Baseline

Between edges 1 and 3 the development process generates a planar space curve. This is called the baseline. Normally it is drawn between the midpoints of the shorter edges but in certain cases that may change in order for it to be located entirely between the longer edges (that means, the end point of the baseline is moved to a more suitable position on the edge). The plane of the baseline curve is as ‘perpendicular’ as possible to the plate and the baseline should ideally be in the middle of the plate. You cannot affect the position of the baseline once the limits and the strip direction have been defined.

There is a mutual dependency between the baseline and the strip curves and their orientation (cf. below). Both are normally decided upon automatically but the strip direction can be controlled by you via the input form.

In the automatic case the baseline is the result of the evaluation of what is to become internal edges 1 and 3. The orientation of the strip planes will then be defined in an optimal way with respect to the baseline curve. This is the normal case.

When you control the strip direction (or actually the principal plane in or close to which the curve should be located) then the baseline direction (and hence what will become internal edges 1 and 3) must be selected so that the baseline curve may be intersected by the strip planes, that means, it need be oriented at a relatively large angle relative to the strip plane. This is done automatically once the strip direction has been defined.

In the sketch of the developed plate the baseline is indicated by a (violet) dashed-dotted line in the middle of the plate.