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Shape Skywriting

NOTE: If you apply skywriting to the first shape in the execution order, CADFusion inserts a RAPID (G0) transition move instead of skywriting.

NOTE: When you export to AeroScript, all Bezier curves and splines are approximated with lines and arcs.

Shape Skywriting inserts one or two Bezier curves between consecutive, non-tangent shapes. Refer to the Shape Skywriting (Single Bezier) and Shape Skywriting (Dual Bezier) sections that follow. CADFusion does not show shape skywriting on the canvas. You will see these changes in the code when you export the data to an AeroScript or AeroBasic program.

Shape Skywriting (Single Bezier)

When you use Skywriting (Single Bezier) mode, CADFusion inserts a Bezier curve after the lead out move of the first shape. The Bezier curve connects the lead out move of the first shape to the lead in move of the second shape.

CADFusion does not show Shape Skywriting (Single Bezier) mode on the canvas. You will see these changes in the code when you export the data to an AeroScript or AeroBasic program.

Table: Shape Skywriting (Single Bezier) Properties

Property	Description
Control point offset	Specify the distance between the inner control points and the points where the inserted Bezier curve connects to the lead in and lead out moves of the shapes. If you increase this value, the size of the Bezier curve also increases.
Break angle	Specify, in degrees, the maximum angle where your process requires a skywriting transition. Refer to the Using the Break Angle to Limit Shape Skywriting (Single Bezier) section that follows.

Property

Description

Control point offset

Specify the distance between the inner control points and the points where the inserted Bezier curve connects to the lead in and lead out moves of the shapes.

If you increase this value, the size of the Bezier curve also increases.

Break angle

Specify, in degrees, the maximum angle where your process requires a skywriting transition. Refer to the Using the Break Angle to Limit Shape Skywriting (Single Bezier) section that follows.

Using the Break Angle to Limit Shape Skywriting (Single Bezier)

You can use the Break angle property to limit where CADFusion inserts a Bezier curve between consecutive, non-tangent shapes. CADFusion inserts a Bezier curve between consecutive, non-tangent shapes when the angle they form is less than or equal to the value you specify for the Break angle property:

If you set the Break angle property to a value of 180°, CADFusion always inserts Bezier curves.
If you set the Break angle property to a value of 0°, CADFusion does not insert Bezier curves. This functionality is the same as using LINEAR (G1) for your Shape transition type.

When you enable Shape Skywriting (Single Bezier) mode, CADFusion uses the process that follows:

CADFusion generates a LINEAR (G1) transition move between the lead out move of the first shape and the lead in move of the second shape.
The lead move of each shape makes a break angle with the LINEAR (G1) transition move. CADFusion calculates these angles as follows:

If one or both of the angles are less than or equal to the value you specified for the Break angle property, CADFusion inserts one Bezier curve as the transition move between the shapes in the generated AeroScript or AeroBasic program. It does not use the LINEAR (G1) transition move that it generated in Step 1.
If the two angles are greater than the value you specified for the Break angle property, CADFusion uses the LINEAR (G1) transition move that it generated in Step 1. It puts the transition move between the shapes in the generated AeroScript or AeroBasic program. It does not use a Bezier curve.

Shape Skywriting (Dual Bezier)

When you use Skywriting (Dual Bezier) mode, CADFusion inserts a Bezier curve after the lead out move of the first shape. A coordinated LINEAR (G1) transition move follows that curve. Then CADFusion inserts a second Bezier curve that connects from the LINEAR (G1) transition move to the lead in move of the second shape.

CADFusion does not show Shape Skywriting (Dual Bezier) mode on the canvas. You will see these changes in the code when you export the data to an AeroScript or AeroBasic program.

Table: Shape Skywriting (Dual Bezier) Properties

Property	Description
Control point offset	Specify the distance between the inner control points and the points where the inserted Bezier curve connects to the lead in and lead out moves of the shapes. If you increase this value, the size of the Bezier curve also increases.
Break angle	Specify, in degrees, the maximum angle where your process requires a skywriting transition. Refer to the Using the Break Angle to Limit Shape Skywriting (Dual Bezier) section that follows.

Property

Description

Control point offset

Specify the distance between the inner control points and the points where the inserted Bezier curve connects to the lead in and lead out moves of the shapes.

If you increase this value, the size of the Bezier curve also increases.

Break angle

Specify, in degrees, the maximum angle where your process requires a skywriting transition. Refer to the Using the Break Angle to Limit Shape Skywriting (Dual Bezier) section that follows.

Using the Break Angle to Limit Shape Skywriting (Dual Bezier)

If you set the Break angle property to a value of 180°, CADFusion always inserts Bezier curves.
If you set the Break angle property to a value of 0°, CADFusion does not insert Bezier curves. This functionality is the same as using LINEAR (G1) for your Shape transition type.

When you enable Shape Skywriting (Dual Bezier) mode, CADFusion uses the process that follows:

CADFusion generates a LINEAR (G1) transition move between the lead out move of the first shape and the lead in move of the second shape.
CADFusion calculates the break angle between the lead out move of the first shape and the LINEAR (G1) transition move as follows:

If the angle is less than or equal to the value you specified for the Break angle property, CADFusion inserts a Bezier curve between the lead out move and the LINEAR (G1) transition move.
If the angle is greater than the value you specified for the Break angle property, CADFusion does not insert a Bezier curve. When you export the data and run the AeroScript or AeroBasic program, motion moves directly from the lead out move to the LINEAR (G1) transition move.

CADFusion calculates the break angle between the LINEAR (G1) transition move and the lead in move of the second shape as follows:

If the angle is less than or equal to the value you specified for the Break angle property, CADFusion inserts a Bezier curve between the LINEAR (G1) transition move and the lead in move.
If the angle is greater than the value you specified for the Break angle property, CADFusion does not insert a Bezier curve. When you export the data and run the AeroScript or AeroBasic program, motion moves directly from the LINEAR (G1) transition move to the lead in move.

Shape Transition Inheritance

Shape Skywriting is one of many shape transitions that you can use. By default, all shapes inherit the shape transition that you specify in the Project Settings dialog. But, in the Properties pane, you can apply different shape transitions to groups and shapes. CADFusion uses the information that follows to determine which shape transition to use for a shape:

If the shape transition is a value other than -inherited-, then CADFusion uses that shape transition.
If the shape transition is -inherited-, then CADFusion uses the shape transition of the closest group that includes the shape.
If the shape transition is -inherited- for all of the groups that include the shape, then CADFusion uses the default shape transition that you specify on the Project Settings dialog.