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Unigraphics NX8 Modeling
Unigraphics NX8 Modeling
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These are some of the main steps in the process of designing parts in NX.
Start with a new file.
Create datums.
Create datum coordinate systems and datum
planes to position modeling features.
These datums form the beginning of a chain of
associativity for the features you add next.
Create features.
Guide/spine/path driven
You can create a solid body or sheet body from the section geometry, based on the body type
setting at creation.
Solid
Sheet
Extrude
Revolve
Variational Sweep
Styled Sweep
Tube
Swept
Associativity
Features created by sweeping are fully associated with the section or guide geometry.
If you delete associated parent curves, such as a sketch that has been extruded into a solid body,
you are notified that other features are affected and the solid body is also deleted.
If you select a solid face or datum plane to trim or limit a swept feature, the resulting feature is
associated to the face or datum plane.
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For example, if you select a face to limit the end of an extrude feature, the extrude feature will
update when you change the shape or location of the face.
If you select a line, edge, or datum axis to define the direction of extruded feature or the axis of a
revolved feature, the resulting feature is associated with the selected reference.
1.
2.
3.
4.
First section
Second section
Last section
Closed guide
1. Section geometry
You can use the Type Filter to control what type of geometry can be selected for the section:
Curves
Curve features
Sketches
Edges
Faces
Section Segments
You can use the Curve Rule to quickly define the section with fewer number of selections:
Single Curve
Connected Curves
Tangent Curves
Face Edges
Sheet Edges
Feature Curves
Region Boundary Curves
Infer Curves
After you select the objects for the section, the ends are highlighted by an asterisk if the section is not
completely closed.
Example 2
Avoid creating a situation where vertices or edges of section geometry create a body of zero
thickness.
When using swept features for boolean operations such as a Subtract or Unite, be sure the feature
actually comes in contact with the model.
Specifying closed and opened curves together as one section, or curves intersecting each other,
will yield error messages:
o 'Gaps in strings or multiple loops'.
o 'Selected objects will result in a self intersecting section'.
If the selected objects are not contiguous and the gaps are not within the distance tolerance, you
may receive a 'The section contains multiple loops' message.
Avoid situations where a swept feature would intersect itself if created. This usually happens with
revolve features whose swept axis is within the boundaries of the section geometry.
You will get an 'Unable to Trim' message if a potential swept feature cannot be intersected with
the start or end limiting geometry.
D.Feature modeling
Feature modeling is the process of adding features to your model to create the design. Features that you
add are listed in the Part Navigator.
You typically start a design with datum features, such as datum coordinate systems and datum planes.
These can be used to position other features, such as sketches.
Working in History mode, the software maintains associativity between features as you create them. For
example, when you create a sketch and revolve it, the software maintains associativity from the sketch to
the revolve feature.
To see the parent and child relationships of a feature, select the feature in the Part Navigator.
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In this example, feature (2), a revolve feature, is selected in the Part Navigator. The magenta color
indicates that feature (0), a datum coordinate system, and feature (1), a sketch, are both parent features of
the revolve feature. Feature (3), an edge blend, is highlighted in blue to indicate that it is a child of the
revolve feature.
If you edit the sketch, the revolve feature updates because it is a child of the sketch. When the revolve
feature updates, the edge blend also updates, and so on.
1. Feature Modeling
The term "Feature " is used generally in NX to describe a class of objects that have defining parents. A
feature's parents enable it to recall the inputs and the operation that were used in its creation. Features
include all solids, bodies, primitives and certain wireframe objects.
Features can be described by the following characteristics:
The inputs of a feature are its "parents" and the resulting feature object is the "child," which is
Associative or "associated with" its parents.
Parents can be geometric objects or numerical variables (known as Expressions). In the case of
numerical variables, the numbers are known as "parameters" of the child object, and the child is
said to be "parametric."
If any object is modified, its associated children are updated (regenerated) to reflect the change.
The combination of parents and the creation operation is sometimes known as the "history" of an
object.
The parent-child analogy can be extended further within NX, and it is reasonable to speak of
ancestors, descendents, siblings, orphans, reparenting and so on.
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Sweeping sketch and non-sketch geometry to create associative features (see Swept Features).
Sweeping sketch and non-sketch geometry lets you create a solid body with complex geometry.
This method also gives you total control over the editing of that body. Editing is done by changing
the swept creation parameters or by changing the sketch. Editing the sketch causes the swept
feature to update to match the sketch.
Creating primitives for the basic building blocks, then adding more specific features, such as holes
and slots to provide further detail.
Creating a solid body using primitives results in a simple geometry solid body. Making changes to
primitives is more difficult, because primitives cannot always be parametrically edited. You can
use primitives when you do not need to be concerned with editing the model. Generally, however,
it is to your advantage to create the model from a sketch.
Modeling space
All bodies must be within a 1000 x 1000 x 1000 meter cube, centered about the origin of the
absolute coordinate system.
o Tolerances can have an impact on how bodies get created in modeling space.
Example If the spline is being used as a guide curve and is long and nearly straight and the
default distance tolerance (0.01") is used, the spline is approximated using a large
arc whose radius could be outside the maximum part size limit of 1000 x 1000 x
1000 meters.
You can avoid this problem by increasing the distance tolerance.
The smallest linear value that can be applied to a body is 0.00001 millimeters or 0.00000039
inches.
o Any linear value less than or equal to 0.00001 millimeters is considered to be zero for
operations on bodies.
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All points, including origin points, limit points, start points, and endpoints are defined using
the Point Constructor.
All direction, reference, and destination vectors are defined using the Vector Constructor.
Features created using the Thru option of Face Association define vectors in I, J, K
components mapped to the Absolute Coordinate System. You can enter I, J, K components
as real values or expressions.
Target Solid The solid body on which you create new features. If there is only one solid body displayed,
the system selects the target solid for you. Otherwise, you must select the body you want to
identify as the target.
Boolean
When you create primitives and swept features, you must choose to either create a new
Operations target solid or perform a Boolean operation with respect to an existing target solid.
Undo
Allows you to back up, one step at a time, to an existing previous state. Undo appears on
the main menu bar under Edit, and on the MB3 popup menu.
Object Selection
In some options, such as Extrude or Revolve, where several objects are to be swept, associativity to
sketches or nonsketch curves is created with the swept objects or with the path in which they are swept.
This means that when you edit the curves, the solid body is updated automatically.
Boolean Operations
When you create primitives and swept features, you can choose to perform a Boolean operation with
respect to an existing target solid.
Unite
Lets you join the new feature with a target solid. The new solid body will contain the combined
volume of the target solid and the new feature.
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Subtract Lets you remove the new feature from a target solid.
Intersect Lets you create a solid body from material that is common to both the new feature and the
target solid.
Here are a few things to keep in mind with Boolean operations:
When you attempt to add a swept feature to a solid body, ensure that the feature you defined
comes in contact with the target solid.
When you attempt to subtract or intersect a swept feature to a solid body, ensure that the feature
you defined intersects the target solid.
If the new feature does not come in contact with the current target solid and can be a standalone
solid body, choose to Create a new target solid.
If you perform a Boolean operation between a view dependent solid body and a model solid, the
target solid controls the resultant body. If you perform an undo, both bodies are restored
Bodies are pictorially represented by a U-V grid. The grid consists of lines that create a net conforming to
the curvatures of the body. The grid is only a display feature that provides a visual representation of the
body. The density of the U-V grid has no relationship to the mathematical accuracy of the body. The
density of the grid is user-defined and may be modified to best represent the body. To properly display a
complex body requires many grid lines, while a flat body requires very few.
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You can change the grid display for all subsequently created bodies using the Grid Lines options on the
Modeling Preferences dialog.
Degrees
Degree is a mathematical concept - it actually refers to the degree of the polynomial that is used to
describe a surface. NX uses similar concepts to define sheet bodies. Each sheet body has a degree in the U
direction and a degree in the V direction.
The degree of a sheet (in either direction) must be between 1 and 24. However, we recommend that you
use cubics (a degree of 3) when creating sheets. Creating lower degree sheet bodies results in faster
performance during subsequent operations such as machining and display. Using higher degree sheet
bodies reduces the chance of transferring data to other systems which may not support them. Also, the
creation of a high degree sheet through many points may lead to unpredictable results.
A higher degree sheet is "stiffer" in the sense that you have to move a pole a long way to produce any
appreciable change in the shape of the body. Lower degree sheet bodies are more pliable, and tend to
follow their poles much more closely.
Poles roughly correlate to the degrees of freedom of the sheet. To increase the degrees of freedom for a
sheet, you can:
Increase the number of points per patch (that is, the degree)
Increase the number of patches for the sheet body
Patches
A patch is a portion of a sheet. Using more patches to create a sheet gives you more localized control over
the curvature of the sheet.
When creating sheets, it is best to minimize the number of patches used to define the sheet. Limiting the
number of patches improves the performance of downstream applications and produces a smoother sheet.
Smart Bodies
Smart bodies are bodies that "remember" their creation data (strings, tolerances and parameters).
Any change to the geometry or expressions used to create a smart body cause the body to regenerate. Any
solid features created from smart bodies are updated as well. Thus you can create multiple levels of
associativity. For example, you can use sketch geometry to create a free form body, then use that resulting
body to create a feature. You can then edit the feature by editing the original strings (that is, the sketch
geometry).
Information Options
You can check the validity of a free form feature with the Analysis Examine Geometry options.
Use Analysis Minimum Radius to find the smallest radius of curvature (including tiny hooks or
reversals in the surface) in a face or collection of faces.
You can use Information Feature and Information Object to display information about a free form
feature.
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You cannot split a target body into two pieces by subtracting another body.
You cannot create a nonmanifold solid body by, for example, attempting to Unite two sheet bodies.
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Associativity Rules
The following associativity rules apply to the creation of features:
A feature created using the Thru option is associated to the faces selected as the thru faces. The
feature remains a thru feature whenever the target solid is changed (see the figure below).
Positioning dimensions create an associativity between the feature and the target solid. The
dimensions lock the feature at a desired location. The location of the feature can be changed by
simply editing the positioning dimensions that constrain the feature (see the figure below).
Note Editing the solid body does not change the location of a feature. You can change the feature's
location by:
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2. Positioning Methods
When you are creating features and sketches, there are times when the Positioning Method dialog
displays, to let you position the feature or sketch relative to other geometry.
Note You only see those positioning methods that are valid for the feature operation on which you are
currently working.
Note For Boss features, the Perpendicular positioning method is the default. For Boss features, you can
edit and rename the positioning dimensions directly on the Positioning dialog.
a. Position a feature or sketch
You can position a feature or sketch relative to existing curves, solid geometry, datum planes, and datum
axes. This is done by creating dimensional constraints, known as positioning dimensions, that control the
location of a feature or sketch relative to some existing curves, solid geometry, datum plane, or datum
axis (see the figure below).
Note The types of curves that are selectable may be limited, based on the type of positioning dimension
being defined.
Positioning dimensions are associated to the geometry used to create them. If you move or delete
geometry, the associated positioning dimension is also moved or deleted.
To position a feature or sketch, you must:
1.
2.
3.
4.
There are nine dimension types that can be used to constrain the location of a feature.
When selecting the objects to dimension, you must select one of the objects from the target solid, curve,
or datum and the other from the feature or sketch. When you position a boss or hole, the system
automatically selects the object on the feature (the arc center) for you.
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Selection of objects varies with the type of dimension you wish to create. For example, if you want to use
edges for a horizontal dimension, you must select their endpoints.
When specifying an endpoint, you must select an edge that connects with that point, between the edge's
midpoint and the intended point. For example, in the figure below:
If you select the edge (bold) between the midpoint and point A, point A is selected.
If you select the edge (bold) between the midpoint and point B, point B is selected.
For those positioning dimensions that require the selection of points, the points must be part of the solid
body (i.e., midpoints, endpoints, arc centers, tangency points).
If it is necessary to position a feature using geometry that has been modified, creating a conflict (such as
with a blended edge), you can:
Once you have added all the constraints needed to locate the feature or sketch, the feature is repositioned.
The positioning dimension can be edited, allowing you to change the location of the feature at any time.
For more information, see the section on Edit Feature Edit Positioning Dimension.
Identify Solid Face
In some cases when using points for positioning, you can dimension to a cylindrical, conical, or toroidal
face by first choosing Identify Solid Face.
Horizontal or Vertical Reference
When creating horizontal and vertical dimensions, you may be required to define a Horizontal or Vertical
Reference by selecting a linear edge, a solid face, or a datum axis or datum plane. A Horizontal Reference
defines the horizontal direction for dimensioning the feature's location. A Vertical Reference defines the
vertical direction for dimensioning the feature's location.
When using a face or datum plane for a Horizontal or Vertical Reference, the reference is formed by the
intersection (a curve) of the selected face or datum plane and the selected planar placement face.
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If the system determines that no references can be selected as a Horizontal or Vertical Reference, it
constructs a default reference.
If you are positioning a sketch, the Horizontal or Vertical Reference has already been selected and is not
requested at this time.
Note Whenever a feature whose edge/face was used as a horizontal or vertical reference is deleted, any
Horizontal or Vertical positioning constraints associated with the reference are also deleted.
b. Techniques for Positioning Methods
Editing Edges Used For Constraints
When you select an edge of the target solid to constrain the feature to it, the system creates a curve that
matches that edge. This curve is linked to the target solid. If you modify the edge (for example, by adding
a blend), the constraint is maintained to the original edge (see the figure below).
If you create a blend and then suppress it, the edge that was blended is redisplayed. If, after suppressing
the blend, you position a feature relative to that edge and try to unsuppress the blend, you will get a
warning that the positioning dimension will be deleted. You should cancel the unsuppress operation,
reorder the blend after the feature that is positioned relative to the edge (with Edit Feature Reorder),
and then unsuppress the blend.
Note You cannot position solid primitives using positioning dimensions.
Directional Axis (Machining)
When positioning a feature or sketch on a datum plane, a machining (tool) direction axis is displayed.
You can accept the viewed direction or flip it. This accepts the current state of the feature or flips the
feature to the other side of the datum plane.
In the figure below, you can see a thru hole being created from the datum plane to the outer face of the
cylindrical pipe. The system displays the tool direction (#1). If you accept the displayed tool direction, the
thru hole is created as shown by the solid lines. If you choose to flip the displayed tool direction (#2), the
thru hole is created as shown by the dashed lines.
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Full Constraints
When creating positioning dimensions for use in relative positioning, you may need to use more than one
constraining dimension to fully constrain the location of a feature or sketch. A feature or sketch can be
constrained using any combination of dimensions. You should decide which dimension best suits your
design.
Note NOTE: When constraining a feature, you should consider the relationship of the feature to the target
solid. Those relationships that need to remain constant or be controlled should be constrained. In
other words, the location of the feature to the target solid can be controlled using positioning
constraints.
For example, in the figure below, the feature's location is constrained using two dimensions. If the solid
body is edited, the feature's location relative to the selected target edge is maintained.
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Position to a Datum
When positioning a feature or sketch to a datum plane or axis, you cannot use positioning dimensions that
constrain a point to a point, such as a Horizontal, Vertical, and Parallel dimensions. You can only use
dimensions that constrain a line to a point, such as a Perpendicular dimension or a line to a line, such as a
Parallel at a Distance dimension.
If a datum plane is selected, the system projects the datum plane until it intersects with the planar
placement face of the target solid. The intersection between the datum plane and the target face forms a
line, which is used to constrain the feature or sketch.
Position to a Curve
When prompted for the target edge, in many cases you can select an existing curve.
Positioning to a curve can be useful when you want a feature's position to remain relative to another
feature's position on a different part. For example, if you wish the position of a boss on one part to match
a hole's position on a second part, first create an EXTRACTED_CURVE feature from the circular edge of
the hole, then project the curve onto the first part. Create the boss and select the curve as the target edge
for a Point onto Point positioning dimension (see the figure below).
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If the feature is modified or reattached, its centerlines are automatically updated. Centerlines are
considered part of the feature, and are deleted when the feature is deleted.
A single circular centerline appears for a groove. It is located halfway between the top and bottom edges
of the groove, and is equal to the diameter of the groove. Each of the other features has two centerlines,
one horizontal and one vertical.
To position to a centerline, select the target solid edge and then the centerline. See the figure below for an
example.
Note You can also select an existing curve, on or off the same part, when prompted for the target edge.
Position a UDF
Positioning a user defined feature (UDF) works the same as positioning any other feature, except you
have an additional option: Reverse Normal, which flips the user defined feature about its placement tool
face 180 degrees.
Note A user defined feature must be created using one of the Boolean operations under Attachment
Method in order for Add Positioning Dimension to be available when the UDF is imported.
Position a Thru Slot
When positioning a thru slot, do not dimension to the end arcs of the slot.
Position a Groove
When positioning a groove, you only have to position the groove along the axis of the cylindrical target
solid. No positioning dimension menu appears. Instead, you only need to specify a horizontal dimension
along the axis, as shown in the figure below. This is done by selecting a target solid edge and then a tool
(i.e., the groove) edge or centerline.
Note You can also select any existing curve, on or off the same part, when prompted for the target edge.
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c. Horizontal
The Horizontal method creates a positioning dimension between two points.
A Horizontal dimension is aligned with the Horizontal Reference, or is 90 degrees from the Vertical
Reference.
d. Vertical
The Vertical method creates a positioning dimension between two points.
A Vertical dimension is aligned with the Vertical Reference, or is 90 degrees from the Horizontal
Reference.
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e. Parallel
The Parallel method creates a positioning dimension which constrains the distance between two
points (e.g., existing points, entity endpoints, arc center points, or arc tangent points) and is measured
parallel to the work plane.
In the figure below, a pad is dimensionally constrained on a block. You can imagine a parallel dimension
as a rope joining two points at a specified distance. It takes 3 "ropes" to locate this feature.
When you create a parallel or any other linear type dimension to a tangent point on an arc, there are two
possible tangency points. You must select the arc near the desired point of tangency.
f. Perpendicular
The Perpendicular method creates a positioning dimension which constrains the perpendicular
distance between an edge of the target solid and a point on the feature or sketch. You can also position to
a datum by selecting a datum plane or datum axis as the target edge, or any existing curve (which need
not be on the target solid).
This constraint is used to dimension linear distances that are not parallel to the XC or YC axis. It only
locks the point on the feature or sketch to the edge on the target solid, or to the curve, at the specified
distance.
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Note For Boss and Hole features, the Perpendicular positioning method is the default. In addition, for
these features, you can edit and rename the positioning dimensions directly on the Positioning
dialog.
g. Parallel at a Distance
The Parallel at a Distance method creates a positioning dimension which constrains a linear edge of
the feature or sketch and a linear edge of the target solid (or any existing curve, on or off the target solid)
to be parallel and at a fixed distance apart.
This constraint only locks the edge on the feature or sketch to the edge on the target solid or the curve at
the specified distance.
h. Angular
The Angular method creates a positioning constraint dimension between a linear edge of the feature
and a linear reference edge/curve at a given angle.
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Be sure to select the lines to dimension at the proper location. Each line has three control points, one at
each end and one at the exact center. The angle created depends on which side of the center control point
you select.
The figure below shows two lines with their center control points highlighted by asterisks (*). The 33_25'
angle was created by selecting the lines at the positions indicated by A. The 146_36' angle was created by
selecting the lines at the positions marked B. As you can see, selecting the smaller line at a position left of
the center control point creates the complementary angle.
27
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3. String Selection
Several of the free form feature creation options require that you select curve outlines known as strings. A
string can consist of one or more objects. Each object can be a curve, solid edge, solid face, endpoint of a
curve, or point.
The maximum number of objects in one string is 5000 and the maximum number of strings in one free
form feature is 150 with the exception of the Ruled body, where it is 2 strings.
By default, if one curve of a sketch or projected curves are selected, the system selects the entire sketch or
projected curves.
You can mask the selection of the objects using any of the following:
Solid
Face
Solid
Edge
Curves
Chain
Curves
Lets you select all the edges of a face at once as objects of a string. You can use this option to
create a bridged free form feature between two existing solid bodies.
Lets you select single edges of a solid body as objects of a string.
Lets you select single curves, sketch and non-sketch curves alike, as objects of a string.
Lets you select a chain of sketch or non-sketch curves. For certain functions in Curve and
Feature creation, Chain Curves also support the added following features:
You can use Chain Curve to select not only curves but edges for selection profiles. You
can also select edges from different faces for the chain.
When a chain encounters multiple edges at vertices, the direction of the chain proceeds
along the path with the least angle.
You can auto-chain an entire profile by double-clicking a segment of the chain of
curves or edges.
These special features for Chain Curves are available with Join Curve, Offset Curve, Swept,
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Point
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Ruled Surface, Through Curves, Through Curve Mesh, Section, Extrude, Revolve, Tube, and
Sweep Along Guide.
Lets you select a single point as a string.
You must start selecting all the section strings from approximately the same location (from the same end),
as shown in the figure below.
30
Objects in each section string can be selected in an arbitrary order. The selected objects are sorted and
ordered based on the first object selected. After you have selected all the objects for the desired string,
choose OK.
A direction vector is displayed to signify the starting object (the first object selected in the string). When
selecting faces as section strings, the starting object is the edge of the face closest to the location where
you selected the face, as shown in the figure below.
You can respecify the starting object of the previously selected string by simply selecting an
object within that string. If you choose to respecify the direction vector, the system erases the old
vector and displays the new direction vector.
You can start selecting new objects for the next section string.
For Swept, Through Curves, and Ruled free form feature options, if the selected section strings contain
any sharp corners, it is recommended that you use the By Points alignment at the sharp corners to
preserve them. The system will create separate faces joining at the edge formed by the sharp corners. You
can also define the tolerance to be 0.00 for an exact fit of the free form feature to the sharp corners, which
is convenient for section string of similar shape (for example, rectangular section string to rectangular
section string).
Otherwise, a high curvature, smoothed corner body is created to approximate these sharp corners. Any
subsequent feature operations performed on these corners or faces (e.g., blends, hollows, or Boolean
operations) may fail due to the curvature.
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Error Messages
The following error messages may be displayed during string creation.
All the selected objects in a string must be contiguous and all inner loops are ignored except with the
Bounded Plane option. Otherwise, the following error message is displayed.
Gaps in String or Multiple Loops
The following message is displayed if the selected faces/edges contain split edges - such faces/edges
cannot be used as strings.
Split Edges are Found
The following error is displayed if a face(s) selected as a string is missing during updating.
Missing Face Referenced by String Object
The following error is displayed if an edge(s) selected as a string is missing during updating.
Missing Edge Referenced by String Object Unable to Reference Edge
The following error is displayed if, for certain V direction strings (i.e., guide string and cross strings),
tangent objects were required but not defined.
Tangent Objects Required For V Direction String
The following error is displayed if you are using By Points alignment and the number of objects in a
string is not greater than one.
Aligned By Points Required More Than One Object In A String
The following error is displayed if the selected string is not coplanar (this is required for Bounded Plane).
String Objects Not Coplanar Coplanar String Objects Required With Inner Loop
The following error is displayed if the selected string does not form a closed loop (this is required for
Bounded Plane).
String Objects Not Closed
The following error is displayed if the starting object (i.e., the first object selected in the string) on the
outer loop is too close to an inner loop (string). Try reselecting the outer loop in another location away
from the inner loop.
Invalid Starting Object On Inner Loop Of A String
The following error is displayed if invalid string objects are detected. Such objects may split the string
into multiple pieces.
Invalid String Objects
The following error is displayed if a string does not contain at least one object or because the tolerance is
greater than the string length.
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The following error is displayed if the selected starting object of a string is a sketch reference line/arc.
Starting Curve Cannot Be A Reference Object
When Material is added to the model on the left, the draft still updates correctly (right)
If the draft had been defined with single-selected faces instead of the Tangent Face rule, the draft would
have failed to update during this edit.
The following figure shows a second example where Selection Intent allows a draft feature and a hollow
feature to both update successfully when the model is edited.
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Selection Intent allows successful update after changes to the model (before - left, after - right)
Where do I find it?
Selection Intent options appear on the Selection Bar for commands that support it.
a. Use Selection Intent during object selection
1. Open the creation or edit command for a feature that supports Selection Intent.
2. Choose the rule for the collection needed by the feature you are creating (such as Face Rule or
Curve Rule). If the rule is for a chain, select the base or seed object first, and then the objects that
relate to it.
b. Selection Intent available with option and type settings
Selection Intent is available from within a command for certain option and type settings.
Specify Point option, when the type is set to either of the following:
o
Point on Curve/Edge
o
Intersection Point
Specify Vector option, when the type is set to:
o
On Curve Vector
Specify Plane option, when the type is set to:
o
Tangent Plane
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Tangent Curves rule selects 3 spline curves for the section guide
This results in the Sweep Along Guide feature shown below.
35
Result after trimming away the section fillets and removing one guide spline
d. Selection Intent collection building
When you need to use chaining to build a section or collection of curves or edges for the feature you are
creating:
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When you start a chain, the first selected curve or edge becomes the seed object. The chain includes all
curves and edges currently visible. Chaining proceeds until no other chaining candidates can be found or,
multiple directions are encountered and the chain stops, letting you choose the next segment of the chain.
Complete the chain using the middle mouse button.
For examples of using Selection Intent to build a section profile, see Selection Intent - Building A Section.
Selection Intent smart deselection
Once a chain is selected with a specific rule, you can deselect specific objects from the chain. Smart
deselection captures the intent of deselecting the chain. This ensures that during an update the chain can
honor the deselections with similar intent.
Smart deselection works for all curve and face rules, except for the Tangent and Connected curve rules.
Depending on the context, smart deselections are inferred in the following ways:
For face chains and direct edge chains, if you deselect objects while editing a chain, it is inferred
that you want to remove these specific items from the chain. During subsequent updates, if the
objects are captured again, they are removed from the chain.
For merged chains, any object that you deselected in the earlier chain is removed, unless you
select it while creating another chain.
The detailed view of the Dependencies panel in the Part Navigator shows the removed objects in
the Removed Objects folder, in the Chain folder, under Section. In every subsequent update,
normal rule propagation is done and the stored deselected objects are removed from the section
after updating the chain.
For sections using the Stop at Intersection or Follow Fillet, if you deselect a single object, the
entire chain is deselected.
The detailed view of the Dependencies panel in the Part Navigator shows the start and end limits
for Stop at Intersection in the Intersection Limits subfolder, in the Chain folder under Section.
For more information about the representation of Selection Intent in the detailed view of the
Dependencies panel in the Part Navigator, see Dependencies panel.
e. Specify a region with Selection Intent
The following example shows how regions can be used with Selection Intent to create a Draft feature.
Note For specific procedures on creating a draft see Draft procedures.
1. Open the Draft dialog box and do the following:
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Note For an explanation of Face Rules, see Selection Intent options on the Selection Bar.
3. Once you specify the seed face, Selection Intent switches the Face Rule to Single Face, to let you
select one or more region boundary faces. In the figure below we select three boundary faces.
4. Click the middle mouse button to complete the region, from which the draft faces are
automatically selected.
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If you later edit, add, or delete any of the faces, the original Selection Intent rule remains effective, and
the draft updates correctly, as shown below when the source faces are changed.
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Draft example
In the figure below we use the Curve rule, Tangent Curves to add four collections of curves (1 through
4) to the section (shown below in red).
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Editing the section curves later (1) allows the draft body to update successfully
Extrude example
Following is a simple example of how you can build a section with Selection Intent's section builder to
create an extrusion.
In the figure below we use the Curve ruleTangent Curves with the Stop at Intersection option to add
four collections of curves (1 through 4) to a section (shown below in red). Each collection stops at an
intersection, giving you the opportunity to specify which way the section should go next.
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Shift/Click
click
Shift/Delay/Click Opens a QuickPick cursor and a dialog box to let you select between the object and the
collection that includes that object (All of Intent).
Removing objects from a collection causes the loss of the rule and the collection becomes a simple list of
objects.
If you edit a collection that is used by a feature, the old objects may not map properly to the new. In that
case, the Replacement Assistant may appear to let you resolve the new mappings.
Using right-click to redefine a collection
You can right-click an object in a collection that you have selected with Selection Intent and redefine the
collection's intent rule.
