DRAWING SPLINES
CommandManager: Sketch > Spline
SolidWorks menus: Tools > Sketch Entities > Spline
Toolbar: Sketch > Spline
To draw a spline,
choose the Spline tool from the Sketch CommandManager.
Then, using the left
mouse button continuously, specify the points through which the spline will
pass. This method of drawing splines
is similar to that of
drawing continuous lines. After specifying all points of the spline,
right-click to invoke the shortcut menu. If you need to exit the current spline
and draw another spline, choose the End Spline option. Now, you can draw
a new spline. If you need to exit the Spline tool, choose the Select option.
When
you select a spline using the Select tool, handles are displayed on the points.
These handles are used to edit a spline. You will learn more about these
handles below .
Modifying a
Spline
You can perform four types of modification
on a spline.
The first is the modification of the coordinates
of the selected control point.
The second modification is by using
the Spline Handles.
The third type of modification is by
using the Control polygons.
The fourth type of modification is the
addition of a curvature control symbol.
Modifying a
Spline by Using the Control Points
To modify the location of the control
points of a spline, select the spline; the Spline PropertyManager will be
displayed. The control points of the spline will be displayed with a square.
The number of the current control point and its coordinates will also be
displayed in the Parameters rollout of the Spline
PropertyManager. When you set
the value in the Spline Point
Number spinner, the corresponding
control point will be selected in the spline. Now, you can modify its
coordinates using the X Coordinate and Y Coordinate spinners.
Alternatively, you can select and drag a control point, to place it on the
desired location.
You can also add more control points
to a spline. To do so, choose Tools > Spline Tools > Insert Spline Point from the SolidWorks
menus.
Alternatively, select the spline and
right-click to invoke the shortcut menu. In this menu, choose the Insert Spline
Point option.
Now, specify a location on the spline
where you need to add the control point; a point and a spline handle will be
displayed at the point specified on the spline. After adding the required
number of control points, invoke the Select tool and select
the spline again. You will notice that the boxes of control points are displayed
on all points including the newly added points.
Modifying a
Spline by Using the Spline Handles
A spline handle is a line with diamond
handle, arrow, and circular handle on both its endpoints.
The spline handles will be displayed
when you select a spline using the Select tool. The default
spline handles will be displayed in gray, which implies that they are not
selected. When you move the cursor over a spline handle, it will be highlighted
in orange. Additionally, a rotate symbol will be displayed if you move the
cursor near the diamond handle. A red colored arrow symbol will be displayed,
if you move the cursor near the arrow. If you move the cursor near the circular
handle, both the symbols will be displayed. Move the cursor near the diamond handle,
arrows, or circular handle; it will be highlighted.
On selecting any of these entities,
the number of respective control points and their coordinates will be displayed
in the Parameters rollout.
Select and drag the diamond handle to dynamically modify the
direction of the tangent. As you drag the diamond handle, the value in the Tangent Radial
Direction spinner will
change dynamically. When you drag the cursor the Tangent Driving check box is also
selected automatically. After modifying the shape of the spline, click anywhere
in the drawing area to exit the current selection set. You will notice that the
currently modified spline handle is displayed in blue, which implies that the default
setting of this spline handle is modified.
Select and drag the arrowhead to modify the tangent
weighting. As you drag the arrowhead, the value in the Tangent Weighting spinner will
change dynamically. If you press the ALT key while dragging the arrowhead, the
spline will get deformed symmetrically.
Similarly, you can edit the spline
using the circular handle. In this
case, both the symbols will be displayed. So, the values in the Tangent Radial
Direction and Tangent Weighting spinners will
change dynamically.
Choose the Reset This Handle button to reset
the current handle to the original position. Choose the Reset All Handles button to reset
all handles to the default position.
To create a smooth curvature after
editing the handles, choose the Relax Spline button.
To add more spline handles, select the
spline and right-click to invoke the shortcut menu. Choose the Add Tangency
Control option from the
shortcut menu; a spline handle will be attached to the selected spline. Move
the cursor to the location where you want to place the spline handle and click
on that location. A spline control point will also be added along with the
spline handle. You can also apply relations to the spline handles.
Modifying a
Spline by Using the Control Polygon
To display the control polygon, select
a spline and right-click; a shortcut menu will be displayed. Choose the Display Control
Polygon option; the
control polygons will be displayed. When you select a control polygon, the Spline Polygon
PropertyManager will be displayed.
You can also set the location of the control points by using the X Coordinate and Y Coordinate spinners in the Spline Polygon
PropertyManager. You can modify
the location of a control point by dragging it. To turn off the display of the
control polygon, select a spline, invoke the shortcut menu, and choose Display Control
Polygon again.
Adding the Curvature
Control
You can also add a curvature control
symbol that is used to modify the curvature of a spline.
To add a curvature control, select a
spline and invoke the shortcut menu. Choose the Add Curvature
Control option from it;
the curvature control symbol will be attached to the selected spline. Move the
cursor to the location where you want to place the curvature control symbol and
click; the curvature control will be added. Also a spline handle will be placed
at the location where the curvature control symbol is attached tangent to the
spline. Now, select and drag the dot symbol at the bottom of this curvature
control symbol. You will notice that the curvature of the spline is modifi ed
dynamically as you drag the cursor. After modifying the shape of the spline,
release the left mouse button.
Converting a Sketched Entity
into a Spline
To convert a sketched entity into a spline, create
a sketched entity using normal sketching tools. Choose the Tools > Sketch Tools > Fit Spline option from the menu bar to
invoke the Fit Spline PropertyManager. You can also invoke the Fit Spline PropertyManager using the Fit Spline button from the Sketch Tools toolbar added after
customizes. Select the entities to be converted into a spline using the select
tool. Specify the tolerance using the Tolerance
spinner. As you specify the
tolerance the value of actual deviation is displayed in the Actual Deviation display box below the Tolerance spinner. The preview of the
spline created is displayed in the drawing area. If you select the Delete geometry check box then the original
sketched entity will be deleted, otherwise the original sketch will be
displayed as construction geometry. Choose OK from
the Fit Spline PropertyManager or choose the OK icon from the confirmation
corner. Now, select the newly created spline using the select tool and
right-click to invoke the shortcut menu. Choose the Simplify Spline option from the shortcut menu
to invoke the Simplify Spline dialog box. Choose OK from this dialog box to
display all the control points of the newly created spline.
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