To create a 3D curve from two planar orthogonal curves

1. Make sure that the curves are planar. You can use the Curve Planarize tool to flatten the curves.
2. Click the Combine Curves icon , or choose Curve Edit > Create > Combine Curves from the Palette.
3. Click the first profile curve.
4. Click the second profile curve.
5. If Automatic Direction is off, or if Combine Curves cannot figure out the projection directions, it prompts you to enter
   • the projection axis of the first curve (x, y or z), and
   • the projection axis of the second curve (x, y, or z).
6. Combine Curves creates the curve by projecting the two planar curves into a 3D curve.

   In some cases, more than one solution may be possible. In these cases, Combine Curves creates all the possible curves. When it is finished, delete the curves you do not want.

Tips and notes

• If the Create History option is on, you can edit the profile curves and the 3D curve automatically updates.
• Use the Rebuild curve tool in most cases to reduce the complexity of the resulting curve.

Combine Curves Options

Automatic Direction

Try to figure out the projection axes for the two curves automatically. Leave this option on unless Combine curve guesses wrong and you must set the axes manually.

In some cases, the Combine curve tool cannot automatically figure out the projection directions (for example, if the two curves are in the same plane). In these cases, type the projection axes for the first and second profile curves.

Create History

Save the Combine curve history for later editing. If you turn on Create History, you can edit the profile curves and the combined curve automatically updates.