Interactive Curve Editing

The Interactive Curve Editing button allows you to edit curves by manipulating individual breakpoints and their associated control points. For example, you may want to smooth a ragged curve that has been generated from a coarse triangle model, as shown below.

The shape of a curve is defined as a series of spans between breakpoints, shown by asterisks. You can move, delete and add breakpoints to change the shape of the curve. You can also move the control points for each breakpoint to adjust the curve

Note: You can only select one curve to edit at a time. If you select more than one curve, the Interactive Curve Editing button is not available.

To interactively edit curves:

1. Make sure that curves are displayed on the model: if they are not, click on the Draw Curves button on the Draw toolbar.
   
   
2. Click on the Curve Editing button on the main toolbar to display its side toolbar.
   
   
3. In the graphics window, click on the curve you want to edit. It turns red to show that it is selected.
   
   
4. Click on the Interactive Curve Editing button on the side toolbar.

When you open this dialog box, CopyCAD displays the curve breakpoints as asterisks.

5. Select how you want to pick the points that you want to edit, using the buttons in the Mode area. For more details, see Selecting a Curve Picking Mode.
   
   
6. In the graphics window, select the point or points you want to edit.

Note: If you want to deselect the picked points, click on the Clear Selection button.

7. Edit the curve as follows:
   • If you want to move the picked point, drag it into its new position. Note: If you have the Advanced Editing mode selected, you can maintain tangency by automatically moving the control points: select the Maintain Tangent Continuity option before moving the point.

     You can also set a point's position using the Edit Curve Point dialog box. For more details see Using the Edit Curve Point dialog box.

   • Set tangency at the breakpoint by clicking on the Force Continuity button in the Edit area. If the curve is already tangent at this point, the Force Continuity button is greyed out.

     Alternatively, you can set tangency by double-clicking on the breakpoint.

   • If you want to delete the point, click on Delete BreakPoint button in the Edit area.
     
     
   • If you want to add a breakpoint by splitting a span, click on the Advanced Editing button in the Mode area, then pick the two control points within an existing span. Click on the Insert Breakpoint button in the Edit area to add a new breakpoint in the curve span.
     
     
   • If you want to undo the last curve editing action, click on the Undo button in the Edit area.

More:

Selecting a Curve Picking Mode

Using the Edit Curve Point dialog box

Curve Editing toolbar