I am needing to draw an eliptical arch . I've drawn one using 1 large arc & two small arcs and it looks almost correct but tell me the best and fastest way to do this . I've read some on your suggestions in some publications using a trammel w3 points but I don't fully understand. By the way the width I'm dealing with is 50" and the height is approx. 10" to 12"
-Steve S.
Vian, Ok
Our Expert
Drawing an ellipse is just a step beyond drawing a circle. To draw a large diameter circle I use a pair of trammels clamped to a stick.
To draw an ellipse I use a third trammel. When drawing a circle one point remains in a fixed position at the center of a circle. However, when drawing an ellipse all three trammel points move; two points move along the edge of a large square object, such as a framing square or sheet of plywood while the third point draws the ellipse.
Begin by positioning the trammels on the stick. The trammel with a pencil is positioned at one end. The remaining two trammels are positioned at a distance from the first equal to the major and minor axis of the ellipse. Now you're ready to draw the ellipse.
Two of the trammels are guided by a ninety degree object, such as a framing square. Clamp the square securely to the bench top so that it remains in a fixed position. As you guide the two points along the edge of the square, the third point will draw one-quarter of the ellipse.
