It has been described as the holy grail of spline continuity. Maybe that’s an overstatement, but many designers have been waiting a very long time for the ability to add G3 continuity to line segments. Now with SOLIDWORKS 2020, you can create accurate Class-A surfaces with the G3 connection. A G3 connection describes the intersection of two curves. The G3 relation at this point forms the smoothest transition between the line segments; it’s a must-have for anyone creating class-A surfaces..
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What is G3 Continuity?
The Torsion continuity or G3 relation can be applied to a point between a spline and another sketch segment. At this shared point, the G3 relation will do a few things to the sketch entities:
- Create a smooth continuity at the end point
- Apply equal curvature
- Apply an equal rate of curvature
How to Apply G3 Continuity
The G3 relation can be applied at the end point of a spline and where it joins with one of the following sketch entities:
- Another spline
- Traditional arcs
- Conical or elliptical arcs
- Model edges that are linear, circular, conic, parabolic, elliptical or spline-based
It’s incredibly easy to add the relation. When you are editing a sketch, click on the appropriate point, and add the sketch relation just like you would any other relation like tangent or parallel.
Why G3 Continuity is Important
This is a step up from the equal curvature relationship. The G3 link will add a continuous curvature relationship. This means there will be a smooth blending at the junction of the lines. This is what makes it a Class-A surface – something that has no physical joint present or visible. G3 refers to the level of complexity of the geometry, something all SOLIDWORKS users are already familiar with-just presented in a different context.
- G_ is no connection
- G0 is connect points which has sharp edges
- G1 is tangent which we see in engineering fillets
- G2 is equal curvature which has a curvature blend with a lead in
- G3 is the equal curvature with equal rate of curvature as well which is true Class A quality blends
Check out the video to learn how to use this new feature. Take an in-depth look at how to use the new torsion control relationship in SOLIDWORKS 2020 to add Class A surfaces to your SOLIDWORKS designs.
Do you want to learn more about the SOLIDWORKS 2020 enhancements and updates? See our entire blog series for complete details and videos.
