Creating Circles

You can create a circle by defining center and radius.

1. Click Circle in the Wireframe toolbar (Circle-Conic sub-toolbar).

   The Circle Definition dialog box appears.

2. In the Circle type list, select the Center and radius circle type.

   
   
   

3. In the Center box, select a point as the center of the circle.

4. In the Support box, select the plane or surface where the circle is to be created.

5. In the Radius box, type the value or use the arrows to change the value.

   Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed. For a circular arc, you can specify the Start and End angles of the arc.
   
   

   Important: If a support surface is selected, the circle lies on the plane tangent to the surface at the selected point. Start and End angles can be specified by entering values or by using the graphic manipulators.

6. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.

   The circle (identified as Circle.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

You can create a circle by defining a center and any point lying on the circle.

1. Click Circle .

   The Circle Definition dialog box appears.

2. In the Circle type list, select the Center and point circle type.

   
   
   

3. In the Center box,select a point as the center of the circle.

4. In the Point box, select a point through which the circle passes.

5. In the Support box, select the plane or surface where the circle is to be created.

   Important: Both points should lie on the support plane.

   The circle, of which center is the first selected point and passing through the second point or the projection of this second point on the plane tangent to the surface at the first point, is previewed. Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed. For a circular arc, you can specify the Start and End angles of the arc.
   
   

6. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.

   The circle (identified as Circle.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

You can create a circle by defining any two points lying on the circle and the radius.

1. Click Circle .

   The Circle Definition dialog box appears.

2. In the Circle type list, select the Two points and radius circle type.

   
   
   

3. select two points on a surface or in the same plane.

4. In the Support box, select the plane or surface where the circle is to be created..

   Important: You can select a direction as the support. The support is calculated using this direction and the two input points. The plane passing through the two points and whose normal is closest to the given direction is computed as follows: Let's take V1 as the vector P1P2, where P1 and P2 are the input points. Let's take V2 as the user direction (which can be the compass direction). Compute V3 = V1 X V2 (cross product). Compute V4 = V3 X V1 (cross product). The support plane is normal to V4 and passing through P1 and P2. Note that if V2 is orthogonal to V1, V4 = V2 and the support plane is normal to V2 (user direction).

5. In the Radius box, type the value or use the arrows to change the value.

   The circle, passing through the first selected point and the second point or the projection of this second point on the plane tangent to the surface at the first point, is previewed. Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed. For a circular arc, you can specify the trimmed or complementary arc using the two selected points as end points. You can use the Next Solution button, to display the alternative arc.

   With a plane as Support
   
   
   With a direction as Support (the computed plane is shown in blue)
   
   

6. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.

   The circle (identified as Circle.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

You can define a circle by defining any three points lying on the circle.

1. Click Circle .

   The Circle Definition dialog box appears.

2. In the Circle type list, select the Three points circle type.

   
   
   

3. Select three points where the circle is to be created.

   Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed. For a circular arc, you can specify the trimmed or complementary arc using the two of the selected points as end points.
   
   

4. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.

   The circle (identified as Circle.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

You can create a circle by defining its center and axis.

1. Click Circle .

   The Circle Definition dialog box appears.

2. In the Circle type list, select the Center and axis circle type.

   
   
   

3. In the Axis/line box, select an axis or a line.

   It can be any linear curve.

4. In the Point box, select a point.

5. In the Radius box, type the value or use the arrows to change the value.

6. Set the Project point on axis/line option:

   
   

   • selected (with projection): the circle is centered on the reference point and projected onto the input axis/line and lies in the plane normal to the axis/line passing through the reference point. The line will be extended to get the projection if required.

   • cleared (without projection): the circle is centered on the reference point and lies in the plane normal to the axis/line passing through the reference point.

   With projection
   
   
   Without projection
   
   

7. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.

   The circle (identified as Circle.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

You can create a circle by selecting any two elements to which circle is to be tangent.

1. Click Circle .

   The Circle Definition dialog box appears.

2. In the Circle type list, select the Bitangent and radius circle type.

   
   
   

3. Select two elements (point or curve) to which the circle is to be tangent.

4. In the Support box, select a surface.

   Tip: If one of the selected inputs is a planar curve, then the Support is set to Default (Plane). If an explicit Support needs to be defined, a contextual menu is available to clear the selection in order to select the desired support. This automatic support definition saves you from performing useless selections.

