Concatenating Curves

You can concatenate a 3D multi-cell mono-domain FreeStyle Shape Design curve or a separate contiguous curve into a mono-cell curve. The resulting curve is a curvature continuous curve (C2).

Before you begin: Open an existing 3D shape with two Join-type elements, and a set of connected curves, each identified by different colors.
See Also
Concatenating Surfaces
  1. From the Edition section of the action bar, click Concatenate.
  2. Set the tolerance value to define the maximum parametric deviation allowed between the selected elements and the resulting curve.

    Note:

    The maximum deviation value displayed by clicking More>> is computed as the standard distance analysis, and therefore is not necessarily the minimum tolerance value to be defined.

  3. Select the curves to concatenate.
  4. Click Apply.
    If the tolerance is compatible, a single curve is shown with its segment limits.

  5. Click More>>.
  6. Select Information.
    The following information is displayed on the resulting curve:
    • N: Number of control points.
    • o: Curve order.
    • s: Number of curve segments.
    • Maximum deviation.


  7. Select Auto Update Tolerance to automatically update the tolerance value in case the set value is too low.
    The minimum tolerance required to permit the curves to be concatenated is displayed and the concatenation is performed.
  8. Click OK.
    A curve is created.

    • If no resulting curve is displayed once you have clicked Apply, increase the tolerance value.
    • Multiselection is available using Ctrl. You can select several Join elements, for example, and each of them generates a concatenated curve.
    • Similarly, you can select several contiguous curves using Ctrl or a trap, to generate a single curve. If the selected curves are not connected (if there is a gap between two curves), Apply is grayed, and you cannot create the concatenated curve.
      Set of Independently Connected Curves

      Resulting Concatenated Curve

    • If the selected elements present a curvature discontinuity, increase the tolerance value accordingly. The maximum deviation increases considerably.
      Initial Element Presenting a Discontinuity

      Deviation onto a Discontinuous Element

    • When working with non-3D NUPBS multi-cell curves, use the Converter Wizard to convert them into curves suitable for concatenation.