baronbernie
Member
Using masking tape can be used but will tare the paper and plans. Use the blue painters tape instead as it comes off without peeling the paper off or ruining the planes.
What's the best way to transfer your plans from paper to your foamboard
- Thread starter eagle4
- Start date
I do need to do some testing first but that will have to wait for another day. I'll also have to either rearrange the parts or just tape 2 pieces of posterboard together to get the A1 size as some of the full size plans are formatted to. I will keep you posted as I am excited about this and will be working on it as soon as I can!
If you machine can take the thickness, mat board is available all over in REALLY large sizes. (then again, could it handle a 5mm peice of foam board . . . )
Again, mat board is a bear to cut, but a pleasure to use. Wrecked a Bloody wonder wing this evening with a bad glue job. The worst I'm out is a dollar for the wing. Time wise, it only cost me a few minutes.
Again, mat board is a bear to cut, but a pleasure to use. Wrecked a Bloody wonder wing this evening with a bad glue job. The worst I'm out is a dollar for the wing. Time wise, it only cost me a few minutes.
Todd L
Member
What I did is I took the PDF into CAD and took care of a few things like lines that don't join, add my own labels and notes, stuff like that. I only plot one wing half as the other matches (duh).. Then convert the DWG to what ever file format your software can import. To ensure proper scaling I put a scaling reference on the drawing to keep everything in check. I use dollar store poster board, nothing fancy. Press play and watch the magic happen 
... I just got the FT Racer templates plotted and ready to be cut out tomorrow.... Can't wait to get the Racer in the air.
... I just got the FT Racer templates plotted and ready to be cut out tomorrow.... Can't wait to get the Racer in the air.
Wes Vasher
Member
I model mine in 3D and then simply transfer the points using a ruler. Never a need to print anything out. It can be tedius but I know it's perfectly accurate.
Michael9865
Elite member
"Thanks Todd! Now Xuzme can print out plans for all of us "
I like Craftydan's idea! Wonder what the shipping and handling fee would be...
I like Craftydan's idea! Wonder what the shipping and handling fee would be...
That depends on whether you can deal with folds or if they would have to be rolled! lol
I did get some plotter paper and the initial tests went well. But some of the pdf's seem to have corruptions in them that the plotter does not like. I'm going to see what I can do to fix that but shipping the prints might be cost prohibitive, unless your local place is charging over $10 a print...
I don't mind helping out fellow pilots but it takes time to make them right. I can't print them for free...I can probably do them cheaper than most places when it's all said and done, but again, shipping is going to be the issue.
I did get some plotter paper and the initial tests went well. But some of the pdf's seem to have corruptions in them that the plotter does not like. I'm going to see what I can do to fix that but shipping the prints might be cost prohibitive, unless your local place is charging over $10 a print...
I don't mind helping out fellow pilots but it takes time to make them right. I can't print them for free...I can probably do them cheaper than most places when it's all said and done, but again, shipping is going to be the issue.
Michael9865
Elite member
I don't know if anyone has tried it yet, but I am going to try a sewing tracing wheel. It is basically a spiky wheel that will poke little holes through the paper and into the foam. You can then connect the dots. There are a few models of these tracing wheels and I would look for one that has the smallest and sharpest points, so you don't have to press hard and don't deform the foam board.
If I'm not mistaken, those wheels are designed to be used in conjunction with a pounce pad or chalk bag. Trace with the wheel to get holes in the plan then pat the outline with the pounce pad after you put the plan over the foamboard. That will leave behind your outline without deforming the foamboard, plus you'll only have to trace once and can use the plan over and over. You can probably make a pounce pad by putting marking chalk into an old sock. Make different color pads and you can make the fold lines and score lines different colors than the outlines.
Yes that is how they are used in sewing. I was thinking since they are meant to poke through the paper to create holes for the dust in the pounce pad, it would do it to the paper of the pattern as well as the foam board (a sharp one). I am hoping the powder would not even be necessary with a sharp pointed tracing wheel.
Either way should work. I'm sure you'll be able to see the perforations with no trouble.
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
I've been using the poke method. It might be a little tedious, but I don't mind. I get to make meaningful dots to mark certain intersections or whatever is suitable at the time. I've been using an old etching needle that I've had sitting around for years. The masking tape grip is 20 years old, no lie.
For those talking about using thinner to transfer copier toner, there is actually a method using a citrus cleanser that is very effective and nontoxic. I've never tried used it to transfer onto foamboard or balsa, but its called Citra-Solv. The active ingredient is orange oil, so it smells delicious and is entirely nontoxic. It is reported to work well with toner copies and I'm pretty sure it even works with inkjet, too. If anyone tries it, let me know. Here's a link to their transfer techniques. Yes it is a cleanser, but they've embraced use of it by artists. http://www.citrasolv.com/art/index.html
Poke through the plans - reusable, too.
Reveal your poked foam!
Flip to reverse a shape: the other wing, for instance and poke the same dots.
Reveal your poked foam!
Flip to reverse a shape: the other wing, for instance and poke the same dots.
For those talking about using thinner to transfer copier toner, there is actually a method using a citrus cleanser that is very effective and nontoxic. I've never tried used it to transfer onto foamboard or balsa, but its called Citra-Solv. The active ingredient is orange oil, so it smells delicious and is entirely nontoxic. It is reported to work well with toner copies and I'm pretty sure it even works with inkjet, too. If anyone tries it, let me know. Here's a link to their transfer techniques. Yes it is a cleanser, but they've embraced use of it by artists. http://www.citrasolv.com/art/index.html
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Maingear
Flugzeug Liebhaber
If you laid tape down first, then ran the tracing wheel, could you use a marker or paint pen rather than chalk to make dotted lines? i cut with a metal yard stick and cut through the plans perimeter. when I'm done the plans are cut out too.
Justin
Better than transferring a printed design to your foam, just follow dimensioned plans.
shameless plug: http://flitetest.com/articles/the-tern-60-flying-wing
shameless plug: http://flitetest.com/articles/the-tern-60-flying-wing
JohnRambozo
Posted a thousand or more times
Well played, Holski. Well played.
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