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The CircleFrame is the name of the product which includes the wedge tool, the 468 triangle and the zigzag triangle, and a frame with a large circle in the middle. The frame itself is called circle frame (no capitals).

Photo: Circle frame positioned on the knobs of the TactiPad.

Detailed description of the circle frame

The circle frame has similar dimensions as the TactiPad (28 cm by 37 cm). The thickness of the frame is four millimetres.
Near the outer edge of the frame oval holes can be found to place the frame in one of three positions on the TactiPad.
For an a-centric position, two additional holes are present at both sides near the circle.
In the middle of the circle frame is a large circle cut out with a diameter of 20 centimetres. This is the actual drawing area for the drawings.
Along the edge of this circle clear tactile markings every five degrees are provided, which form a large protractor.
Around the outside of the circle there are extra markings: a teardrop shape for every 30 degrees, a line for every 45 degrees,
or a combination of both where they coincide at 0, 90, 180 and 270 degrees.
Indentations are placed around the outside of the circle frame in which rubber bands can be attached.
These indentations are positioned at every 10 degrees seen from the centre of the circle.
Slightly wider indents make the positions for 0, 30, 45, 60, 90 degrees, etc. easily recognizable

Circle frame manual

Because the circle is exactly in the middle of the circle frame, the frame is horizontally and vertically symmetrical. Therefore, there is no difference in shape between the yellow and black side. The orientation of the circle frame on the TactiPad therefore needs no consideration.

Preparing the TactiPad
Place the knobs of the TactiPad five centimetres away from the corners.
The circle frame can be placed in three different positions: in the middle of the drawing board with the edges coinciding with those of the TactiPad, or in two positions left and right of the centre when in landscape orientation.
Make sure the eight oval holes near the outer edge of the circle frame fit all over a knob.

Photo: Indications run along the edge of the circle: small indents for every 5 degrees, drop shaped ones every 30 degrees and straight ones every 45 degrees.

Insert the tools in the circle
The wedge tool, your templates based on the 468triangle or the zigzag triangle can rotate freely over 360 degrees within the circle.
The drawing tools preferably are aligned with the degree markings along the circle.

For detailed descriptions and manuals of related tools see:

Zigzag triangle

468Triangle

Wedge tool

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Photo: Zigzag triangle in the circle frame

The size of the zigzag triangle is such so that it fits exactly inside the 20 centimetres diameter of the circle.
The three sides of the body of the triangle all have a different pattern. The middle section of the triangle is open.
The inner sides do have the same patterns as the outside, at a smaller scale.
The zigzag triangle is also called a ‘Christmas tree’.

Detailed description

The corners of the triangle are rounded. One corner has an alignment indentation to align the triangle
with the degree markings along the edge of the circle. The side opposite the indented corner is straight.
Another one provides a smooth wave pattern, the final one has a zigzag pattern.
Along the inner and outer side of the straight side two small indents indicate the length of a line segment to construct a hexagon.
In the straight side oval holes can be found to hold a pen while rotating the triangle.
The holes are placed to obtain curves at four, five, six, seven, eight or nine centimetres relative to the centre of the circle.
Pushpin markers are placed near the corners.

Zigzag triangle manual

Preparing the TactiPad

Place all eight knobs of the TactiPad approximately five centimetres away from the corners. Place the circle frame on top of the TactiPad.

Using the zigzag triangle

The large zigzag triangle fits exactly inside the circle with the rounded corners nearly touching the circle edge. It can rotate freely.
Place your pointing finger on the alignment indent and align the triangle at 12 o’clock.

Equilateral triangle inside the circle

Start with the indented corner at 12 o’clock and draw along the straight outside of the triangle. Rotate the tool over 120 degrees clockwise (which is at 4 o’clock) and draw the line.
Rotate once more over 120 degrees (which is at 8 o’clock).

Hexagon in the circle

Align the indented corner at any degree indication and draw a line only between the two indents along the inner or outer straight side. Rotate the triangle over 60 degrees and repeat the draw.
In total four more rotations are required to finish the shape.

Repetitive patterns; Mandala type of figures
By tracing segments of the sides and/or combining patterns intriguing drawings will emerge. Whatever you do, the result is fascinating.

Photo: With the zigzag triangle you can create intriguing shapes and patterns.

Oval holes to create arches
The holes in the straight side of the triangle can hold a pen.
Rotate the triangle holding the pen.
Arches with a length depending on the amount of rotation and the selected radius will occur.

For detailed descriptions and manuals of related tools see:

Circle frame

468Triangle

Wedge tool

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Photo: 468Triangle

Detailed description

The 468Triangle is a triangular shaped frame with a width of one centimetre.
The main purpose is to serve as a template for ‘home made’ templates.
The inner space of the triangle is open.
The corners of the triangle are pointy so they fit in the indents at the edge of the circle of the framework.
The length of the sides are designed so they exactly span an arc of 45, 60 or 90 degrees, seen from the centre of the circle.
The ‘468’ refers to the number of rotations required for the triangle to return on the same position in the circle; four, six or eight times.
Pushpin markers are located at the top surface.

468Triangle Manual

The 468Triangle tool is intended to create your own drawing templates out of cardboard or other sturdy material.
Giving one side of the template a length similar to one of the triangle sides, it will fit by rotating eight, six or four times in the full 360 degrees of the CircleFrame.

Your template
Cut out an – irregular – shape from the centre of your template.
Place the template against the edge of the circle and trace the inner contour.
Depending on the chosen length, rotate the template 45, 60 or 90 degrees to obtain a symmetrical pattern.
Recurrence and/or partial overlap will give your drawing an unexpected appeal.

Alignment with indents from start to end

Because the side of your template has a specific length, it will by rotating the template eight, six or four times respectively, along the circle’s edge, end up at the starting position again.

Photo: The 468Triangle tool is placed along the edge of the circle in the frame

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Photo: Wedge tool

Detailed description

The wedge-shaped drawing tool has a rounded edge that matches the curve of the circle in the circle frame. This rounded side covers an arc of 45 degrees. Near the rounded edge grooves per six degrees (one minute) are located. A little further away from the edge a hole is present.

Radius and center
Two sides of this tool end in a flattened point. One of these sides is straight and ends in a very small point that serves as a pen blocker. This pen blocker also exactly coincides with the centre of the circle. The straight side forms the radius for the circle.
The other side of the wedge is slightly curved inward. This side has small indents at every centimetre.
The small block between the indents at 2 and 3 centimetre is used to position the compass base.

Wedge tool manual

Make sure the circle frame is placed properly on the TactiPad.

Drawing pie charts

The wedge tool can be used to draw pie charts, which are often used to present statistic information in fields such as mathematics, economics and geography. The quantity that each sector represents corresponds with an arc of a certain number of degrees. By determining the angle between two radii on the inside of the circle, you can draw the pie chart very accurately.
Keep the tool in place with one or two fingers in the hole in the tool and press it against the edge of the circle.

Many other mathematical concepts in which degrees and angles play a key role, such as vectors or polar and trigonometric functions, can be explained and drawn as well using the CircleFrame tools.

Centering the compasses in the circle frame

Another function of the wedge tool is to position the compass in the centre of the circle frame. You can achieve this by placing the wedge tool anywhere against the edge of the circle with the compass base against the flattened tip of the wedge. The centre of the compass base now hooks around the pen blocker at the tip of the wedge tool.
By slightly turning the base counter clockwise, it will catch the small protruding block on the curved side of the wedge. This way, the compass base is exactly in the middle of the circle. By removing the wedge tool and placing the compass arm into the base, you can draw a circle precisely in the centre of the circle frame.

You can also combine the compass with the edge of the circle. The indents per five degrees are semi-circular and have the same diameter as the needle of the compass. After placing the compass base on the circle frame, you can slide the needle of the compass into one of the indents along the edge. The centre of the arcs are now exactly on the circle. By drawing multiple arcs along the edge of the circle, you can create intriguing repetitive geometric patterns.

Drawing the hands of a clock

Around the circle of the circle frame, multiples of 30 degrees are indicated by drop-shaped indentations. These make up for the twelve hours of the clock.
To draw a clock hand, you can use the wedge tool. Along the rounded side you will find grooves at an angle corresponding to 1 minute, or 6 degrees. The longer groove of 2 centimetre indicates the position of 5 minutes or 1 hour later. After placing the wedge tool with the rounded side against the edge of the circle and aligning the straight side with one of the hour indications, you can set the minute and draw the hands of the clock as radii and have it set at any desired time.

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