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To divide a circle into equal parts with a compass and straightedge, draw a diameter, split it into the number of parts you want, use intersecting compass arcs to locate a transfer point, then step that distance around the circumference. WOOD Magazine’s construction, credited to Vernon Raaen of Oak Ridge, Tenn., gives a worked example for six parts and is framed for any chosen number of segments.
How the compass construction works
A diameter gives you a reference line through the circle’s center. Dividing that line into N equal lengths determines a ray; the construction uses that ray to establish a compass distance that can be transferred around the circle.
WOOD Magazine describes the method in A Simple Way to Divide Circles, updated December 19, 2024. The article credits the procedure to Vernon Raaen of Oak Ridge, Tenn. Its six-part example illustrates the steps below.
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- Draw a diameter. Mark the circle’s center and draw a straight line through it, crossing the circumference at A and B.
- Divide the diameter. Split AB into the number of equal parts you want around the circle. For six spokes, divide AB into six equal lengths and identify the second mark from A.
- Find the arc intersection. Set a compass point at A and draw an arc. Without changing the compass setting, repeat from B. Label an intersection of the arcs C.
- Establish the transfer point. Draw a straight line from C through the second mark on AB and extend it until it meets the circle at D.
- Step the distance around the rim. Set the compass to the distance AD. Starting at A, use that setting to mark successive points around the circumference. Those marks locate the equally spaced divisions.
Using the method for a different number of parts
Replace six with the number N you need: divide the diameter into N equal lengths, then use the second mark from A for the line through C. The compass setting AD is then transferred around the circumference. The source presents this as a construction for a chosen number of segments, but does not provide a numerical accuracy study or an error percentage. On a physical layout, careful center-finding, straight lines, and consistent compass pressure matter to the result.
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When to use a protractor or CAD instead
| Method | Equipment | What it produces | Useful distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compass construction | Compass and straightedge | Marks on a physical circle | Uses a diameter, intersecting arcs, and a transferred compass setting. |
| Protractor | Protractor and marking tool | Angle-based marks on a physical layout | Establishes divisions by measuring angles rather than transferring AD. |
| CAD Divide | CAD software | Digital divisions on a selected circle or curve | ZWCAD documentation describes Divide as splitting an object into a chosen number of equal segments. |
| CAD Measure | CAD software | Digital points at fixed intervals on a selected circle or curve | Use this when the interval length matters rather than the number of divisions. |
For a physical wheel or woodworking layout, the compass method creates marks directly on the work. A protractor offers an angle-based alternative. In a digital drawing, ZWCAD’s Divide and Measure documentation distinguishes a chosen segment count from fixed-length intervals on circles and other curves.
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