The process of measuring custom curved glass may seem daunting at first, but with the proper guidance and knowledge, the process can be made much more manageable. If you want your curved glass made to specific proportions, then you will want to properly articulate that to the manufacturer.
The importance of proper measuring of curved glass cannot be understated because without the correct measurements, your final product may not turn out how you like.
To aid you in your future curved glass measurements, we have compiled this simple guide:
When it comes to measuring bent glass, it’s important to remember a few definitions. Whenever you are measuring something that is round, consider the circumference, radius, and the diameter.
The circumference relates to the distance around the outside of the circle. If you draw a line from one side of the circle to the other while going through the center point of the circle then you will get the diameter. If you measure from the very center point of the circle to the outer circumference, then you get the radius. In a perfect circle, the radius is always the same distance from the center to the circumference. These three terms can be used to describe some of your requested measurements.
Measuring bent glass is never done with a straight shot. Instead, the process involves breaking up a circle into several parts or degrees. All circles are 360 degrees so, for example, 1/8 of the circle equals 45 degrees.
Depending on where your glass will be used, you will want to know the girth, which is the length of the curve. This can either be done on the convex or the concave face of the glass. This measurement is completed with flexible tape.
Measuring the curve of the glass involves the depth, the angle, and the chord. The depth is the distance between the chord and the highest point of the curve. The angle is measured in the degrees of the bend, and the chord is the line segment between any two points on the curve. The line segment is measured with a flat ruler.
You may notice that you have a flat attached to your curve. If this is the case, a few more measurements will be needed. Here, you can get the girth by measuring the distance between the chord and the highest point of the curve. Get the length by measuring the length or the flat portion of the glass.
Additionally, the chord is the line segment between two points on a given curve and the depth which is the distance between the chord and the highest point of the curve.
In the case of a reverse curve, you would simply measure the girth by having your flexible tape follow along the curves.
Having the ability to measure the curves of your desired piece of bent glass will make the actual production that much easier. If you have any questions, we would be happy to assist you with your measurements. Contact us today!
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