Circle. 2D Constructs

The command can be called in one of the following ways:

Icon

Ribbon

Draw > Construct > Circle

Workplane > Construct > Circle

Keyboard

Textual Menu

<C>

Construct > Circle

Circles in T-FLEX CAD are constructed by defining their geometrical relations with other construction entities. Examples of such relations include placement of the circle center at a node, tangency to a line, tangency to a circle, passing through a node, concentricity with another circle, symmetry to another circle. Combining several options allows creation of circles with various geometrical relations (see Methods of Creating Construction Circles). Circles, like other construction entities, are displayed in a non-printable thin dashed line.

Automenu options

Following options are available upon calling the command:

	<T>	Select a node as the center of the circle
	<T>	Select a node for the circle to pass through

These mutually exclusive options are two main circle creation modes. In the first mode circle creation begins with specifying its center, in the second mode - with specifying a node for the circle to pass through.

<P>

Set circle parameters

Invokes the circle parameters dialog.

<N>

Select Node

This option can be used in various circle creation methods for selecting 2D nodes. Selected nodes define center of the circle and points for the circle to pass through.

	<L>	Select tangent line
	<C>	Select tangent circle
	<E>	Select tangent ellipse
	<S>	Select tangent spline

These options might be used in various circle creation methods for selecting construction lines of corresponding types. Selected lines are used as tangents to circle being created.

<A>

Select axis of symmetry (straight line)

See Construction Circle Symmetric to Other Construction Circle.

<O>

Select concentric circle

See Construction Circle Concentric with Other Construction Circle.

<W>

Select 2D projection

See Construction Circle Based on 2D Projection.

<F4>

Edit Construction

Invokes the 2D construction elements editing command.

<Esc>

Exit command

When working with the ellipse creation command, the set of available options may vary depending on the applied ellipse creation method and stage of executing this method.

Upon selecting any line or node, following option becomes available:

<I>

Select Other Element

Upon selecting a single tangent curve or two tangent lines of any type, the following option becomes available:

<Z>

Change construction tangency

It sequentially switches possible configurations of tangency between the circle being created and the selected lines.

Upon selecting two tangent straight lines or circles, following options become available:

	<G>	Set Relation with Node
	<B>	Break Link with 2D Node

Work with this options is described in the Snapping Construction Circle's Tangency Configuration to Node section.

During selection of source elements for creating a circle, you can cancel the selection and return to command's initial state using the following option:

<Esc>

Cancel selection

Creating 2D nodes

At any stage of working with the command, pressing <Space> creates a connected 2D node at the nearest (to the cursor) intersection of construction lines. If a 2D node already exists at the nearest intersection, or if there are no intersections on the current page, then pressing <Space> has no effect.

Creating construction lines based on graphic lines

Only construction lines can be used as tangents, when creating a circle. However, when selecting tangents, you can also select graphic lines (straight line segments and circles). In order to select a graphic line, move the cursor over it and press or <Enter>. Upon selecting a graphic circle, a construction circle coinciding with the selected one gets created automatically. Upon selecting a straight graphic line segment, an infinite straight construction line coinciding with the selected segment gets created automatically. Then, the resulting construction lines are used as tangents to the current circle.

Topics in this section:

•Modes and Methods of Creating Construction Circles

•Snapping Construction Circle's Tangency Configuration to Node

•Circle Parameters