Arc Sketch

Introduction

The Arc Sketch function is used to create arcs by sketching or clicking in the graphics area once to define the origin and clicking again to set the radius of the arc. You can also sketch fixed arcs or you can use data entry to define the arc size and location.

Dynamic Drawing

Arc Sketch supports Dynamic Drawing which allows you to use a combination of sketching and data entry to create arc entities. After sketching an arc, it becomes the active entity. The active entity displays in the current Entity color, but displays with a greater line thickness to make it easier to identify. The active entity can then be modified using data entry. The benefit of Dynamic Drawing is that you can quickly sketch an arc to get the approximate result and then use data entry to update the line to exact coordinate values as needed.

Active Entity

Snap Increment

Arc Sketch supports the use of the snap increment when selecting the arc center location and the arc radius. The snap increment allows you to get precise results when using mouse selection and helps to reduce data entry modifications.

To learn more, view Snap Increment.

Navigation

To open Arc Sketch, do one of the following:

In the Arcs menu, click Sketch.

On the CAD toolbar, click the down arrow and click the icon.

Right-click anywhere in the graphics area, point to CAD, Arcs, and click Sketch.

The parameters display in the Data Entry tab of the Data-CAM Tree Manager.

The Data Entry Parameters

Center X - sets the X-axis location of the center of the arc.
Center Y - sets the Y-axis location of the center of the arc.
Center Z - sets the Z-axis location of the center of the arc.
Radius - sets the distance from the center of the arc to the circumference.
Start Angle - sets the rotation angle at which the arc begins measured from the positive X-axis.
End Angle - sets the rotation angle at which the arc ends measured from the positive X-axis.

Sketch - uses two clicks to define the arc: arc center and arc radius.
Sketch Fixed - uses a single click to set the arc center with the specified parameters.

Radius - sets the distance from the center of the arc to the circumference.
Start Angle - sets the rotation angle at which the arc begins, measured from the positive X-axis.
End Angle - sets the rotation angle at which the arc ends, measured from the positive X-axis.

OK - creates the active arc entity after using data entry.
Cancel - closes the Data Entry Manager.

Quick Steps - Arc Sketch

Dynamic Drawing - Sketch

1 Open the function and click a snap point or anywhere in the graphics area to set the arc center.

You can modify the snap increment value or turn it off while selecting the arc center and the arc radius.

2 Move the mouse pointer and click a snap point or anywhere to set the arc radius.

The arc changes from the Preview color to the Entity color and displays with a greater line thickness to show it is the active entity.

3 With Dynamic Drawing, you can update the Data Entry parameters to modify the active entity, or you can continue sketching.

If you continue sketching, the active entity is automatically finished.

4 After updating the Data Entry parameters, to finish the active entity, you can either click OK or you can click the next arc center.

5 Repeat this process of using sketching and data entry to create arcs as needed.

6 To close the function, click Cancel.

Dynamic Drawing - Sketch Fixed

1 Open the function and click Sketch Fixed.

2 Define all Data Entry parameters.

You can modify the snap increment value or turn it off while selecting the arc center.

3 Click a snap point or anywhere in the graphics area to set the arc center.

The arc is now the active entity.

4 With Dynamic Drawing, you can update the Data Entry parameters to modify the active entity, or you can continue sketching.