The Spline tool creates a curve by marking specific points of curvature. This creates a polynomial curve, or curve with multiple points. With splines, you can construct curves and create organic shapes. Splines have two different types: Fit Point and Control Point.
Fit Point Splines ⌨️
To create a curve by marking the specific location of each point through which the curve should pass, use the Fit Point Spline. Fit Point Splines give you more flexibility to set the spline path. The challenge is controlling the whole curve since any change to a point impacts other parts of the spline.
To create Fit Point Splines, follow these steps:
- Define your sketch plane, go to Sketch > Spline, then choose Fit.
For more advanced options for accessing this tool, visit: Accessing tools. - Draw a line segment, then click to add points through which the curve should pass.
- Continue to add points to define the shape of the curve segments.
- To finish, press Escape or Backspace.
- To move the curve points, exit Spline by pressing Escape, then click and drag the points.
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To adjust the curvature at a point, click it and drag the handles.
- To add points to the spline, secondary click (right-click) on a curve to open the context menu, and select New Spline Point.
- To remove a point, select it and then click Delete.
Tip
Constraints allow you to break or join splines at any point. To break or join splines at any point, select it and then click the Break/Join badge.
Control Point Splines ⌨️
Use Control Point Splines to draw and shape a curve indirectly. As you draw each section, a polyline appears to guide the curve. Each point that you mark is a vertex of an imaginary polyline that you can click/tap and move to adjust the shape of the curve. This approach gives you less direct manipulation, but more control over the full curve’s smoothness.
To create Control Point Splines, follow these steps:
- Define your sketch plane, go to Sketch > Spline, then choose Control.
For more advanced options for accessing this tool, visit: Accessing tools. - Draw connecting lines. This creates a polyline that guides the shape of the curve.
- To finish, press Escape or Backspace.
- To move the curve points, exit Spline by pressing Escape, then click and drag the control points, not the curve itself.
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To add a control point, secondary click (right-click) on a curve to open the context menu, and select New Spline Point.
- To remove a point, select it and click Delete.
Tip
Constraints allow you to break or join splines at any point. To break or join splines at any point, select it and then click the Break/Join badge. To connect straight lines with a tangent curve, make sure the spline’s control polyline is in line with the neighboring lines. This will create the curve tangent at these points.
Fit Point Splines 🖊️
To create a curve by marking the specific location of each point through which the curve should pass, use the Fit Point Spline. Fit Point Splines give you more flexibility to set the spline path. The challenge is controlling the whole curve since any change to a point impacts other parts of the spline.
To create Fit Point Splines, follow these steps:
-
Define your sketch plane, go to Sketch > Spline, then choose Fit.
For more advanced options for accessing this tool, visit: Accessing tools. - Draw a curve segment, then lift the pen.
- Draw more connecting curve segments.
- To move the curve points, select and drag them directly.
- To adjust the curvature at a point, drag the handles.
- To add points to the spline, select the curve and long-tap it.
- To remove a point, select it and then tap Delete.
Tip
Constraints allow you to break or join splines at any point. To break or join splines at any point, select it and then tap the Break/Join badge.
Control Point Splines 🖊️
Use Control Point Splines to draw and shape a curve indirectly. As you draw each section, a polyline appears to guide the curve. Each point that you mark is a vertex of an imaginary polyline that you can click/tap and move to adjust the shape of the curve. This approach gives you less direct manipulation, but more control over the full curve’s smoothness.
To create Control Point Splines, follow these steps:
-
Define your sketch plane, go to Sketch > Spline, then choose Control.
For more advanced options for accessing this tool, visit: Accessing tools. - Draw connecting lines. This creates a polyline that guides the shape of the curve.
- To adjust the curve, select and drag the control points, not the curve itself.
- To add a control point, select the curve and long-tap it.
- To remove a point, select it and tap Delete.
Tip
Constraints allow you to break or join splines at any point. To break or join splines, select it and then tap the Break/Join badge. To connect straight lines with a tangent curve, make sure the spline’s control polyline is in line with the neighboring lines. This will create the curve tangent at these points.
History settings
To manage history settings for the automatic Spline action, find the step for your specific sketch and then view or modify the following:
- Plane – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to modify the plane or face where you want the sketch to be and then select Done.
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Projection – If applicable, click/tap Edit… to modify any existing projections to your sketch.
Note: To learn more about sketch projections, visit Project.
Learn more by watching the video below:
Read more
- Accessing tools – Understand how tools appear based on what you select in the modeling space.
- Selecting geometry – Master selection techniques for edges, faces, sketches, and bodies.
- Defining and calculating numerical values – Learn how to apply dimensions, enter precise values, and use formulas.
- Keyboard shortcuts, gestures, and hotkeys – View keyboard shortcuts you can use to access tools and speed up actions.
- Variables and expressions – Set up reusable values and expressions to control your design parametrically.