Draws a circle by defining one perimeter point and two points of tangency on two existing lines.
How to use
1. Click the Point Bitangent Circle icon or choose the Tools > Curves > Circle > Circle: point, 2 tangents command.
2. The program console prompts Point.
3. Place the perimeter 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. The program console prompts Tangent line #1.
5. Pick in the view the first line to which the circle will be tangent.
6. Repeat step 5 at the Tangent line #2 console prompt.
Options
Point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the perimeter point.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the point whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the mouse button when you have reached the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter.
Tangent line #1
Tangent line #2
To change the lines to which the circle will be tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on and pick another tangent line in the scene.
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 when 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 when you reach 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 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 as the arc type.
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: