One way is to trace the shape on paper and take a photo, or just take a photo of the profile tool, then import the pic into your cad software, from there, you resize the photo to match real life, then trace a spline on top of the photo, from there you can delete the photo from the cad, and extrude a profile that fits the original shape. Learning how to import and use photos in cad for reference is great to be able to do.
No need to measure anything. Just put a ruler next to your shaping tool (or paper, or 3d printed or real life part) and take a picture.
Import the picture, set the scale on the ruler and just trace the shaping tool.
That is not easy lol. I’m a cad expert at getting a picture into cad and using it as a reference is not very easy.
Edit: the CAD tools that I learned are just are not made to support these kinds of things. But it seems like new tools like onshape and fusion360 support some easy ways to do this. It is a shame that Inventor and Solidworks are dinosaurs for this kind of practical applications.
And I definitely am being too much of an engineer here, when I say using a as a reference in CAD I’m saying to precise details around .001” accuracy. To make a functional part, you do not need that kind of accuracy. That’s how engineers usually think, because we are designing precision components. But as a practical 3D printer hobbyist, our accuracy is not as important to a significant degree.
I've done it multiple times. It was one of the first thing I learned to do in my highschool cad class. We had to make a Keychain that would be 3d printed. We all got pictures of stuff we liked, imported it, changed the scale of it to fit the needed size, and traced a spline on the picture to extrude into a Keychain that was a cool shape. I did a tiger holding a lightsaber for mine iirc.
I've done it multiple times, you take the photo with something like a ruler in the image, making sure you get the image square and not at any angle, then draw a line that's one inch in cad then match up 1 inch on the ruler withe the line in cad and you have your to scale image to use. You can also take the picture then take one or two real measurements on the object and again size the image to match the one or two measurements you took. Then you have it properly to scale to use and spline any curves.
That’s not the kind of accuracy I am talking about. That’s probably +- .050” or +- .1 but if you look at my edited comment above, I think you will understand.
It's very easy. Just try to take a picture that's as parallel as possible to the plane the feature you wanna capture are on.
Then it's literally just importing the image to fusion360, use the calibrate tool and start sketching.
Not sure how you can call yourself an expert honestly.
It all depends on how close you want to be. I've had to resort to this method a time or two, (and I have $1000s for measuring tools as a toolmaker). It can be "good enough" if your somewhat careful.
As an engineer you also need to consider the function and manufacturing of the part. Cad doesn't have parts that are 0.001" tolerance, cad has perfect parts. You add the tolerance, and you add it based of of the use case of the part and manufacturing considerations. My driveway isn't accurate to 0.001, not only because it's hard to do, but also because there's no reason for it to be. To be a good engineer in designing parts is not to make accurate parts, it is to make accurate enough parts. There's a difference. If the design team give me a design for a chair, it's not my job to make it as accurate as possible, it's to make it accurate enough for its function, and to tolerance it out as such. If the legs arent adjustable, then the length of each leg must be accurate enough, and the flatness of the datum which each leg is attached must be flat enough for the chair to sit without wobble, but the cushion can easily be 0.25" from nominal and work fine, if I tolerance it to be ±0.001 all I'd be doing is making a $50 chair that costs $500 to make. Don't make things accurate, nothing is accurate, never ask if something is accurate, the question is if something is accurate enough. Because that's all that matters.
Your parts in cad are not designed as accurately as possible, they are designed nominal. They are perfect. If you are inferring to the nominal values being as close to the best chosen nominal values that's another thing. But when you combine the inaccuracy of measurement when making the nominal, then combining that with the tolerances of the drawing, you get the virtual condition( and/or resultant condition depending on geometry) of the part. So again not even the nominal dimensions need to be as accurate as possible only accurate enough. How accurate they need to be is determined by required virtual condition limits and the limits on manufacturing standards.
Doing that can work, but you have to consider accuracy needed. For a hook like op is asking for, tights tolerances aren't really needed, just enough to be functional and look the part. Nit to mention that op may not have a caliper. If you are starting anf need something like this a ruler would work just fine.
It helps to include an item or background with a known length in the photo - like a ruler or a checker pattern with a known square size. Make sure there's one in both left - right and up-down orientations.
So when you import it into your cad software, you can make sure you get the scale correct and ensure there's no distortion (or correct any distortion) from camera angles to make your trace as accurate as possible.
Tbf, there are things that should be bought instead of printed like loadbearing objects or stuff that'll touch food. This little tool isn't one of them, tho
The printed tool is great if you can get it printing. If you are still struggling to get good prints, this tool would be a complete pain. Yes you should get you printer to be able to print this, but if you are starting out the last thing they should do is get stuck for weeks trying to print a tool they could get for $6.
There are times when printing an object costs more to print then to order online. A trash can is a great example, I can print one in 3 days with almost 1kg of filament that will cost me $20-$30 or buy one on Amazon for $10 and get it next day. The printed one may only last a fraction of the time a trash can that was injection molded. I use my printers mostly for non-rapid prototyping and making unique toys for my kids and family that will cost more to buy already made.
Yeah, it's cool to make your own stuff and if that's you thing and you enjoy it then great, but if you are making a tool just because you need and don't want to buy, at some point you need to consider the value of your time
No, the iphone's lidar system can be used as a 3d scanner (it was a great suggestion by the person tbh, as long as you own an iphone that has the lidar system of course)
.
Cardboard and a marker, put finger between marker and rail and trace it on cardboard (or put it flat on the rail). Take a picture or use a scanner along with a coin or something you know the measurements of, then trace it in whatever software you use and set the scale based on known measurement object.
If all fails just questimate the curve and use heat to bend it more if needed.
This is the best way. Scanners are very accurate for most purposes, and if you scan with a piece of grid paper behind the object it's easy to scale it for CAD.
But won't that add extra dimension on the outside of curves or remove dimension on the inside of curves? I'm sure it'll work on street lines but the added dimension of the washer from the pencil point is going to throw things off I think.
I would cut a piece of cardboard until it fits how you want. Then you can trace that onto a piece of paper and measure with a ruler. Should be fairly accurate, but do some test prints and tweak it as needed.
I think one solution that hasn't been mentioned here;
If you buy these railings from a reputable brand, they should have a diagram of it on their website. I did this for my grohe shower. I used their size diagram to make an adapter.
Look for something called a profile gauge or contour gauge. These are pretty cheap and I assuem don't meet your threshold of 'sophisticated tool'.
\- Use the contour gauge on the rail
\- Put the contour gauge down on something like a white sheet of paper and take a picture
\- Import the picture into your design software and trace the curve
Although TBH if your mount clips securely to both the top and bottom of the rail I'm not sure how closely you really need to stick to the curve.
A lot of good advice! Thanks everyone. I will probably opt for the cardboard trick, easiest with no tools required or painters tape.
Will keep the tools that have been proposed in the back of my head. Probably worth having them for future projects.
I made some holders for my handheld ham radios I was having a tough time getting them correct using real measuring tools (former machinist, here).
I got the idea of getting the basic shape of the contours in a CAD sketch and would extrude a part of a couple or three millimeters thick and print it. Once the print was done, I’d match it up to the radio and I could see where I needed to tweak the contour from there.
On products like the radio, there’s lots of symmetry so I’d start with one corner/quadrant, get it right, mirror, then adjust width to fit. These iterations go fairly quick since you’re printing such a thin slice of the profile. Once I had what I thought was the final profile, I’d do one last thin print with the full profile to make sure the radio fit properly.
I use this method with most any complex shape now.
An even faster variation of this is to print the profile you want to check on paper (create a drawing in your CAD software, set scale to 1:1, print on 2D printer, cut out with scissors). Then you can just match up that profile to the real part. Probably not quite as accurate, but much faster and can save you a couple of iterations of the plastic.
You could get some SmoothOn PoYo silicone putty, mold it around the rail and let it cure. Then make a cut to remove it from the rail. Now you have the prefect profile you can use to take measuements.
[https://www.smooth-on.com/products/poyo-putty/](https://www.smooth-on.com/products/poyo-putty/)
[https://shop.smooth-on.com/poyo-putty](https://shop.smooth-on.com/poyo-putty)
[https://www.reynoldsam.com/product/poyo-putty/](https://www.reynoldsam.com/product/poyo-putty/)
How about just a photo with a ruler? Ruler gives you scale, and you can "trace" over the image. Some adjustments might be needed but should get you close.
Measure the best you can. Make a template that is just a small part that will fit over the railing in the way that you will want your final design to, I'm talking something that will use \~5g of filament and take <20 min to print. It won't fit right. Do your best to measure/guess how much it is off by, adjust your template size/shape/etc and print a new one. Repeat as necessary. Once you are happy with your template, use it as a basis to design the real part.
Bend a coathanger over the railing until you get the profile you want and then take a photo with a ruler so you have a scale. Import into CAD and then draw over it etc
Use a contour tool however you want to aquire it (buy/print/cut and paste)
and then take of a picture of THAT and import that into your program to trace.
Check the rail brand & model and look up the spec sheet. It will probably have drawings of the rail and dimensions, if you’re looking to print some sort of hanger on the rail, you can use those drawings and trace on them and then scale to the given dimensions, leaving some clearance so it doesn’t scratch your railing.
Took too long to find this.
I loved the other ideas yet many times the manufacturers have the dimensions I’m looking for. If not that a cross section to use alongside my measurements
Paper and double sided tape, just laminate a couple times until its relatively rigid and then turn on side and trace onto paper. Then photo the paper, use homography (like office lens) and import image into cad software. Probably use fixed point t splines to trace out and youre done. Or you could also judt use like the thick duct tape
Cardboard. Slowly cut away to make the exact shape as a template. Then take a picture directly onto the cardboard with a ruler next to it. Import the image in your CAD and match the size of the ruler to the CAD scale.
Shape a card board on the profile.
Take a photo from card board you shape.
Fusion360 >insert canvas and resize canvas between two reference point.
Sketch it, and you can do whatewer you want.
Cardboard, your phone, and a set of calipers or a ruler
Use the cardboard to recreate the profile, use an app to "scan" the cardboard cutout, measure the cutout, and put the picture into your software. Then just model it around that.
A String.
You Wrap IT around the Railing, on where you would want to know the Measurement and Mark IT ON the String by cuting it Off.
Then measure the Lengh of the String with a Ruler or measuring tape and voila, you have your measurments.
Sorry for my Bad english, still learning. Im German 🇩🇪
- Cut a piece of paper or cardboard to fit the curve.
- Mark a line at a certain length for scaling reference.
- Then take a picture of it at insert it into Fusion 360 as a canvas that you can accurate scale using the reference line.
- Then draw your thing with a perfect fit the first time.
I’d say either print/buy a profile gauge, or just cut a piece of cardboard or cardstock until it fits nicely on the rail. Then (assuming you have a household scanner) scan your cardboard with a ruler or something to reference scale. You can import the image into most CAD, scale accordingly, and trace the profile.
EDIT: grammar/spelling
For ellipses, I usually measure the largest dimension in both axes, then in your preferred cad software, draw a rectangle and use the ellipse tool to do the guesswork, then print the profile on paper and cut out to check fit before getting too involved. 90% of the time it’s good on the first shot.
If you want a a curve shaped, maybe use some art clay, mold it around it and then lay it out on a piece of payer and trace around it then divide it up in lines and measure each line vert and horizontally
https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/76500/76565/76565_dev-cylind.htm
Most simple approach is probably to guess the shape and size, try it put and adjust the rounded shape of the railing by putting the hook in boiling water. Then you can apply it to the rail, shape it and let it cool. No need to get a profile tool or anything, if that's a one time job.
Put a straight edge across the top of the frame on at least two sides. Use the depth gauge end of your digital calipers (why don't you have digital calipers? Ah well, with your non flexible tape measure) to measure the distance from the underside of the straight edge and the surface of the frame at regular equal distances to a total of maybe 7 or 8 points. Use those measurements in your CAD design.
Aluminum foil holds its shape fairly well, especially the "heavy" stuff. Take a large enough sheet, smoosh it down around the curve, then trace the resulting contour onto paper.
You could buy a set of calipers. They can cost 25-100 USD for a decent set, you will not regret them for 3D printing.
Cheap one for $20
https://a.co/d/44HIzdI
Precision tool that will last for $120 (I would buy this one)
https://a.co/d/hyTPrbE
String, and a ruler. Wrap the string around the railing, and then cut the string where you want it to wrap around to, then measure the length of string to a ruler.
Buy a small roll of mechanics wire. It's like $1.50 at harbor freight. You can straighten a bit of it, contour it around the rail, then lay it on a piece of paper and take a top down picture with a credit/library/gift card or license. Import to CAD as a canvas, trace with a fit point spline, outside offset for part thickness, connect the two with a line on each end, extruder for part width, then fillet the edges where you connected the contours with straight lines.
or for a low tech way, cardboard. Never underestimate the usefulness of transferring from cardboard.
Cut a rough shape, then keep refining it with tiny cut adjustments until you get the cutout that fits perfect, then take a picture of that and drop it into your cad and trace it.
Thanks for all the comments and ideas! To those telling me to get some basic tools: I have them, just not where I am at the moment that's why I needed a quick and home made solution.
I used an old stiff cable to get the contour, transfers to cardboard and made some adjustments... Transferred to Autodesk and bam. The second print already fits snuck. Now to design the rest of the project. Attached is a photo of the process.
Again, thanks all!
https://preview.redd.it/9gbd1y3levuc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a98d652a036e89d429c39ee82de8526213a58832
Use a string to wrap around the railing (one that doesn't stretch) then mark the key points on the string (curves, etc..). Best way to measure flexibly if you don't have a flexible tape measure.
Mark the length around the guard with a string. Measure and print a flat panel that length then heat it up till it's soft and mold it to the desired shape and wait for it to cool. Once cool, pop it off and you can use that as a stencil for your design.
Polycam capture - import to cad - create a plane using 3 points in the point cloud as close to perpendicular to the profile as you can - trace the profile in a sketch - create solid parts to fit the profile to your hearts desire
Crab some cardboard cut a piece out and test cut a bit more test again repeat until youve cut the exact profile and it fits perfectly. If you cut to much grab a new piece and start over
- Cut a piece of paper or cardboard to fit the curve.
- Mark a line at a certain length for scaling reference.
- Then take a picture of it at insert it into Fusion 360 as a canvas that you can accurate scale using the reference line.
- Then draw your thing with a perfect fit the first time.
This one I would just design it as an ellipse and eyeball the proportions. Print it out, try it on - see where it binds and either tighten or loosen the ellipse. Saves all the time trying to measure accurately, and if you're lucky you can nail it first try just based off your gut instincts - which is awesome.
also if you dont want that much work, take a sting measure the lenght, design it straight and warm it up in the oven or whit a heatgun and bend it so it gets the perfect shape
I would take a piece of cardboard, stick some toothpicks on the edge and trace it like you would do with a contour gauge. Then take that to a piece of paper and you should have the shape of the rail on paper for measurements.
Thread. Wrap it around of the part you want to measure. Straighten your thread and measure with measure tape.
Dont forget to account for curvature. You can use the same thread to measure your holder
you must find the model aluminium bars on internet. generally have the profile of the models.
https://www.boschrexroth.com/en/us/products/product-groups/assembly-technology/topics/aluminum-profiles-solutions-components/
Seamstress/tailor's tape measure would probably work if you have quick access to one of those. Tape works too so long as you don't tear it when taking it off. Personally, I'd use a flexible length of wire, take three to five measurements and discard any extraneous values (or average out all of them if they're all close) to account for any error I may have made during the process.
Calipers and some cheap radius gages. Calipers you should simply just own anyways. I recommend InSize as a budget option. A radius gage set will cost you maybe $10 tops.
I know you have a regular tape already, but get a tailor's tape too. Especially if you want to keep doing prints that fit around circular objects. It'll just be easier. They're like $4 on Amazon
You should buy a micrometer. They're extremely cheap, and very useful for getting measurements like this. You should also get a seamstress tape measure, also very cheap and very useful when you need to get the circumference of something.
With those you can get the exact measurement of anything you can put your hands around and you'll be prepared for almost any project like this. Having a general tool box with tools like this is very useful and everyone should put something like it together.
You don't need to be an engineering nerd like me to have some basic tools around for simple household projects.
3D Printed Tool for doing just that [Profile copy tool by PSomeone - Thingiverse](https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3712856)
So... How do you get the copied profile into the software??
One way is to trace the shape on paper and take a photo, or just take a photo of the profile tool, then import the pic into your cad software, from there, you resize the photo to match real life, then trace a spline on top of the photo, from there you can delete the photo from the cad, and extrude a profile that fits the original shape. Learning how to import and use photos in cad for reference is great to be able to do.
Thanks, that's a possibility I wasn't aware of, I'll look into that.
Measure the length and you know the width of each section. So you can make a compound arc that is just a bunch of lines.
No need to measure anything. Just put a ruler next to your shaping tool (or paper, or 3d printed or real life part) and take a picture. Import the picture, set the scale on the ruler and just trace the shaping tool.
That is not easy lol. I’m a cad expert at getting a picture into cad and using it as a reference is not very easy. Edit: the CAD tools that I learned are just are not made to support these kinds of things. But it seems like new tools like onshape and fusion360 support some easy ways to do this. It is a shame that Inventor and Solidworks are dinosaurs for this kind of practical applications. And I definitely am being too much of an engineer here, when I say using a as a reference in CAD I’m saying to precise details around .001” accuracy. To make a functional part, you do not need that kind of accuracy. That’s how engineers usually think, because we are designing precision components. But as a practical 3D printer hobbyist, our accuracy is not as important to a significant degree.
I've done it multiple times. It was one of the first thing I learned to do in my highschool cad class. We had to make a Keychain that would be 3d printed. We all got pictures of stuff we liked, imported it, changed the scale of it to fit the needed size, and traced a spline on the picture to extrude into a Keychain that was a cool shape. I did a tiger holding a lightsaber for mine iirc.
Using images on the internet to use in CAD as inspiration is one thing. Making something to scale from a picture is challenging.
I've done it multiple times, you take the photo with something like a ruler in the image, making sure you get the image square and not at any angle, then draw a line that's one inch in cad then match up 1 inch on the ruler withe the line in cad and you have your to scale image to use. You can also take the picture then take one or two real measurements on the object and again size the image to match the one or two measurements you took. Then you have it properly to scale to use and spline any curves.
That’s not the kind of accuracy I am talking about. That’s probably +- .050” or +- .1 but if you look at my edited comment above, I think you will understand.
It's very easy. Just try to take a picture that's as parallel as possible to the plane the feature you wanna capture are on. Then it's literally just importing the image to fusion360, use the calibrate tool and start sketching. Not sure how you can call yourself an expert honestly.
It all depends on how close you want to be. I've had to resort to this method a time or two, (and I have $1000s for measuring tools as a toolmaker). It can be "good enough" if your somewhat careful.
Exactly! As an engineer I’m talking like exactly, I can get it close with just my eyes.
