Overview

How To

Options

Related Topics

Start Object

Select Object

Selects an object that defines the start of the curve. You can select:

• Points

• Curves and curve features such as curves on surface, projected curves, and offset curves

• Edges, including surface edges

• Surfaces, including the faces of sheet bodies and solid bodies

End Object

Option

Lets you define the end of the curve by selecting an object or a vector. Use the vector option when you want to construct a symmetric bridge curve.

Select Object

Lets you select an object or a vector that defines the end of the curve.

This option is available only for the end object, and selects a datum plane or datum axis for a symmetric bridge curve. The software sets Continuity to G2 and Shape Control to Depth and Skew.

Bridge Curve Attributes

Start/End

Lets you specify the point you want to edit. You can set Continuity, Position, and Direction options independently for the start and end points of a bridge curve.

Continuity, Position, and Direction

Lets you define constraints, location, and orientation of bridge curve start and end points.

Point – Available when you select a point to define the bridge curve start or end:

• Continuity – Lets you set the continuity. Only G0 (Position) and G1 (Tangent) continuity are available.

• Position – Not available as position settings do not apply.

• Direction – Lets you define the curve direction at the point by using the Vector Constructor.

• Reverse Direction – Reverses the curve direction at the start and end points. If you specify a G0 constraint, this option is unavailable.

Curve or surface edge – Available when you choose a curve or surface edge to define the bridge curve start or end:

• Position – Lets you specify the U percentage along the curve or edge.

• Direction –

  • Tangent defines the tangent vector direction at the pick point to the bridge curve end.

  • Perpendicular imposes the bi-normal direction at the selection point to the bridge curve end. You can use the Select Face option to select one or more reference faces

• Reverse Direction – Reverses the curve direction at the start and end points. If you specify a G0 constraint, this option is unavailable.

Surface – Available when you choose a surface to define the bridge curve start or end:

• Position – Lets you specify the U and V percentages along the surface.

• Direction – Lets you specify the bridge curve direction at the start or end points using Isoparametric and Sectional options.

• Reverse Direction – Reverses the curve direction at the start and end points. If you specify a G0 constraint, this option is unavailable.

Constraint Type

Sets continuity at the curve point. Continuity options are available depending on the input geometry and current bridge curve settings.

U/V Percentage

Lets you specify the U and V point position as a percentage of the target geometry.

You can also set the Start/End Location using the Specify Location option, which opens the Point Constructor.

Direction

Sets the direction of the bridge curve. The options vary depending on the target geometry:

Vector Constructor – Lets you specify the bridge curve direction at the point using the Vector Constructor when you select a point

Tangent and Perpendicular – Lets you specify whether the bridge curve is tangent or perpendicular at the point.

Select Face – Lets you select a target face. This option is available only when you select Perpendicular.

Reverse Direction

Reverses the direction of the tangent vector at the Start or End object. This option is not available for the Reference Shape Curve selection step or the Conic Shape Control method.

Constraint Faces

Select Faces

Lets you select constraint faces for the bridge curve. Use this option when your design requires a curve that is coincident with a set of faces, or when you create a curve network that defines a tangent edge for blending.

• Constraint faces support only G0 (Position) and G1 (Tangent) continuity. They do not support the Conic shape type.

• The constraint faces must be capable of being sewed.

• G0 (Position) continuity must be within the Modeling Distance tolerance.

• G1 (Tangent) continuity must be within the Angle tolerance.

• Constraint Faces are not available if you set a Radius Constraint.

Radius Constraint

Type

Input curves must be coplanar.

Specifies Minimum or Peak constraint values for complex transitions such as washouts. For both options, the software sets Shape Control to the Depth and Skew type. As you edit the curve shape, the curve does not go below the minimum or above the peak values.

Only the Skew shaping tool is available with Radius Constraint.

Value

Specifies Minimum or Peak radius value.

Shape Control

Type

Lets you reshape the bridge curve interactively.

Tangent Magnitude – Represents the percentage of tangency in Start and End values. These are initially set to 1. To get a reverse tangency bridge curve, click the Reverse Direction button.

Depth and Skew – Depth – Controls how the curvature of the curves affects the bridge. The value represents the percentage of the effect of the curvature.

Skew – Controls the location of the maximum curvature (or reversal of curvature, if you chose the Reverse Direction option) where the value represents the percentage of the distance along the bridge from start to end.

Conic – The input curves must be coplanar. Changes the bridge curve shape by altering the fullness of a conic curve based on the Rho value you specify. Valid values are from .01 to .99. A small Rho value produces a flat conic, while a large rho value produces a pointed conic. Note that Conic supports only G0 (Position) and G1 (Tangent) continuity.

Reference Shape Curve – Lets you select an existing spline to control the general shape of the bridge curve. Note that Reference Shape Curve supports only G0 and G1 continuity.

Settings

Associative

Lets you specify whether the output bridge curve is associative. An associative bridge curve updates automatically when you change the source objects.

Curve Fit Method

Available only when you select constraining faces:

Cubic – Creates a degree 3 curve on surface. Use this option if you need to transfer your spline data to another system that supports only degree 3 splines.

Quintic – Creates a degree 5 curve on surface. Curves created with this method have a smaller number of segments than those created with the Cubic fit method, and are easier to edit. The curvature distributions are smoother, and they better replicate the curvature properties of the true curve.

Advanced – Enables the Maximum Degree and Maximum Segments options in the dialog box. You can specify a maximum number of degrees and a maximum number of segments. The software builds the curve without adding segments, up to the maximum degrees. If the curve is out of tolerance at the maximum degree, the software adds segments up to the maximum number you specify. If the curve is still out of tolerance at the maximum segments, the software creates the curve and displays an error message.

Distance Tolerance

Specifies the tolerance. By default this value equals the Distance tolerance in Modeling Preferences.

Microposition

Enable

Activates or deactivates micropositioning. You can also use the Control key to activate micropositioning without selecting this check box.

Rate

For very fine curve point editing, reduces the relative amount by which a handle drag moves the corresponding point. You can specify a value between 0 and 100. Lower values produce finer point movement.