Catenary Curve Plugin

[Paolo]

I have just released a plugin to create catenary curves.

 

From Wikipedia:

Catenary is the curve that an idealized hanging chain or cable assumes under its own weight when supported only at its ends in a uniform gravitational field.

 

 

It is essentially a "line object" plugin: click and drag to get the initial couple of end points on the XY plane.

 

Customizable parameters:

• Independent Z for both ends.
• Direction [downward (chain) or upward(arch)].
• By length or by sag methods: you can establish the length of the chain or the chain lowest (or highest) point.
• Buttons to extract a 3D polygon or a 2D polygon out of the PIO.

 

More info on my site page: Catenary Curve for Vectorworks®

[jmcewen]

On 2/7/2024 at 1:31 PM, Paolo said:

I have just released a plugin to create catenary curves.

 

From Wikipedia:

Catenary is the curve that an idealized hanging chain or cable assumes under its own weight when supported only at its ends in a uniform gravitational field.

 

 

It is essentially a "line object" plugin: click and drag to get the initial couple of end points on the XY plane.

 

Customizable parameters:

• Independent Z for both ends.
• Direction [downward (chain) or upward(arch)].
• By length or by sag methods: you can establish the length of the chain or the chain lowest (or highest) point.
• Buttons to extract a 3D polygon or a 2D polygon out of the PIO.

 

More info on my site page: Catenary Curve for Vectorworks®

I could have used this so many times in the past.  Will be downloading.  Thank you!

[Andy Broomell]

Paolo to the rescue again! Needed catenary curves and this tool does it perfectly.

[E|FA]

Gaudi really could have used this plugin, it would have saved him from building models:

 

https://dataphys.org/list/gaudis-hanging-chain-models/

[mjm]

On 6/26/2025 at 4:16 PM, Andy Broomell said:

Paolo to the rescue again! Needed catenary curves and this tool does it perfectly.

Hey there @Paolo I purchased this wonderful plugin February, 2024. How do I install it for VWX 2025?

Thanks,

m

[Paolo]

@mjm simply repeat the installation instructions you followed for the 2024 version using the very same 2024 plugin version: https://fitplot.it/vwplugins/catenary.html#installation

[mjm]

On 6/28/2025 at 4:55 AM, Paolo said:

@mjm simply repeat the installation instructions you followed for the 2024 version using the very same 2024 plugin version: https://fitplot.it/vwplugins/catenary.html#installation

@Paolo Thank you very much.