Curve connect condition

Description: 5 minutes

The curve connect condition is a subdialog (Condition) of the 3D curve dialogs Create Spline, Create Line, Create Arc, and Modify Spline.  The curve connect condition defines the start point, the tangent direction and weight, and the start and end conditions of curves with respect to other edges and faces.  These connect conditions can be tangential or curvature continuous.  No condition can be defined at a circle.

Directions for Start/End Condition: Edge

  1. Specify a Start or End Condition for a curve.  The Condition subdialog is activated.

The tangent or curvature value defined at the specified point of the selected element will define the tangent or curvature of the curve to be created or modified.

  1. Select an edge.

  2. Specify the connect condition to be Tangential or Curv Cont (curvature continuous).  The feedback pointer changes color according to the connect condition:  blue for tangent; orange for curvature continuous.  

  1. When creating an arc, you can flip the position or direction of the tangent with Flip Pos or Flip Dir.

  2. Click Accept to continue.

  3. Finish the 3D curve command.

Directions for Start/End Condition: Face

  1. Specify a Start or End Condition for a curve.  The Condition subdialog is activated.

The tangent or curvature value defined at the specified point of the selected element will define the tangent or curvature of the curve to be created or modified.

  1. Select a face.

  2. Pick a point on the face:  within the face, on the boundary, or at the vertex.

  3. Specify the connect condition to be Tangential or Curv Cont (curvature continuous).  The feedback pointer changes color according to the connect condition:  blue for tangent; orange for curvature continuous.

  1. If you've selected a point on the boundary of the face, define a tangent direction by choosing In, Out, or Free.

  2. If you've selected a point at the vertex of a face, you can select Alt Edge.

  3. Click Tangent.  Use the Vector 3D CoPilot to change the tangent length and weight.  Immediate feedback of the tangent influence on the curve shape is displayed.

  4. Click Accept to continue.

  5. Finish the 3D curve command.

Options in Tangent Specification: