Arc/Tanto,C,C,R
Arc Tangent to Two Circles
Creates an arc tangent to two existing circles with a specified radius.
What It Does
The Arc/Tanto,C,C,R operator creates an arc of specified radius simultaneously tangent to two existing circles. The arc blends smoothly between the two circles.
Syntax
Arc/Tanto, C1, C2, R, XLarge|XSmall|YLarge|YSmall, IN|OUT
Quick Input
C: [first circle]
C2: [second circle]
R: [radius]
Dir: ○ XL ○ XS ● YL ○ YS
Tan: ● OUT ○ IN
Direction Selector
| Selector | Meaning |
|---|---|
OUT | Arc externally tangent to both circles |
IN | Arc internally tangent to one or both |
Worked Examples
C0=centre(0,0) r=20, C1=centre(80,0) r=20, R=30
Arc/Tanto, C0, C1, R=30, YLarge, OUT
→ A0: arc tangent to both circles, upper solution
Tangent to C0 at start, tangent to C1 at end
Analytic Rule
Arc centre at distance R+r_C1 from C1 and R+r_C2 from C2.
Solve circle-circle intersection for arc centre.
Arc sweeps from tangent point on C1 to tangent point on C2.
Result: Exact analytic arc.
FAQ
When would I use this?
Creating a smooth blend arc between two circular features in a CNC profile.
What is the minimum radius?
Depends on circle sizes and positions. XyzPilot returns an error if R is too small.