Drawing a Regular Pentagon

[ahr8tch]

If you had to draw a regular pentagon - starting with a fresh new file - and you knew the lengths of the sides that you wanted, how  would you proceed in TFP to cause that to happen? 

I know that the total of the interior angles is 540 deg and that each angle is 108 deg, but I can't figure out how to draw each wall in succession setting its length and angle of projection correct relative to the just drawn wall or to any coordinates.  I can get the first wall drawn to the correct length, and I can get the next 2 walls connected to the first at the proper angles; but I can't get lengths  on the second two walls set correctly nor can I get the lengths and angles correct on the last two wall segments.

Could someone please tell me how to do this or give me some hints to where to find it in Help?  Do I need to set or change any Settings (other than Ortho Angle Snap in Drawing Settings)?

TIA
rh

[Allan Chesney]

I'm not at my PC at present to try this out but can't you just draw the walls with the preset angles and just drag each out to the right length (or click the dimension and type it in?)

Allan

[ahr8tch]

Hi Allan!

Thanks for the response.

I've tried that approach without success.  I think it goes back to my original problems with wall length entry and controlling which walls move when dimensions are changed.  In any case I don't finish with a regular pentagon with equal length exterior walls.

Best regards,
rh

[Nik]

Hi, can you import a guide shape ?

Here's 5, 6, 7 n-ogons as .3DS, c/o Anim8tor...

Oops, sorry, did something wrong: I'll be back soon.
---

Okay, sorry, had to 'extrude & end-cap' the base shape for it to be recognisable as 3DS object...

[Doug.S]

If you had to draw a regular pentagon - starting with a fresh new file - and you knew the lengths of the sides that you wanted, how  would you proceed in TFP to cause that to happen? 

I know that the total of the interior angles is 540 deg and that each angle is 108 deg, but I can't figure out how to draw each wall in succession setting its length and angle of projection correct relative to the just drawn wall or to any coordinates.  I can get the first wall drawn to the correct length, and I can get the next 2 walls connected to the first at the proper angles; but I can't get lengths  on the second two walls set correctly nor can I get the lengths and angles correct on the last two wall segments.

Could someone please tell me how to do this or give me some hints to where to find it in Help?  Do I need to set or change any Settings (other than Ortho Angle Snap in Drawing Settings)?

TIA
rh

Don't have TFP handy but I remember we can "enter data" in "commander" (?) ....while drawing a wall, tab to data entry to "type-in" the length and angle.

Another partial approach is to set the snap angle to 108 degrees (or whatever is desired; default is 15 degrees), then drag or "enter" length for each wall section.  Probably best to either set snap to very small grid or do NOT snap to grid when doing angles.

[Kajvin - Robert W]

As Doug write use the commander, You can read in the TurboFloorplan User Guide Chapter 23 Property Lines on page 150 and forward that is the same principle you use to draw the pentagon. It is the same principle You use to plot a curse in the nautical chart, whit startpoint SP and waypoints WP.

If you draw a linen 5000 dist  0 deg. from SP to WP1, line 1, from WP1 to WP2 line 2 You have input  75 deg from WP2 to WP3 lin 3 input  140 deg from WP3 to WP4, line 4, 210 deg and from WP4 to SP, line 5, 280 deg. This will give angel between walls 110 deg. I have  to make reservation for measurement, but this is the principle   

[Nik]

IIRC, pentagon is 360/5 = 72 degree offsets...

But getting the angle to lock to that given the ways it could be attached...

Um, try 36 or even 18, latter happily winding to 90 degrees to match orthogonal walls...
---

Gosh, it is a *lifetime* since I helped my Dad with his night-school navigation course, summing wind/tide vectors, getting 'polygon of error' from taking sightings and DF readings...

Thus empowered, my brother and I co-opted a large cardboard box as an 'X-boat' mini-sub, added a torch, periscope and tranny radio, navigated a battered chart of Milford Haven to attack the German Battleships at anchor in that 'Norwegian Fjord'...
;-))

[ahr8tch]

Ran through all the help screens and practiced some.  It's a handy tool but works just differently enough that I'm having to retrain myself to enter values 'before' instead of after drawing a line.

The pentagon now has regular angles and the sides are almost equal.  There's something about adding the next line at angles that changes the length of walls.  Still haven't figure out why this is happening.

Any suggestions for improving precision here?

Thanks again for all the help.
rh

[Doug.S]

Most often my approach is to get close with initial layout, then "fine tune" to degree of accuracy needed by adjusting bits and pieces....usually set grid very small (.01" or similar if needed) or no snap to grid.

work zoomed-in as much as possible and drag to position.

Angled walls are often difficult but after playing a bit you get the hang of it and it gets easier.

Depending on the final viewing distance, often a rendered image does not need close layout accuracy unless you see a mismatched line or interfering surfaces.  Our mind's eye will self correct many imperfections....so work to the level of accuracy you need and more accuracy only means more work and  more headaches.

[Kajvin - Robert W]

I have made a Regular Pentagon whit diffrent walls whit 5000 mm interior wall length. In the table her is how much you have to add to interior wall length to get that length you want, no matter what length it is. Then I draw the pentagon I only used the commander.

Reason You have to add this length is there is diffrent width and material and how the program measuring the wall and which angle that is between the walls.

_____________________________________________________________________________

72 deg, 144 deg, 216 deg, 288 deg, 0 deg
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This table is only for Pentagon walls you have to add diffrent length for diffrent angles.
_________________________________________________________________________
100 mm framed exterior wall = stone wall = stucco wall add 73 mm.
150 mm Horizontal siding wall add 120 mm.
150 mm Stone wall = stucco wall add 109 mm
100 mm Brick wall add 73 mm
150 mm Brick wall add 120 mm

150 mm Concrete foundation wall add 109 mm
200 mm Concrete foundation wall add 145 mm
250 mm Concrete foundation wall add 182 mm
300 mm Concrete foundation wall add 218 mm

150 mm interior Wood wall add 109 mm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you use this system all walls will be exact regular

Hope this will be to any help
Robert

[ahr8tch]

Thanks, Robert.

That was a great help.  I've about mastered using the Commander to do this.  Now I'm working on figuring out the Cartesian coordinates for right angle walls within the pentagon structure.  It's been a very good exercise to learn more about Commander and as a design challenge.

rh

[Doug.S]

Grid is excellent tool for Cartesian coordinates....put the inside edge(s) exactly on a set of grid crossings and use a grid spacing to suit your needs for scale.

If nothing else its a good double check and keeps things "squared" (walls at right angles to each other...especially with snap "on")

[ahr8tch]

Good advice!  Thanks Doug.