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6-Contributor
May 11, 2020
Question

Creating a "Tarp" (Wrapping a closed datum curve)?

  • May 11, 2020
  • 1 reply
  • 5751 views

I'm basically trying to create a surface that looks like a tarp over the geometry. Basically to take a rectangular surface and "drape" it over geometry.

 

I've tried a number of different techniques, and using Wrap is the closest I've gotten, but it's still not quite right.  The reason I was using wrap was I wanted to keep the lengths of each edge of the tarp a fixed length, and then have them just end up wherever they go.

 

However,  when I try to do this, I can't seem to get the beginning and the end of the curve to match up. Creo seems to be trying to force the sides to be horizontal, when they shouldn't be.

 

I tried using a spline to as an experiment, so that I just had a single curve, but there was still the discontinuity at the beginning/end point. Is there any way to force the wrap to keep the closed shape of the original sketch? I've played some with the Center option and a sketched coordinate system in the wrap command, but I haven't quite figured out exactly how that works, and the help doesn't really explain it.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions? Is there some other method I should be trying?

 

Thanks!

1 reply

Patriot_1776
22-Sapphire II
May 11, 2020

The advantage of the Wrap is that it DOES keep the lengths the same.  BUT, I can already see an issue with what you're trying to do:  You're trying to wrap a curve on 2 separate areas where the geometry is different (that stepped area to the left) so right there you're going to have problems.  I'm surprised it worked at all, what was it supposed to do with that short vertical face?  You're trying to stretch the wrap there, and it SHOULD have failed.  HOWEVER, you should be able to trim the curve segments afterward.

bgalanti6-ContributorAuthor
6-Contributor
May 12, 2020

I wasn't sure if wrap would stretch on vertical faces or not. I'll try putting a small draft on all the vertical faces and see if that helps. It's probably a bit more "realistic" anyway, since a tarp wouldn't conform to vertical surfaces.

Patriot_1776
22-Sapphire II
May 12, 2020

From what I saw, you're asking the Wrap (tarp) to stretch, that MIGHT help.