I use Inkscape to draw model airplane plans and the save as dxf so I can cut parts with a laser. I want to put notches in the sides of the plane that I can fit a top piece into but since the sides are curved the top piece is actually longer to account for the curve. Is there an easy way in Inkscape to accommodate the curved surface and flatten so the piece will fit? I am including a crude drawing of what I mean.

Hi.

Doing the other way around would be possible in inkscape by using the pattern along path path effect.
With that you could bend the desired notches into both parts.

For what you are asking, the bend path effect can be used to some extent -you can "flatten" the curved pattern but cannot be sure if the length is correct. Can only eyeball or use alot of tries and error checks with the measure path extension -on each section, because the error is not equal along the path by default... -it is somehow connected to the path's curvature, so if the original curve was a circle arc, you may have better luck and calculate the correct flattened pattern length.

As far as I know only blender has an option for "flattening". You design the model in 3D, add seams and make an uv map out of it.

I will probably do it in Sketch up it has plug in for flattening......just more time consuming and Sketchup is a little difficult to scale. I guess I could cut the side out in cardstock and manually measure. I thought Inkscape would have a way using it's measuring tool to measure the curve length.

As Lazur hinted, there is a way to measure the curve's length. You can find it in Extensions -> Visualize Path -> Measure Path.

Okay I think that actually works. I can draw the original curve and measure it then use that measurement for the length. Then I could put in the notches and measure the distance to the start point for each notch to create a tab for the top piece. I can also verify this using card stock to make sure everything fits before I commit to using balsa. Thanks.

pedwards2932 wrote:Okay I think that actually works.

Using it for planning out my garden