Plane normal to curve at point

[tonyelk]

It appears to me that there is a workplane type that is missing from the list of plane creation tools - "normal to curve at point".

I'm not sure whether this should be a plane type in its own right or setting within the "plane along path" tool, but either way I haven't yet found a viable solution. Any pointers appreciated!

This issue is mentioned in the following thread, but the workaround given in answers is only suitable for 2D splines:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/plane-normal-to-line-at-point/m-p/9809621/

The desired functionality is demonstrated in Inventor in this answer:

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-360-design-validate/plane-normal-to-line-at-point/m-p/9809621/...

[davebYYPCU]

Plane on a Path at your point - How did you determine where the point is?

use that determination in the Dialogue Box, proportionate distance or physical distance, but you put the point there, so Plane on a Path does it.

Selecting a point would be more convenient.

However, as it is at the moment, does work on 3d splines, and is placed where you click, even if the point is not there.

Might help.....

[g-andresen]

Hi,

it is doable with a workaround

Screencast

günther

[tonyelk]

Thanks @g-andresen.

Unfortunately this workaround doesn't lend itself to any kind of parametric modelling. The location of the plane would not be associative to any geometry so if the design changed the plane would need manually updating.

[tonyelk]

Thanks @davebYYPCU.

I agree there may be some instances when this could work, but only if the point has been placed a proportional or physical distance along the path in which case I wouldn't need the point at all.

Most of the time the point would be for example a perpendicular distance from a centre plane and intersecting the curve, in which case the dimensions controlling point placement can not be used in the plane creation dialogue.

Ultimately I don't believe this is something that should require a workaround. It's a pretty fundamental plane type and I was surprised to see it not included in the plane types list. Why there are separate tools for each type I also don't know, seems a universal plane tool such as in Solidworks or Inventor would be much more useful.

[g-andresen]

Hi,

Try it this way

günther

[davebYYPCU]

but only if the point has been placed a proportional or physical distance along the path in which case I wouldn't need the point at all

Huh?

[laughingcreek]

@g-andresen - that method doesn't keep the plane normal to the path.

[tonyelk]

I believe this only works for 2D splines