Easy Dynamic Block Question

[jewels]

I'm new to dynamic blocks.

I have a good understanding of the idea of chaining. However, I have been working on this block for too long, and was wondering if anyone could help.

I want to stretch this trapezoid shape so that it is taller or shorter (vertically). However, I want to maintain the angle of each of the side lines so that no matter how tall or short the trapezoid shape is stretched, the sides of the trapezoid will always remain at a 95 degree angle.

[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/User/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]
How do I do this?
Thanks in advance!
~jewels.

[hazardman]

not so simple an answer...

to do what you want the horizontal lines will have to shrink/enlarge in order to maintain the angle...i don't think chaining actions will do...i beleive you will need 1 linear parameter, for the height, and then 4 stretch parameter for each coner using distance multipliers and angle offset values...

the distance multiplier will probably be 2.9986/3 (3 is the lenght of your angle line) as the angle line is longer the vertical dimension so it need to grow/shrink a % value...

just to get you going, i set-up the top-left corner so look at the parameter values and reverse engineer from there...

[hazardman]

here's another way by using a linear parameter on the angle and then playing with only the angle offset for the stretch...i did the top line only...

[hazardman]

just checking in to see if the above helped you out any...

[jewels]

well, the second method was extremely helpful.... i worked on it for a few more hours, and i got a lot further....
but, the next day i was pulled off the project (the nature of engineering) and haven't looked at it since... i should have the chance to look at it again in the next few days.... i'll try to keep you posted if i get to my final desired result... wish me luck, & thanks for the help!

jewels
(a mechanical engineer)