How can I do this Tangent?

[dpar15]

I need a tangent to these three items any ideas how?

[JamieGilchrist]

are you trying to cap the two splines or make an ellipse/circle interior to?

[JamieGilchrist · Accepted solution]

If You're trying to cap the end use a 3 point arc.  In the case below I set a Fix constraint to the two splines and used a three point arc and applied a tangent constraint at the ends of the arc.  If you don't Fix the splines (I'm assuming they are splines and not arcs) the Tangent constraint will modify the arc/spline to the arc cap.

You could also use a spline depending on the shape you are trying to achieve.  Here i set the the ends of the "cap" spline tangent.

hope this helps.

[dpar15 · Accepted solution]

Got it. Took more steps then I thought it would. Had to fix the 3 items. Then pick the 3 tangents. Then extend the arc to the large radius. Then I was able to trim them. I'm used to being able to pick tangents as I go.

[JamieGilchrist]

hi dpart15,

glad you got it.  I'll admit it's a bit clumsy doing that method as I described.  There are a couple other ways to do this as well.  each of these have there nuanced differences (some not so nuanced).

with the conic curve (top image) you can decide where you want the tangent point to be, then set the peak point close to your line (it won't snap there though)

the benefit is when you add the tangent constraints to the end points of the conic curve the splines hold their geometry and the conic adjust to tangent.

with the 3 point circle the outter shape has to be an arc, line or circle.  you cannot set tangency to splines (steps to buiild below this image) 

hope these help as well.

[dpar15]

The 3 point circle is how I'll do it from now on. 3 tan circle didn't work so I didn't even try 3 point circle.

[JamieGilchrist]

it all depends on the input if you're using arcs and lines or splines.

like the tag line, btw. Reminds of one a carpenter pal told me: "be smarter than the tool you're using" 😉