How did you do this in Autocad? Maybe I can translate to Drafrsight.

You just use a command called "array", which works in both rectangular and polar mode .... in your case, it's polar mode

 

What thickness MDF are you planning to use?

I have some 1/4" on hand. That should do I think. It needs to be thick enough to be above the height of LEDs. With some of those super bright surface mount LEDs. That should do. I was thinking of using some of those strip LEDs too.

 

You just use a command called "array", which works in both rectangular and polar mode .... in your case, it's polar mode

I wish I knew these drawing applications as well as a few of you. I will need to see if I can find a tutorial on "array" I think Draftsight has that feature.

 

You just use a command called "array", which works in both rectangular and polar mode .... in your case, it's polar mode

Do you just draw one "compartment" then use that array feature?

 

I see you don't need my help...

 

Oh ... you were referring to this instead?:

View attachment 144593​

Almost. Except that outside circle should go all the way around but I guess a half circle will do since it is only serving as a barrier for the LEDs.

 

I see you don't need my help...

Of course I do if you still want to help. Always looking for options. And your help was greatly appreciated regardless.

Oh And I did mistype. It was you that got it first not Alec. Sorry for the credit misdirect.

 

Is there a free version of Coral Draw? Wonder if it is easier to use than this Draftsight.

 

Do you just draw one "compartment" then use that array feature?

Yes, but the trick is to draw the divisions first. Hang on a minute, and I'll show you the progression of how it's done.

 

There you go:

 

Scroll down to "pattern"

http://tutorial45.com/draftsight-basics-completed/

I use this feature in Autodesk Inventor and it is very handy.

 

There you go:

View attachment 144596

How did you determining the length and arc of the arced edge of the compartments?

 

Scroll down to "pattern"

http://tutorial45.com/draftsight-basics-completed/

I use this feature in Autodesk Inventor and it is very handy.

Strange the pattern link takes you to a matlab tutorial.

http://tutorial45.com/matlab-tricks-creating-an-array-modifying-matrix-elements/

Am I missing something?

 

How did you determining the length and arc of the arced edge of the compartments?

I didn't determine anything, other than 10 divisions... if you watch closely, what I did was first determine the space between divisions (step #4), and then I generated a 10-element polar array (step #5). Then I just trimmed the inner and outer circles using the line pairs generated by the previous array command. AutoCAD does all that for you.

 

But you have to understand that I used arbitrary values for the width of the divisions, and for the diameter of the inner circle and the separation between the outer and inner circle. That's why I'd rather you gave me specific values to work on.

 

I didn't determine anything, other than 10 divisions... if you watch closely, what I did was first determine the space between divisions (step #4), and then I generated a 10-element polar array (step #5). Then I just trimmed the inner and outer circles using the line pairs generated by the previous array command. AutoCAD does all that for you.

Light goes on! Ah so you just drew the divisions then copied / patterned/ arrayed those? Genius! And I guess you first drew the line from the center to get the first line perfectly centereted?

 

But you have to understand that I used arbitrary values for the width of the divisions, and for the diameter of the inner circle and the separation between the outer and inner circle. That's why I'd rather you gave me specific values to work on.

Let me figure that out and get back to you.

 

How did you make the initial "spacer"? I see you made one center line then added 2 more equidistant. I assume there is a tool for that? What should I look for?

 

Is there a free version of Coral Draw? Wonder if it is easier to use than this Draftsight.

AFAIK still you have to pay. All the "free" downloads I run across where pirate copies of some kind of limited in time tests.

Learning curve is steep. If you go that way, learnt how it works by understanding what you can do with every different element (of groups) you select. At least in the past they had very short tutorials that covered many many possibilities.

The CLONE function would be ideal for what you want to do. Whatever change you apply to the original, all clones will experiment the same change.

 

How did you make the initial "spacer"? I see you made one center line then added 2 more equidistant. I assume there is a tool for that? What should I look for?

The tool for that is called "offset". I just drew an initial straight line from the circle's center (as you've already guessed), and then I offseted it to both sides equidistantly.