For example, when you select an initial edge with the Face Edges rule you build a collection of faces
using that rule and based on that first edge. If you then right-click one of the selected objects in that
collection and change the rule to Tangent Curves, the initial collection is replaced by a new one that uses
the new rule, with the new object becoming the seed.
Using right-click option menus to change the intent method also changes the currently active method in
the toolbar.
The intent rules on the right-click option menu will not always match those on the selection toolbar, due
to rules requiring multiple object selection.
h. Selection Intent cursors
As you initiate a Selection Intent action, the cursor changes to signal the collection mode and the current
operation.
Curve Collecting
Face Collecting
Region Specification
Chain Between - Start
Chain Between - End
5. Replacement Assistant
If you edit a collection of objects that is used by a feature, the software may not always be able to map the
old objects into the new without possibly breaking associativity to dependent objects. In these cases, the
Replacement Assistant may appear to let you may map the objects during the modification.
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Use the Replacement Assistant to define the equivalences between faces and edges of the current object
and the replacement object.
For example, if you edit the section of an Extrude feature and the software determines that the new
section objects may need to be identified in relation to the objects they are replacing, the Replacement
Assistant appears at the conclusion of the edit.
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If you decide to do the mapping, the Replacement Assistant dialog box opens, and a two-view display
shows the original section displayed on the left and the new section on the right.
in other cases, the Replacement Assistant may appear automatically at the conclusion of an edit.
1. Select the objects you want to map in the left view (old-section view).
For each object you select, an entry is added to the Replacement Assistant with a question mark
next to it.
2. Select the objects you want for the new mappings in the right view (new-section view).
For each new object you select, a question mark in the Replacement Assistant changes to a green
check mark. You can map as many of the objects as you want (you do not have to map all objects).
3. Click OK to complete the mapping of objects from old to new.
Note For details and more information, see Replacement Assistant in the Assemblies Online Help.
E. Expressions
Expressions are arithmetic or conditional formulas that define some characteristics of features.
You can use expressions to control the relationships between the features of a part, or between parts in an
assembly. For example, you can express the thickness of a bracket in terms of its length. If the length of
the bracket is altered, the thickness automatically updates. You can use expressions to define and control
many dimensions of a model, such as the dimensions of a feature or a sketch.
The formulas within expressions can include a combination of variables, functions, numbers, operators,
and symbols. You can insert expression names in the formula strings of other expressions.
There are two basic kinds of expressions:
User expressions, those you create (also known as user defined expressions).
Software expressions, those the software creates.
User expressions can have plain language names. Expressions created automatically by the software are
named with a number, preceded with a lower case "p", such as "p53".
Here are some examples of expressions, their formulas, and their resulting values:
Expression name Additional software expression name
Formula
Value
width
22
22
length
5*width
110
p39
p16
45.0
45
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ToolsExpression
Right-click an expression in the Part Navigator, either in the Main panel or Details panel,
and choose Edit in Expression Editor
and choose
1. User expressions
User expressions are any expression that you create yourself with the Expressions dialog box.
For example, you could create an expression named "width" with a formula string of "5.0". You could
then use this expression to define the dimensions of a block by entering "width" in the appropriate
parameter entry field.
You can create expressions based on measurements and interpart references.
Here is a sample of some user-defined expressions:
Expression Name Formula
width
22
length
5*width
diameter
width/3
position
if (width<=2)(0.5*width) else (2)
base_block_height 16
base_block_length 1
base_block_multiple 8
base_block_width base_block_height*block_multiple
(base_block_length/2)*a_multiple
block_heighta
block_length
block_multiple
BLOCK(6):Size X
div
aln
railwidth
a_multiple/2
base_block_width*block_multiple
block_length
3+sqrt(aln)
5.4
2*aln // forechain
2. Software expressions
Expressions created automatically by the software are named with a number and are preceded with a
lower case "p", as with "p53".
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The Expression dialog box may display additional parameter text for system expression names, but it is
not part of the actual name. This additional text follows the name and describes the feature and parameter
option it is associated with. For example, the system expression p5, shown below, is for the diameter of a
simple hole feature with a time stamp of 4:
p5 (SIMPLE_HOLE(4) Diameter)
System expressions are automatically created during many Modeling operations:
3. Expressions options
Listed Expressions
Categories
Lets you choose a category to filter the expressions displayed in the list window.
Expression names are shown in the list window with no regard to case.
Select from the following categories:
User Defined
Shows only expressions that you have created yourself.
Named
Shows only expressions that you have created and those you have not created
but have renamed.
Unused Expressions
Shows only those expressions that are not being used by any objects in the part
file.
Object Parameters
Shows only those expression parameters for a feature selected in the graphics
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window or Part Navigator.
Measurements
Shows all measurement expressions in the part file.
Filter by Name
Used with the adjoining filter box to let you enter or select a string of
characters to show a subset of expressions by their names.
Filter by Value
Used with the adjoining filter box to let you enter or select a string of
characters to show a subset of expressions by their values.
Filter by Formula
Used with the adjoining filter box to let you enter or select a string of
characters to show a subset of expressions by their formula.
Attribute Expressions
Shows all part and object attribute expressions present in the part file.
All
Shows all expressions in the part file.
Filter box
Lets you enter a filter string. The string is evaluated based on the filter category type
(that is, Filter by Name, Filter by Value, or Filter by Formula)
You can enter an asterisk wild-card to filter the list further.
Spreadsheet
Edit
Transfers control to the NX spreadsheet function, which you can use to edit
expressions. When control is transferred to the spreadsheet function, NX is idle until
you exit from the spreadsheet.
Note
Reads a specified text file containing expressions into the current part file.
Import
Expressions
from File
There may be times when you have expressions in the text file that have the same
name as expressions already in your part file. When this conflict occurs, the system
either keeps the existing expression or replaces it with the expression in the text file.
You control how expression name conflicts are handled with one of the options shown
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below.
Replace Existing
Supersedes the existing expressions that have the same name with expressions
contained in the text file.
Keep Existing
Choose if you do not wish to replace the existing expressions by any
expression that has the same name in the text file. This setting lets you import
only those expressions that do not conflict (do not exist in both files).
When you use the Keep Existing setting, the system reads the specified text
file and attempts to add each expression to the list. If there are conflicts
(expressions with the same name) found during the transfer, an error message
appears. After the transfer is complete, you can choose Accept to keep the new
list or Undo to restore the original set of expressions.
As an example, if an expression of the same name exists in your active part and
in the text file being imported, one of the following scenarios occurs:
If you choose Replace Existing, the expression in the imported text file
replaces the existing expression in the active part.
If you choose Keep Existing, the expression in the active part is kept
and the expression in the text file is ignored.
Delete Imported
The Delete Imported option lets you remove multiple expressions from your
part file. When you choose this option, the system looks at a text file that
contains a list of expressions and deletes any expression in the part file that has
the same name.
This option may be used in one of the following two ways:
Export the list of expressions to a text file. In the text file delete all of
the expressions that you want to keep. Import the list using the Delete
Imported option.
Create an empty text file. Enter into the text file all of the names of the
expressions that you want to delete. (You do not have to enter the entire
expression; just the name). Import the list using the Delete Imported
option.
With either of these methods, the expressions may be listed in any order. Each
expression that is encountered in the text file is deleted from the Expressions
List in the part file.
Note If the expression is used by the model or by another expression, it is not
deleted.
Note Legacy parts with Geometric expressions, such as p0=distance(40),
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cannot be imported.
For additional information and format rules, see Expression Text File Format.
Lets you write the expressions in the part to a text file. Choosing this option displays a
file dialog prompting you for the name of the text file. You can choose what
expressions to export using the following options:
Export
Expressions to
File
Work Part
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through an Interpart Reference (an interpart expression).
You can sort the listing by the contents of a column by double-clicking MB1 on a
column title.
Icons
A Lock icon appears next to an expression that is locked, which only occurs
when an overriding expression has been loaded in the session.
A Read-only Icon appears if the expression is read-only.
A Measures icon appears if the expression is a measure.
The Knowledge Fusion adoption icon appears if the expression is
bidirectionally controlled from the Expression editor and Knowledge Fusion.
For all expressions with icons except Lock and Knowledge Fusion, the expression text
is shown in light blue and the expression formula is not editable.
Create, edit, special functions, and controls
Use these fields to create, edit and query expressions and measures.
Type
Length
Distance
Angle
Constant (that is, dimension-less, as with the number of holes in an
instance array).
Both the dimensionality and the units you specify for an expression formula
must be correct with regard to the input and the expected output.
For example, if you create a new expression formula named C that multiplies
together two existing length expressions (A and B, created in millimeters) to
get an area (C=A*B), you would set the dimensionality of C to Area and the
units to mm^2. Otherwise, you may get a units inconsistency error.
You must also make sure that the function arguments in your expressions have
the correct dimensionality. The sqrt function, for example, fails with the
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argument sqrt(x) when used with the Length dimensionality, because the
software cannot calculate the square root of a Length dimensionality unit. But,
if you write the function as sqrt(x*in) for inches or sqrt(x*1mm) for
millimeters, the function succeeds. (Note that sqrt(x) succeeds when the
dimensionality is Constant instead of Length.)
You cannot change the dimensionality of a system generated expression.
See Units Manager in Advanced Simulation Help for further information.
String
Creates an expression using a string data type.
String expressions return a string instead of a number, and are defined as
double-quoted sequences of characters.
The formula for a string expression can be constant, such as Text entry, or it
can be calculated.
For example, the following string expression:
NAME
mick
FORMULA
y2k+lg+yr+prep+terra
FORMULA
Light
from
Home
2000
Years
VALUE
Light
from
Home
2000
Years
The string expression's formula can contain any combination of function calls,
operators, or constants that result in a string when the formula is evaluated.
You can use string expressions to direct a part's non-numeric values, such as a
part description, a vendor name, a color name, or other string attributes.
Boolean
Creates an expression to support alternate logical states using Boolean values
of true or false.
Use this data type to represent an opposing condition, such as the suppression
status for the Suppress by Expression and Component Suppression
commands.
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Integer
Creates an expression using a numerical count without units.
Use the this data type in commands that require a numerical count or quantity,
such as Instance Geometry.
Point
Creates an expression by defining a position using X, Y, and Z dimensions.
Formula syntax:
Point(0,0,0)
Use this data type in commands that require the specification or reference of a
position by expression. For example, you could parametrically control a
Revolve axis location, or the minimum distance location of an associative
Measure Distance.
Vector
Creates an expression by defining a direction using Cartesian I, J, and K
coordinates.
Formula syntax:
Vector(0,0,0)
Use this data type in commands that require either the input or the output
(measurement) of a direction. For example, you could parametrically control an
Extrude direction or a Revolve axis direction.
List
Use this data type to streamline NX DesignLogic interactions and provide
additional functionality capable of handling a wider variety of design tasks.
You can use the Extended Text Entry option to conveniently specify list
expressions with comma separated values of any DesignLogic data type as list
expressions using braces {}.
Name
Lets you specify a name for a new expression, change a name for an existing
expression, and to highlight and display an existing expression for edit.
Expression names must begin with an alphabetic character, but can be composed of
alphanumeric characters. Expression names can include embedded underscores. You
cannot use any other special characters in an expression name, such as -, ?, * or !.
Note
Expression names are not case sensitive, except under certain conditions.
See Expressions name case sensitivity for details.
Expressions names can be in the users supported international language
(locale). Both the left hand side (LHS) and the right hand side (RHS) of
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an expression support internationalized name strings, as well as
DesignLogic functions and interpart expressions. Note that file names
are not internationalized in NX.
Unit
Available only when the Type is set to Number and the Dimensionality to something
other than Constant.
Specifies the unit for the selected dimensionality.
If you change the dimensionality type, the unit also changes.
Formula
Use this field to edit the formula for an expression selected from the list, enter the
formula for a new expression, or create a reference for an interpart expression.
You can fill the Formula field the following ways:
You can enter simple units in a formula, such as "3mm". Any necessary unit
conversions display in the Value column of the list window.
If you use different or inconsistent dimensions in the formula, a warning message
displays.
You can also enter statements in scientific notation. The value you enter must contain
a positive or negative sign. For example:
2e+5 for 200000
2e-5 for 0.00002
Note When you open the Expression dialog box from a function's parameter entry
option, you can only edit the formula of the expression you are presently
creating. You cannot use the editor to change existing expressions, although you
can create new ones.
Tip Expressions created for Symbolic Threads that have the Manual Input option off
are restricted in the Expressions dialog box, and are unavailable for change. You
can still edit these expressions by using Edit Feature Parameters,
bypassing the Manual Input option. This level of protection has been put in
place to maintain standard values taken from the thread lookup tables.
Opens a window where you can edit expression strings and add Insert function and
Insert Conditional statements.
Extended Text
Convenient when specifying list expressions with comma separated values of any
Entry
DesignLogic data type as list expressions using braces {}.
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Reject Edit
Less Options
Reduces the size of the Expressions dialog box and simplifies it by removing the
expressions list box, and the Listed Expressions, Spreadsheet Edit, Import
Expressions from File, and Export Expressions to File options.
Presents the entire Expressions dialog box, including the expressions list box and all
options.
More Options
Functions
Opens the Knowledge for Designers Insert Function dialog box. This is the same
dialog used by Knowledge Fusion. You can Insert functions into your expressions at
the cursor position in the Formula box.
Insert Function
Use this dialog box to find the standard or user-defined function you want to
insert into your expression formula.
You can enter a keyword and use the Find button to search for a
function name.
You can also choose a category from the drop-down menu to display a
list of functions in a category, and then select the desired function.
After selecting a function you can get two levels of help on the
function:
Simple definition help displays for the function at the bottom of the
dialog.
You also can click the Help About Selected Function button to open
the help page for the function from the NX Knowledge Fusion
Language Reference.
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Function / Method and Function Arguments Dialog in the NX Knowledge
Fusion Dialogs Help.
See the Math Functions and Legacy Functions topics in the Knowledge Fusion
Help and Best Practices for details on functions.
Obtains measurement values from objects in the graphics window for your expression
formulas.
Measurements
When you obtain a measure, an expression for it is created and inserted at the cursor
position of the expression formula you are editing.
