Creation tools: arcs

Arcs

There are several creation modes for the « Arc » :

  • Arc 2 points, with a center defined by a center point and the two points of the arc extremities (the point center is a reference point symbolized by a cross)
  • Arc 2 points, without a center, defined by two points extremities
  • Arc 3 points, defined by two points extremities and an intermediate point

Access / Cursor

The different accesses and the personalized cursor for this mode of creation are presented in the following table:

Type Access Cursor
Arc 2 points with center icon:
Menu: Construction → Line → Arc 2 points with center
Arc 2 points without center Icon:
Menu: Construction → Line → Arc 2 points without center
Arc 3 points Icon:
Menu: Construction → Line → Arc 3 points

Creation of Arc 2 points with center

The creation process of an arc 2 points with center is presented in the table below.

Stage Description Illustration
1 Activation of the mode
2 1 st click left : sets the center point of the arc
3 Motion of mouse : gives the data for the creation (radius, coordinates of the future point)
4 2 nd click left : sets the first point extremity of the arc
5

Motion of mouse :

  • gives a view of the future arc
  • gives the data of the creation (radius, coordinates of the future point, angle)
6

3 rd click left :

  • sets the second point extremity of the arc
  • validates the creation of the arc
  • creates the corresponding entities « Point » and « Line »
→ The mode is always activated and the user can connect it to another creation of an arc by performing again in the same order steps starting from step 2
→ The right click, permits the deactivation of the mode

Creation Arc 2 points without center

The creation process of an arc 2 points without center is presented in the table below.

Stage Description Illustration
1 Activation of the mode
2 1 st click left : sets the first point extremity of the arc
3

Motion of the mouse :

  • gives the view of an arc at 180°
  • gives the data about the creation (radius, coordinates of the next point, angle 180° by default)
4

2 nd click left :

  • sets the second point extremity of the arc
5

Motion of the mouse :

  • moves the centre of the arc
  • changes the angle and the radius of the arc
  • gives the view of the arc
  • gives the data about the creation (radius, coordinates of the centre, angle)
6

3 rd click left :

  • sets the centre of the arc (centre not represented graphically)
  • validates the creation of the arc
  • creates the corresponding entities « Point » and « Line »
→ The mode is still activated and the user can continue with the creation of another arc, by performing again in the same order, the steps starting from step 2
→ The right click, permits the deactivation of the mode

Creation Arc 3 points

The creation process of an arc 3 points is presented in the table below.

Stage Description Illustration
1 Activation of the mode
2 1 st click left: sets the first extremity of the arc
3 Motion of the mouse : gives the coordinates of the next point
4

2 nd click left :

sets the intermediate point of the arc
5

Motion of the mouse :

  • gives the view of the arc
  • gives the data about the creation (radius, coordinates of the centre, angle)
  • moves the next point
  • changes the angle and the radius of the arc
6

3 rd click left :

  • sets the second point extremity of the arc
  • validates the creation of the arc
  • creates the corresponding entities « Point » and « Line »
→ The mode is still activated and the user can continue creating another arc by performing again, in the same order, the steps starting from step 2
→ The right click, permits the deactivation of the mode

Information during the creation

During the creation of an arc with or without a centre point, several data are available :

  • Coordinates of the point to be set (position of cursor)
  • Radius of the arc
  • Angle of the arc
Preview of the arc with information displayed during the creation
Arc 2 points with center Arc 2 points without center Arc 3 points

Shortcuts

During the creation of an arc 2 points with or without a centre point, it is possible to reverse at 180° the view of the arc to be created by using the key Ctrl .

Priorities of arcs

The Flux sketcher has three types of arcs: two extremity points without a centre point, two extremity points with a centre point and three points.

It is necessary to set a priority of the arcs for a certain number of operations :

  • Creation of an arc by superposition over another arc of the same radius but of a different type
  • Displacement of an arc in superposition over another arc of the same radius but of different type
  • Fusion of two superposed arcs of the same radius but of different type
  • Simplification of two adjacent arcs of different type

The established priorities are as follows :

  • Priority 1: an Arc 2 points with a centre gets priority over an Arc 2 points without a centre and an Arc 3 points
  • Priority 2: an Arc 2 points without a centre gets priority over an Arc 3 points.