Ring Divider Template

[TallGary]

I always struggled to get a repeating design evenly spaced around a ring or other circular area. My usual method was to measure the OD of the ring, calculate the circumference, divide by the number of spaces, set my dividers, and inch-worm my way arond the ring. Never did get it to come out even. Always a little adjusting to smooth out the divisions. It never looked bad, but I knew it really wasn't as nice as I wanted to make it.

I finally sat down with a CAD program, switched to polar coordinates and made up some templates to use when laying out a variety of divisions around a ring or similar object. The first link is to a PDF file that prints a 8 1/2 x 11 page of templates. You can use this alone or with the spacing guide at the second link. There are two pages in the second PDF, one for spacing on the "face" of the ring, the other for spacing designs on the "side wall" or edge of a ring.

Now the layout is very quick and very even -- no more hiding half a space in the pattern.

I hope you find them helpful.

Thanks to Sam for uploading the PDFs to his server when we couldn't load directly to the posting.

http://igraver.com/pdf/Ring%20Dividers.pdf

http://igraver.com/pdf/Ring%20Layout%20Spacing%20Guide.pdf

 

[mbroder]

Thanks,

This is very helpful. I do a lot of ring layouts for both engraving and stone setting. I was also using the high school geometry method for years, but always had to make trial and error adjustments. These could be a real time saver.

Mark

 

[Jude]

Thanks for taking the time to post. What a time saver!
Jude

 

[Mike Cirelli]

Those look like they'll come in handy.
Thanks
Mike

 

[sam]

Yup. Gary gave me a set of these templates awhile back and I use them when for ring layouts. Very handy indeed.

Gary: You've been really posting some helpful info in the Cafe lately. It's great to have you on board!!!

 

[Kerry Bogan]

Gary, very usefull, thanks.
Kerry

 

[Magnus Jensen]

Thanks for a GREAT tool !!!

 

[ED DELORGE]

Question?

Hello Tallgary, I like the template idea, I havent had to engrave any rings, so how do you use the template? Do you set the ring on the template and mark the sides of the ring according to the divisions you desire?

 

[TallGary]

Hello Tallgary, I like the template idea, I havent had to engrave any rings, so how do you use the template? Do you set the ring on the template and mark the sides of the ring according to the divisions you desire?

Hi Ed, That's exactly how you use it.

Use the circles to help center the ring to get even divisions all around. If you prefer a graduated design -- smaller at the bottom and wider at the top-- slide the bottom of the ring closer to the center. You get a slowly increasing width, narrow at the bottom, wide at the top, which works well with many rings that have a tapered profile.

Gary

 

[jlseymour]

Thanks

Thanks Gary,
Great help. been doing jewelry to long the old way...
Thanks again
JL

 

[dlilazteca]

Good old post from 2006, have not done any rings but ill save the pdf,,im sure it will serve some purpose,,,

 

[LVVP]

Gary, it is a very usefull, thanks a lot

 

[monk]

i've not even looked at these yet, but am quite willing to thank you in advance.

 

[Big-Un]

I use them often.....failed trig and analytical geometry!

Bill

 

[dlilazteca]

Big

How is it used? I read it but makes no sense?

Carlos De La O III

 

[scott99]

Very kind, thanks

scott99

 

[Dupont24]

I think you could use Adobe Illustrator's rotation tool and/or measuring tool to do something similar. You can evenly divide segments in a rotation around an object of specific size, like a ring

 

[Big-Un]

I find the center of what needs dividing, decide on the number of facets, lay the template with the corresponding number on it and burnish it in. As you can tell, I print it out and transfer it the normal way.

Bill