Ray Tracing

[ztraina]

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?

 

[drawoh]

ztraina,

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

 

[ztraina]

Do you have an example I can look at? I guess i need some more specifics...I've been looking for the "rotation feature" ....still havent found it.

 

[drawoh]

ztraina,

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