5. Enter a Radius value.

   Several solutions may be possible, so click in the region where you want the circle to be. Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed. For a circular arc, you can specify the trimmed or complementary arc using the two tangent points as end points.
   
   

   You can select the Trim Element 1 and Trim Element 2 options to trim the first element or the second element, or both elements. Here is an example with Element 1 trimmed.

   
   
   

   Warning: The Trim Element 1 and Trim Element 2 options are only available with the Trimmed circle limitation.

6. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.

   The circle (identified as Circle.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

You can create a circle by selecting any two elements and a point to which circle is to be tangent.

1. Click Circle .

   The Circle Definition dialog box appears.

2. In the Circle type list, select the Bitangent and point circle type.

   
   
   

3. In the Element 1 box, select a point or a curve to which the circle is to be tangent.

4. Select a second Curve and a Point on this curve.

   The point will be projected onto the curve.

5. In the Support box, select a plane or planar surface.

   Tip: If one of the selected inputs is a planar curve, then the Support is set to Default (Plane). If an explicit Support needs to be defined, a contextual menu is available to clear the selection in order to select the desired support. This automatic support definition saves you from performing useless selections.

   Several solutions may be possible, so click in the region where you want the circle to be. Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed.
   Complete circle
   
   
   Trimmed circle
   
   
   Complementary trimmed circle
   
   

   You can select the Trim Element 1 and Trim Element 2 check boxes to trim the first element or the second element, or both elements. Here is an example with both elements trimmed.

   
   
   

   Warning: Trim Element 1 and Trim Element 2 are only available with the Trimmed Circle limitation.

6. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.

   The circle (identified as Circle.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

You can create a circle by defining any three elements to which the circle is to be tangent.

1. Click Circle .

   The Circle Definition dialog box appears.

2. In the Circle type list, select the Tritangent circle type.

   
   
   

3. Select three Elements to which the circle is to be tangent.

4. In the Support box, select a planar surface.

   Tip: If one of the selected inputs is a planar curve, then the Support is set to Default (Plane). If an explicit Support needs to be defined, a contextual menu is available to clear the selection in order to select the desired support. This automatic support definition saves you from performing useless selections.

   Several solutions may be possible, so select the arc of circle that you wish to create. Depending on the active Circle Limitations icon, the corresponding circle or circular arc is displayed. The first and third elements define where the relimitation ends.

   For a circular arc, you can specify the trimmed or complementary arc using the two tangent points as end points.

   
   
   

   You can select the Trim Element 1 and Trim Element 3 check boxes to trim the first element or the third element, or both elements. Here is an example with Element 3 trimmed.

   
   
   

   Warning: Trim Element 1 and Trim Element 3 are only available with the Trimmed Circle limitation. You cannot create a tritangent circle if an input point lies on an input wire. We advise you to use the Bitangent and point circle type.

5. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.

   The circle (identified as Circle.xxx) is added to the specification tree.

You can create a circle by defining the center element and a tangent curve to the circle.

1. Click Circle .

   The Circle Definition dialog box appears.

2. In the Circle type list, select the Center and tangent circle type.

   
   
   

   The circle center will be located either on the center curve or point and will be tangent to the tangent curve.

3. Select a curve as the Center Element and enter a Radius value,

   
   
   

   or

   Select a point as the Center Element.

   
   
   

4. Select a Tangent Curve.

   Important: If one of the selected inputs is a planar curve, then the Support is set to Default (Plane). If an explicit Support needs to be defined, a contextual menu is available to clear the selection in order to select the desired support. This automatic support definition saves you from performing useless selections. Note that only full circles can be created.

5. Click OK to create the circle or circular arc.

You can switch the parameters from diameter to radius and vice-versa.

You can automatically create axes to circle by selecting Axis Computation check box.

Important: If you select the Geometry on support check box and the selected support is not planar, then the Axis Computation is not available. You can select the Geometry on support check box if you want the circle to be projected onto a support surface.In this case just select a support surface. This option is available with the Center and radius, Center and point, Two point and radius, and Three points circle types. When several solutions are possible, click Next Solution to move to another arc of circle, or directly select the arc you want in the 3D geometry. A circle may have several points as center if the selected element is made of various circle arcs with different centers. If the input circle is selected automatically and you change the circle type, it is not retained to the new type.