Circle > Tangent to Curve and Point

Access: Open this function from one of the following locations:

  • Select Wireframe > Create Curves > Circle from the menu bar.

  • Select Curves > Circle from the following Die Design Guides: Strip Design.

Create a Circle/Arc tangent to a picked 2D curve passing through a picked point.

Demo: Press the button below to view a short movie demonstrating the function:

Practice: Press the button below to open Cimatron with a practice ELT file similar to that used to create the movie (if the relevant feature already exists in the ELT file, you can either edit it or delete it and create a new feature).



 

Required Step 1

Select the required parameters and pick the appropriate entities.

The following parameters are displayed for this Circle function.

Parameters

Arc /
Circle

This toggle option defines whether the result of this operation is an arc or a circle.

Arc

Create an arc as the result of this operation.
ExampleExample

 

Circle

Create a circle as the result of this operation.
ExampleExample

Radius

Set the radius of the circle/arc.

Auto /
Manual

This toggle option defines how the required entities are picked.

Manual

The interaction for the Manual option is as follows:

  1. Pick a curve.

  2. Pick a point.

You can pick the entities in any order and the resultant arc/circle is displayed.

See the examples below.

Auto

The interaction for the Auto option is as follows:

  1. Pick a curve. An end point is automatically selected and is considered as the point required for this operation. This Auto selected point is the end point that is closest to the location you indicated when you picked the curve.
    ExampleExample

You can pick the entities in any order and the resultant arc/circle is displayed.

See the examples below for other possibilities using the Auto option.

Pick the appropriate entities to complete the operation: Manual/Auto:

Manual

  1. Pick a curve to which the Circle will be tangent.

  1. Pick the point through which the circle or arc will pass.

The circle or arc is displayed if the Radius amount permits it. If the Radius amount is too small, an appropriate message is displayed with the recommended minimum radius value and a prompt to change the radius value in the parameters to the recommended minimum value.
ExampleExample

  1. Enter the radius of the Circle/Arc.

There are 2 possible solutions for Circle. The default solution is the one closest to the picking point on the curve.

There are 4 possible solutions for Arc. The default solutions are the ones closest to the picking point on the curve.

 

Auto

  1. Pick a curve to which the Circle will be tangent:

Pick the curve.

The curve is selected as well as its end point and the circle or arc is previewed.

Note: In the Auto option, picking a curve automatically selects its closest end point as well, and in this function, also previews the Circle/Arc.
ExampleExample

Pick the curve.

The closest end point is automatically selected.

  1. Change the radius of the Circle/Arc, as required.

    Note: In Auto mode, if you pick a curve and then a point (or vice versa), the system ignores the Auto mode and uses the picked point to calculate the result according to the Manual mode (see below).

    1. Pick the point.

    1. Pick the curve.

    1. If appropriate, a radius warning or prompt message is displayed. See the Manual explanation.

    1. The resultant arc or circle is according to Manual mode (tangent to the curve and passes through the picked point).

    1. Pick another point 

    1. The resulting arc or circle is tangent to the curve and passes through the last picked point.

Click OKOK or ApplyApply in the Feature Guide to complete the function.

When completed, the Circle feature will appear in the Feature Tree.

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.