Need some spiral math....

[Science Abuse]

Got a project at work, we need to construct a winding drum. On this drum is a spiral that must wrap 8' of cable. If you have a garage, you can go out and look at these.

The drum has to be within a certain dimensional tolerance on all 3 axis, yet still wrap the same length of cable within 3/8".

I'm guessing it's some manipulation of a circumference measurement.

http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/2945/drumgm4.jpg

We had a guy that knew this, but he won a pissing contest...against a guy that could fire him.

[Lustalbert]

Surface area of drum vs. surface area of cable. (surface area of cable W*L, ignore circumfrance of cable).

8' of 1/4" cable

8*12 = length in inches (96)

96 * width .25 (I would use .30 so there is room between cables, maybe more or less pending your cable)

28.8 sq in

How much space do you have for your drum?

surface of a cylinder is (IIRC) 2PiR*length of cylinder

Its early, in about 5 cups of coffe I might have something better than the work a kindergartner could turn out.