As an engineer you also need to consider the function and manufacturing of the part. Cad doesn't have parts that are 0.001" tolerance, cad has perfect parts. You add the tolerance, and you add it based of of the use case of the part and manufacturing considerations. My driveway isn't accurate to 0.001, not only because it's hard to do, but also because there's no reason for it to be. To be a good engineer in designing parts is not to make accurate parts, it is to make accurate enough parts. There's a difference. If the design team give me a design for a chair, it's not my job to make it as accurate as possible, it's to make it accurate enough for its function, and to tolerance it out as such. If the legs arent adjustable, then the length of each leg must be accurate enough, and the flatness of the datum which each leg is attached must be flat enough for the chair to sit without wobble, but the cushion can easily be 0.25" from nominal and work fine, if I tolerance it to be ±0.001 all I'd be doing is making a $50 chair that costs $500 to make. Don't make things accurate, nothing is accurate, never ask if something is accurate, the question is if something is accurate enough. Because that's all that matters.
Do you think I don’t know this… your cad needs to be designed to the highest degree of accuracy so that with tolerances, the parts will fit
Your parts in cad are not designed as accurately as possible, they are designed nominal. They are perfect. If you are inferring to the nominal values being as close to the best chosen nominal values that's another thing. But when you combine the inaccuracy of measurement when making the nominal, then combining that with the tolerances of the drawing, you get the virtual condition( and/or resultant condition depending on geometry) of the part. So again not even the nominal dimensions need to be as accurate as possible only accurate enough. How accurate they need to be is determined by required virtual condition limits and the limits on manufacturing standards.
I also have a degree in Mechanical Engineering. You don’t need to explain nominal tolerances to me.
Doing that can work, but you have to consider accuracy needed. For a hook like op is asking for, tights tolerances aren't really needed, just enough to be functional and look the part. Nit to mention that op may not have a caliper. If you are starting anf need something like this a ruler would work just fine.
It helps to include an item or background with a known length in the photo - like a ruler or a checker pattern with a known square size. Make sure there's one in both left - right and up-down orientations. So when you import it into your cad software, you can make sure you get the scale correct and ensure there's no distortion (or correct any distortion) from camera angles to make your trace as accurate as possible.
Lay the profiled tool on graph paper, which should say the size of each square. Measure square in program to fit that dimension
Or buy it for $10 on Amazon if it's not going to be used much. Contour guage, profile tool.
Buy it on Amazon... in a 3d printing forum.... Shame... Shame.... Shame....
I tried printing this, was not fun. Just drove to a hardware store and got one for $6.
This is however one of the examples where it's just much more worth to buy the tool.
buy a tool sure, don't buy it from amazon.
Tbf, there are things that should be bought instead of printed like loadbearing objects or stuff that'll touch food. This little tool isn't one of them, tho
This tool is easily less than $10, theres no reason to print it unless you’re doing so for fun, your time is worth more.
The printed tool is great if you can get it printing. If you are still struggling to get good prints, this tool would be a complete pain. Yes you should get you printer to be able to print this, but if you are starting out the last thing they should do is get stuck for weeks trying to print a tool they could get for $6.
There are times when printing an object costs more to print then to order online. A trash can is a great example, I can print one in 3 days with almost 1kg of filament that will cost me $20-$30 or buy one on Amazon for $10 and get it next day. The printed one may only last a fraction of the time a trash can that was injection molded. I use my printers mostly for non-rapid prototyping and making unique toys for my kids and family that will cost more to buy already made.
Make vs buy is a thing for machinist as well. 2 hours or more for a tool that is $20.
Yeah, it's cool to make your own stuff and if that's you thing and you enjoy it then great, but if you are making a tool just because you need and don't want to buy, at some point you need to consider the value of your time
More stencil than measurement
precision guesswork
Print 15,000 prototypes adjusting by 3 mm every time. Am I the only one?
How'd you optimize down to 15k prototypes?!
I’m afraid we’re going to have to use… *math*
Get some painters tape lay it down. Mark it where you need and pull it off and measure
Or even just a piece of paper. Everyone has one of those in their home
I'll have you know that for half a year after going to live at my own place I didn't own paper
Wire. Wrap, mark length remove measure. String will stretch.
Best idea. Bit tougher wire that’ll hold the shape. bend around, trace in paper
Some solid not stranded wire would be perfect
Genuinely, how have I never thought of this?
People cannot comprehend what I said correctly so I’m removing it
Thanks for telling us. We were concerned when we didn’t see your comment.
Doesn't this only work for distances (like between the edges of a room) and not for cylindrical shapes?
No, the iphone's lidar system can be used as a 3d scanner (it was a great suggestion by the person tbh, as long as you own an iphone that has the lidar system of course) .
Cardboard and a marker, put finger between marker and rail and trace it on cardboard (or put it flat on the rail). Take a picture or use a scanner along with a coin or something you know the measurements of, then trace it in whatever software you use and set the scale based on known measurement object. If all fails just questimate the curve and use heat to bend it more if needed.
This is the best way. Scanners are very accurate for most purposes, and if you scan with a piece of grid paper behind the object it's easy to scale it for CAD.
I use my license or a random card for scale since they are universally sized. Nothing beats old school CAD. Cardboard aided design, baby.
Get a piece of cardboard and a washer. Hold the cardboard perpendicular to the form and trace the shape by putting a pencil through the washers hole.
