE "r10,5,1" where the second point is 10 units X, 5 units Y, and 1 unit Z from (or "Relative" to) the first point.

 

  Polar coordinates work Similarly, with the exception of the second value being the angle in positive degrees CCW and negative degrees CW: From the first point, use r10<5,1 (or for absolute -interpreted from current 0,0,0 - leave off the "r") and the second point will be 10 units away (NOT - X) at an angle of 5 Deg + FROM X-Axis (CCW) and "UP" along Z by 1 unit.

 

Of course the appropriate adjustments must be made when using surveyor coordinates. Also, you'll have to adjust this to meet the specific needs you now face, but this gives a brief idea of how to successfully accomplish your goal !

 

Good luck & post back here with results !



C.

 

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