How To Draw A Tangent On A Curve

Use the to create and edit profiles.

You can use either of the following commands to create a quick layout of the profile. The lines and curves you create maintain tangency when you edit them.

Draw Tangents Without Curves

Use this command to create a quick layout of the profile. Specify tangent start and end points (1 through 4), then add curves at the points of intersection as necessary. The tangents are fixed, so you can edit them and they always maintain tangency.

Draw Tangents With Curves

Use this command to create a quick layout of the profile, with curves automatically created at points of intersection. Specify tangent start and end points (1 through 4), and curves are created at the points of intersection (2, 3) based on the values you enter in the dialog box. You can edit the tangents and curves and they always maintain tangency.

Tip

You can use transparent commands when you are prompted to specify direction, radius, or length, or use station offsets to specify any points. For more information, see Transparent Commands.

To draw a profile using the tangents with curves

Click . At the Command prompt, enter CreateProfileLayout.
In the Create Profile-Layout dialog box, enter creation information.
On the toolbar, click .
Specify the start point.
Continue to specify points. Press to end the command or select another command from the .
Curves are created to comply with the values in one of the following places:
- If the profile has design criteria applied to it, the minimum radius for the current design speed is applied to the curve. If no solution can be found with the minimum radius value, the curve is not drawn.
- If the profile does not have design criteria applied to it, the default value specified in the curve and spiral settings is applied to the curve. For more information, see Curve and Spiral Settings.