Draws an arc by defining three points in space.
The difference between Arc: 3 points and Arc: 3 points (ordered) is only in the order you insert points. The first tool prompts you to insert point in the following order: start point, end point, middle point; in the second tool the order is: start point, middle point, end point.
Although the difference may appear minimal, it can be important to improve the workflow.
How to use
1. Click the 3 Point Arc icon or choose the Tools > Curves > Arc > Arc: 3 points command.
2. The program console prompts Point #1.
3. Place the first point either by clicking and dragging in any view (release the mouse button to confirm placement) or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. Values must be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by pressing Enter. If you press Enter without typing any value, the point will be placed in correspondence with the XYZ origin.
4. Place the second point at the Point #2 console prompts.
5. Place the third point at the Point #3 console prompts.
You can insert points in any view regardless of where you have started.
To interactively define the arc, hold the mouse button down after the click or click while pressing the Shift key.
Options
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3
To modify XYZ coordinates of perimeter points.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the point whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter.
Extra
To specify whether you want to visualize the arc contour only or also the radii that make it appear as a pie slice.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You have the following options: Contour and Pie Slice.
Arc type
To specify whether the arc must be weighted (exact) or non-weighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You can choose either Weighted or Non-weighted. If you choose the first option the number of control points is automatically defined. With the second option you can set the number of control points in the Points section.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit it.
Points
To determine the number of control points of the arc in case you have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the more the control points, the more approximated the arc).
The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the Center of the circle, the arc Angle, and the Radius value. These are not directly modifiable.
See also: