hello all, i am trying to create a curve that encloses several circles. when changing size and position of the circles the curve should adapt accordingly. what i got so far is this: [Screenshot_04] [Screenshot_03] i’ve tried the convex hull but that gives me straight lines between the circles…

there’s a component called Tangent Lines [image] but I think you want something different?

thank you for looking into this alessandro. but this is the same i already got. i want the surrounding curve tangent to the circles but arched, not straight.

I had this from some time ago, might work but will need some adjustments (like handling many circles, now it just wants 2 of them) [image] 2circle_external_tangent_arcs.gh (11.4 KB)

You can use the Arc SED component. It requires a start point, end point and tangent vector. [image] [image] PS: unfortunately this doesn’t work as it only takes one tangent vector… new solution below

Blue group slider moves tangent lines inward to find circle intersection points that yield tangents for BiArc. [TangentCrvs_2022Feb7a] TangentCrvs_2022Feb7a.gh (21.8 KB) List of circles is sorted… from @martinsiegrist ’s model. P.S. Cut the circles at the tangent points to get a perimeter curv…

Now this definition takes the same number of circles and text dots for the radius input. The text dots need to be roughly where the arc segment is going to be. Circles can be scaled and dragged. [image] [image] 22_02_07_arc_sed.3dm (51.6 KB) 22_02_07_arc_sed.gh (23.4 KB)

curve_around_circles.gh (17.0 KB)

YES!!! thank you seghier. this is exactly what i was looking for :slight_smile: one more question: which component do i need to get a curve with as few points as possible in the end (see my third picture above)? when using the control point component i can see that there are too many points on …

The path slider is there just to verify the tree structure

[image] shuto: which component do i need to get a curve with as few points as possible in the end (see my third picture above)? You can use Divide curve [image]

Bounding curve around set of circles

Grasshopper

René_Corella (René Corella) February 8, 2022, 7:13pm 13

I also ‘have’ this ‘problem’ all the time.
Definitely studying all provided answers here.

It reminds me of Daniel Piker’s 2D pressure, which also provides exploration advantages:

Best

Topic		Replies	Views
How to generate circles tangent to a curve? Grasshopper	4	2594	November 13, 2019
Tangent interpolated curve from multiple circles with different scales. HELP! Grasshopper windows , tangent , curves	4	1735	February 23, 2021
Outside boundary of multiple non-connected curves Grasshopper windows	6	367	June 25, 2023
Tangent arcs with a "convex" curve - strange behavior Grasshopper windows	11	502	October 3, 2024
Arraying circles with varying radii along a curve Grasshopper windows , rhino7 , grasshopperrhino	16	3814	December 14, 2021

Bounding curve around set of circles

Related topics