Construction Aid Tangent > Object, Horizontal (Construct Menu)

This command draws a horizontal Construction Aid endless line which is tangent to a circle, an ellipse, or a Bézier curve. "Horizontal" relates to the position on the page and not to the view. If the drawing is rotated, then the line will be rotated correspondingly.

Any circle, ellipse, or Bézier curve which exists on its own or as part of another object can be identified as a reference object. This can also be the arc of an ellipse segment or a circle arc within a surface.

The position at which the (part) object is identified (the "ID point) affects the way in which the rest of the command is carried out. If a horizontal tangent is placed on a circle or ellipse, the tangent can be placed above or below the circle or ellipse. The tangent point nearer to the ID point is used as the point through which the line should run (see graphic).

If a contour section consists of several Bézier curves, the ID point must be placed on the respective Bézier curve that contains the desired tangent point.