Available in: Sketch

Sketch a multiple point bezier curve with points along the bezier curve's control polygon. The bezier curve follows the path of its control polygon.

The Bezier sketch tool allows you to sketch a multiple point bezier curve with points along the bezier curve's control polygon. The bezier curve follows the path of its control polygon.

Click the Sketch feature on the feature toolbar to create a new sketch. Select a plane in the graphics area.

Select the Bezier sketch tool on the sketch toolbar. Click a location in the graphics area to place the start point. Click additional points to establish additional locations along the curve. Double-click a location to create the end point of the curve.

As bezier points are created, a controlled polygon that the bezier curve follows is also created. The control points can be moved by drag and drop, as the lines and sketches can also be controlled with constraints and dimensions. This combination results in a well controllable curve.

  1. Click Sketch bezier icon.
  2. Click to start, click to establish points, double-click to end.

Bezier curve example

Example of the bezier curve (blue), control polygon (black), and control points (white circles).

  1. Ensure the Bezier curve sketch tool is deselected on the Sketch toolbar.
  2. Click and drag any control point (white point) along the bezier curve's control polygon to make adjustments to the curve.

You can use the bezier control points with dimensions:

Bezier control points used with dimensions

You can use bezier control points with constraints. For example, the two orange highlighted points in the image below are vertically constrained:

Bezier control points used with constraints

Trimming a Bezier curve results in the trimmed portion being removed, with the remaining section of the curve retaining the original number of degrees and control points:

Trimming a Bezier

Original curve (left), Trimming at the construction line (middle), result of the trim (right)

Splitting a Bezier curve splits the original curve into two new curves on either side of the split point. Each curve has the same number of degrees and control points. The original curve's shape and length remains the same.

Splitting a Bezier

Original curve (left), Splitting the curve (middle), result of the split (right)

Both new curves are coincident to each other. Moving one curve also moves the other. However, control points for each curve are independent from each other.

Splitting a Bezier

Moving either curve moves both, since they are coincident at the split point.

  • A bezier curve cannot be a closed loop (the first control point connected to the last control point). Use the Spline tool to create a closed loop.
  • You can add more control points with the Spline control point tool.
  • Visualize the curvature in more detail with the Curve/surface analysis context menu command:

    Visualizing curvature with a bezier curve

  • Use the right-click context menu > Escape bezier to exit the bezier creation. This removes the current bezier curve:

    Escape bezier option from the context menu

  • Edit the degree of a Bezier sketch entity by double-clicking on the degree to activate the field, then enter the preferred number of degrees. Press enter on your keyboard to accept. (The maximum degree of Bezier curves created is 15.)