Measure Distance - Uses the Analysis Distance function to measure the
minimum distance between any two NX objects such as points, curves, planes, bodies,
edges, and faces. The system calculates the three-dimensional distance and the twodimensional distance relative to the XC, YC plane. In addition, it returns the closest
point on each object and the delta distances in absolute and work coordinate systems.
If you use this option to create a distance measure while specifying a feature parameter
(for example, using the Parameter Entry Option menu), the measure becomes
embedded within the expression for the feature parameter. See Query an embedded
distance measure expression for instructions on how to query an embedded measure
expression.
Measure Length - Uses the Analysis Arc Length function to measure the arc
length of a curve or line. You can use selection intent and section building to measure
the length of a set of curves between intersection points.
Measure Angle - Uses the Analysis Angle function to display angle
measurements between two curves, between two planar objects (planes, Datum Planes
or Planar Faces), or between a line and a planar object.
Measure Bodies - Uses the Analysis Measure Bodies function to obtain volume,
mass, radius of gyration, centroid and surface area of solid bodies.
Measure Area - Uses the Analysis Measure Faces function to calculate area and
perimeter values of body faces. The system creates multiple expressions for area and
perimeter.
For detailed help on any of these measurement options, see the NX Analysis help.
Reference
Expressions
Lets you create attribute expressions, which you can use to reference part or object
attributes. If the part or object attribute is later modified the expression is updated
automatically.
Use attribute expressions when you need to refer to a part or object attribute as a
dynamically updated expression.
If you select an existing attribute expression from the list, the Formula box is
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unavailable.
You can remove attribute expressions using the Delete
option, unless it is being
referenced by an expression, in which case you will have to first remove the
referencing expression.
Reference Part Attribute - Opens the attributes dialog box showing the models
part attributes. You can select a part attribute and edit its input for the right hand side
of the expression (RHS).
Reference Object Attribute - Opens the attributes dialog box. If an object was
already selected before clicking this option, object attributes appear in the list. If no
object was selected, the object attribute dialog box is empty, and you will need to
select an object to populate the list.
Select Object - Lets you select an object for the attributes dialog box.
As with the part attributes, you can select an object attribute of the model and edit its
input for the right hand side of the expression (RHS).
Note For more information on attributes and the attributes dialog box, see the topics
in the Work with Objects section of the Fundamentals help.
Lets you create an interpart reference. When you choose this option, the dialog lists the
parts available in your session. You can either select from this list, select a part from
the graphics screen, or use the Choose Part File option to select a part from disk.
Create Interpart
Reference
Once you have selected a part, all of the expressions in that part are listed. Select an
expression from the list and choose OK.
A reference to the expression is then inserted in the formula text field at the cursor
location, using the following syntax:
<part>::<expression>
If the part to which you are referring contains different units from the work part, the
reference automatically inserts the units operator around it. For example, if a metric
part refers to an inch part, it adds "in(inch_part::length)" to the text field. You can
control this behavior using the option button on the Expressions List dialog showing
the list of expressions in the part you have selected.
You can also create an interpart expression by simply typing it into the text field (e.g.
"x=comp::len"). You do not have to use the Create Inner-Part Reference option to
create an interpart expression.
For more information, see Interpart References.
Lets you control the external references from a part file to expressions in other parts.
You can change a reference to refer to a new part, delete a selected reference, or delete
all references in the work part. Choosing this option displays a dialog containing a list
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Edit Interpart of all of the parts containing expressions referenced from the work part.
References
You have the following options to edit interpart references:
Change Referenced Part
This option lets you change all expressions which refer to the part that you have
selected to refer to a new part. For example, if you have the following expressions:
x=comp::leny=comp::widthx=other_comp::p12
Choose Edit Interpart References and select the part "comp". Choose Change
Referenced Part. You are prompted to select a new part file to reference. Choose the
part "comp_2". When you choose OK, the expression is updated to:
x=comp_2::leny=comp_2::widthx=other_comp::p12
This assumes that there are expressions named "len" and "width" in the new part. If
there are not, a warning message is displayed stating that the system has substituted
numeric values for the missing expressions.
Delete Reference
Use this option to delete the interpart references to a selected part. For example, given
the expressions in the previous example, choose Edit Interpart References and select
the part "comp". Choose Delete All References. The system replaces all interpart
expressions with constant numeric values. The following would result:
x=10y=5.5x=other_comp::p12
Note that no update of the model occurs in this case. The value of the expressions
involved does not change.
Delete All References
Use this option to delete all interpart references in the work part and replace them with
constant numeric values.
Lets you open any partially loaded parts in your session.
Open
Referenced
Parts
When you first open an assembly, the system does not load the full part file for each
component part; to save memory, only the information needed to display the
component part is loaded. When you change your work part, the system ensures that
the full part file is loaded so you can make changes to the part file.
When a part is partially loaded, you cannot change its solid bodies. When using
interpart expressions, it is possible to change an expression that governs the solid
model in a component part without that component being fully loaded.
If you change an expression in a partially-loaded part, a warning message is displayed
informing you that in order to see the full effect of the changes, you must use the Open
Referenced Part option.
Choosing this option displays a list of partially loaded parts that you can fully load.
The contents of the list are controlled by the options at the top of the dialog. The All
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Modified option lists all partially loaded parts whose expressions have been modified.
The All Referenced option lists all partially loaded parts whose expressions are
referenced by the work part.
You can either select a single part from the list, or use the Load All Parts In List option
to load all of the parts in the list box.
You can also use the Assembly Navigator to ensure that parts are fully loaded. In
addition, you can set a preference under Load Options to force all component parts to
be fully loaded.
Provides the following requirements options:
Requirements
New Requirement Starts the Ad Hoc Requirement dialog box that lets you
create a user requirement. The user requirement is a conditional statement (for
example, > 50). A check placed under this requirement specifies an expression to
compare to that conditional statement (for example, p2 > 50).
Note Requirements are not included when an expression is linked to another part
through an Interpart Reference (an interpart expression).
Choose Existing Requirement Starts the Check Requirements dialog box
that lets you add a new check for an expression under an existing requirement.
Note For further details, see the Check Requirements Help User Requirement
overview.
Updates the values of expressions that you may have made in an external spreadsheet.
This option works with those ug_excel_*** functions that can be used in the
Refresh Values Expressions dialog box. Because NX does not understand when you have changed any
from External information in the spreadsheet, you can basically use this button to refresh those
Spreadsheet expressions that read or write data to the spreadsheet.
The functions specify which spreadsheet you will be using. You can have multiple
spreadsheets that are referenced in the Expression dialog box.
Lets you remove a selected user-defined expression. You can delete multiple
expressions to by using the Control key with MB1 to select them.
Delete
You cannot delete an expression that is in use, such as by a feature, sketch, mating
condition, etc.
Note The software may automatically delete any expressions no longer in use. For
example, if the software automatically creates the expression "p17" for the
width of a slot, deleting that slot causes "p17" to be deleted as well. This only
happens if "p17" is not used by any other expression. The software only deletes
expressions that it automatically created.
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4. Create an expression
1. Choose ToolsExpression.
The Expressions dialog box opens.
2. In the Type box, choose the type of expression to create, either Number or String.
3. In the Name box, type a name for the expression.
4. If you chose Number for Type, you can:
o Choose a Dimensionality for the expression.
o Choose a Unit type for the expression.
5. Type a value or formula string in the Formula box.
6. To create the expression, press Enter or click Accept Edit
5. Edit an expression
1. Choose ToolsExpression to open the Expressions dialog box.
2. Click the expression to edit in the list box. The expression's name and formula appear in the Name
and Formula boxes.
If you know the name of the expression to edit, you can type it in the Name box and tab to the
Formula box. The current value/formula automatically displays, and the expression is ready to
edit.
3. Make your edit changes. You can do any of the following:
o Rename the expression by editing the existing name or typing a new name in the Name
box.
o Edit the expression formula by inserting or typing new values or formula strings in the
Formula box.
o Right-click another expression in the Expressions list box and choose Insert Formula to
insert that expression's formula at the cursor position in the Formula box.
o Right-click another expression in the Expressions list box and choose Insert Name to
insert that expression's name at the cursor position in the Formula box (you can also
double-click an expression name in the list box to do the same thing).
o Change the dimensionality and units of user-defined number expressions.
o
or press Enter.
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2 Width
3 Thickness
15.5
2.5
1. Choose ToolsExpression.
2. In the Expressions dialog box, in the Name box, type thickness.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Click Functions
.
In the Insert Function dialog box, from the Or Choose a Category list, select spreadsheet.
From the list of functions, select ug_cell_read.
Click OK.
The Expressions dialog box is displayed and the function appears in the Formula box.
ug_cell_read( "D:\spreadsheets\size_data.xlsx", "B3" )
Update a model
Delete an expression
Create an expression
Any edit done on an existing expression
Undo reverses all of the changes made back to whichever of the following occurred last:
For example, if you made five expression edits, updated the model, and then made three more edits,
clicking Undo
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If you made five edits and then updated the model and the update failed, clicking Undo
reverse the five previous edits.
once would
You may continue to undo changes until the expression list is in its original state when you started
working on expressions.
The Measure Distance dialog box opens in the edit mode, and the ruler displays the original
measure.
10.
Formula
2*bra // standard
Listing expressions
You can list your expressions in the Expression dialog box by choosing All for the Listed Expressions
option.
You can list all expressions in the current assembly, including components, as well as expressions loaded
in the current session by choosing InformationExpression.
11.
There are several types of operators that you may use in your expression formulas.
Arithmetic Operators
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+
*
/
%
^
=
Arithmetic Operators
Addition
Subtraction and Negative Sign
Multiplication
Division
Modulus
Exponential
Assignment
Note The modulus operator is the same as the C programming language operator, whose operands and
output are integers. Decimal places are ignored.
Relational, Equality and Logical Operators
The following table lists the relational, equality, and logical operators.
Relational, Equality and Logical Operators
>
Greater Than
<
Less Than
>=
Greater Than or Equal
<=
Less Than or Equal
==
Equal
!=
Not Equal
!
Negate
& or &&
Logical AND
| or ||
Logical OR
F. Part Navigator
The Part Navigator displays various aspects of your part in a detailed, graphical tree.
You can use the Part Navigator to:
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Model History
Datum Coordinate System (0)
Sketch (1) PROFILE (1)
Extrude (2)
Extrude (3)
Unite (4)
Revolve (5)
Dependencies
Extrude (2)
Children
Unite (4)
Parents
Sketch (1) PROFILE
Details
Parameter
Value
0.000[mm]
50.000[mm]
None
Start Limit
End Limit
Boolean
Preview
Expression
p9=0
p10=50
No preview available
Where do I find it?
Resource bar
Menu
ToolsPart Navigator
2. Pin the Part Navigator open, by clicking the pin icon in the upper left corner.
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You can open or display the Part Navigator from any NX application.
The expanded tree structure shows features that were used to create solid and sheet bodies, and you can
view their parent features.
Part Navigator
Name
Unused Items
Datum Plane (6)
Reference Sets
Model
Sheet Body Revolve (5)
Revolve (5)
Datum Coordinate System (0)
Solid Body Extrude (2)
Unite (4)
Solid Body Extrude (3)
Extrude (2)
Sketch (1) PROFILE
You can use the tree structure to view the following:
solid bodies
sketches
features
dependent geometry
drawings
user expressions
quick checks
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views
reference sets
Prerequisite
Resource bar
a. Timestamp order
You can view the features in your work part in a timestamp order or by dependencies. The timestamp
order is turned on by default.
When the timestamp order is turned on:
All features in the work part appear in a history list of nodes in the order of their creation
timestamp.
You cannot expand or collapse feature nodes.
You cannot view all node types.
Part Navigator
Name
Model History
Datum Coordinate System (0)
Sketch (1) PROFILE (1)
Extrude (2)
Extrude (3)
Unite (4)
Revolve (5)
Datum Plane (6)
Note The timestamp order view is not available in the History-free mode.
When the timestamp order is turned off:
All bodies in the work part, along with their features and operations, are shown in the main panel.
You can expand or collapse feature nodes.
Part Navigator
Name
Unused Items
Datum Plane (6)
Reference Sets
Model
Sheet Body Revolve (5)
Revolve (5)
Datum Coordinate System (0)
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Solid Body Extrude (2)
Unite (4)
Solid Body Extrude (3)
Extrude (2)
Sketch (1) PROFILE
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All bodies in the work part, with their features and operations, are displayed in the main panel.
You can expand or collapse feature nodes.
You can select or clear a red check box to show or hide an item and its children.
You can select or clear the green check box to display or suppress features.
You can use the check box to apply global results to a group of features
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When the Select Object option is active in a command, you can select the following objects in the Part
Navigator:
Point features as point input, when Point is available on the Selection bar Type filter.
Datum CSYS features as CSYS input, when CSYS is available on the Selection bar Type filter.
Moving items
You can drag and drop objects in the Part Navigator to restructure the constituent parts of your model.
You can do the following:
Move objects out of their respective folders and add them to the model, a group or reference set.
Reorder features before or after another feature.
Packing
You can consolidate all identical nodes in the Part Navigator under a single node.
Items are packed by default in the Part Navigator
Note
For packing, the nodes must be on the same layer, have the same name, and be of the same
type.
You cannot pack an node that can be expanded (a node that has a plus sign).
In this example, six unused point objects are packed as a single node.
Unused Items
Point x 6
Shortcut menus
You can access part-specific shortcut menus by right-clicking either the background area or individual
nodes.
e. Node types
The Part Navigator main panel shows your model in a tree structure of nodes. The main nodes are show
below.
Part Navigator - Main Nodes
History
Mode /
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Mode
Model
History
Lists the features in the model in the historical order of their creation
timestamps.
This node appears only in History Mode and the timestamp order view.
Unused
Items
Shows the construction geometry that is not part of, or associated with, a solid
model in the part.
This node does not appear in the timestamp order view.
Shows the check requirements and quick checks that you perform on objects.
Displays measurements you that have defined, along with their type, such as,
distance, length, and angle, and the timestamp.
For details on how cameras relate to the Modeling view, see Modeling View.
Drawing
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View Set
Solid Body
Expression
Feature
Sketch
Promoted
Body
Model node
The Model node shows objects that belong to the 'model' reference set and their construction hierarchy.
Part Navigator
Name
Unused Items
Datum Plane (6)
Reference Sets
Model
Sheet Body Revolve (5)
Revolve (5)
Datum Coordinate System (0)
Solid Body Extrude (2)
Unite (4)
Solid Body Extrude (3)
Extrude (2)
Sketch (1) PROFILE
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Datums, curves and positioning dimensions also appear in the Model node.
Boolean operations display as features on the target body, with the tool bodies under the Boolean
node and their construction history under their body nodes.
Solid and sheet bodies can appear under other features if the solid or one of its edges or faces is
referenced by that feature.
Legacy parts may show nearly all of their objects in the Unused Items folder.
You can drag and drop items from the Unused Items folder to reference sets or groups, as
necessary.
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Name
Name
Reference Sets
Lightweight
Lightweight Body
Model
Solid Body
Reference Set 1
Reference Sets
Lightweight
Lightweight Body
Model
Solid Body
Reference Set 1
Checks node
The Checks folder in the Part Navigator shows requirements checks, quick check items, and their status.
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In this example, two checks were created using the Check Requirements validation tool.
Part Navigator
Name
Checks
Length.A
Mass.p92.A
When the check meets the requirement, its icon has a green check.
When the check does not meet the requirement, its icon has a red X.
See the Check Requirements Help or Quick Check Help for more information.
Measures node
The Part Navigator shows measurements in the Measures node.
If you have defined measurements in your model, their types are shown (that is, Distance, Length,
Angle), followed by their timestamp.
Part Navigator
Name
Measures
Distance Measurement (15)
Length Measurement (16)
Face Measurement (17)
Arc Radius Measurement (18)
You can edit a measurement in any one of the following methods:
Use the shortcut menu to perform other actions on measures, such as rename, copy, or reorder.
Note Editing a feature with an embedded measure may give unexpected results.
If downstream features modify geometry that has been used for measurement, the Part Navigator
will show the value at the current timestamp.
Upon accepting the measurement, the correct value is calculated at the timestamp of the edited
feature.
f. Edit feature parameters in the Part Navigator
There are several ways to select and edit existing features directly in the Part Navigator.
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Double-click a feature in the tree list to open the feature's dialog box.
Select a feature in the tree list, right-click and choose Edit Parameters or Edit with Rollback.
To rename an expression
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See Part Navigator Properties dialog box options for more information.
For details on how to assign parent/child colors, see Change parent and child font colors in the
Part Navigator.
You can also specify font colors by using Customer Defaults. Choose FileUtilitiesCustomer
DefaultsGatewayPart Navigator to specify colors.
i. Part Navigator column names and icons
The Part Navigator comes with a standard set of columns.
You can display or hide columns. except for the Name. You can reorder the columns, and add columns.
For details, see Configure Part Navigator columns.
Column
name
Name
Description
Shows the name of each feature in the work part.
Note You cannot hide, or reorder, the Name column.
The icon next to the name of the feature shows the type of feature and an icon shows the
current state of the feature.
If there is a detailed status message for the feature, it is displayed in the Status column
(No text in the Status column)
This is the normal state for a feature node.
Suppressed
Appears if you suppress a feature by clearing its check box, or by choosing
EditFeatureSuppress.
Suppressed by Expression
Appears when you control a feature's suppression using an expression. See
Suppress by Expression.
If you suppress a feature using the Suppress by Expression dialog box, an equal
sign appears over the feature's dotted check box.
Modified
Appears when you modify a feature and Delayed Update After Edit is selected.
Inactive
Indicates inactive features.
When you make a feature current (see Make Current Feature), nodes listed after
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Layer
Status
Objects with no timestamp are sorted as if their timestamp number is less than zero.
Indicates the layer on which the feature resides.
Displays a message regarding the current condition of the feature.
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Out of Date
The message provides some detail to the status icon that appears next to the feature
name.
For sketches, the current constraint status appears.
See Name for more information.
Created
Modified
Comment
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Adding comments and attributes to individual features lets you clarify their use,
and adds to the overall display information. For details, see Add a comment for an
object.
See the Product Definition Editor in the Product and Manufacturing Information
Help.
Created By Shows the user name of the person who created the feature.
Modified By Shows the user name of the person who modified the feature.
Lists informational or pertinent messages that display while creating or editing features.
Alerts
Alerts are temporary and appear only once with the initiating event and usually disappear
following another action, such as a Playback or a subsequent edit, even when the
condition that caused the alert message remains.
Displays the name of the part file in which the feature is created.
Part Name
j. Add a comment for an object
You can add a comment for an individual feature or object in the Comment column of the Part
Navigator.
You can also edit the comments.
To add a comment to an object or feature:
1. Select the object or feature in either the graphics window or the Part Navigator.
2. Right-click and choose Properties.
3. In the Properties dialog box, click the Feature Attributes tab.
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4. Create an attribute titled Comment of the required Type and enter values appropriate for the type.
The value for an object or feature comment is displayed in the Part Navigator window under the
Comment column.
To edit the comment field in the Part Navigator:
1. Select the object or feature.
2. In the Comment column for the object, click to add or modify comments.
k. Model Views
Use the Model Views node in the Part Navigator to manage and organize the graphics views in your
part.
Status
Model Views
Back
Bottom
Front
Isometric
Left
"Right
Top
Trimetric (Work)
PMI Assembly Filters
Displayed
Double-clicking a view in the Part Navigator switches the graphics window to that view and
makes it the work view.
If the Status column is enabled, it shows "Displayed" for the view currently active in the graphics
window.
Model Views are especially useful with 3D annotations that depend on their view locations.
Examples of 3D annotations are:
Dimensions
Notes
Symbols
Geometric tolerance
Product definition attribute display instances.
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Note To learn how to create and edit model views and view sets in the Part Navigator, see Model View
procedures.
Create a user-defined view
You can create user-defined model views you can access to custom views using the Part Navigator.
1. Change the model view in the graphics window to the view you want.
a. Double-click an existing model view to make it active in the graphics window.
Part Navigator
Name
Model Views
Back
Bottom
Front
Isometric
Left
"Right
Top (Work)
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Name
Model Views
Back
Bottom
Front
Isometric
Left
"Right
TOP_CLOSE_UP (Work)
Top
Trimetric
PMI Assembly Filters
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Back
Bottom
Front
Isometric
Left
"Right
TOP_CLOSE_UP (Work)
Save
Top
Reset Orientation
Trimetric
Copy
PMI Assembly Filters
Rename
Properties
o
o
When you use Save you also create a preview object that is displayed in the Preview
Panel when the view is selected.
You can also rename the view using this procedure.
2. Right-click the Model Views node and choose Add View Set.
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Add View
Add View Set...
.
.
.
3. In the View Set dialog box, in the Name field, type a new name for the view set.
4. From the Base View list, select the view you want to be the base view.
The base view determines how the other views relate to it and each other.
5. From the Add Views list, select the check box of each standard view that you want to add to the
view set.
Rotated Right view will be base Top view in new view set.
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84
3. Dependencies panel
Use the Dependencies panel in the Part Navigator to:
View the parent and child relationships of feature geometry within your part.
Investigate the potential impacts of a planned modification to your part.
Select features and feature geometry to highlight them in the graphics window.
To see the dependencies of a feature, select it in the main panel of the Part Navigator, in the graphics
window or by another selection method. The dependencies are shown in the Parents and Children
folders.
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Dependencies
Extrude (4)
Children
Solid Body Extrude (3)
Parents
Section
Chain 1 Feature Curves
Seed
Sketch (4) SKETCH_001
Sketch Plane
Face Face of Extrude (3)
Chained Objects
Loops
Loop 1 (Closed)
Direction
Sketch (4) SKETCH_001
The Dependencies panel does not show dependencies for multiple selections.
Where do I find it?
Prerequisite
Resource bar
Location in navigator
a. Dependency types
Depending on specific interaction with the model, different dependency types are displayed in the
Dependencies panel of the Part Navigator.
Datum Coordinate System
With Detailed View
Dependencies panel.
Dependencies
Datum Coordinate System (10)
Children
Datum Axis (10)
Datum Axis (10)
Datum Axis (10)
Datum Plane (10)
Datum Plane (10)
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Datum Plane (10)
Point Datum Coordinate System (10)
Parents
Boolean
The type of Boolean used to create solid bodies is shown in the Dependencies panel.
The Detailed View
shows the Targets and Tools used for creating the Boolean feature.
Dependencies
Subtract (14)
Children
Solid Body Extrude (13)
Parents
Targets
Solid Body Extrude (13)
Extrude (13)
Tools
Solid Body Revolve (11)
Revolve (11)
Selection Intent
Selection Intent rules are included in the Detailed View
Dependencies
Sheet Body Extrude (18)
Children
Parents
Extrude (18)
Section
Chain 1 - Generic
Chain 2 - Feature Curves
Chain 3- Connected
Intersection Limits
Start
Line Line 3
End
Line Line 4
Chained Objects
Edge Edge of Block (4)
Loops
Under Section, selection chains are represented as Chain 1-<type>, Chain-2-<type> and so on.
Inside the Loops folder, loops are designated as Loop 1 (Closed), Loop 2 (Open) and so on.
If Stop at Intersection
is used as part of selection, the Start and End limits are shown in an
Intersection Limits folder.
Deselected objects of a selection chain are shown in a Removed Objects folder inside the Chain
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Dependencies
Children
Parents
Section
Chain 1- Feature Curves
Seed
Chained Objects
Removed Objects
Line Line21
Description
Use this option to see dependency details for a selected feature or object.
Detailed
View
Dependencies
Extrude (4)
Children
Unite (6)
Parents
Extrude (3)
Fixed Datum Plane (0)
Fixed Datum Axis (2)
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Children
Solid Body Extrude (3)
Parents
Section
Chain 1 Feature Curves
Seed
Sketch (4) SKETCH_001
Sketch Plane
Face Face of Extrude (3)
Chained Objects
Loops
Loop 1 (Closed)
Direction
Sketch (4) SKETCH_001
Back
Expand
Next Level
When you have used the Back option, use the Forward option to return to your
previous selection.
When the panel does not show the dependencies of the current selection, the
Forward option updates the panel.
4. Details panel
Use the Details panel in the Part Navigator to view and edit the feature and positioning parameters that
belong to the currently selected feature.
There are three columns: Parameter, Value, and Expression. You can sort the panel by any of the
columns.
Details
Parameter
Value
Expression
Taper Angle
0.000 [degrees]
p16=0
Start Distance
0.000 [mm]
p17=0
End Distance
3.800 [mm]
p18=hub_height
First Offset
0.000 [mm]
p19=0
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Second Offset
6.150 [mm]
Boolean
Unite
p20=hub_offset
Only parameters for a single feature are shown in the Details panel.
If a feature is suppressed by an expression, the suppression expression is also displayed.
You can export the contents of the Details panel to a browser or spreadsheet.
Prerequisite
Resource bar
Location in navigator
Tip
It is more efficient to use the Expressions dialog box if you are changing several expressions
at a time.
Editing of expressions does not support Delayed Update on Edit.
Description
Highlights the parameter expression value and enters edit mode, letting you
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Edit in Expression
Editor
Rename
Export to Browser
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Export to
Spreadsheet
5. Preview panel
The Preview panel in the Part Navigator displays images of applicable preview objects.
You can open and close this panel by clicking on its name.
Examples of preview objects:
Drawing Sheets
Preview
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Prerequisite
Resource bar
Location in navigator
In the main panel of the Part Navigator, right-click the work view and choose Save.
Part Navigator
Name
Model Views
Back
Bottom
Front
Isometric
Left
"Right
Top
Trimetric (Work)
Save
Reset Orientation
Copy
Rename
Properties
When you select that view node, the preview is displayed in the Preview Panel.
Preview
Note Additional options for Model View previews are available on the Preview tab when you choose
FileProperties.
6. Filters
Filters let you simplify the information that appears in the Part Navigator main panel.
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Remove the features from display that you are not interested in. For example, construction
geometry.
Display only the feature types that you want to see. For example, extruded features in a complex
model.
System filters
User-defined filters that you can create using the Filters dialog box options.
When a filter has been applied and is active in the Part Navigator, the Name label on the title bar
changes to Name (filtered).
You can see if any filters are affecting the current display of the Part Navigator main panel.
Part Navigator
Name (filtered)
Model
Solid Body Extruded (0)
Extruded (0)
Extruded (12)
Where do I find it?
Toolbar
Menu
a. System filters
System filters provide the ability to remove collections of general types of objects from the display in the
Part Navigator.
When you right-click on an object in the Part Navigator and choose Filter from the shortcut menu, you
have access to the following system filters:
Remove All of Type
Remove All of This Category
Remove All Selected Features
Remove All Other Types
Remove All of Other Categories
Timestamp filters
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This example shows the Remove All Other Types system filter.
The first Extruded feature is selected.
Part Navigator
Name
Model
Solid Body Extruded (0)
Extruded (0)
Unite (2)
Subtract (4)
Subtract (6)
Cone (9)
Edge Blend (10)
Extruded (12)
When you right-click and choose FilterRemove All Other Types, all other features other than
extruded features are filtered out of the main panel of the Part Navigator:
Part Navigator
Name (filtered)
Model
Solid Body Extruded (0)
Extruded (0)
Extruded (12)
If there are filters that affect the current display of the Part Navigator, you see filtered next to Name.
You can use the arrow allows for sorting from top to bottom or bottom to top .
After a filter is applied, you can right-click anywhere in a blank area in the Part Navigator and clear the
Apply Filter check box in the shortcut menu to return to an unfiltered state.
Apply Filter
Delete Last Filter
Remove Top Nodes
Use Filter
Filter Settings
Part Navigator
Name
Model
Solid Body Extruded (0)
Extruded (0)
Unite (2)
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Subtract (4)
Subtract (6)
Cone (9)
Edge Blend (10)
Extruded (12)
b. User-defined filters
You can create user-defined filters for the Part Navigator using the Filters dialog box.
You can access the Filters dialog box in one of these ways:
Information Category
Name
Attribute
Selected Major Object
Feature Category
Feature Type
State
Timestamp
Model Views
PMI
Alerts
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96
All of type Datum Plane
All of type Edge Blend
All of type Instance
All of type Extruded
All of type Rectangular Pocket
8. Click Save.
The Saved tab is displayed with default filters and any filters filed with the part.
The new filter appears in the list with a default name.
9. (Optional) Rename the saved filter.
Current
Saved
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Timestamp filters
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Saved
Current
Everything
All of type Circular Array
All of type Datum Plane
All of type Edge Blend
All of type Instance
All of type Extruded
All of type Rectangular Pocket
Right-click a blank area of the Part Navigator, or the Name banner, and choose Apply Filter
from the shortcut menu.
Find Current Feature
Update to End
Find Object...
Clear Information Alerts
Pack All
Unpack All
Timestamp Order
Apply Filter
.
.
e. Edit a filter
1. Open the Filters dialog box in one of these ways:
o Right-click a blank area of the Part Navigator, or the Name banner, and choose Filter
Settings from the shortcut menu.
o Choose ToolsPart NavigatorFilter Settings.
Note You can also edit a filter from the Saved tab.
2. To delete a definition in the filter, select it from the list and click Delete
.
3. You can also add more definitions to your filter by specifying the Add Filter By options that you
want, and then pressing Include
, or Exclude
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If nothing is selected, the new definition is placed at the bottom of the list.
4. You can move a selected definition higher or lower in the list using Up
, and Down
Note Definitions are applied from the top to the bottom in the list.
f. Rename a filter
1. Open the Filters dialog box in one of these ways:
o Right-click a blank area of the Part Navigator, or the Name banner, and choose Filter
Settings from the shortcut menu.
o Choose ToolsPart NavigatorFilter Settings.
2. Click the Saved tab.
3. Click the name of the filter you want to rename.
4. Type a new name.
5. Press Enter or Return.
g. Delete a filter
1. Open the Filters dialog box in one of these ways:
o Right-click a blank area of the Part Navigator, or the Name banner, and choose Filter
Settings from the shortcut menu.
o Choose ToolsPart NavigatorFilter Settings.
2. Click the Saved tab.
3. Click the name of the filter in the list that you want to delete.
4. Click Delete
.
5. (Optional) If you need to clear the filter from the Current tab:
o Click the Current tab.
o
Current filter
definition list
Up
Lists the definitions of the filter that you are creating, or the filter that you
activate (from the Saved tab).
Any modifications you make to the current filter does not affect saved filters.
You cannot remove the Everything filter. This filter enables all definitions.
You can edit the current list by including and excluding definitions from the
Filter Settings dialog box.
You can specify more than one definition for a filter.
Down
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Delete
Warning You cannot undo a delete operation.
Clear
Filter
Save
Lets you specify the category of objects that you want to use in your filter.
After you choose an option, additional options are available to further define the
objects.
The available options are:
Information Category
Choose from the following categories:
Add Filter By
Name
Lets you enter a name (or the partial name with the wildcard symbol *) to
include or exclude features with the same name or partial name.
Attribute
Creates a filter that will include or exclude features based on the specified
attributes that you define.
Selected Major Object
Creates a filter based on objects that you select.
Feature Category
Lets you select from the following options:
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Datums
Curves
Sketches
Solids
All Features
Feature Type
Creates a filter based on one of the types of features that is in your model.
State Displays the types you can choose from: Visible, Suppressed,
Unsuppressed, Suppressed by Expression, and Failed.
Timestamp Specifies a timestamp based on Greater Than or Lesser
Than a certain timestamp.
Example: You can define a filter of all features whose timestamp is
greater than the timestamp you specified.
Option menus
and fields
Adds the object types that you specified in the Add Filter By fields to the filter.
The Part Navigator immediately updates to reflect the change in the filter, if it
is active.
Removes the object types that you specified in the Add Filter By fields to the
filter.
The Part Navigator immediately updates to reflect the change in the filter, if it
is active.
Include
Exclude
Model Views Lists filter the nodes under the Model Views root node.
You can use the following object types:
o Displayed (filters all model views that are currently displayed)
o Non Displayed (filters all model views that are not currently
displayed)
o Canned (filters all canned views)
Up
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No Suppressed Features
Apply
If the Part Navigator is open, the tree changes to show the effects of the filter.
Activating a filter populates the list box on the Current filter page.
Any changes you make to the Current filter do not affect the saved filters.
The location of your cursor in the Part Navigator when you right-click to display the shortcut
menu.
What you select in the Part Navigator tree.
The commands you see depend on whether you select one of more of the following:
Features
Model Views
PMI
Expressions
Cameras
Prerequisite
Location in navigator
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Note Many of the commands on the general shortcut menu are also available when you choose
ToolsPart Navigator.
Access specific shortcut menu commands
1. On the Resource bar, click Part Navigator
.
2. In the Part Navigator tree, select an item, and right-click.
The shortcut menu containing specific commands for the item selected appears.
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Command
Add/Remove
Members
Description
Opens the Feature Group dialog box to let you add and remove features from
a feature group.
See Feature Group procedures for more details.
Expand
Available only with certain nodes, such as Model Views and Drawing.
Lets you expand certain nodes so you can see the contents of sub-containers. A
plus sign indicates that you can expand additional sub-containers.
Collapse
Available only with certain nodes, such as Model Views and Drawing.
Lets you collapse certain nodes so you can see only the root node containers.
Display
Dimensions
Show/Hide
Examples:
o
o
o
If the parent curve belongs to a sketch or feature curve, show all output
curves of the sketch or feature curve.
If the parent is an edge or face, show the solid that contains this edge or
face.
Only those commands applicable to the currently selected feature are
available.
Note The Action on Show Parents in the Part Navigator customer default affects
how this command reacts with objects on different layers.
See Customer Defaults for more details.
Set WCS at
CSYS
Available for CSYS objects, Datum CSYS features, and their components.
Lets you set the WCS at the CSYS or the CSYS of the Datum CSYS.
Make Current
The selected feature assumes the highest timestamp allowing you to insert a
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Make Current
Tool Feature
Extract Body
Here
Select Tool
Features
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feature into your model at that point.
All other features with higher timestamps than the selected feature's timestamp
are made inactive.
The selected feature and/or the feature's objects are always visible with this
command.
o Any hidden objects are now shown.
o If they are on invisible or visible layers, the layer status is changed to
selectable.
This command is not available if Delayed Update after Edit is selected.
Available for Boolean nodes only.
The command reviews all the tools below the selected Boolean node, and
makes the tool with the latest timestamp, the current node.
The Make Current Tool Feature command is available whenever the Isolate
Tool Body command is available.
Extracts an associative copy of the body as it exists following the selected feature (in
time stamp order).
Available for Boolean nodes only.
Selects all the tool features of the selected Boolean including tools of all
Booleans nested below the selected Boolean.
Changes the selection to include all the nodes with earlier timestamps than the
Select Whole
selected node of the same body.
Branch
Available for Boolean nodes only.
Isolate Tool Body
Reviews all the tools below the selected Boolean node, makes the tool with the
latest timestamp, the current node, and displays only that body in the graphics
window.
Available only for single Boolean node selections.
Bodies and
Booleans
Filter
Lets you apply a system filter to the Part Navigator display tree.
System filters are based on the objects currently selected in the Part
Navigator.
These filters are context-specific, so only those that are applicable to the
selected objects appear in the list.
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the selected feature.
The categories are:
o
o
o
o
Datums
Curves
Sketches
Solids
Example: If you use this command on a blend feature, all Features of which
blend is a part, are removed from the Part Navigator tree display.
Edit Display
Remove Item
Remove All But Item
Remove Non-Displayed
Remove Displayed Available for the root node of Model Views only.
Remove Canned Available for the root node of Model Views only.
Opens the Edit Object Display dialog box, where you can change base
display parameters for the selected object.
Edit with
Rollback
Reopens a feature's creation dialog box and rolls the model back to its
condition just before the feature was applied.
If you apply this command to a feature that follows the current feature, the
model rolls forward to the insert point of that feature before editing.
See Edit with Rollback for more details.
Recreate
Enter the Edit Parameters mode for most features by double-clicking the
feature.
The selected feature and its parent objects are always visible during edit.
If the objects are hidden, they are temporarily shown.
If objects are on invisible or visible layers, they are temporarily moved to the
work layer.
If you change the display status of these objects during edit, the changes are
retained.
Objects that were unchanged during the edit are returned to their previous
state.
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Edit Positioning
Show at Top
Level
Lets you move reference sets out of the Reference Sets folder and to the top
level of the tree.
You can use the same command to move them back.
Suppress /
Unsuppress
You can perform the same function by clearing or selecting the green check
boxes of selected features.
When you choose Suppress, the feature is suppressed and an immediate
update is done on the model.
Note This command is not available if Delayed Update after Edit is selected.
o
o
The check boxes for the suppressed feature and its children are cleared.
The shortcut menu changes to Unsuppress, which you can use to
unsuppress the feature.
Note When you unsuppress a feature, its children are not automatically unsuppressed.
To unsuppress the children, you must select the feature's children, right-click
and choose the Unsuppress command.
These commands work the same as the Suppress and Unsuppress on the Edit Feature
menu.
Reorder Before / Lets you reorder the selected features before or after another feature.
Reorder After
Similar to the Reorder Feature command.
A feature to be reordered is selected from the Reorder Before or Reorder
After lists.
If any selected features cannot be reordered, a warning message is displayed.
When you use reorder, the timestamps of the affected features are changed.
Note You can also reorder a feature by dragging it to the desired location in the Part
Navigator.
New Group
Lets you create a new group consisting of the currently selected objects.
Expand All
Move to Layer
Group
Variable
Operations
Use this command on features selected in the Part Navigator to display the
Feature Group dialog box.
o Here you can add additional features.
o You can provide a name for the new feature group.
Feature groups are displayed as separate items in the Part Navigator tree.
You can drag and drop items to add them in an existing feature group in the
Part Navigator.
You can select the Add/Remove Members command on the shortcut menu, to
reopen the Feature Group dialog box and edit the feature group.
See Feature Group for more information.
Lets you replace one or more features on a body with another set of features from
other bodies in the part.
Replace User
Defined Feature
Lets you organize features into feature groups from within the Part Navigator.
Replace
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The children of the original features are reparented with the replacement
features.
This command is not available if Delayed Update after Edit is selected.
See Replace Features of more details.
Opens the User Defined Feature Library Browser to let you replace the
selected user defined feature with one from the browser.
See Editing a UDF in a part for more information.
You may see additional commands on the shortcut menu that are specific to the object
type. For example:
If you select a datum plane, you may see Datum Plane Grid on the shortcut
menu.
If you select a solid body, you may see Assign Material on the shortcut menu.
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o
o
o
Delete
Object
Dependency
Browser
Information
Opens the Information window with data about the selected features.
You can browse through information about the objects in the selected feature.
You can choose to list either the child or parent objects, and you can get
additional information about selected objects, including a list of the features
that use them.
Properties
This is the same data listed in the Feature Browser dialog box which opens
when you choose InformationFeature.
You can add, edit, view and delete feature comments and attributes.
Use the Properties dialog box to rename features and view the feature
creation and modification information.
If a view set or a model view is selected, this command opens the View Set
Properties or the Modeling View Properties dialog box.
Description
Available only when the Model Views root node is selected.
Creates a new user-defined model view based on what is currently displayed
in the graphics window work view.
Click the name of the new view to rename it.
See Creating a User-Defined View for more information about user defined
views
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Paste
Visualization
Preferences
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Available only when the Model Views root node is selected.
Opens the View Set dialog box where you can create a new user-defined
model view set consisting of your own selected views.
See Creating a View Set for more information about creating a view set.
Pastes the view or view set from the clipboard to the Model Views node list.
Opens the Visualization Preferences dialog box.
Use this option to set the visualization preferences for the selected view.
Edit
Save
Not available if the selected view is not in a view set, or if it is already the
base view.
Lets you change the base view to the selected view within a view set.
Switches the view in the graphics window to the base view of a view set.
Another member view of the view set other than the base view must already
be displayed in the graphics window for this option to appear.
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In the Part Navigator Properties dialog box, settings are organized under the General and Columns
tabs.
The General tab deals with display properties of the Part Navigator, such as font color and name.
The Columns tab allows you to add, delete, and manipulate Part Navigator columns.
Location in navigator
Description
When selected, highlights that feature node in the listing window when you select
a feature in the graphics window.
Font Colors
You can set this option in the Customer Defaults dialog box for the Part
Navigator
Shows parent-child relationships of selected objects.
Name Display
You can specify defaults for the colors and for the Font Colors options in
the Customer Defaults dialog box for Part Navigator.
Lets you specify what appears in the Name column of the Part Navigator for
features that you have named.
You can select from the following options:
System and User The Name column includes both the user-defined
name and the feature type, such as SKETCH "CAR_DOOR_SKETCH".
System Only The Name column shows only the feature type, such as
SKETCH.
User Replaces System The Name column shows only the user-defined
name, such as "CAR_DOOR_SKETCH". If there is no user-defined name,
the feature's type is shown.
Note Features that have no user-defined names are not affected by the Name
Display option. For these features, only their type (along with the
timestamp) is shown.
Columns Tab
Option
Description
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Create
b. Change the Part Navigator display settings
1. Move your cursor to a clear area or to the title row in the Part Navigator.
or
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From the shortcut menu, choose Columns to select the columns that you want to display in
the Part Navigator.
See Configure Part Navigator columns for details about configuring columns.
Choose Properties to open the Part Navigator Properties dialog box and specify the
options you want.
See Part Navigator Properties dialog box options for more information about the Part
Navigator properties.
1. With nothing selected, move the cursor to the title bar or to a clear area in the Part Navigator
window, and right-click to open the shortcut menu.
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3. Use Move Up
or Move Down
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or
Docked at top
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To set the X resource for the color of the lines drawn between the features in the Part Navigator:
Note Customization on Windows is done using the Customer Defaults and entries in the Windows
registry.
G.
Update
Commands on the ToolsUpdate menu let you adjust how an update may occur.
Generally, you can trigger an update of the model anytime you edit its features. The update starts at the
current feature and continues until the model is complete, or until a feature fails to update.
If a feature fails to update and the Modeling preference Edit During Update Dialog Appears on is
specified, the update halts and the Edit During Update dialog box opens, giving you the opportunity to
correct the cause of the error.
Note You can open the Edit During Update dialog box directly from the EditFeaturePlayback
command.
