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This first video shows the different features that make up the CircleFrame, the drawing tools that are supplied with the CircleFrame, how it can be positioned on the TactiPad and how to use the different indicators as a basis for your drawings.
TactiPad
07. Compasses
The compasses are used to draw perfect circles with a radius of 3 to 10 centimeters. It consists of a base around which the arm can rotate. Along the arm there is a centimetre scale that can be used to position the drawing point, sliding it along the length of the arm. The next video shows the different components of the compasses, the way the foot can be positioned and how to draw a circle.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
06. Protractor
The protractor can be used to measure the angle between two lines. It also contains a series of circles ranging from 0,5 to 2,5 cm that can be used to draw small precise circles. The following video shows all the features of the protractor.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
05. Triangle
The triangle is used to draw or measure the length of a line. In combination with the buttons on the edge of the drawing board it can be used to quickly make lines with an angle of 30, 45, 60 or 90 degrees. The next video shows how this is done in practice.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
04. Ruler
The first of the drawing tools that come with the Tactipad is the ruler. The following video explains how to make perfectly straight lines of a certain length or how to draw it horizontally or vertically.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
03. Frame and centimetre scale
The frame around the drawing surface contains a number of useful features that increase the precision and ease with which the drawing can be made. This video demonstrates how the buttons and centimetre scale along the frame can be used.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
02. Drawing surface and German foil
The work surface of the drawing board is a rubber surface with German foil fixed on top of it. This video shows the properties of the foil and the way it is easily mounted on the TactiPad.
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
01. TactiPad introduction
This first video tutorial gives a general description of the TactiPad drawing board and shows an overview of the different components that will be shown in the rest of the video tutorials. They will contain more details about the use and dimensions of the drawing board itself, as well as the different drawing tools (ruler, triangle, compasses and protractor).
Important: these videos show a previous version of the TactiPad. The appearance of some components has changed in newer versions of the drawing board, yet the functionality is still the same.
01. GraphGrid – Shape and function
The GraphGrid is one of the smart accessories for the TactiPad drawing board. Besides drawing freehand this accessory allows you to draw rows, columns, squares or a coordinate system in two or three dimensions. Rubber bands fixed inside and around the GraphGrid allow you to place flexible ‘graph paper’ and ‘coordinate systems’ on the TactiPad. When making creative drawings, playing games or doing school assignments, this allows you to work easily with cross-connections in tables, differences between fore- and background or spatial proportions.
Figure 1. The GraphGrid is placed on the TactiPad’s buttons.
Details of the GraphGrid
The GraphGrid is a framework that is placed on the TactiPad like a picture frame. Rubber bands, placed inside and around this framework from left to right and from top to bottom, form the axes and lines of the graph paper.
Along the inner edge, small “hooks” are placed at a regular interval of 1 centimeter. Along the outer edge of the GraphGrid, indentations are made with a spacing of 1 centimeter as well. Slightly wider indications mark 5 centimeter intervals. The locations of the hooks and indentations both exactly match with the centimeter scale along the edges of the TactiPad. This way the measurements of the drawing board become tangible on the entire drawing surface. The frame overlaps the drawing surface along the edges by one centimeter.
Because of the A4 dimensions of the drawing surface (21.0 by 29.7 cm), the centimeter scale is not symmetrical along the TactiPad. Therefore the starting point for horizontal and vertical distances is at the upper left corner of the drawing board, when it is in landscape orientation with the hinge facing backwards. To position the GraphGrid in its correct position, place it with the flat corner in the upper right corner on the TactiPad.
The eight holes in the GraphGrid fit around the knobs on the TactiPad. For this, you place the knobs at five centimeters from the corners of the drawing surface.
05. Wedge tool
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.
Figure 2. Position the wedge tool along the edge of the circle (step 1), position the compass base and turn it so it rests against the wedge tool (steps 2 and 3) and remove the wedge tool (step 4). The compass is now perfectly positioned in the centre.
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.