Ellipse Drawing Aid
H
ERE’S A SIMPLE LITTLEdevice that makes drawing an ellipse easi-
er and more accurate. To lay out the ellipse, first draw the verti-
cal and horizontal dimensions of the ellipse on a pattern board. Now
drive two pushpins into the pattern material along the long axis of the
ellipse. Tie a loop of string loosely around the pins, as shown above.
After some trial and error, you should be able to vary the position of
the pushpins and the length of the loop so that the string, when taut,
touches the vertical and horizontal dimensions of the ellipse.
Now you’re ready to use the drawing device. Mount a pencil in the
device, catch the pencil in the loop and, keeping the loop taut, trace
the circumference to draw the ellipse. The device will keep the pencil
perpendicular to the paper, which is hard to do without assistance. Use
a screw eye to lock the pencil at the right height. To keep the string
taut and down near the surface, place a small rubber grommet, avail-
able from auto-parts stores, on the tip of the pencil. The string will
ride in the groove of the grommet as you move the pencil.
—ROBERTJ. GABOR,Pittsboro, N.C.
CHAPTER SIXRubber grom-
metPushpin