Draws a circle by defining three points on its perimeter.
How to use
1. Click the 3 Point Circle icon or choose the Tools > Curves > Circle > Circle: 3 point command.
2. The program console prompts Point #1.
3. Place the first point either by clicking and dragging within 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 and third point at the Point #2 and Point #3 console prompts.
You can insert points in any view regardless of where you have started. Hold the mouse button down after the click to interactively model the circle.
If you press the Shift key there is no need to hold the mouse button down to draw the circle: just click to define points placement.
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.
Start angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the Start point hotSpot and drag it. Release the mouse button once you have reached the desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter. The value can range from 0 to 360 degrees.
End angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the End point hotSpot and drag it. Release the mouse button once you have reached the desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter. The value can range from 0 to 360 degrees.
Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or non-weighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You have the following options: Weighted and 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 section below.
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 circle 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 circle).
The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the Center of the circle and the Radius value. These are not modifiable.
See also: