Uses of Compound Curves

Compound Curve Screen

• Curved screen design is used for greater immersion in cinema screen designs for 70-millimeter, current 35-millimeter formats and D-Cinema. The screen designs are standardized compound curves with matching standardized lens correction. The compound curve is determined by the screen width.

Compound Curve Bicycle Fenders

• Compound curve fenders are used on bicycles. Fenders are available for different sized wheels such as 700c, 27 inches, 650B, 20 inches and 26 inches. The fenders are rounded on the top and cupped on the underside of the bicycle tire, forming the compound curve. The fenders are made to be strong and light in weight in order to mount to the the bike and above the tire.

Compound Curve Icons

• Software programs such as Autodesk Maya use compound curves in their icons. With the software, the user can put together complex NURBS-based compound curve icons. This is done by combining the multiple curves under a single transform node. There are scripts within software programs that automate this process and make the compound curve shapes.

Compound Curve Guitar Top

• The top part of an acoustic guitar is the most delicate part. The type and thickness of the wood used and the bracing structure on the guitar type affect the sound. Applying a compound curve to the top of the guitar adds strength and allows for a thinned and lighter top. It is therefore recommended that the top of an acoustic guitar have a compound curve.