For curves, the bulge value is a ratio of the distance from the arc to the chord divided by half the length of the chord. The bulge factor adds vertices to a polyline curve, creating an approximation of the curve using straight line segments. The length of these segments varies depending on the bulge factor and the degree of curvature. Exploded to polylines (32 segments): Y2 - Direct after XP, OR performs different on the left top one: Y3 - Faulty solutions by OR: Y4 (= saved state) The results may differ with the saved explosions. Y1 TA XP Relocate startpoint with OR to an existing reference (called ‘End’) Regards, CVH.
The curvature of a Polyline Arc segment is defined using a quantity known as bulge. This unit measures the deviation of the curve from the straight line (chord) joining the two vertices of the segment. It is defined as the ratio of the arc sagitta (versine) to half the length of the chord between the two vertices; this ratio is equal to the tangent of a quarter of the included arc angle between the two polyline vertices.
In this way, a negative bulge indicates that the arc follows a clockwise direction from the first vertex to the next, with a positive bulge describing an anticlockwise oriented arc. A bulge of 0 indicates a straight segment, and a bulge of 1 is a semicircle.
An AutoCAD Arc Entity is defined by a center, radius and start & end angle. The arc is always defined to be anticlockwise oriented, that is, following an anticlockwise direction from the start angle to the end angle.
Here I demonstrate various methods to convert between the quantities used to define a Polyline Arc segment and those used to define an Arc Entity, with a brief explanation of calculations used in each method.
Contents
Arc to Bulge
| Function Syntax | (LM:arc->bulge <c> <a1> <a2> <r>) |
| Current Version | 1.0 |
| Donate |
Dxf Polyline Vertex Bulge
| Arguments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Type | Description |
| c | List | Arc Center |
| a1, a2 | Real | Start and End Angle of Arc (respectively) |
| r | Real | Arc Radius |
| Returns | ||
| Type | Description | |
| List | List of: (<vertex> <bulge> <vertex>) describing the Polyline Arc | |
This function will convert the quantities used to define an AutoCAD Arc Entity (center, start/end angle, radius) to those used to define a Polyline Arc segment (vertices, bulge).
The function first normalises the included arc angle to lie within the range 0 ≤ θ < 2π and then utilises the definition that the bulge of a Polyline Arc is the tangent of a quarter of the included arc angle.
Test Function
The following test function will prompt for selection of an Arc Entity and proceed to create a (green) Polyline Arc segment to match the selected arc.
3-Points to Bulge
| Function Syntax | (LM:3p->bulge <pt1> <pt2> <pt3>) |
| Current Version | 1.0 |
| Donate |
| Arguments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Type | Description |
| pt1, pt2, pt3 | List | 3 points defining an arc |
| Returns | ||
| Type | Description | |
| Real | The bulge value describing the arc starting at pt1, passing through pt2, to pt3. | |
This function will return the bulge value describing an arc which starts at the first supplied point pt1, passes through the second supplied point pt2, and terminates at the third supplied point pt3.
The returned bulge value may be positive or negative, depending upon whether the arc passing through the three points traces a clockwise or counter-clockwise path.
Test Function
The following test function will prompt the user for specification of three points, and, given a valid response of three non-collinear points, will then construct a polyline arc segment passing through the three points.
Bulge to Arc
| Function Syntax | (LM:Bulge->Arc <p1> <p2> <b>) |
| Current Version | 1.0 |
| Donate |
| Arguments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Symbol | Type | Description |
| p1, p2 | List | Points describing the vertices of the Polyline Arc segment |
| b | Real | Bulge of the Polyline Arc |
| Returns | ||
| Type | Description | |
| List | List of: (<center> <start angle> <end angle> <radius>) describing the Arc | |
This function will convert the quantities used to define a Polyline Arc segment (vertices, bulge) to those used to define an AutoCAD Arc Entity (center, start/end angle, radius).
Version 1
This version uses the relationship between the arc chord length and included angle, as illustrated by the following diagram:
Version 2
This version uses the relationship between the arc sagitta and bulge factor, illustrated by the following diagram:
Test Function
The following test function will prompt for selection of an LWPolyline with 2 vertices and non-zero bulge, and proceed to create a (green) Arc Entity to match the selected Polyline Arc segment.
Dxf Polyline Bulge
Additional Functions
The following functions are derived from the above Bulge to Arc functions, and will return the individual arc properties of the polyline arc segment.
The required parameters & values returned by each function are detailed in the respective code headers.
Bulge Center
Bulge Radius
Further Information
More information about the derivation of the bulge quantity can be found in this article by Stig Madsen. The article also explains in greater detail many of the properties and relationships of an arc used by the above functions.