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Using the Geometry Panel

The Geometry panel provides tools for creating geometric objects such as points, lines, segments, and circles. These objects can be used to perform classical geometric constructions for mechanism design.

Points, Segments, and Lines​

The following example demonstrates how to create geometry objects and how they interact with each other:

  1. Create a Point on the canvas
  2. Create a Midpoint between two points
  3. Draw a Segment connecting two points
  4. Draw a Line through two points
  5. Observe how moving a point updates the Intersection Point of two lines
  6. Notice how lines that depend on the intersection point also move accordingly

Perpendicular Lines, Parallel Lines, and Bisectors​

The Geometry panel also provides tools for creating lines with specific geometric relationships:

  1. Create a Segment on the canvas
  2. Use the segment to create a Perpendicular Line
  3. Use the segment to create a Parallel Line
  4. Use the perpendicular line to create another Parallel Line
  5. Use the segment to create a Perpendicular Bisector
  6. Select any three points to create an Angle Bisector
  7. Move one of the points and observe how all dependent objects update accordingly

Circles, Semi-Circles, and Arcs​

The Geometry panel includes tools for creating circular objects:

  • Circle - Create a circle by specifying a center point and radius
  • Semi-Circle - Create a half circle
  • Arc - Create a portion of a circle

Compass​

The Compass tool is essential for classical geometric constructions. You can create a compass in two ways:

  • Select two points to define the radius (recommended)
  • Select a segment to use its length as the radius

The compass is useful for many geometric constructions, including:

  • Copying angles - Transfer an angle from one location to another
  • Transferring lengths - Copy a distance to a new location
  • Position synthesis - Essential for two-position and three-position linkage synthesis

Polygons and Splines​

The Geometry panel also provides tools for creating more complex shapes:

  • Polygon - Create a closed shape with multiple vertices
  • Spline - Create a smooth curve through multiple points

Distance and Angle​

The Geometry panel provides measurement tools to get precise values:

  • Distance - Select two points to measure the distance between them
  • Angle - Select three points to measure the angle formed

You can also modify the distance or angle value to set a specific measurement.

note

Changing values is only available when the selected measurement contains free points — points that do not depend on other geometry objects or intersections between geometry.

Sync Segment​

Sync Segment synchronizes the length between two segments. When a point moves and causes one segment's length to change, the other segment will update its points to maintain the same length. This is a bi-directional relationship — changing either segment will update the other.

caution

Sync Segment is a special method and is not recommended unless other methods cannot solve the problem. For position synthesis, the Compass tool is the recommended way to sync lengths between segments, as it provides single-direction synchronization which is typically sufficient. Sync Segment feature may be removed in a future version.

Color and Stroke Style​

You can change the global color and stroke style for geometry objects. These settings affect all newly created geometry objects.