Ray Tracing
Ray Tracing
(OP)
I am modelling a laser light beam...I'd like to have a circular cross section that expands in diameter at a constant rate. The path must take right angle corners in 3 axes.
I'm thinking path and sweep with a guide curve...is there a simpler way?
I'm thinking path and sweep with a guide curve...is there a simpler way?






RE: Ray Tracing
I assume that your laser beams are being reflected by flat mirrors. I have not tried curved ones yet.
1. Use the rotation feature to create the diverging laser beam.
2. Define the face of mirror 1.
3. Use the face of mirror 1 to mirror your beam.
Keep doing this for the other mirrors. You will wind up doing a lot of trimming afterwards, but it is worth it. You will see exactly what each beam looks like on your mirrors.
This is great fun to modelling scanners.
JHG
RE: Ray Tracing
RE: Ray Tracing
Oops! The operation is called "revolution".
You need to make a sketch active, and the sketch requires at least one construction line.
Strictly speaking, you can create an extrusion with a draft angle, but I have found the revolution to be easier to work with.
JHG