Segmented turning question

[Tom Giacomo]

When making a segmented ring is there a chart or math so that you can figure the width of your segments. I mean from outside to inside.

[Malcolm Tibbetts]

Tom, there's no such chart that I know of. The best way to determine that dimension is to draw a life-size blueprint of your shape and then overlay rectangles to represent your segment widths (outside to inside dimension). Each ring is likely to vary slightly depending upon the slope of the profile; a vertical area will require less width than a more horizontal curve. There's also several terrific software programs that are easy to learn and they do a great job of producing a "cutting" list.

[Jeff Nicol]

Not to long ago a link to a chart was posted that related number of segments, angles and length of long side of the segment. Not sure who posted it but I am sure they will chime in soon. I down loaded a copy but it is out in the shop, when I get out there I will find it and bring it in and post what I find out.

Jeff

[Walt Nollan]

Tom, check out Kevin's Turnings at http://www.turnedwood.com/GraphBowlDesign.html
This might be what you are looking for.

Walt

[David Christopher]

Tom, check out the chart that I posted on this other thread and see if it helps

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=111665

[Richard Bell CA]

Tom:

Another reference: Tage Frid has a good 13 page tutorial in one of his books (Tage Frid Teaches Woodworking, Book 2) on making a basic segmented bowl, from sizing segments through assembly and turning. He shows in detail, with lots of pictures, the full size drawing method described by Malcom.

Walt and Davd: Great links! Thanks

Richard

[Eric Meier]

Ever since I tried this free online tool I've been hooked.

http://www.delorie.com/wood/segturn.html (http://www.delorie.com/wood/segturn.html)

It has you type in the desired size and # of segments, then it tells you how wide/long to cut each segment, along with the angle. It then generates a life-sized drawing (PDF) that you can print out. I will sometimes print the rings out, then cut them out with a scissors, and stack them on top of each other to make sure everything fits and overlaps well.

[Malcolm Tibbetts]

These are good recommendations, but going back to Tom's original question, you can't determine the segment widths (inside to outside) without knowing both the inner and outer diameters and you can't determine those very accurately without a drawing of the vessel profile (at least where the profile sections are not perfectly vertical). If you have to draw a profile, then just measuring the distance from inner wall to outer wall and adding a little exact margin is quite simple.

[Mike Golka]

I use WoodturnerPro software and it works great. No affiliation just a satisfied customer. http://woodturnerpro.com/. Like Malcolm said you must start with the desired shape and size the rings accordingly.

[Tom Giacomo]

Thanks to everyone, a light finally when off in my head. I realize you must follow a full size or a scaled drawing.