Composite Curve : Options Results

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

  • Clickin the toolbar.

  • Select Wireframe > Main Tools > Composite Curve from the menu bar.

  • Select Composite Curve on the popup menu if no geometry is selected or if one or faces are selected.

Create a contour from a series of curves/edges.

Create a single 2D or 3D curve by joining two or more curves (lines, edges, splines, etc.). Composite curves can be open or closed, have sharp or rounded corners, and be approximated into Nurbs splines.

Required Step 1

  1. Set the parameters and pick curves (edges, lines, splines, sketches, etc.). The following parameters are displayed.

  1. Pick the first curve/edge and define the direction using the directional arrow.
  1. Pick the last curve/edge.

Parameters

Chain

This parameter is a dropdown list of curve creation options that includes the following:

Chain

Create a contour by picking a curve, a direction, and then the last curve in the chain. The shortest possible chain connecting the two curves will be selected to create the contour.

One by One

Create a contour by picking individual curves.

Along Open Edges

Create a contour by picking a curve and then picking another curve adjacent to it. The path of the created contour is along open edges.

2D-Single Indication

Create a contour by using a single indication (close to screen or close to face). The system finds a closed loop from all displayed edges/curves lying in the defined plane (up to the defined tolerance).

Faces Outer Boundary

Create a contour by picking a face. The outer boundary of the picked face is selected as a closed contour. If you choose two or more adjoining faces, the contour that defines the outer boundary of all faces will be selected.

One by One Projected

Create a 2D contour by picking individual curves that do not lie on the same plane.

This option only appears in an NC file.

Max. Gap

This is the maximum gap allowed between the selected geometries, when joining them into a single geometry. If the gap between the selected geometries is greater than the Max. Gap value, they are treated as separate geometries.

Composite /
Spline

Toggle option that enables you to define the type of curve that is created. The options are Composite / Spline.

Composite

Create a composite curve. An additional option is displayed.

This is a toggle option With Simplify /Without Simplify to simplify the resulting contours to allow for a higher quality result with less edges.

With Simplify

Simplify the resulting contours to allow for a higher quality result with less edges. This option simplifies the creation of contours by merging edges and is particularly useful when the geometry is composed of many small segments.
Example:Example:

With Simplify:

When this option is selected, the additional parameter Max. Smooth Angle is displayed; this defines the maximum angle enabling you to control the smoothness of the contour.
Default = 5°
Min. = 0°, Max. = 45°.

Without Simplify

Do not simplify the result to reduce the number of edges.
This is the default option.
Example:Example:

Without Simplify:

Spline

Approximate the composite curve into Nurbs splines. When this option is selected, the Fair Spline / Don't Fair toggle option is displayed enabling you to fair the spline (smoothing and reducing the number of control points):

Fair Spline

Fair the resulting spline.
ExampleExample:

Don't Fair

Do not fair the resulting spline.
ExampleExample:

Planar Approximation /
No Planar Approximation

If the contour is not planar, the toggle option Planar Approximation / No Planar Approximation is activated. Planar Approximation allows you to set the contour on the plane (allowing you to perform operations that require 2D input).

This option does not appear in the One by One Projected contour selection method.

Open /
Close

This toggle option defines the type of curve that is created. This option allows you to close the composite curve automatically or leave it open. When the Close toggle option is selected and the system cannot close the first and last selected curves/edges, the Close option is displayed in RED.
ExampleExample

The composite curve is OPEN.

The composite curve is CLOSED.

When the system cannot close the first and last selected curves/edges, the Close toggle option is displayed is RED.

This option appears if the One by One or One by One Projected contour selection method is used.

Flip Direction

Flip the direction between the first and last curve.
Example:Example:

This parameter is displayed in the following options: Chain, One by One, Along Open Edges.

Keep Original /
Remove Original

This toggle option enables you to remove original curves to prevent duplicate geometry. This option is displayed when there are curves to remove; these are curves that are completely covered by the created composite.
ExamplesExamples

Original curves

The toggle option is displayed

Keep Original
The original curves are kept.

Remove Original
The curves that are removed are only those that are completely covered by the created composite curve. The remaining original curves are not fully covered by the composite curve and hence are not removed.

This option is displayed when the first curve is picked.

The following examples demonstrate the use of each of the picking options.

  • Chain
  • One by One
  • Along Open Edges
  • 2D-Single Indication
  • Faces Outer Boundary
  • One by One Projected

  • Chain

    Create a contour by picking a curve, a direction, and then the last curve in the chain. The shortest possible chain connecting the two curves will be selected to create the contour.

    Using the Chain option, pick the First curve and Last curve.

    A composite curve is plotted along the most logical course.

    Again pick a "Last Curve" to complete the composite curve.

    If you need to create a composite curve on half of the top outer edge of the geometry, you can pick the First Curve and Last Curve adjacent to each other.

    In this example, the composite curve required is the logical path from the First Curve to the Last Curve.

    Toggle to the Spline option if you wish to create a single spline along the edges.

  • One by One

    Create a contour by picking individual curves.

    If you need to plot a path with individual curves to form the composite curve, use the One by One option combined with the Chain option. The Open/Close toggle parameter lets you close the composite curve automatically or leave it open.

           

  • Along Open Edges

    Create a contour by picking a curve and then picking another curve adjacent to it. The path of the created contour is along open edges.

    If you use the Along Open Edges option, picking the same First Curve and Last Curve will plot the composite curve and include open edges.

  • Faces Outer Boundary

    Create a contour by picking a face. The outer boundary of the picked face is selected as a closed contour. If you choose two or more adjoining faces, the contour that defines the outer boundary of all faces will be selected.

    Use the Faces Outer Boundary to plot the curve along the outer boundary of the geometry. In this example the box selection is used to select the whole geometry.

         

    In the following example, a series of faces are picked: The composite curve formed along the outer boundary of the picked faces.

         

         

    The composite curve formed along the outer boundary of the picked faces.

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

The Composite feature will appear in the Feature Tree.

 

 

Hints and tips for creating composite Curves

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