Cone Calculator

Instructions:

Pick a unit (to be used for all three dimensions). Pick a paper size (you can mix and match paper and units). Enter the two diameters of your cone section. One of them can be 0. It does not matter which one is the big one: the program will do the right thing. Enter the height and click calculate. Depending on your browser setup, you will either see your template right away or you will be prompted to open it or save it. Some browser might warn you that this type of file (pdf) can harm your computer: don't worry I have no idea how to generate such a file!

Once you have the file, printing it at 100% can be a challenge on some systems (I'm looking at you, Mac OS X). Settings for "no scaling" or "100%" or "full size" may be scattered around in more than one dialog box... The printed dimensions should be right within 1/72 of an inch (that's the internal unit used by pdf).

Unit selection: Inches Millimeters
Paper Selection: Letter Legal A4 A3 A2
Base diameter:
Top diameter:
Height:
Filename:

Thanks:

Henner Meinhold for working out the math and creating the spreadsheet that I used as a basis for this page. If you print the template using the default values on this page, you will be on your way to build Henner's Sugar Pine and Madera RR's: Betsie.

Olivier Plathey for creating the excellent FPDF PHP class that generates pdf files.

Lesile Wang for suggesting I add a gluing tab to the template.