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Delays the updating of all interpart objects (that is, interpart extractions, interpart
expressions, and mating conditions) until you trigger an update with the Update All
command.
See WAVE in the Assemblies help for more details.
Update All
Resumes update of the interpart child objects after it was suspended by an Interpart
Update command.
See WAVE in the Assemblies help for more details.
Update for
External
Change
Updates the model with changes introduced from an external data source. For
example, if you changed feature parameters using an external spreadsheet (as with the
ug_excel_read function in Knowledge Fusion), you can update those expressions using
this command.
Lets you specify when to update the display with your edits.
When this command is selected you can perform as many edit operations as you want,
but you cannot update the model until you choose the Update command. For example,
you could move one feature and then edit the parameters of another, but not update
either in the model until later.
Delayed After
Edit
When this command is cleared, you can only perform one edit operation at a time
before the system updates the display. For example, if you moved a feature, you would
have to wait until the update is completed before you could perform another edit
operation.
Note You cannot suppress or unsuppress features when Delayed After Edit is
selected.
Updates the model with your previously made edits while Delayed After Edit is
selected. Available only when Delayed After Edit is selected.
Update Model
Feature Replay manual options
The following Feature Replay options are available from both the ToolsUpdate menu and the
Feature Replay toolbar.
Make First
Feature
Current
Makes the feature with the lowest timestamp number the current feature, and updates
the model.
Make Previous
Feature
Current
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Makes the feature with the previous timestamp number than the current feature the
new current feature, and updates the model.
Makes the feature with the next higher timestamp number than the current feature the
new current feature, and updates the model.
Make Next
Feature
Current
Makes the feature with the highest timestamp number the current feature, and updates
the model.
Make Last
Feature
Current
Makes the next Boolean feature with a timestamp number higher than the current
feature the new current feature, and updates the model.
Make Next
Boolean
Current
Automatic
Feature Replay
Opens the Automatic Feature Replay dialog box, where you can run an uninterrupted
replay of the model.
2. Feature Replay
Use Feature Replay to review how features were used to construct a model.
You can:
Manually step through the features of a model using the commands on the Feature Replay
toolbar or ToolsUpdate menu.
Play, pause, and select a starting feature for an uninterrupted replay of the model using the
Automatic Feature Replay command.
Set a time-interval for each step in an automatic replay.
Review features for problems during a feature replay, and fix them if necessary. The feature on
which you stop the replay automatically becomes the current feature.
Note Feature Replay is not a feature validation tool. Use the Playback command on the EditFeature
menu for feature validation and correction.
Where do I find it?
Toolbar
Feature Replay
Prerequisite A feature must appear in the Part Navigator in order to step to it with Feature Replay.
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ToolsUpdate
Make First Feature Current
Make Previous Feature Current
Make Next Feature Current
Make Last Feature Current
Make Next Boolean Current
Automatic Feature Replay
Menu
Note Each time you step to a different feature, that feature is made the current feature and the
model updates.
b. Review an uninterrupted replay of the features in a model
1. Access the Feature Replay commands through either of the following:
o The Feature Replay toolbar.
o The ToolsUpdate menu.
2. On the Feature Replay toolbar, click Automatic Feature Replay
menu.
Note If an update error occurs during feature playback, the replay may stop.
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again to resume the replay.
Note If you pause the replay, you can manually step through the model by changing the value of
the Timestamp Number option.
c. Automatic Feature Replay options
Replay Control
Starts or resumes play of a paused feature replay.
Play
Pauses a feature replay. The feature on which the replay stops becomes the current
feature.
Pause
Specifies the timestamp number of the current feature.
You can type a number in the box, or move the slider to the timestamp number of the
feature from where you want to begin a replay. The feature for that timestamp number
becomes the current feature, and the model updates accordingly.
Timestamp
Number
If you paused the replay, you can move the slider in sequential steps in timestamp order
through the features of the model. Once the slider has focus, you can use the left and
right keyboard arrow keys to do the same thing.
Seconds
Between Steps
H.
Specifies the number of seconds the replay pauses between each step of an automatic
feature replay.
Browser
Use the Browser graph view window to explore basic parent-child relations between features and their
ancestor and descendant objects. Non-feature geometry, such as non-associative curve parents, are also
included in the browser window.
When you roll-over an object node in the Browser window it highlights in the graphics window, and if it
is associative, in the Part Navigator.
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You can click an expression parameter in a feature reference node and edit its value directly in the
browser window.
You can explore the ancestors of a feature reference node and determine how they might be
affected by an edit.
Menu
InformationBrowser
Right-click a featureBrowse
Graphics window
Right-click an expression
Right-click a featureBrowse
Part Navigator
Right-click an expressionBrowse
Body-based features
Curve features
Point features
Datum features
Sketch features
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In this example we will browse a revolve body and edit both it and some of the features related to it.
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1.
2.
Open the settings pane by clicking the
Settings caption in the lower left corner
of the browser window.
3.
In the settings pane, click the Browse
tab.
4.
In the Browse tab, select the Center on
Select box.
5.
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6.
Click the input expand handle on the
pattern feature reference to see its input
items.
7.
8.
Change the value in the input box
to 6 and click the green check box.
9.
Right-click the Angular Direction:
Offset Angle expression and click Edit.
10.
Change the value to 60 and click
the green check box.
The angle of the circular pattern
updates.
11.
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12.
Click the expand handle, and then rightclick Edit on the input expression for
the base vertical dimension.
13.
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1.
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2.
3.
Click the parent node of the Pattern
Face.
The parent feature relations node
opens.
4.
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5.
6.
Body-based features
Curve features
Point features
Datum features
Sketch features
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5. Browser options
Graph view
Use the graph view to explore feature relations in your part. You can:
Pan the graph view window by holding and dragging with the middle mouse button.
Move any feature reference node in the browser window by dragging its name handle.
Expand feature reference nodes by clicking their input items expand handle.
Edit feature reference nodes by right-clicking and choosing edit from the context menu or by
double-clicking.
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Suppression
You can right-click and select any of the following options from the graph
view window. Many of these options are also available in the Settings
pane
Rearrange
Improves clarity and readability of the graph view window by
reorganizing its contents and minimizing the number of crossconnectors.
Fit
Resizes the contents of the graph view window so all currently
displayed feature reference nodes are visible.
Isolate
Displays only the currently highlighted feature reference node and
its immediately adjacent parent and child nodes.
You can also right-click Isolate on a node connector line to remove
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adjacent connector lines and their references from the graph view
window.
Isolate on Select
Displays only the feature reference node you select, and its
immediately adjacent parent and child nodes.
Remove from Graph
Temporarily deletes from the graph view window the currently
highlighted feature reference node.
Center on select
Centers the graph view window on the feature reference nodes as
you select them.
Settings
To open the Settings pane in the Browser window, click the Settings caption.
Note You can also access most of the Settings pane options from the graph view window by rightclicking and choosing from the context menu.
View
tab
Relation View
Sets the view mode of the browser.
All Relations
Shows all parent and child relations of a feature.
Timestamp
Shows the order in the browser in which features are applied to a body.
Show Expressions
Displays the input expressions of an expanded feature reference node, and if
Icon + Text is selected, their parameter values.
You can edit the parameter value of an expression by double-clicking the
expression.
If this option is cleared, expressions do not display in the browser.
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Node Style
Lets you set the complexity of the graph view by adding or removing text
from the nodes.
Icon + Text
Shows both icons and descriptive text for each node and parameter.
Icon
Provides a more compact view by showing only icons for the node and
parameter structure. In this node style you can still double-click nodes and
expressions to edit them.
Isolate on Select
Shows the selected feature reference node plus its immediate parents and
children and hides all other nodes.
Automatically invoked when you initially select from the Part Navigator.
You can also isolate a feature reference node by right-clicking and choosing
Isolate.
You can right-click and choose Isolate on a node connector line to remove
adjacent connectors from the graph view window.
Isolate is also available on the radial menu when you right click and hold on a
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Includes a list of objects that can appear in the graph view window and their basic
definitions.
I. Modeling Preferences
Once you set a Modeling preference, subsequently created objects default to it. Some settings can also be
specified within certain Modeling command dialog boxes, and for some of those the new values may
persist for them throughout the current NX session.
Modeling preferences are always available during any Modeling operation. You can change settings
while in the process of creating an object.
Where do I find it?
Application
Modeling
Menu
PreferencesModeling
Clear this option to have the names of features display in plain, translatable text that
matches the menu bar names.
Here are some examples:
Plain text feature name
Mirror Set
Simple Hole
Datum Coordinate System
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Specifies the default type of body created with certain commands, such as Extrude,
Revolve, Through Curve Mesh, Through Curves, Section, Sew, and Ruled .
Solid Sets the default body type to solid body.
Body Type
This value is used throughout the Modeling application, such as when creating swept
and revolved solid bodies and sectioning solid bodies. For example, when creating
sheet bodies, the distance tolerance specifies the maximum allowable distance
between corresponding points on the original surface and the resulting B-surface.
Specifies the default angle tolerance. Angle tolerance is the maximum allowable
Angle Tolerance angle between the surface normals at corresponding points, or the maximum
allowable angle between curve tangent vectors at corresponding points.
Used by:
Optimize Curve
Ruled
Through Curves
Through Curve Mesh
Sweep Along Guide
Swept
Section Surface
Law Extension Surface
Project Curve
Intersection Curve
Offset Curve in Face
This option optimizes the curve from which the developed or section curves are
calculated.
With this check box selected, the total allowable tolerance is obtained by multiplying
the tolerances by the Optimize Curve Tolerance Factor.
Optimize Curve
Tolerance Factor
Density
Note Use the Assign Solid Density command to change the density value of an
existing solid body.
Density Units
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Changing the density units causes the system to recalculate the current density value
based on the new units. You can still change the density value, if desired.
Display Properties for New Geometry
Parent Body
Specifies that newly created faces use the display properties that are already
assigned to the body to which the face is being added.
When this preference is set to Parent Body, the following blend on a
cylinder results in a new face with the same display properties as the body on
which the face is created (right view).
New Face
Properties from
If you want the display properties to be consistent within a body, choose this
option.
Part Default
Specifies that newly created faces use the default display properties of the
part, such as those set under Preferences Object.
When this preference is set to Part Default , the following blend on a
cylinder results in a blended surface with a different color than that of the
cylinder (right view).
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Target Body
New face properties that result from Boolean operations are based on those
of the target body.
In the following figure, a Boolean Subtract operation takes place, with the tan
cylinder as the target body and the blue block as the tool body. This results in
two new faces that have the display properties of the target body (right view).
Boolean Face
Properties from
Tool Body
New face properties that result from Boolean operations are based on those
of the tool body.
When this preference is set to Tool Body, the Subtract operation results in
two new faces that have the display properties of the tool body (right view).
Extracted and
Specifies the source for the display properties of objects extracted and linked to an
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These settings:
Automatically
Make Datums
Internal to Child
Sketches
Internal datums and sketches do not appear in the Part Navigator, so you can use
these settings to shorten the Model history for a part.
Automatically
Make Sketch
The software automatically internalizes datums or sketches only when you create a
Internal to Child
child sketch or a child feature. You can still make datums or sketches external using
Features
the existing Part Navigator commands. The new settings will not cause datums and
sketches to be internalized again when you edit the feature.
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Uses degree 3 splines. If you need to transfer your spline data to another system that only
supports degree 3 splines, you must use this option.
Quintic
Uses degree 5 splines. Curves created with the Quintic fit method have a smaller number
of segments than those created with the Cubic fit method, and are therefore easier to edit
by moving poles. The curvature distributions are smoother, and better replicate the
curvature properties of the true curve.
Provides greater control over the degree and segmentation of developed curves. Default
values can be specified in the Advanced Rebuild Options. Use Advanced to create
curves that are more suitable for styling related tasks, and use Cubic and Quintic for
curves you want to be in tolerance.
Advanced
The Advanced option is available on certain feature edit dialogs when the Curve Fit
Method is presented. The Maximum Degree and Maximum Segments settings (see
Advanced Rebuild Options below) are also used by certain functions that use the
Rebuild option when Curve Fit Method is set to Advanced.
Advanced Rebuild Options
Maximum
Degree
Specifies the default maximum number of degrees to use with the curve fitting method
for developed curves.
Maximum
Segments
Specifies the default maximum number of segments to use with the curve fitting method
for developed curves.
The software attempts to build the surface without segments until the number of degrees specified by the
Maximum Degree parameter is reached.
If tolerances cannot be met with the Maximum Degree, segments are added until the number set for
Maximum Segments is reached.
If the maximum degree and maximum segments combined still does not allow the tolerance to be met, the
curve is created and a message displays stating that it does not meet the specified tolerance.
Note Curve Fit Method only affects the result when the fitting curve must be an approximation. If the
result can be exactly replicated by a spline of any degree, that spline will be created.
Freeform Construction Result
Controls free form feature creation for the Through Curves, Through Curve Mesh, Swept, and Ruled
commands.
When selected, and if the input geometry would produce a planar surface, a bounded
plane is created instead.
Plane
Using bounded planes instead of B-surfaces (see below) may enhance the performance
and reliability of downstream applications.
When selected, always creates a B-surface.
B-Surface
A B-surface provides control of a surface's isoparametric curve or flowline data.
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Animation
Controls surface animation functions in certain surface edit and Move Pole operations. You can change
these settings at any time and see immediate results.
Sets the resolution of the preview grid, either in shaded or wireframe mode.
Choose from the following options to produce a preview grid that is respectively more
detailed:
None
Coarse
Standard
Fine
Extra Fine
Ultra Fine
Preview
Resolution
Enables animations of trimmed surfaces during certain surface create and edit operations,
such as with Swoop, Law Extension surfaces, and Styled Blend.
Enables display of a triangular mesh on surfaces during certain surface create and edit
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operations, such as with Swoop, Law Extension surfaces, and Styled Blend.
Specifies whether the result you get when editing certain free form features remain as
free form features or as unparameterized features.
When selected, freeform features are created for the following edit commands: Snip
Surface, Enlarge, Degree, Move Pole, Match Edge, Refit Face, Change Edge, Pole
Smoothing, Isoparametric Trim/Divide, Xform, Deform Sheet, Stiffness, Transform,
and Move Defining Point.
