SpaceClaim Online Help

Inserting a face curve

You can draw spline curves on a 3D face using the FaceSide or other surface of a solid. Some examples are the inside surface of a hole or the six sides of a rectangular solid. See Surface. CurveIn 3D, any line in space. tool. These curves follow the contour of a face. The face curve can be used like any other edge to modify the object.

To insert a face curve

1. Click Face Curve in the Insert group on the Design2D or 3D model that contains at least one top-level component. tab.

2. Click spots on the faces or edges of a part to draw the spline curve. Your spline can be drawn on one or more faces, but can only be drawn on one object.

   Face curves can also be sketched on mesh bodies by selecting facet points as spline points.

   

3. Double-click to end the curve or close the curve by clicking on your beginning point.

   Now you are in editing mode and can change the curve as desired. The curve will not be applied to your design until you complete the operation.

4. (Optional) Right-click a spot on the curve and select Add Face Curve PointSingle location in the sketch grid. 2-D object that has no height, width, or length. The origin, an axis, and a vertex are examples of points. Use the Point tool to sketch a point on the sketch grid. Points are useful as a dimensional reference, for splitting, and for creating a point on a line or curve through which you want to draw a three-point circle. to add a spline point.

5. (Optional) Right-click a spline point and select Remove Face Curve Point to delete the point.

6. (Optional) Drag points to change the curve.

7. (Optional) Set the value for Periodic in the Properties panelArea of the user interface that displays editable details about the selected object(s). This panel is initially displayed on the lower left side of the screen, but can be moved.:

   • True: If you change this property to True, the tangencies of the beginning and end of the curve will match to create a closed curve. If a curve is open and you set the property to True, the spline will be closed.

   • False: If you change this property to False, the end tangencies of a closed curve don’t match. If a curve is closed and you set the property to False, the curve will become teardrop-shaped because the end points will no longer be tangent.

8. Click the Complete tool guide or press Enter to apply the curve to your design.

Tip: You will get much more predictable results if the face to face boundaries you are drawing over are tangent. Click on the edges (tangent or not) to place a point for more control over the intersection point at that boundary.

Tool guides

Examples

Sketching a face curve that is closed over tangentially-connected solid faces

The result of offsetting the edges that were created as a result of the face curve above