APPROXIMATION OF SURFACES OF REVOLUTION BY DEVELOPABLE SURFACES

Algorithms are developed for approximation of surfaces of revolution b y parts of cones and cylinders. The method can be extended to other su rfaces generated by moving a planar curve. The main idea is to use the offset curves with an offset +/- epsilon of a given planar curve for controlling the approximation with respect to a maximal error toleranc e epsilon. As a result we obtain a planar pattern of the considered su rfaces, and thus the surfaces can be approximately developed by bendin g the planar development. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.