Maybe have hit a wall with SolveSpace
Earlier posts, creating components in SolveSpace:
- Wheel-knuckle designed in SolveSpace — February 15, 2025
- Universal ball joint created in SolveSpace — February 14, 2025
- 3D bottom swing-arm for custom recumbent trike — February 13, 2025
I have previously created 3D models in SolveSpace, that have complete freedom of movement in every direction; however, that was with line diagrams. The ball-joint linked to above, also has freedom of movement in every direction, but that was achieved by creating two lines in the "Sketch --> Anywhere in 3D" mode; then tubes and a sphere were wrapped around the lines.
The wall that I have hit is that extruded models cannot be created in 3D free of being locked to one of the XYZ coordinates. In the "Anywhere in 3D" mode, I created a rectangle; but SolveSpace is unable to make this coplanar.
Coplanar means that the area of the rectangle is flat, not
twisted, which would follow that opposite sides are parallel.
Which is a fundamental requirement before extruding.
The trike model that I am proposing to create, would have many
modules, each in separate files, but each of those modules must be
free of being locked to any coordinate. The trike frame can roll
sideways due to the coil springs compressing, up and down, and
lengthways.
Yes, SolveSpace can create models with linkages, but too restricted for my requirements. It was fun while it lasted. I have been avoiding FreeDraw, but tonight might have a look at it.
EDIT 2025-02-16:
Maybe there is a solution, using SolveSpace. I have put in a
feature request:
https://github.com/solvespace/solvespace/issues/1527
Tags: light