Creating a Line Tangent to a Curve

You can create a line tangent to a single curve, a point and a curve or two curves.

Before you begin: Insert in an assembly an existing 3D shape containing geometric elements.
  1. From the Assembly section of the action bar, click Line .
    The Choose a 3D Shape dialog box appears.
  2. Click Create new in the Choose a 3DShape dialog box.

    In the Choose a 3D Shape dialog box:

    • The Product box displays the name of the active product.
    • 3DShapes either lists the available 3D shapes instanced under the active product or lists the available 3D shapes instanced under a selected product. In both cases, these 3D shapes can be modified.
    • The Create new command allows you to create a 3D shape.
      Important: When you create a new 3D shape in Assembly commands context, its Nature is set as Specification whatever your choice in the dialog box, and you cannot change the nature of this 3D shape after it has been created with this command. See Nature of a New 3D Shape Created in Assembly Commands Context.
    • The Automatically create new 3D Shape when none exists option allows you to create a 3D shape either under the active or selected product automatically. In this case, the Choose a 3D Shape dialog box does not appear.

    The New Content tab appears.
  3. Click 3D Shape under Physical Product Structure node in the New Content tab.
  4. Click OK in the 3D Shape dialog box.
    • The new 3D Shape is created under the active product.
    • The Line Definition dialog box appears.
  • Important: You switch from Assembly Design app to the last representation app you used.
    1. Select Tangent to curve.
    2. Select a reference Curve and a point or another curve as Element 2 to define the tangency.

      • If a point is selected (mono-tangent mode): a vector tangent to the curve is displayed at the selected point.

      • If a second curve is selected (or a point in bi-tangent mode), you need to select a support plane. The line will be tangent to both curves.

      Line tangent to curve at a given point

      When several solutions are possible, you can choose one (here displayed in green) directly in the geometry, or using Next Solution :

      Line tangent to two curves
    3. Optional: Specify the Line End point to define the new line.
    4. Click OK to create the line.
      The line (identified as Line.xxx) is added to the specification tree.
      Important: You come back in the Assembly Design app.