Creating circles

The Circle tool has six modes and the Push/Pull mode.

To create a NURBS curve, draw a circle and then select Modify > Convert > Convert to NURBS.

Circle by radius

To create a circle by radius:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.      Click to set the center of the circle.

3.      Move the cursor to the desired radius and click to set the radius of the circle.

Circle by diameter

To create a circle by diameter:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.      Click to set the first point on the circle diameter.

3.      Move the cursor to the desired diameter and click to set the diameter of the circle.

Circle by three points

To create a circle by three points:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.      Click to set the first point on the circle diameter.

3.      Move the cursor and click to set the second point on the circle and click again to set the third point on the circle.

Circle from three lines

To create a circle tangent from three lines:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.      Click to select the three lines or linear segments to which the circle will be tangent. Each line is highlighted as it is selected. The lines (or their extensions) must intersect in at least two places.

3.      When the third line is selected, a preview of a tangent circle displays where the cursor is currently located. You can create circles tangent to two or three lines. In places where only two lines intersect, the size of the circle is controlled by the cursor location. Move the cursor until the desired tangent circle displays, and then click to set the circle.

Circle by point and center

To create a circle by point and center:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.      Click to set the first point on the circumference of the circle.

3.      Move the cursor to the center of the circle and click to set the radius of the circle.

Circle by tangent and center

To create a circle by tangent and center:

1.      Click the tool and mode.

2.      Click to set the first point on the line tangent to the circle.

3.      Click to set the second point on the line tangent to the circle, defining the tangent line.

4.      Move the cursor to define the radius perpendicular to the tangent. Click to set the radius of the circle. It is not necessary to click the center point; click anywhere along an axis parallel to the tangent. This allows you to set the radius based on other geometry, if desired.

Creating extruded circles

To extrude a created circle:

1.      In a 3D view, click the tool and mode.

2.      Create a circle using any of the modes in the Tool bar.

3.      With the circle still selected, click, move the cursor, and then click to create the extrude.

A circle can be extruded at any time with the Push/Pull tool. See Direct modeling with the Push/Pull tool.

Cylinder height and radius can be changed with the Reshape tool (see Reshaping extruded objects and solid primitives), the radius can be modified from the Object Info palette, and the resolution can be adjusted through the 3D Conversion Resolution setting (see Vectorworks preferences: 3D tab).

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Creating circles

Push/Pull mode of planar tools

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