Bezier Curves and Surfaces

The formula of the Bezier curve looks like this

n
P(u )   Bi J n ,i (u )
i 0

 n
J n,i (u )   u i (1  u )n i
i

 n n!
  
 i  i!(n  i)!

Where (0)0  1 and 0!  1

Here – the curve is a function of the parameter u. This parameter is said to vary along the

Control polygon

Control Point

Bezier curve

u=0 u=1

Bezier curve
curve from 0 to 1. B is a set of points in space that control the shape of the curve. J is a
function of the parameter u – it is called Bernstein polynomial. It represents a polynomial
form of u. If you expand the Bezier curve equation – you will find that each term of the
expression would contain one function of u multiplied with one control point coordinate.
But for programming – the following formulation might prove to be more convenient –

N
P(u )   BI J N , I (u )
I 1
Where

 N  1 I 1
J N , I   t (1  t ) N 1
 I  1 

And

 N  1 ( N  1)!
  
 I  1  ( I  1)!( N  1)!

The polygon points are numbered from 1 to N. Thus n=N-1 and I=I-1

Equation of the bezier surface is given by :

n m
S (u , v )    Bi , j J n,i (u ) K m, j ( w)
i 0 j 0

 m m!
  
 j  j!(m  j )!

 n n!
  
 i  i!(n  i)!

 m
K m, j ( w)   w j (1  w)m  j
 j

Where (0)0  1 and 0!  1

The Bezier surface is defined using matrix notation

P(u, v)  U N BM  V 

T T
(1)  B0 , 0 .. .. .. B0, m 
B .. .. .. .. 
where  1,0
B   .. .. .. .. .. 
 
U   u n u n 1 
u 1 ,  .. .. .. .. .. 

V   vn vn1 v 1 ,
 Bn ,0 .. .. .. Bn , m 

(2)

Bi,j represents the control points of Bezier surface.

N and M are the matrices of constants characterizing the interpolating basis (blending)
functions.

Scallop
Cutter
Side step

Blank

Fig 1 Bezier Surface Used Fig 2 Free form Surface machining