Creating a curved slot using Alignment Angles

Preferences | Alignment Angles

A line will automatically track to the angles input into the Alignment Angles snap field.

The cursor can be forced to track automatically at specific angles. This is done by creating an Alignment Angle in the Preferences > Snaps dialog box, shown below.

Select Preferences > Snaps, then input 30, 60 into the Alignment angle field, separated by a comma. It is not necessary to input the degree symbol.

Creating alignment angles of 30 and 60 degrees

Select the Line tool from the toolbar or use Draw > Line.

Start the line from the center of the circle, shown below, then drag the cursor outwards, allowing the angle to track at 30°, shown below.

Line tracking along a 30° angle

Repeat this by starting another line at the center of the circle, then allow this angle to track to 60°, shown below,

Line tracking along a 60° angle

The result is shown below.

Lines created at 30 and 60 degrees from circle center

Center Point Circle

Draw | Circle | Center Point Circle

This circle tool draws a single circle by defining the center point and diameter.

The diameter can either be defined by selecting a point in the graphics editor, or by inputting a value into the Diameter field.

The diameter of the circle can be changed after insertion by changing the value in the Diameter edit field.

Select the Center Point Circle tool, then insert 2 circles with diameters of 10 onto the newly created intersections, shown below. Take care to snap the center of the circles onto the intersection.

Finding the intersection for the new circle center

The result is shown below.

Circles with diameters of 10 placed on the intersections

Offset Curve

Modify | Trim | Offset Curve

This duplication tool creates an offset of an existing line, arc or circle to a specified distance.

Options :

Offset to Value

Offset by Point

Offset Face Edges

A curve or line can be offset to a specific value. In this following task, the circle which intersects the centers of the new circles will be offset to a value of 5 either side of the circle, shown below.

Center arc will be offset by 5 either side

Select the Offset tool from the toolbar or use Modify > Trim > Offset Curve.

TAB to the Offset field and input 5. Select the circle with passes through the center of the smaller circles, then left click to the right of the circle, shown below.

Offsetting to the right of the selected arc

Repeat this, by selecting a point to the left of the selected circle, shown below.

Offsetting to the left of the selected arc

The result is shown below.

Trim

Modify | Trim | Trim

The Trim tool trims lines, arcs of circles to a defined boundary edge.

The keyboard SHIFT key is used to select multiple objects and can be used to add or remove objects to the selection.

Select the Trim tool from the toolbar or use Modify > Trim > Trim

Hold down the keyboard SHIFT key, then select both smaller circles and the circles to which they are tangential, shown below.

Selecting the boundary edges for the trim

Release the SHIFT key, then trim the arc segments using similar positions to those shown below. Note : It may not be necessary to trim points 3 and 4 after the Trim has been used at points 3 and 4.

Trimming the segments

A curved slot has been created, shown below.

Curved slot created by trimming circle segments