LOCI

Locus;
A locus (plural loci) is a path traced out by a point, which moves under given definite conditions.
A simple example of a locus is that of a point, which moves so that its distance from another fixed point remains constant. This produces a circle as shown below. The figure
below shows a point P moving at a constant distance (radius d) from the center O.

P P
P P
P P

P P P P
Rd

Rd
P P P P

Rd Rd

P P P P

P P P P
P P

Another simple example of a locus; is that which moves so that its distance from a line remains constant, this produces parallel line

Parallel lines
d

1 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

The Use of plotting Loci
Problems on loci can take several different forms. One important practical application is finding the path traced out by points on mechanisms.
This may be done simply to see if there is sufficient clearance around a mechanism.
Now that you know what a locus is, and you know how to plot some simple locus movements, we can move on to plotting the locus of simple movements
which can be used in drawing the solution to some simple link mechanism problems in the next chapter.

Examples
The locus of a point that is equidistant from two given points.
a) Draw the points A and B.
b) Using the same convenient distance (R1) of more than half of AB, swing an arc from A and B to get point 1.
N.B. The distance you select should be greater than half the distance between point A and B.
c) Repeat the process (b) to give points 2, 3 and 4.
d) Draw a line through each point to give line XY.

B R1
1 1
2 R2 B 2 B
3 3
4 4
R1

R2

R3
A

A R3 4 A 4
3 3

2 2
1 1

2
The locus of a point that is equidistant from a point (Y) and a line.
a) Draw the point Y and line AB.
b) Draw a line parallel to AB at a distance R1and with Y as center and radius R1 draw an arc to intersect the previous line.
NB. the distances you select should be greater than half the distance between the line AB and point Y

A A
A

R3
R3

R2
R2
R1 R1
Y Y Y

R1 R1

R2 R2

B R3 B R3
B

The Locus of a point that is equidistant from a point and a circle.

a) Draw the given point and the circle.
b) With radius R1 draw an arc from G, With center O of the given circle and radius (R1+r) draw an arc to intersect the previous arc.
c) Repeat this procedure for different values of R.
NB. The distances (R) you select should be greater than half the distance between point G and H.
d) Join all the intersection points to obtain the required locus.

3 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

The locus of a point that is equidistant from a point (Y) and a circle.
a) Draw the given point and the circle.
b) With radius R1 draw an arc from G. With center O of the given circle and radius (R1 + r) draw an arc to intersect the previous arc.
c) Repeat this procedure for different values of R.
d) NB. The distances (R) you select should be greater than half the distance between point G and H.
e) Join all the intersection points to give the required locus.

R3
r+ R2
r+
1
r+R G

r
R1
R2

R3
The locus of a point that is equidistant from two circles
a) Draw the two given circles, with center D and E.
b) Choose a convenient distance greater than half the distance between point T and X; e.g. distance R1
Using D as radius (r + R1) make an arc. Using center E and radius (R + R1) swing an arc to intersect the previous arc at point 1.
c) Repeat the previous procedure for different distances of R2, R3, R4, etc so that you can obtain other intersection points 2,3, and 4.
d) Draw a smooth curve passing through each intersection point 1,2,3, and 4. This curve is a path of a point equidistant from two circles.

R+
R1
R1
r+

R
E
D
R

4
 THE INVOLUTE
An involute is the locus traced by the end of a taut piece of string when it is rolled/ unrolled from a basic shape. The word involute means,
" to unfold".

Construction of an involute of a circle.

QN: Draw a path traced out by an end of a piece of thread when unwound from a circle of diameter 40 mm, the thread being kept tight during unwound. Name the curve
traced.

Method 1
a) Draw the circle and divide it into 12 equal sectors and label them.
b) Draw tangents from the twelve divisions on the circumference of the circle 1.e. at A, B, C, ....
c) Use point A as center, A-L as radius and swing an arc to intersect the tangent from A to a.
d) Repeat procedure (c) with OB 30° from OA to join a to b.
e) Repeat this process until all the 12 divisions of the circle have been unwound to give the involute.
i

F f Ø4 F
G 0 G
E E
H H
D D

O I O I
C C
e e
J J
B B

A K A K l

a
L a
L
d d INVOLUTE OF A CIRCLE
b b
c c

5 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

 Method 2
a) Draw the circle and divide it into 12 equal sectors.
b) Draw tangents from the twelve divisions on the circumference of the circle i.e at A, B, C, ....
1 1
c) Measure a twelfth (12 ) of the circumference with dividers or pair of compasses and step off an arc from the tangential point as the line unrolls (12 ) of the circumference.
1 1
When the line has unrolled (6) of the circumference, the dividers are stepped off twice, When the line has unrolled (4) of the circumference, the dividers are stepped off
thrice and so on...
d) When all the twelve points have been plotted, they are joined together with a neat freehand curve or with the help of a French curve.

F F
E G G
E
H H
D D
O I O I
C C
J J
B B
A K K
L A
L

9 9

8 8
10 10

7 7
6 6
5 5
4 11 4 11
3 3
2 2
4 1 4 1
5 3 2 1 5 3 2 1
6 F 6 F
E G E G
1 1
H H
2 D 2 D
3 3
4 1 O I 4 1 O I
C C
2 2
5 1 B J 5 1 B J
3 3
K 12 K 12
2 A1 2 A1
L L
1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
4 2 4 2
3 3 INVOLUTE OF A CIRCLE

6
To construct a tangent onto an involute of a circle.
a) Choose a convenient point (P) on the involute and join it to the center of the circle.
b) Bisect OP and draw a semi- circle. The semi circle will intersect the circle at H.
c) Join H to P. That line is called the normal

TANGENT ONTO AN INVOLUTE OF A CIRCLE.

TANGENT
9
NORMAL
8
10

7
9

11
NORMAL
8
10

7
O

5 11
12

1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
6
2
3

5
12

1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2
3

7 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

 Steps for constructing an involute of a square. The same steps apply to all.
a) Draw the square.
b) Imagine the involute as a piece of string being unwounf from around the square.
c) Extend side 3-2 and use 2 as center, 1-2 as radius and draw an arc to intersect the extended side 3-2 at 1a.
d) Extend side 4-3 and use 3 as center, 1a-3 as radius and draw an arc to intersect the extended side 4-3 at 2a.
e) Extend side 4-1 and use 4 as center, 2a-4 as radius and draw an arc to intersect the extended side 4-1 at 3a
c) Extend side 1-2 and use 1 as center, 3a-1 as radius and draw an arc to intersect the extended side 1-2 at 4a.
4a
3a
2a

1a

INVOLUTE OF AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE 2

1 3

5 4 3a

4 1 1
3a
5a

3 2 1a
3 2 1a

4a

INVOLUTE OF A REGULAR PENTAGON

2a

INVOLUTE OF A SQUARE 2a

INVOLUTE OF A SEMI-CIRCLE AND TWO SIDES

OF AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE

8
SPIRALS
Definition:

A curve not necessarily plane, whose radius vector increases or decreases progressively with polar angle.

There are two types of spirals;

a) Archimedean spiral
b) Conical spiral

Archimedean Spiral;
This is characterized by equal movement towards or away from pole during equal angular movement about the pole. Thus it is a spiral of arithmetic progression.

Construction of the Archimedean Spiral.

a) Draw the longest radius vector OB and the shortest OA and divide the line AB into 12 equal parts.
b) Draw a circle bearing the radius vector OB and divide it into 12 equal sectors of 30° and draw an arc 1 to 1, 2 to 2, 3 to 3 and so on from center O. Draw the arcs to cut
the radial lines as shown below.
c) Draw a smooth curve through each point to give the Archimedean Spiral traveling from B to A.

QN:
at a point 50 mm from the pole.

3 3
4 2 4 2

5 1 5 1
Ø90

Ø20

6 7 891011 15 17 6 7 891011 15 17
01 23 4 5 6 12 1314 16 18 01 23 4 5 6 12 1314 16 18

7 11 7 11

8 10 8 10
9 9

9 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

 Conical Spiral;
This is a curve generated on the surface of a cone by a point, which revolves uniformly around the cone and at the same time moves up or down the cone.
Construction of the Conical spiral.
a) Draw the front elevation and plan of the cone.
b) Divide the plan into 12 equal sectors and project these lines from the plan onto the front elevation. These are angular divisions.
c) Divide the pitch of the cone into 12 equal sections, and mark off the height of each division around the cone. These are the heights or linear divisions.
d) Project these divisions on the horizontal line in the plan.
e) Join the corresponding points of intersection, i.e. the first angular division with the first height division. This gives the conical spiral in the front elevation and the
Archimedean spiral in the plan.

QN: Draw a conical spiral of one convolution upon a cone of base diameter 50 mm, and pitch 60 mm.

0 0
1 1
2 2
3 0,12
3
4 4
5 5
6
PITCH(60)

6 11

PITCH
7 7 0
8 8

1
9 9
10 10

2
10
11

3
11
12 12

4
9

5
6
7
8
FRONT ELEVATION FRONT ELEVATION

8
3 3

9
4 2 4 7
2

10
11
5 1 1 6
5

12
0
5
1
4
2 3
6 0, 12 6 0, 12

Ø50 7 11
DEVELOPMENT OF THE CONICAL SPIRAL
7 11

8 10 8 10
9 9

PLAN PLAN

10
 0 0
0
1 1
1
2 2
2
3 3
3
4 4
4
5 5
5
6 6
6
7 7
PITCH

7
8 8
8
9 9
9
10 10
10
11 11
11
12 12
12

FRONT ELEVATION FRONT ELEVATION FRONT ELEVATION

3 3
3
4 2 4 2
4 2

5 1 5 1
5 1

6 0, 12 6 0, 12
6 0, 12

7 11 7 11
7 11

8 10 8 10
8 10
9
PLAN PLAN

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THE HELIX
A helix is the locus of a point, which moves around a cylinder, and at the same time advances in the direction of the axis and both movements are in constant ratio.
There are two types of helices.
a) The left-hand helix
b) The right-hand helix.

Terms associated with the helix.

Pitch: This is the distance from a point on the helix to a similar point on the next revolution, measured parallel to the axis.

Lead: This is the amount of axial advance during one complete revolution of the helix. In a single thread screw or one start thread, the pitch and the lead are identical. In a
two-start thread the lead is twice the pitch.

Hand: A helix may be either right-hand (rising towards the right) or left-hand (rising towards the left).
The diagram below shows how to differentiate a left-hand helix from a right-hand helix using the hand rule.

Place your left thumb alon the shape of the helix

shown, you will notice that the shape of the thumb
is similar to that of the helix.

This is the left-hand helix and vice versa.

FRONT ELEVATION FRONT ELEVATION

90°
120° 60° 300° 270° 240°
150° 30° 330° 210°
LEFT-HAND HELIX 0°,360° 180°
180° 0°,360°

210° 330° 30° 150°

RIGHT-HAND HELIX
60°
240° 270° 300° 90°
120°

12
 CONSTRUCTION OF THE HELIX
The following are examples of how to construct different types of helices.
Left- hand Helix
Construction of the Left-Hand helix and its development.
a) Draw the plan and elevation of the cylinder, divide the plan into 12 equal sectors and label them 0-11 in the opposite direction of the right-hand helix.
b) Project the sectors from the plan onto the front elevation of the cylinder.
c) Divide the height if the cylinder into 12 equal sections and project them across the front elevation.
d) Draw a smooth curve through each intersection point on the front elevation of the cylinder.
This curve shows the path of a point would take if it were to travel from the bottom of the cylinder to the top in one revolution.
e) Draw the development of the cylinder.
f) Draw a line diagonally across the development of the cylinder, this shows the development of the helix.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE HELIX

0
LEFT-HAND HELIX 11
10
9
8
5
7
6
4
3
2
1
0

Ø
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 0
FRONT ELEVATION
9
8 10 Ø HELICAL ANGLE
7 11

6 0

5 1

4 3 2
PLAN
13 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga
 Right- hand Helix
Construction of the Left-Hand helix and its development.
a) Draw the plan and elevation of the cylinder, divide the plan into 12 equal sectors and label them 0-11 in the opposite direction of the left-hand helix.
b) Project the sectors from the plan onto the front elevation of the cylinder.
c) Divide the height if the cylinder into 12 equal sections and project them across the front elevation.
d) Draw a smooth curve through each intersection point on the front elevation of the cylinder.
This curve shows the path of a point would take if it were to travel from the bottom of the cylinder to the top in one revolution.
e) Draw the development of the cylinder.
f) Draw a line diagonally across the development of the cylinder, this shows the development of the helix.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE HELIX

0
RIGHT-HAND HELIX 11
10
9
8
5
7
6
4
3
2
1
0

Ø
FRONT ELEVATION 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 0
9
10 8 Ø HELICAL ANGLE
11 7

0
6
1 5

2 3 4
PLAN
14
Double helix
Construction of the left-hand double helix.
a) Draw the plan and front elevation of the cylinder, divide the plan into 12 equal sectors and label them 0-11 in the opposite direction of the right-hand helix.
b) Project the sectors from the plan onto the front elevation of the cylinder.
c) Divide the height of the cylinder into 24 equal sections and project them across the front elevation.
d) Draw a smooth curve through each intersection point on the front elevation of the cylinder.
e) This curve shows the path of a point would take if it were to travel from the bottom of the cylinder to the top in two revolutions.
f) Draw the development of the cylinder.
g) Draw a line diagonally across the development of the cylinder, this shows the development of the helix.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE DOUBLE HELIX

FRONT ELEVATION 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 0
9
8 10
7 11

6 0

5 1

4 3 2
PLAN

15 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

 CYCLOIDS
A cycloid is the path or locus of a point on the circumference of a circle, which rolls without slipping along a straight line. Imagine a bicycle
wheel with one spoke rolling along a straight path, if the path of the end of the spoke was traced as the wheel rolls along; this path would be a cycloid and is shown below.

P5 P6
Rolling whee l P7
P4 P8
Ø42
P3 P9

Straight line P2
P10
P1 P11
P0 P12
Straight line

Construction of the Cycloid:

a) Draw the circle and the baseline (straight line).
b) Divide the circle into 12 equal parts and project the intersection points across.
c) Step off the circle divisions (r) onto the baseline to represent the circumference of the circle.
d) Swing the circle radius from (0 to 12) to intersect the corresponding line from the circle.
e) Join up the intersection points to plot the path of point P on the circle as it rolls on the baseline.

16
 P6
P5
P7
P4 P8
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
P3 R P9

P2 P10

P1 P11
r

P0,P12
r

P6
P5
P7
P4 P8

R
0 1 2 3 R 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
P3 R P9 R
R
P2 P10

P1 P11
r

P0,P12

P6 CYCLOID
P5
P7
P4 P8
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
P3 R P9

P2 P10

P1 P11
r

P0,P12

17 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

 Construction of a tangent onto the cycloid.
a) Choose a convenient point on the cycloid onto which you are going to construct the tangent (in this case point Y).
b) Use point Y as center, radius (R) of the circle and swing an arc to intersect the centerline at H.
c) Drop a perpendicular from H to intersect the baseline at point Z.
d) Join Y to Z and this gives you the normal of the cycloid.
e) Construct a perpendicular bisector to the normal through point Y; this gives us the required Tangent.

NORMAL

P6
P5
P7
Y
P4 P8
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 H 8 9 10 11 12
P3 R P9

P2 P10

P1 P11
r

P0,P12 Z

TANGENT

P6
P5
P7
Y
P4 P8
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 H 8 9 10 11 12
P3 R P9

P2 P10

P1 P11
r

P0,P12 Z

18
Types of cycloids
a) Epicycloid
b) Hypocycloid

If a circle rolls, without slipping, round the outside of a fixed circle then the path of the point P on the circumference of the rolling circle yields an EPICYCLOID.
If a circle rolls without slipping, around the inside of a fixed circle then the path of the point P, on the circumference of the rolling circle, yields a HYPOCYCLOID.

Imagine two bicycle wheels with one spoke each rolling along the inside and outside of circle, if the path of the end of the spokes were traced as the wheel rolls along, this
path would be an Epicycloid for the outside circle and a Hypocycloid for the inside circle.

Construction of the Epicycloid.

a) Draw the circle onto the baseline.
b) Divide the circle into 12 equal sectors and draw these points (P1to P11) and the center point C parallel to the baseline. Use point Y as your reference center to draw
the parallel lines.
c) Measure the distance from P1 to P2 and step off this distance 12 times along the baseline.
d) Draw lines from Y to pass through the divisions on the baseline to intersect the centerline of the circle.
e) On this centerline, use (CP0) as radius and mark the positions of P on the circle as it rolls along the baseline.
f) Draw a smooth curve through each point to show the path of P on the circle.

C
Baseline

19 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

 QN: Draw an epicycloid of a circle of diameter 50 mm, which rolls outside a circle of diameter 180 mm for one revolution. Also, draw a tangent and a normal to the
epicycloid at a point 135mm from the centre of the directing circle.

3 4 5
2 6
7
1
P7 P8
8
0
Ø5 P9
0 P6 9
r
P10

r
P5 10

P11
P4 11

P0,P12
P3

r
P1 12
P2

90

20
 3 4 5
2 6
7
1
P7 P8
8
0
P9
P6 9
r
P10

r
P5 10

P11
P4 11

P0,P12
P3

r
P1 12
P2
99°
r

EPICYCLOID

3 4 5
2 6
7
1
P7 P8
8
0
P9
P6 9
r
P10

r
P5 10

P11
P4 11

P0,P12
P3

r
P1 12
P2
99°
r

21 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

Construction of the Hypocycloid
a) Draw the circle under the baseline.
b) Divide the circle into 12 equal sectors and draw these points (P1to P11) and the center point C parallel to the baseline. Use point Y as your reference center to draw
the parallel lines.
c) Measure the distance from P1 to P2 and step off this distance 12 times along the baseline.
d) Draw lines from Y to pass through the divisions on the baseline to intersect the centerline of the circle.
e) On this centerline, use (CP0) as radius and mark the positions of P on the circle as it rolls along the baseline.
f) Draw a smooth curve through each point to show the path of P on the circle.

Baseline
P

QN: Draw a hypocycloid of a circle of diameter 50 mm, which rolls inside a circle of diameter 180 mm for one revolution. Also, draw a tangent and a normal to the
hypocycloid at a point 50 mm from the centre of the directing circle.

22
 P8 P9
2 3 4 5 6
P7 1 7
P 100 8
9
10
11
P6 P 11 12

P12
P5 P 0,

P4 P1

P3 P2

TROCHOIDS
Types of trochoids
a) Inferior trochoid
b) Superior trochoid

Inferior trochoids: this is the path or locus of a point, which lies on the inside of a circle that rolls without slipping along a straight line.
superior trochoids: this is the path or locus of a point, which lies outside the circle that rolls without slipping along a straight line.

Construction of the inferior trochoid.

a) Draw the circle under the baseline.
b) Draw a circle of radius (CP0) and divide the circle into 12 equal sectors and project the intersection points across.
c) Measure the distance (1-2) from the circle that is rolling and step off this distance 12 times along the baseline and draw vertical lines to intersect the centerline of
the circle, creating point (0 to 12) as shown.
d) Swing arcs of radius (CP0) from the points 0 t0 12 along the centerline to intersect the respective horizontal lines as shown.
e) Draw a smooth curve through each point to show the path of P on the circle. Join up all the points to show the path of points P as the big circle of radius (C-0)
rotates along the baseline.

23 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga

QN: A circle of diameter 50 mm rolls along a straight line for one revolution. Draw the locus of a point, lying at a distance of 16 mm from the centre of the circle.

6
5 7

P6
4 P5 P7
8
P4 P8
C 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
3 P3 P9 9

P2 P10
2 10
P1 P0
P11
11
1
r

6
5 7
INFERIOR TROCHOID
P6
4 P5 P7
8
P4 P8
0C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
3 P3 P9 9

P2 P10
2 10
P1 P0
P11
11
1 r
r

0
r r

24
 Construction of the superior trochoid.
a) Draw the circle under the baseline.
b) Draw a circle of radius (CP0) and divide the circle into 12 equal sectors and project the intersection points across.
c) Measure the distance (1-2) from the circle that is rolling and step off this distance 12 times along the baseline and draw vertical lines to intersect the centerline of the
circle, creating point (0 to 12) as shown.
d) Swing arcs of radius (CP0) from the points 0 t0 12 along the centerline to intersect the respective horizontal lines as shown.
e) Draw a smooth curve through each point to show the path of P on the circle. Join up all the points to show the path of points P as the small circle of radius (C-0) rotates
along the baseline.

QN: A circle of diameter 50 mm rolls along a straight line for one revolution. Draw the locus of a point, lying at a distance of 36 mm from the centre of the circle.

P6
P7
P5 SUPERIOR TROCHOID
6
P4 5 7
P8
4 8

P3 3 9 P9

2 10
P2 1 11 P10
0
P1 P11
r
P0

26 Prepared by: Samson Nsubuga