Here is a simple tutorial that shows one method of constructing a bicycle wheel. Comments and suggestions are most welcome. Please post them, or any questions you have about this material, on the TurboCAD User Forum.
This tutorial uses only five tools: the Circle Center and Point tool, the Point tool, the Radial Copy tool, the Linear Copy tool, and the 3D Polyline tool.
Step-by-step
Preparation: setup the Point tool so that it uses the circle variant with a 0.5" diameter.
Using an ISO-SE view, begin by drawing a 14" radius circle at the origin to represent the wheel rim, a 1" radius circle at the origin to represent one end of the hub, and a small circle on the y-axis near the edge of the hub to represent a hub spoke-hole.
Complete the end of the hub by radial copying the small hole about the hub center.
Define the center by center-snapping the hub, Sets = 18, Angle = 20, +Rot = 20.
Select the hub and its holes and move them to z=-1 with the Inspector Bar.
To create the other end of the hub, linear copy the hub end to Z = 2.
(X-step = 0, Y-step = 0, Z-step = 2, and Sets = 2).
While the lower hub is still selected, rotate it 10° with the Inspector Bar.
(Rot Z = 10).
Now define a spoke location on the rim by quadrant-snapping a point on the large circle.
Finish the rim by radial copying the point you just drew.
Define the center by center-snapping the rim, Sets = 36, Angle = 10, +Rot = 10.
Using a top view, draw four spokes.
Start by snapping a 3D Polyline to the center of the upper hub spoke-hole that lies on the Y-axis and the point on the rim shown in the image below.
Repeat for the other hole that lies on the Y-axis.
Similarly, draw the spokes for the holes that lie in the X-axis.
Finally, using an ISO-SE view, select the four spokes and radial copy them.
Define the center by center-snapping the rim, Sets = 9, Angle = 40, +Rot = 40.
Revisions:
12/21/02
Original post.
1/4/03
Added missing instruction in step 4. Thank you user, Terry Floyd.
