Creating a Concept Line

You can create a concept line by selecting two points. You can add tangents to this curve to create a curve.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Open a 3DShape with at least two points.
See Also
About Concept Curves
Modifying a Concept Curve

Create a Straight Guide Curve

You can create a straight line.

  1. From the Concept section of the action bar, click Curve.
  2. Select two points. You can filter the selection:
    OptionDescription
    Selects points only.
    Selects FE mesh grids only.
    Note: If both selected points belong to the same concept surface or joint, the line is automatically created as a user-defined link curve and stored under the related concept surface or joint.
  3. Click in the work area to create the curve.

Create a Curve by Adding Tangents To a Line

You can add tangents to a straight line.

  1. Click the line you created with the steps above.
    You can see the tangent and its handles at one extremity.

  2. Move the direction handle to define the tangential direction in this point.


  3. Drag the length handle to modify the tension of the tangent in this point.


  4. Select a position near the other extremity.
    The tangent handles are attached to this point.

  5. Modify this tangent in the same way.




  6. Optional: In the Selection panel, you can edit the points, define the tangent's direction and tension, and remove the current tangent.
  7. Click to define a driving tangent, and select a position near an extremity.


  8. In the select bar, click to edit the driving tangent, and drag the handles.
    The other tangent follows the driving tangent, and the shape of the curve follows accordingly. The driven tangent cannot be modified until you remove the coupling.

    Notes:
    • Connected curves whose tangents are coupled are tangent continuous at their common point.
    • When adding a tangent to a link curve, it is automatically coupled to the tangent of the connected link curve at this point. If this tangent does not exist, it is automatically created.
  9. Click in the work area to create the curve.
    The tangent objects are stored under the Curve.x feature in the tree.