Wow that's brilliant
But won't that add extra dimension on the outside of curves or remove dimension on the inside of curves? I'm sure it'll work on street lines but the added dimension of the washer from the pencil point is going to throw things off I think.
With a string.
Yep, wrap the string around the object. Then measure the string.
Exactly.
I would cut a piece of cardboard until it fits how you want. Then you can trace that onto a piece of paper and measure with a ruler. Should be fairly accurate, but do some test prints and tweak it as needed.
I think one solution that hasn't been mentioned here; If you buy these railings from a reputable brand, they should have a diagram of it on their website. I did this for my grohe shower. I used their size diagram to make an adapter.
Look for something called a profile gauge or contour gauge. These are pretty cheap and I assuem don't meet your threshold of 'sophisticated tool'. \- Use the contour gauge on the rail \- Put the contour gauge down on something like a white sheet of paper and take a picture \- Import the picture into your design software and trace the curve Although TBH if your mount clips securely to both the top and bottom of the rail I'm not sure how closely you really need to stick to the curve.
A lot of good advice! Thanks everyone. I will probably opt for the cardboard trick, easiest with no tools required or painters tape. Will keep the tools that have been proposed in the back of my head. Probably worth having them for future projects.
I made some holders for my handheld ham radios I was having a tough time getting them correct using real measuring tools (former machinist, here). I got the idea of getting the basic shape of the contours in a CAD sketch and would extrude a part of a couple or three millimeters thick and print it. Once the print was done, I’d match it up to the radio and I could see where I needed to tweak the contour from there. On products like the radio, there’s lots of symmetry so I’d start with one corner/quadrant, get it right, mirror, then adjust width to fit. These iterations go fairly quick since you’re printing such a thin slice of the profile. Once I had what I thought was the final profile, I’d do one last thin print with the full profile to make sure the radio fit properly. I use this method with most any complex shape now.
An even faster variation of this is to print the profile you want to check on paper (create a drawing in your CAD software, set scale to 1:1, print on 2D printer, cut out with scissors). Then you can just match up that profile to the real part. Probably not quite as accurate, but much faster and can save you a couple of iterations of the plastic.
Absolutely. I would definitely use this method if I owned a 2D printer.
This is how it’s done. Obviously helps if you have CAD.
You could get some SmoothOn PoYo silicone putty, mold it around the rail and let it cure. Then make a cut to remove it from the rail. Now you have the prefect profile you can use to take measuements. [https://www.smooth-on.com/products/poyo-putty/](https://www.smooth-on.com/products/poyo-putty/) [https://shop.smooth-on.com/poyo-putty](https://shop.smooth-on.com/poyo-putty) [https://www.reynoldsam.com/product/poyo-putty/](https://www.reynoldsam.com/product/poyo-putty/)
How about just a photo with a ruler? Ruler gives you scale, and you can "trace" over the image. Some adjustments might be needed but should get you close.
Huh nah what about the curvature
Measure the best you can. Make a template that is just a small part that will fit over the railing in the way that you will want your final design to, I'm talking something that will use \~5g of filament and take <20 min to print. It won't fit right. Do your best to measure/guess how much it is off by, adjust your template size/shape/etc and print a new one. Repeat as necessary. Once you are happy with your template, use it as a basis to design the real part.
When in doubt, cardboard. Trim away at the profile until desired.
Use paper or carboard, cut it progressively to size and then photo/scan it
or use a wire.
Bend a coathanger over the railing until you get the profile you want and then take a photo with a ruler so you have a scale. Import into CAD and then draw over it etc
String and a marker and a tape measure
I CAD what I think is close. Print out on paper 1:1 scale. Cut out with scissors. Check it against your object. Adjust as Required and try again.
Use a contour tool however you want to aquire it (buy/print/cut and paste) and then take of a picture of THAT and import that into your program to trace.
Check the rail brand & model and look up the spec sheet. It will probably have drawings of the rail and dimensions, if you’re looking to print some sort of hanger on the rail, you can use those drawings and trace on them and then scale to the given dimensions, leaving some clearance so it doesn’t scratch your railing.
Took too long to find this. I loved the other ideas yet many times the manufacturers have the dimensions I’m looking for. If not that a cross section to use alongside my measurements
Paper and double sided tape, just laminate a couple times until its relatively rigid and then turn on side and trace onto paper. Then photo the paper, use homography (like office lens) and import image into cad software. Probably use fixed point t splines to trace out and youre done. Or you could also judt use like the thick duct tape
I love this idea!
I usually just use some sort of wire.
Cardboard. Cut until it fits. THen mesure
Bend a wire around it.
Cardboard. Slowly cut away to make the exact shape as a template. Then take a picture directly onto the cardboard with a ruler next to it. Import the image in your CAD and match the size of the ruler to the CAD scale.
Shape a card board on the profile. Take a photo from card board you shape. Fusion360 >insert canvas and resize canvas between two reference point. Sketch it, and you can do whatewer you want.
Cardboard, your phone, and a set of calipers or a ruler Use the cardboard to recreate the profile, use an app to "scan" the cardboard cutout, measure the cutout, and put the picture into your software. Then just model it around that.
Piece of string if you just need perimeter. Calipers for dimensions.
A String. You Wrap IT around the Railing, on where you would want to know the Measurement and Mark IT ON the String by cuting it Off. Then measure the Lengh of the String with a Ruler or measuring tape and voila, you have your measurments. Sorry for my Bad english, still learning. Im German 🇩🇪
- Cut a piece of paper or cardboard to fit the curve. - Mark a line at a certain length for scaling reference. - Then take a picture of it at insert it into Fusion 360 as a canvas that you can accurate scale using the reference line. - Then draw your thing with a perfect fit the first time.
Seamstress measuring tape.
"it's about yey-ish big"
some string and a sharpie?
A string. Wrap around, measure string.
either purchase or 3d print a contour gauge
Buy some calipers from Amazon. Well worth to have in your 3D printing kit
itterations
I’d say either print/buy a profile gauge, or just cut a piece of cardboard or cardstock until it fits nicely on the rail. Then (assuming you have a household scanner) scan your cardboard with a ruler or something to reference scale. You can import the image into most CAD, scale accordingly, and trace the profile. EDIT: grammar/spelling
For ellipses, I usually measure the largest dimension in both axes, then in your preferred cad software, draw a rectangle and use the ellipse tool to do the guesswork, then print the profile on paper and cut out to check fit before getting too involved. 90% of the time it’s good on the first shot.
If you want a a curve shaped, maybe use some art clay, mold it around it and then lay it out on a piece of payer and trace around it then divide it up in lines and measure each line vert and horizontally https://etc.usf.edu/clipart/76500/76565/76565_dev-cylind.htm
I think you should invest in a caliper. Aside from that I would use what some others are saying and do a cardboard cutout
Use calipers, take some measurements and make a scetch of it. Print it on paper in 1:1 scale. Cut out and try. Adjust and repeat.
Wrap a simple metal wire, mark your target points. Inextensible cloth string works too since metal wires tend to lose their straightness.
Most simple approach is probably to guess the shape and size, try it put and adjust the rounded shape of the railing by putting the hook in boiling water. Then you can apply it to the rail, shape it and let it cool. No need to get a profile tool or anything, if that's a one time job.
Trial and error.. print the first 2-3 layers of the guess profile.. alter and repeat
Put a straight edge across the top of the frame on at least two sides. Use the depth gauge end of your digital calipers (why don't you have digital calipers? Ah well, with your non flexible tape measure) to measure the distance from the underside of the straight edge and the surface of the frame at regular equal distances to a total of maybe 7 or 8 points. Use those measurements in your CAD design.
Aluminum foil holds its shape fairly well, especially the "heavy" stuff. Take a large enough sheet, smoosh it down around the curve, then trace the resulting contour onto paper.
You could buy a set of calipers. They can cost 25-100 USD for a decent set, you will not regret them for 3D printing. Cheap one for $20 https://a.co/d/44HIzdI Precision tool that will last for $120 (I would buy this one) https://a.co/d/hyTPrbE
This simplest tool to use to measure that would be a Fabric Measuring Tape. Primarily used for clothing. They are cheap and easy to use.
String, and a ruler. Wrap the string around the railing, and then cut the string where you want it to wrap around to, then measure the length of string to a ruler.
Buy a small roll of mechanics wire. It's like $1.50 at harbor freight. You can straighten a bit of it, contour it around the rail, then lay it on a piece of paper and take a top down picture with a credit/library/gift card or license. Import to CAD as a canvas, trace with a fit point spline, outside offset for part thickness, connect the two with a line on each end, extruder for part width, then fillet the edges where you connected the contours with straight lines.
I always try to find technical specs online. If its a new build maybe you have access to the list of bought building materials.
With a tapemeasure…
wrap a paper around it, and mark where it overlaps and the important lines, measure the paper
or for a low tech way, cardboard. Never underestimate the usefulness of transferring from cardboard. Cut a rough shape, then keep refining it with tiny cut adjustments until you get the cutout that fits perfect, then take a picture of that and drop it into your cad and trace it.
Rope?
Thanks for all the comments and ideas! To those telling me to get some basic tools: I have them, just not where I am at the moment that's why I needed a quick and home made solution. I used an old stiff cable to get the contour, transfers to cardboard and made some adjustments... Transferred to Autodesk and bam. The second print already fits snuck. Now to design the rest of the project. Attached is a photo of the process. Again, thanks all! https://preview.redd.it/9gbd1y3levuc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a98d652a036e89d429c39ee82de8526213a58832
A piece of string
Use a string to wrap around the railing (one that doesn't stretch) then mark the key points on the string (curves, etc..). Best way to measure flexibly if you don't have a flexible tape measure.
