It is an interpolation of points using a smooth curve. MetaCURVE is useful when a curve must pass through specified points.
How to use
1. Click the MetaCURVE icon or choose the Tools > Curves > MetaCURVE command.
2. The program console prompts Local axes origin.
3. Locate axes origin of the curve following one of the two methods:
a) Click and drag within any view and release the mouse button to confirm placement;
b) Type its XYZ coordinates in the console (values should be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3) and press Enter to confirm. If you press Enter. without typing any value in the console, the axes origin of the curve will be placed in correspondence with the XYZ origin.
4. Successive clicks add control points. You can add points in any view regardless of where you started drawing the curve. If you prefer, you can type exact coordinates from the keyboard. Separate each value with a comma. Your input is immediately displayed in the console. Relative coordinate values can be inserted by typing "@" before numbers (i.e. @2,2,2).
5. Press Spacebar to stop points insertion. Hold the mouse button down after the click to interactively model the curve.
If you press the Shift key, there is no need to hold the mouse button down to interactively draw the curve: just click to place control points.
Options
XYZ coordinates
To modify XYZ coordinates of a curve point.
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. Select the point from the scroll list that appears when you click the [. . . ] button. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter.
Remove
To remove a curve point.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Pick the point you want to remove. Choose the Edit > Delete command.
Modeling Tool panel. Click the [. . . ] button and select the point you want to remove from the scroll list (the views will display it in yellow). Press the Remove button.
Insert
To add new points to the curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Insert check button on and click in any view. If you have previously selected two adjacent points, you can add points between them.
Cusp
To create a corner at selected control point/points.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Select the point you want to make cusp and press the button.
Smooth
To smooth the curve at any selected control point/points.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Select the point/points you want to smooth and press the button.
Curve Type
To open/close the selected curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Just switch the related radio button on.
Invert direction
To invert the direction or sequence of control points on the curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the button.
See also: