Tool Palettes Curves > Line-arc > Tips and notes

Curves > Line-arc

Allows you to create a series of alternating keypoint lines and arcs.

See Draw keypoint lines and arcs

To draw alternating lines and arcs

Click the Line-arc icon, or choose Line-arc from the Curves palette menu.





Click the first point of the composite curve, or type a 3D coordinate to place the point exactly.

If you click the endpoint of an existing keypoint curve, the new line will attach itself to the end of the existing curve. Dragging the common endpoint will move both curves.





Click the endpoint of the first line segment, or type a 3D coordinate to place the point exactly.
Click the to add the point freely.
Click the to align the point horizontally to the previous point.
Click the to align the point vertically to the previous point.

As you drag the end point, the Line-arc tool displays the length of the line in current linear units.





Click the endpoint of the arc segment, or type a 3D coordinate to place the point exactly.
Click the to add the point freely.
Click the to align the point horizontally to the previous point.
Click the to align the point vertically to the previous point.

As you drag the end point, the Line-arc tool displays the radius of the arc in current linear units.



You can now:
Repeat steps 3-4 to add more segments.
Click the Line-arc tool to start another composite curve.
Click any other tool to finish the curve.

Tips and notes

Arcs segments are always convex. That is, the arc always projects "forward" from the previous line. You cannot create concave arcs with the Line-arc tool.

To get concave arcs, you must go back and edit the curve after creating it. See Edit keypoint curves.

Click the endpoint of a segment twice to make the next segment the same type.

For example, click the endpoint of a line segment twice to make the next segment a line. Click the endpoint of an arc segment twice to make the next segment an arc.