Constructing Ellipses and Elliptical Arcs
An Ellipse has a center like a Circle, but has a longer radius along its major axis and a shorter radius along its minor axis. You can construct Ellipses or elliptical Arcs of any size.
To construct Ellipses from a center point and the radii of perpendicular axes:
- Click Draw > Ellipse > Center (or type Ellipse, then specify the Center option).
- In the graphics area, click to define the:
- Axis start point.
- Axis end point.
- Radius of the perpendicular axis, or specify an option:
- The axis end point value.
- Rotation, to specify the Ellipse via the angle that is defined by the ratio of the major to minor axis. You can specify an angle between 0 and 89.9°. The larger the angle, the flatter the Ellipse.
To construct Ellipses from an axis defined by its end points and the radius of the perpendicular axis:
- Click Draw > Ellipse > Axis, End (or type Ellipse).
- In the graphics area, click to define the:
- Axis start point.
- Axis end point.
- Radius of the perpendicular axis, or type the end point at the command prompt.
To construct elliptical Arcs:
- Click Draw > Ellipse > Arc (or type Ellipse, then specify the Elliptical arc option).
- In the graphics area, click to define the:
- Axis start point.
- Axis end point.
- Radius of the perpendicular axis.
- End point of the Arc, or type the angle between a Ray from the Ellipse center to its intersection with the Ellipse.
- Angle defining the Ray from the Ellipse center axis intersecting the Ellipse at the other end point of the Arc, or specify an option:
- Parametric vectors: Specifies the Arc by the factor that defines its portion of the entire Ellipse area.
- Total angle: Specifies the other arc end point on the Ellipse from a Ray defined by an included angle defined by the Ellipse axes.
Access
Command: Ellipse
Menu: Draw > Ellipse
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