Re: [Sailcut-users] plotting my design

[<pa...@tm...>]

On Fri, 21 Oct 2016 14:32:00 -0700
Arne Glasgow <arn...@gm...> wrote:

> Hi All, I have finalized a design for a headsail to construct and now I am faced with having a limited understanding of how to get it printed into patterns or plotting it myself. I am handy with a sewing machine and pretty hands on but lack the experience in xyz type plotting. Any help or suggestions, resources would be appreciated.

What I do is plot by hand directly onto the sailcloth. I use Export development->to Hand plotting format to save to a file then print that off. I also print off the drawing and the development for each panel. I'll pass on a few quick tips: 

1) You won't need to plot every single point. At least one side will be a straight line. You'll only need to plot the ends for that. I found for shorter panels, say under 1 metre wide there's no need to plot all the curve points either - I've found plotting every other one is sufficent.

2) I found I needed a straight edge around 3 metres long. What I use is actually one made for carpet layers. It's about 4 inches wide and it's very stiff and true. Plus it's spring steel so I can curl it up to store it. 

3) You'll need some sort of long flexible batten to draw a smooth curve throught the points. I'm using wood but it's not ideal. You can get proper lofting battens and I may get one when I order some more sailcloth.

4) If you haven't found them yet, Sailrite have some good videos on YouTube explaining the various techniques used in contructing s sail.

Have fun :)

-- 
Paula Jane Thomas