CATIA V5 – 3D Curve

The 3D Curve function is available in the Freestyle environment. With this function, it is possible to create associative curves for adding or removing points, when creating a curve or later.

Order of curves (Near points) can be chosen in the shown text. In the Tools / Options / Shape / Freestyle tab of the General tab, you can set the maximum allowed row of curves. The Automatic Order option allows you to automatically calculate the wrong order, which will best describe the error by observing its constraints.

The Deviation option allows the user to set the maximum deviation between the curve and the construction points.

Segmentation option allows the user to set the maximum number of arches limitations. The minimum value is set to 1.

The Max order option allows the user to set limitations for the calculation of mono-arc curves. This option is available in the Control Point and Near Points type.

Control Points - When the Max order value is exceeded, the mono-arc curve becomes multi-arc. As a consequence of that Max order value is no longer taken into account, these bits are always in line 6.
Near points - 3D curves can not be created in a row larger than Max order. The Max order value is always taken into consideration, regardless of whether it is a mono-arc or multi-arc fault.

The minimum value for the Max order is set to 5 for the Type of Wrong Control Points, and 2 for the Type of Blank Near Points. The maximum value for the Max order is the one defined in Tools / Options / Shape / Freestyle.

The Smoothing option is available for parameterizing the curve:

Deviation, Segmentation, and Smoothing options are only available for the tip of the Near points.

Double-clicking the wrong one can edit the same. It is necessary to move the cursor to the point to show a manipulator by which the position of an item can be modified. Right-clicking on a point opens a contextual menu that offers multiple options to create a curve.

Depending on the type of curve creation, the following options are available:

Clicking on the Insert a point insert_a_point can add the point on the curve. You need to click on the segment between two existing points where you want to add a new point and click on the desired location of the point.

Clicking the Remove a point can remove a point. It is only necessary to select it and the curve is updated at this time without that point.

By clicking on the Free or constrain a point you can position a point on a particular geometry (curve, point) in the way to drag a point or project point on the curve using a CTRL button and selecting the curve. The point will be projected from the shortest distance to the curve. You can also use the same icon to release point of the Constrain.

catia_v5_free_or_constrain_a_point_positioning

It is possible to select all the points on the curve at once, right-click on the geometric set or at a single point within the geometric set, and then right click on the context menu to select Select all points in the geometrical set.

catia_v5_select_all_points_in_the_geometrical_set

Contextual Options

Right click on a context menu where additional options are offered, such as setting tangentiality or curvature. In the type of curve Through Points, tangentiality can be added at any point, the Near points type can only be added to the starting and/or the endpoint. If the fault is generated using Control Points it is not possible to add tangentiality. In the image below, two curves are merged, so tangentiality is added to the starting point of the blue curve (right click on the point, then the Impose tangency option is activated).

Right clicking on a point can also change the curvature curve (Impose Curvature). An arrow that indicates the curvature (vector) is displayed. By changing the direction of the vector, the curvature curve also changes. The curvature curve is bound to a plane defined as normal to a tangential vector.

catia_v5_impose_curvature_change_the_curvature