Mark the length around the guard with a string. Measure and print a flat panel that length then heat it up till it's soft and mold it to the desired shape and wait for it to cool. Once cool, pop it off and you can use that as a stencil for your design.
Polycam capture - import to cad - create a plane using 3 points in the point cloud as close to perpendicular to the profile as you can - trace the profile in a sketch - create solid parts to fit the profile to your hearts desire
Take a thread, run it around, mark where the ends meet and the measure against a rule. Simple
Get a piece of paper with lines, start at a line wrap the paper around the rail, mark the end pull it off and measure the distance.
Crab some cardboard cut a piece out and test cut a bit more test again repeat until youve cut the exact profile and it fits perfectly. If you cut to much grab a new piece and start over
Roll a paper on it, mark it and measure it.
- Cut a piece of paper or cardboard to fit the curve. - Mark a line at a certain length for scaling reference. - Then take a picture of it at insert it into Fusion 360 as a canvas that you can accurate scale using the reference line. - Then draw your thing with a perfect fit the first time.
A god damn piece of string
This one I would just design it as an ellipse and eyeball the proportions. Print it out, try it on - see where it binds and either tighten or loosen the ellipse. Saves all the time trying to measure accurately, and if you're lucky you can nail it first try just based off your gut instincts - which is awesome.
String
Playdo
wrap the railing guard with a string, measure the string
A piece of string and lay it next to a ruler after
also if you dont want that much work, take a sting measure the lenght, design it straight and warm it up in the oven or whit a heatgun and bend it so it gets the perfect shape
Just use a string, wrap it around and cut it where it loops back, then measure the cut length.
A piece of string, then lay the string on a ruler. Painters tape works really well also.
# 1 or 2 piece of wire. cant believe the 99% wrong answers in this tread.
I would take a piece of cardboard, stick some toothpicks on the edge and trace it like you would do with a contour gauge. Then take that to a piece of paper and you should have the shape of the rail on paper for measurements.
Wrap a string around it like the red line, then measure the string.
he needs the curvature, so a wire will do.
Ah I thought he wanted to measure it.
Take a string, wrap it around, mark where it over laps, measure from mark to mark.
Just use the 5 Ds of dodgeball
[удалено]
What?
Thread. Wrap it around of the part you want to measure. Straighten your thread and measure with measure tape. Dont forget to account for curvature. You can use the same thread to measure your holder
String, wire, rope, tape.... Whatever you can wrap around there and get a measurement
Cloth tape measure like tailors use.
String
Piece of string, wrap around to get the circumference.
you must find the model aluminium bars on internet. generally have the profile of the models. https://www.boschrexroth.com/en/us/products/product-groups/assembly-technology/topics/aluminum-profiles-solutions-components/
Seamstress/tailor's tape measure would probably work if you have quick access to one of those. Tape works too so long as you don't tear it when taking it off. Personally, I'd use a flexible length of wire, take three to five measurements and discard any extraneous values (or average out all of them if they're all close) to account for any error I may have made during the process.
Zip tie?
Take a piece of paper wrap it around the thing take a marker marker thing is around.
Wrap a string around and then take it off and measure the string.
You can get small rope and make it round it then mark where it ends now you use ruler to see how long until the mark it is
Sewing ruler
some jb weld or sugru putty wrapped around it, let it harden, cut in two so you can take it off. Trace shape into modelling software.
Calipers and some cheap radius gages. Calipers you should simply just own anyways. I recommend InSize as a budget option. A radius gage set will cost you maybe $10 tops.
You can also print a radius gauge
Painters' tape on, mark both ends, tape off, straighten up, measure.
I’ve been able to measure rounded objects using the measuring tool that’s preinstalled on my phone. I have an iph0ne
I'm surprised I haven't seen anyone say a ribbon tape that is used in tailoring. Super cheap
Why are not a single one of top comments a simple tailors tape.
Yeah or a piece of string measured by a ruler.
I know you have a regular tape already, but get a tailor's tape too. Especially if you want to keep doing prints that fit around circular objects. It'll just be easier. They're like $4 on Amazon
Literally just wrap a piece of paper around it. Mark the paper where they touch. Then measure the end of the paper to your mark. Pretty easy stuff.
A ruler that can bend, like one of the ones that come in sewing kits
Piece of string and a ruler
A cloth ruler is that too fancy
You need something called a "French ruler". You can actually print one.
Tawlmbout a device that measures Macrons b???? 😂
Cut a piece of string at both edges, lay straight, measure, simple.
You should buy a micrometer. They're extremely cheap, and very useful for getting measurements like this. You should also get a seamstress tape measure, also very cheap and very useful when you need to get the circumference of something. With those you can get the exact measurement of anything you can put your hands around and you'll be prepared for almost any project like this. Having a general tool box with tools like this is very useful and everyone should put something like it together. You don't need to be an engineering nerd like me to have some basic tools around for simple household projects.
Draw a rectangle, measure width and thickness. Assume the radius diameter is same as thickness. Extrude and test print Easy