Creating Conic Curves

Conic lets you create conics. Conic curves are the curves defined by five constraints: start and end points, passing points or tangents. The resulting curves are arcs of parabolas, hyperbolas or ellipses.


Before you begin: Create a 3D shape containing at least two points.
  1. In the Support box, select the plane on which the resulting curve will lie.
  2. In the Constraint Limits area, enter the conic curve parameters, depending on the type of curve to be created by selecting geometric elements (points, lines, and so on).
    • Start and End points: the curve is defined from the starting point to the end point.
    • Tangents Start and End: if necessary, the tangent at the starting or end point defined by selecting a line.
    • Tgt Intersection Point: a point used to define directly both tangents from the start and end point. These tangents are created on the virtual lines passing through the start (end) point and the selected point.
  3. Clear the Default Parabolic Result box if you do not want the resulting conic curve to be parabolic.

    By default, it is selected.

  4. Click OK.
  5. Optional: In the Intermediate Constraints area, you can enter the intermediate constraints parameters.