Shows or hides an extra floating palette containing tools for creating and editing keypoint curves. Keypoint curves consist of lines and arcs that remember relationships and constraints, and apply them when you edit the lines.
You can also edit these special attributes in the Information Window. For example, a keypoint arc has edit points and CVs just like a normal curve, but it also has a radius, sweep angle, and center point, all of which can be edited. During editing, the arc stays an arc: it does not lose its shape from keypoint editing.
When you combine keypoint curves into composite curves (for example, with the Line-arc or Join Curves tools), relationships between the individual lines and arcs are still maintained.
Keypoint curve tools create guidelines, which are useful for aligning curves with each other as you draw.
Keypoint curves are especially useful for CAD and drafting applications. However, any part of your model requiring geometric accuracy or ease of editing can benefit from keypoint curves.
Access the Keypoint Curve Toolbox from the Curves tool palette:
Tips and notes
- Key arcs are exported as IGES entity 100 (circular arc).
- Key lines are exported as entity 110 (line).
- Composite curves are exported as entity 102 (composite curve).
About keypoint curves
Keypoint curves retain more information than other curves. They remember relationships and constraints, and apply them when you edit the lines. You can also edit these special attributes in the Information Window.
For example, a keypoint arc has edit points and CVs just like a normal curve, but it also has a radius, sweep angle, and center point, all of which can be edited. During editing, the arc stays an arc: it does not lose its shape from keypoint editing.
When you combine keypoint curves into composite curves (for example, with the Line-arc tool), relationships between the individual lines and arcs are still maintained.
Keypoint curve tools create guidelines, which are very useful for aligning curves with each other as you draw.
Keypoint curves are especially useful for CAD and drafting applications. However, any part of your model requiring geometric accuracy or ease of editing will benefit from keypoint curves.