Project Curves

Introduction

This topic will explain where to find the Project Curves function, and explain the options found in it. This topic will also give quick steps, an example, and provide links to related topics.

The Project Curves Function

The Project Curves function projects wireframe curves onto a selected surface or projects two curves toward each other to create geometry.

Curves on Surfaces			Curves on Curves

To open Project Curves:

In the Utilities group, of the Create 2D ribbon, click Project Curves.

The parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.

The Data Entry Parameters

The function is performed using only geometry selection.

Type

Curves on Surfaces - allows you to select curves, and a surface in order to create curves against that surface which are projected in the defined direction.
Curves on Curves - allows you to select two sets of curves, and define directions for each set, in order to create geometry at the intersection of their projection.

Select Curves to Project

(Move Up) - Move the highlighted item up the list.

(Move Down) - Moves the highlighted item down the list.

(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.

(Delete All)- removes all entities from the list.

This list box will show the entities currently selected for the function.

Select Surface/Solid

	(Delete) - removes the highlighted item from the list.
This list box will show the entity currently selected for the function.

Direction

Method

Along Z - projects the curve along the Z axis of the currently active UCS.
Pick - allows you to select a line to set as the vector of the projection direction.
Existing UCS - allows you to select an existing UCS. When selected, the curve will be projected along the Z axis.
Enter - allows you to enter a particular axis of the current UCS to use, or enter a vector manually.

OK - finalizes the function.
Cancel - exits the function.

Quick Steps - Curves on Surfaces

When the function is open, the Curves on Surfaces option is selected by default, and the Select Curves to Project list automatically has focus.

Click, drag a window, or use the Picking Manager to select the wireframe entities that you want to project.
Click in the Select Surface/Solid list to put focus on this list.
Select the surface or solid to project onto.

The surface, or solid is added to the list, and the preview appears showing the current result to be confirmed.
Update the direction for the curves to be projected as needed.
Click OK to confirm the result.
Repeat this process as needed for any other curves to project.
To close the function, click Cancel.

Quick Steps - Curves on Curves

When the function is open, the Curves on Surfaces option is selected by default, select Curves on Curves.

The Select First Curves list has focus, so drag a window, or use the Picking Manager to select the wireframe entities that you want to project.
Update the direction for the first curves to be projected as needed.
Click in the Select Second Curves list to put focus on this list.
Click, drag a window, or chain select the wireframe entities that you want to project.

The entities are added to the list, and the preview appears showing the current result to be confirmed.
Update the direction for the second curves to be projected as needed.
Click OK to confirm the result.
Repeat this process as needed for any other curves to project.
To close the function, click Cancel.

Example - Curves on Surfaces

In the Quick Access Toolbar, click New.
In the Primitives group, of the Create 3D tab, click Sphere.

The preview appears.
Leave the default values as they are and click OK.

The sphere is created.
In the Shapes group, of the Create 2D ribbon, click Rectangle.

The sketch handles of the sphere function disappear. The preview of the rectangle appears.
Update the Dimension group values to Length 1.000, Width 1.000.
Update the Base Point Z value to 1.000.
Click OK.
At the bottom right of the screen, click the down arrow next to the current color.

Color options appear.
Select Black.

The color options disappear.

The result of our projection will now be black.
In the Utilities group, of the Create 2D ribbon, click Project Curves.

The rectangle preview disappears and the Picking Manager appears.
Using the Auto-Connection options in the Picking Manager, hover over an entity of the rectangle and click the entity to select the entire chain.

The entities are added to the Select Curves to Project list.
Click in the Select Surface/Solid list to give it focus.
Highlight the sphere and click it to add it to the list.
Click OK.
Click Cancel to exit the function.
In the document toolbar, click to enter into selection mode.
Select the sphere.
Delete the sphere.

Note: If the surface being projected to has two sides, meaning that it passes twice directly underneath the curves to be projected, the curved will project onto both sides just as in this example. If it passes 3 or more times, the curves will project onto the surface as many times as it passes underneath. Normally only one projection is necessary, so if more are generated then the extra projections should be deleted from the drawing.

Example - Curves on Curves

In the Quick Access Toolbar, click New.
In the UCS Manager, set the Front(X/Z) UCS as the active UCS.
In the Entity group, of the Create 2D tab, click Arc.

The preview appears.
Update the Radius to 1.500.
Click OK.

The arc is created.
Set the active UCS back to Top(X/Y).
In the Shapes group, of the Create 2D ribbon, click Rectangle.

The preview of the rectangle appears.
Leave the settings to default and click OK.

The rectangle is created.
In the Utilities group, of the Create 2D ribbon, click Project Curves.
Under Type, select Curves on Curves.
Focus is automatically on the Select First Curves group, so select the arc.

The arc is added to the Select First Curves group.
Leave the direction to the default of Along Normal and click in the Select Second Curves group to give it focus.
Using the Auto-Connection options in the Picking Manager, hover over an entity of the rectangle and click the entity to select the entire chain.

The entities are added to the Select Second Curves list and the preview appears.
Leave the direction to default and click OK.
Click Cancel to exit the function.
In the document toolbar, click to enter into selection mode.
Select the arc and the rectangle and click delete.