Using Curved Flex-Track

# 2.2.6.1 Using Curved Flex-Track

This method of joining track may be used where tracks are joined with a 'simple curve', e.g. one which uses a curve in a single direction as opposed to using reverse curves (Section B.2).

1. Start the join process by clicking on the Join button ().

2. Left-Click the endpoint of one of the two tracks being joined. A red dot will appear as a reminder of which track has been selected.

3. Move the mouse pointer over the endpoint of the other track then Left-Click and hold the mouse button down. A track connecting the two endpoints will appear. If the track appears in black (and you are happy with the curve as its drawn), release the mouse button.

4. If the track appears in red, it means XTrackCAD can't determine how to connect the first track with the second. If this occurs, while holding the left mouse button, drag the mouse back toward the first track until the connecting track appears in black. If the connecting track remains red, drag the mouse in the opposite direction until the connecting track turns black. Once the connecting track turns black, release the mouse button to finalize the Join command.

Throughout the above, the exact shape of the curve can be adjust by dragging the mouse around while keeping the left mouse button held down.

Sometimes, no matter where you drag the mouse, the curve stays red and the tracks cannot be connected. This means the resulting curve is tighter than the minimum track radius set in the Preferences dialog (Section 2.10.7). If desired, this setting can be adjusted from the Preferences dialog using the Options>Preferences menu selection to raise the dialog. If changing the minimum track radius is not a desired option then it will be necessary to relocate one of the tracks that you're attempting to join.

You may also find that XTrackCAD will not create the connecting curve in the exact shape you want. If this happens it may be necessary to either move one of the end points or draw a partial curve (or straight) and try again.

If enabled, Easements (Section 2.10.4) will be automatically generated between tracks of differing radii. When using easements, there is a minimum radius as specified in the Easement dialog. It's not possible to join tracks with less then this radius and the connecting track's radius must be greater than the minimum radius.

If any errors occur while joining tracks (such as moving beyond the end of a track or using a curve with a radius smaller than the Easement radius), then the joint track will be drawn in Red (The default colour of Exception Track errors. See Section 2.10.1 for detail). This colouring serves as visual indication for a connecting track that doesn't meet minimum specified parameters (Section 2.10.7).

Any tracks created during the Join command will have the following properties inherited from the first track: selected state, hidden state, scale, track gauge and Layer.

A join can be made to or from a circle (Section 2.1.1) of track. Joining a track with a circle will cause the circle to be converted into a curved track.

For detail about;

  Using straight flex-track to join track segments refer to Section 2.2.6.2.

  Moving one segment of track to join with another refer to Section 2.2.6.3.