3
$\begingroup$

How to map vertex points from the surface of a straight pipe onto 2D plane.

The 3D surface points of the straight pipe can be found here: data

Working code:

file = "http://pastebin.com/H9y9SqYy"; dat = Import[file, "Table"]; Graphics3D[Point@dat, Boxed -> False]

enter image description here

One can imagine as a simple straight cut (anywhere) on the circumference of the pipe. I want to get something like this:

enter image description here

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
7
  • 2
    $\begingroup$ Please be more specific about what you need as output. The input is clear. What does "unwrapping" mean? There are an infinite number of functions to map 3D vectors into 2D vectors. What sort of function are you looking for precisely? $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 10, 2014 at 21:52
  • $\begingroup$ @Szabolcs I can imagine as a simple straight cut (anywhere) on the circumference of the cylinder. not sure about function. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 10, 2014 at 22:03
  • $\begingroup$ Is this a question specifically about cylinders or about any arbitrary surface? $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 10, 2014 at 22:06
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ @Szabolcs yes cylinder but it can be curved pipe, not necessarily straight pipe. $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 10, 2014 at 22:07
  • 1
    $\begingroup$ A "curved pipe" is not mathematically a cylinder and changes the problem completely. Can you post "curved pipe" sample data? $\endgroup$ Commented Jun 10, 2014 at 22:10

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
3
$\begingroup$

Quick solution is to assume, basing on the plot, that the cylinder main axis is parallel to one of cartesian axes:

Graphics3D[Point@dat, Boxed -> False, Axes -> True, BoxRatios -> 1, AxesLabel -> {"x", "y", "z"}, BaseStyle -> {18, Bold}]

enter image description here

then:

data2 = CoordinateTransform["Cartesian" -> "Cylindrical", {#, #3, #2} & @@@ dat][[;; , {2, 3}]]; Graphics[Point@data2, AspectRatio -> 1, FrameLabel -> {"ϕ", "z"}, Frame -> True, BaseStyle -> {18, Bold}]

enter image description here

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Start asking to get answers

Find the answer to your question by asking.

Ask question

Explore related questions

See similar questions with these tags.