Sketcher BSplineDecreaseDegree
|
Menu location |
---|
Sketch → Sketcher B-spline tools → Decrease B-spline degree |
Workbenches |
Sketcher |
Default shortcut |
None |
Introduced in version |
0.19 |
See also |
Sketcher Show/hide B-spline degree, Sketcher Increase B-spline degree |
Description
Decreases the degree (order) of a B-spline (see this page for more info about B-splines).
B-splines are basically a combination of Bézier curves (nicely explained in this and this video).
In this cubic spline (degree 3) there are 3 segments, meaning 3 curves are connected at 2 knots
(the degree is indicated by the number, indication can be changed using the toolbar button Show/hide B-spline degree):
B-spline with degree 3 and 2 knots that each have the multiplicity 1.
The outer segments have each 2 control points, the inner one none to fulfill the constraint that the knots have multiplicity 1. (see this page for an explanation of the multiplicity)
Decreasing the degree will not delete control points but try instead to conserve the shape of the spline. Therefore segments will be added. For our example you see a lot of new spline segments with each one control point and the shape of the spline has only slightly been changed:
Same B-spline where the degree was changed from 3 to 2. Note that also the knot multiplicity was increased to conserve the spline shape. In effect the knots have now C0 continuity so that the spline will get "edges" when you move a control point. (see this page to for an explanation of the continuity)
If you take this result and increase the degree, you cannot get the initial state of the spline because information was lost by the prior decrease of the degree. For our example increasing the degree again leads to this:
Same B-spline where the degree was changed back from 2 to 3. Note that the knot multiplicity increased too because the information for a possible higher continuity was lost.
Usage
- General: Create sketch, Edit sketch, Map sketch to face, Reorient sketch, Validate sketch, Merge sketches, Mirror sketch, Leave sketch, View sketch, View section, Toggle grid, Toggle snap, Configure rendering order, Stop operation
- Sketcher geometries: Point, Line, Arc, Arc by 3 points, Circle, Circle by 3 points, Ellipse, Ellipse by 3 points, Arc of ellipse, Arc of hyperbola, Arc of parabola, B-spline by control points, Periodic B-spline by control points, B-spline by knots, Periodic B-spline by knots, Polyline, Rectangle, Centered rectangle, Rounded rectangle, Triangle, Square, Pentagon, Hexagon, Heptagon, Octagon, Regular polygon, Slot, Fillet, Corner-preserving fillet, Trim, Extend, Split, External geometry, Carbon copy, Toggle construction geometry
- Sketcher constraints:
- Geometric constraints: Coincident, Point on object, Vertical, Horizontal, Parallel, Perpendicular, Tangent, Equal, Symmetric, Block
- Dimensional constraints: Lock, Horizontal distance, Vertical distance, Distance, Radius or weight, Diameter, Auto radius/diameter, Angle, Refraction (Snell's law)
- Constraint tools: Toggle driving/reference constraint, Activate/deactivate constraint
- Sketcher tools: Select unconstrained DoF, Select associated constraints, Select associated geometry, Select redundant constraints, Select conflicting constraints, Show/hide internal geometry, Select origin, Select horizontal axis, Select vertical axis, Symmetry, Clone, Copy, Move, Rectangular array, Remove axes alignment, Delete all geometry, Delete all constraints
- Sketcher B-spline tools: Show/hide B-spline degree, Show/hide B-spline control polygon, Show/hide B-spline curvature comb, Show/hide B-spline knot multiplicity, Show/hide B-spline control point weight, Convert geometry to B-spline, Increase B-spline degree, Decrease B-spline degree, Increase knot multiplicity, Decrease knot multiplicity, Insert knot, Join curves
- Sketcher virtual space: Switch virtual space
- Additional: Sketcher Dialog, Preferences, Sketcher scripting

- Getting started
- Installation: Download, Windows, Linux, Mac, Additional components, Docker, AppImage, Ubuntu Snap
- Basics: About FreeCAD, Interface, Mouse navigation, Selection methods, Object name, Preferences, Workbenches, Document structure, Properties, Help FreeCAD, Donate
- Help: Tutorials, Video tutorials
- Workbenches: Std Base, Arch, Draft, FEM, Inspection, Mesh, OpenSCAD, Part, PartDesign, Path, Points, Reverse Engineering, Robot, Sketcher, Spreadsheet, Start, Surface, TechDraw, Test Framework, Web
- Hubs: User hub, Power users hub, Developer hub