Place Composite Curve

Use it!

Used to place a composite curve, which can have line strings, arcs, or Bézier curves (fourth order B-spline curves with four poles) as components. If all components are line segments and there are fewer than 5000 vertices, a line string or shape is placed in the design; otherwise a complex chain or complex shape is placed.

Tool Setting	Effect
Smooth Corners	If on, intersections of arcs and Bézier curves are smooth.
Planar	If on and the active design file is 3D, the composite curve is forced to lie on one plane.
Mode	Sets the type of component that is placed (see step 4 below).
Arc Radius	(Arc by Edge or Arc by Center only) If on, sets the arc radius.
Arc Angle	(Arc by Edge or Arc by Center only) If on, sets the arc sweep angle.
Close Element	Creates a shape by connecting the first point with the last point.

To place a composite curve

1. Select the Place Composite Curve tool.


2. From the tool settings window's Mode option menu, choose the component.


3. If this is the first component in the composite curve, enter a data point to define the origin.


4. Enter data points to place the component (follow the prompts in the status bar).

   Mode	Enter data points to	Similar to
   Arcs By Edge	Define point on arc. Define arc endpoint.	Place Arc
   Arcs By Center	Define center (defines radius, unless Radius is on). Define sweep angle (unless Arc Angle is on).	Place Arc
   Bézier Curves	Define first anchor point. Define first direction point (define tangency). Define second anchor point (endpoint). Define second direction point.	None
   Line Segments	Define endpoints of segments.	Place SmartLine



5. To place more of the same component, return to step 4.
   or
   To choose a different component, return to step 2.
   or
   To complete an open composite curve, Reset.
   or
   To complete a closed composite curve, click the Close Element button, or key in CLOSE ELEMENT.
   Place Composite Curve. Clockwise from top left:
   A: Smooth Corners is on. At first, Mode is Arcs By Center. After data point 3, Mode is set to Line Segments, back to Arcs By Center after data point 4, and so on. The figure is closed by entering a data point at the same location as the origin or by clicking Close Element
   B: Mode is Arcs by Center. For first two arcs, Smooth Corners is off. After data point 5, Smooth Corners is on.
   C: Mode is initially Line segments. After data point 3, the Mode is changed to Arcs By Edge and the Line Style is also changed. After data point 4, the Line Weight is changed.
   D: The Fibonacci curve is placed with Mode set to Arcs by Center, Smooth Curves on, and Arc Angle set to 90 °. The Arc Radius is 1 for first two arcs and is changed to 2 and 3 after data points 5 and 7, respectively.
   E: Mode is Bézier curve. The odd-numbered data points define anchor points; the even numbered ones define direction (tangency) points. A Reset was entered after data point 8 to complete the curve.

Key-in: PLACE COMPOSITE

To combine contiguous open elements of any type into a complex chain (open) or complex shape (closed), use the Create Complex Chain tool or Create Complex Shape tool in the Groups tool box.