Draws an arc by defining a tangent curve, a point on a such curve and another point in space.
How to use
1. Click the Tangent arc icon or choose the Tools > Curves > Arc > Arc: tangent, two points command.
2. The program console prompts Curve.
3. Pick the curve to which the arc will be tangent.
4. Click a point on the curve at the Point on curve console prompts. This will be the start point of the arc.
5. Place the second point at the Point console prompt. This point can be anywhere in the space.
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
Curve
To change the curve to which the arc is tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on and pick another curve in the scene.
Point on curve
To modify XYZ coordinates of the arc point on curve.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the point 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.
Point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the second arc point.
Views. Choose the Edit mode. Click the point 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.
Direction
To specify the direction of the arc from the tangent point.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You have the following options: Tangent, Normal, and Binormal.
Invert direction
To invert the direction of the arc.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the button and observe the result in any view.
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).
Cutting
To specify whether the tangent arc should cut the tangent curve or not.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You have the following options: No cutting, Cut above, and Cut below. If you choose the second or the third option, the arc will cut the tangent at the intersection point. Arc and tangent will be joined in a single element.
See also: