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Segmented planning software

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Gary Slater

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Nov 26, 2008
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Has anyone used software for planning segmented projects? Is it worth the cost or would a good "starter" book be better?
 
Gary
Since Malcolm is too shy to mention it, the best book on the market, is his.

TTFN
Ralph
 
software

I agree with Malcom that if you learn on paper you will digest the procedure more easily. I have several of the software packages (I'm an IT person) and really like the woodturners studio from craft supplies. The nice thing about this one is that you can design the shape of the vessel first and then with punch of a button turn it into a segmented form and print out a template. The program takes out problems with geometry math but if you learn it first with the graph paper, what happens latter will make more sense to you

Vernon
 
Woodturner Studio looks interesting, but the Help file will not open in Vista. It is actually much easier for me to draw the intended piece on graph paper and scale the dimensions of stock required. Simple to use dial calipers for this and also to set width of saw cut to cut stock for each layer or ring.
 
I own all 3 programs for segmented design. I have my favorite but each one has it's own strong points. It just depends on your priorities. I agree Malcolms book is the best available for explaining how to do the math and design on paper. But I think his videos surpass the book by a wide margin.
 
Don't even think about doing a segmented project without reading Malcolm's book first. It has everything you need to know about the subject.

I have used Woodturner Studio with great success. I have used several of the other design programs on a "trial" basis and none compare to Woodturner Studio in ease of use, flexibility and output information. With Woodturner Studio you can design solid, segmented and open segmented vessels. It has a Bezier curve option that is FANTASTIC in laying out smooth curves for vessels. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bezier_curves for information on Bezier curves.

So, get Malcom's book and Woodturner Studio and have at it. - John
 
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