Display full version of the post: Connecting Circles' Edge

ArioPAV
26.08.2019, 11:04
Hi, i'm a regular user of CAD. does anyone know how to connect two circles edge with fixed length? i had two circles in fixed location and i have to connect them in a fixed line length. i tried drawing third circle but it took forever cause it can't be snapped other than circle's quadrant, and i had to rotate them freely, but still inaccurate.thx

Kent Cooper
26.08.2019, 15:28

There are an infinite number of solutions to that, assuming the two Circles are close enough for the fixed distance to reach between them, unless they are exactly that far apart along a line between their centers, in which case there is only one solution [a very easy one -- you can figure that out].  So if the latter is not the situation, you need to define some criteria for a "correct" solution.  If, for example, you want the result to be radial to one of the Circles [an extension of the direction from its center], you can do this:In an OFFSET command, pick the endpoints of the Line [cyan in the image] to set the distance, and Offset either Circle [red] outward.  If the Circles are close enough for the fixed distance to reach between them, the result [dashed grey] will intersect the other Circle.  Draw a Line [yellow] from either INTersection of that resulting outer Circle with the other one, back PERpendicular to the Circle that was Offset.  There are only four solutions by that approach, rather than an infinite number -- each will be perpendicular/radial to one of the Circles but not the other.
Kent Cooper2019-08-26 15:30:29

ArioPAV
28.08.2019, 08:39
Thanks for the option Kent,i'll keep that in mind