Associative
Freeform
Editing
Features created using X-Form, Move Defining Point, Move Pole, Deform Sheet,
Transform, Isoparametric Trim/Divide, Change Edge, Degree, and Stiffness will
only recall the result of the editing and not how it was created. Although you cannot edit
these features using their creation parameters, the feature hierarchy remains in place,
letting you return to the original shape by deleting or suppressing selected features.
If this option is not selected, unparameterized features are created when using the edit
commands shown above.
Note that the Enlarge command disregards the Associative Freeform Editing setting If
the Edit a Copy option is selected.
Surfaces extended using Linear are usually less smooth and less aesthetically pleasing
than those produced by the Soft setting. However, Linear has a higher success rate than
the Soft setting, and can be useful in certain cases to avoid functional regressions in your
model.
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Soft
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Surfaces are extended smoothly as C2 curvature continuous. This option produces higher
quality, smoother surfaces than that of the Linear option, with no unnecessary C0 knot
and surface poles added.
Pole Style
Polyline
Open Circle
Filled Circle
Plus Sign
Cross
Body Color
When selected, the color is the same as that of the underlying body.
Color Palette
Polyline Font
Pole Style
Specifies one of the following styles for B-curve and B-surface poles
when they are being edited:
Polyline
3D Sphere
Open Circle
Filled Circle
Plus Sign
Cross
Body
Color
When selected, the color of polylines being edited is the same as that of
the underlying body.
Color
Palette
Polyline
Specifies the line font for B-curve and B-surface polylines when they
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are being edited.
Face Display
Body Specifies the color and line font for grid lines and C0, C1, and C2 knot lines. You can choose
Color / to inherit the color and/or the line font from the body that the face belongs to, or specify a
color and/or line font for the grid line and knot line.
Font
Body Color
When selected, inherits the color for the Grid Line, C0 Knot Line, C1 Knot Line, or
C2 Knot Line from the body to which the face belongs.
If the Body Color check box is not selected, you can choose a new color by clicking
the color swatch.
The color swatch is not available for any option with the Body Color check box
selected.
Font
When selected, inherits the line font for the Grid Line, C0 Knot Line, C1 Knot Line,
or C2 Knot Line from the body to which the face belongs.
If the Font check box is not selected, you can choose a line font from the respective
option list.
The line font option list is not available for any option with the Font check box
selected.
History
HistoryFree
Makes the selected feature the current feature and enters the edit mode.
Edit Parameters
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Enters the feature edit mode without changing the current feature.
Double-click
Action (Sketches)
Edit
Enters the direct sketch mode without changing the current feature.
Direct Edit
Lets you edit the sketch directly in Modeling.
Edit Sketch Action
Notify on Delete
Allow Editing of
Dimensions of
Internal Sketch
The message dialog box includes an option to open the Information window,
where details on the features that will be deleted, along with other features that will
be affected by the deletion, are listed. You can choose OK to continue the deletion,
or Cancel to stop it.
Controls whether you can see and edit internal sketch dimensions when the dialog
box for the owning feature is open.
Features/Mark
With these marks, updating can occur on only the most recent changes. Entire
models no longer have to be updated, as required in earlier versions of NX.
When you edit a feature, the software locates the nearest previous mark to that
feature. In general, only features that were created or edited after that mark are
updated. Occasionally, a few other features are also updated if they are directly
associated to features created or edited after the mark.
Note The smaller the value of Features/Mark, the fewer the number of
features that are regenerated when you update the model. Smaller values,
however, also place higher demands on memory and disk space.
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Lets you specify the rate at which the software dynamically updates the display
of a body as its parent curves, splines, bridge curves, lines or arcs are changed.
The display of the changing body is temporary until you complete the edit
action, whereupon it becomes permanent.
None
Disables Dynamic Update during the edit of a body's parent curves.
Continuous
The dynamic update of a child body occurs continuously as you move
the mouse while editing the parent curve. This setting renders a real time
dynamic response from the graphics window when editing a body's
parent curves. Use this setting when continuous dynamic updates do not
excessively slow your system.
Incremental
The dynamic update of the child body occurs only when you stop
moving the mouse while editing the parent curve (for example, while
dragging a spline pole). Use this setting when continuous dynamic
updates would excessively slow your system.
Dynamic Update
When selected, Dynamic Update is effective for the following edit operations:
Editing splines with the Edit Pole and Edit Point commands.
Editing line endpoints.
Editing arc endpoints, radii or arc centers.
Editing bridge curves.
First Level
Allows dynamic updates during edit to occur only for those features that
are directly derived from the curve or curves being edited. First level
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children are defined as the first bodies that can be derived from a curve,
and are not hidden or do not lie on an invisible layer.
All Level
Allows dynamic updates during edit to occur for all features that are
dependent on the curve or curves being edited. If Dynamic Update is set
to None, the Dynamic Children setting is ignored by the software.
Error
Displays the Edit During Update dialog box when errors are
encountered during feature playback. If you update or playback your
part with this option selected, the Edit During Update dialog box
appears if a failure is encountered. Features that are not updated due to
model changes are marked with Update Failed in the Part Navigator
so you know to edit them.
Warnings
Displays the Edit During Update dialog box when warning messages
are generated during a part update or feature playback.
Missing References
Displays the Edit During Update dialog box appears when missing
references are encountered during a part update or feature playback.
Lets you do the following:
Make Current
Feature on Error
You can edit, add, or remove features and then manually resume the update.
Specifies whether the report window is displayed after:
Generate
Warning/Failure
Report after Update
J. Datum/Point
View a topic
Datum Plane
Datum Plane
Grid
Point
Point Set
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Plane object
Datum CSYS
1. Datum Plane
Use the Datum Plane command to create a planar reference feature to help define other features, such as
swept bodies and features at angles to the faces of target solids.
Modeling
Toolbar
Menu
InsertDatum/PointDatum Plane
Shortcut menu
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1.
Click Datum Plane
2.
From the Type list, select Inferred
3.
4.
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5.
Choose another command or click Apply.
3.
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4.
5.
150
6.
7.
Choose another command or click Apply.
2.
From the Type list, select Point and Direction
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3.
4.
5.
6.
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3.
4.
5.
From the Angle Option list, select Value.
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6.
Drag the angle handle until the value shows 115 degrees.
7.
Choose another command or click Apply.
3.
4.
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5.
6.
7.
Choose another command or click Apply.
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3.
This example will use two arc centers and one end point.
Specify the first point.
Select the arc center in the top face.
4.
5.
6.
Choose another command or click Apply.
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, or
For WCS coordinates, specify the plane using the equation a*xc + b*yc + c*zc = d.
For absolute coordinates, specify the plane using the equation a*x + b*y + c*z = d.
5. Click OK or Apply to create the datum plane.
h. Datum Plane dialog box
Type
Lists the construction methods you use to create planes.
Inferred Determines the best datum plane type to use based on objects you select.
At Distance Creates a plane parallel to a planar face or another datum plane at a distance
you specify.
Bisector Creates a plane midway between two selected planar faces or planes. If the input
planes are at an angle to each other, the plane is placed at the bisected angle.
Curves and Points Creates a plane using various combinations of points, a line, a planar
edge, a datum axis, or a planar face (for example, three points, a point and a curve, etc.).
Two Lines Creates a plane using a combination of any two linear curves, linear edges, or
datum axes.
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Through Object Creates a datum plane on the surface normal of a selected object.
Ax + By + Cz = D
Point and Direction Creates a plane from a point and a specified direction.
YC-ZC plane ,
XC-ZC plane ,
XC-YC plane Creates a fixed datum plane
along the XC-YC, XC-ZC, or YC-ZC axis of the Work Coordinate System (WCS) or Absolute
Coordinate System (ABS).
View Plane Creates a fixed datum plane parallel to the view plane, and passing through
the origin of the WCS.
Fixed Available only when editing a fixed datum plane.
Constructed Available when you edit a plane that was created by using an option that is
not available on the lists. To access all the parameters of a constructed plane, you must use the
Datum Plane dialog box.
Type-Specific options
Objects to Define Plane
Select Object
Lets you select one or more objects to define the plane. The objects you select
determine the plane type and the type of additional objects you select.
Inferred
You can use the Point Constructor
As you select objects and based on the plane type that NX infers, additional options for
that type appear in the dialog box.
Planar Reference
At Angle
Through Axis
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rotation. You cannot select an object that is perpendicular to the reference plane
Angle
Angle Option
Lets you select a method to define the angle of the plane.
o
Value
Specifies the value for the angle.
Perpendicular
Makes the datum plane perpendicular to the planar reference object and
pass through the through axis object.
Parallel
Makes the datum plane parallel to the planar reference and pass through
the through axis object.
Angle
Appears when the Angle Option is set to Value. Sets a degree value in the Angle
box.
Planar Reference
Offset
Distance
Specifies the value for a distance to offset the datum plane. Type a value in the
Distance box or drag the Distance handle.
At Distance
Reverse Direction
Reverses the direction of the offset. To reverse the direction you can also:
When you reverse the offset direction, the plane moves to the opposite side of the
reference object. The plane normal also reverses in a mirror-like transformation.
Number of Planes
Specifies the number of copies of the new plane to create. Copies are created
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successively and spaced evenly from one another using the same offset value.
First Plane
Second Plane
Bisector
Lets you select the first and second planar faces, datum planes, or plane objects to
define the bisector plane.
Curves and Points Subtype
Lists subtype methods.
With all methods you must first specify an origin point and then reference objects.
If you select a line, datum axis, linear curve, or edge, the datum plane
passes through both objects.
If you select a planar face or datum plane, the datum plane passes through
the point, but is parallel to the reference object.
One Point
Creates a datum plane that passes through a single point.
Curves and
Points
Two Points
Creates a datum plane that passes through a single point and is perpendicular to a
second point.
Three Points
Creates a datum plane that passes through three points.
Point and Curve/Axis
Creates a datum plane with a point and a linear object, such as a line, datum axis,
linear curve, or edge.
Point and Plane/Face
Creates a datum plane with a point and a planar object, such as a planar face,
datum plane, or plane.
Reference Geometry
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Specify Point
Appears for all subtype options except Curves and Points. Lets you specify each
point required by the subtype.
Select Object
Appears only for the Curves and Points subtype. Lets you select a point and
other objects to define the plane.
First Line
Second Line
Two Lines
If you select two lines that are coplanar, the plane includes both lines.
If you select two lines that are not coplanar and not perpendicular, you can
use Alternate Solution to get a plane that passes through the second line
and is parallel to the first.
If you select two lines that are not coplanar but are perpendicular, the
plane contains the first line and is perpendicular to the second. You an also
use Alternate Solution to get a plane that passes through the second line
and is perpendicular to the first.
Tangent Subtype
Lists the sub type methods.
All tangent subtypes require that you first select a non-planar face.
Tangent
Tangent
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Determines a subtype to use based on the objects you select. The second object
you choose can be any of the following:
o
o
o
o
o
o
Point
Linear edge
Line
Face
Datum axis
Datum plane
One Face
Creates a datum plane tangent to a selected cylindrical or conical face.
Through Point
Creates a datum plane tangent to a non-planar face and a point.
Through Line
Creates a datum plane tangent to a cylindrical or conical face and a linear object.
Two Faces
Creates a datum plane tangent to two non-planar faces; for example, cylindrical,
conical, or spherical.
Angle to Plane
Creates a datum plane tangent to a cylindrical face and a planar object or face.
You can assign an angle value between the faces, or set them as perpendicular or
parallel to one another in Angle Option.
Reference Geometry
Select Object
Appears when the subtype is Tangent. Lets you select one or more objects to
define the plane.
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Specify Point
Appears when the subtype is Through Point. Lets you create a plane that is
tangent to a point and a non-planar face.
Angle
Appears when the subtype is Angle to Plane.
Angle Option
Lists the options to specify how the angle is defined:
o
Value
Sets a value for the angle. You can type a value in the Angle box or drag
the angle handle.
Perpendicular
Makes the datum plane perpendicular to the planar reference object.
Parallel
Makes the datum plane parallel to the planar reference.
Angle
Appears when the Angle Option is set to Value. Sets a degree value.
Through Object
Select Object
Lets you select a single object through which the datum plane will pass. You can
select the following types of objects:
Through
Object
o
o
o
o
o
o
Curve
Edge
Face
Datum
Plane
Datum CSYS
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o
o
o
CSYS
Spherical surfaces and surfaces of revolution
Axis of a cylindrical, conical, or revolved face
Curve, edge, or face objects can be planar or non-planar. If you select a conical or
cylindrical face, the datum plane is created on the axis of the face.
Coefficients (aX+bY+cZ=d)
WCS
Creates the plane on the WCS coordinate system.
Absolute
Creates the plane on the absolute coordinate system.
Coefficients
a, b, c, d
Sets the values for the a, b, c, and d parameters for the equation, aX+bY+cZ=d, to
specify a plane.
A, B, and C define the direction of the plane normal.
D relates to the planes distance from the CSYS origin
(=D/SQRT[A^2+B^2+C^2]).
Through Point
Specify Point
Lets you define an origination point for the plane.
Normal Direction
Point and
Direction
Specify Vector
Lets you define the direction of the plane.
Reverse Direction
Lets you reverse the normal direction of the vector.
Curve
On Curve
Select Curve
Lets you select a curve or an edge.
You can select a second object, a face, datum plane, datum axis, or another curve
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or edge if it will make the datum plane perpendicular to it at the point on curve.
Reverse Direction
Lets you change the location of the plane from one end of the curve or edge to the
other end without changing the location value.
Location on Curve
Location
Lets you place the plane at a precise location along the curve or edge.
Arc Length / %Arc Length
Sets a value to position the plane along the curve or edge, either as a distance or
as a percentage of arc length. You can type the value in the Arc Length or %Arc
Length box, or drag the curve point handle to the desired position.
Note Arc length is a position along a curve expressed as a unit of measure
distance. The percent of arc length is a position along a curve expressed as
a percentage of its total length, a value between 0 and 100.
Tip You can right-click the datum plane handle to change between Arc Length
and %Arc Length.
Specify Point
Appears when Location is set to Through Point.
Lets you define an origin point for the datum. You can drag the point handle to a
new point position on the curve, as long as it satisfies the current snap point
settings.
Orientation on Curve
Direction
Lets you specify the direction of the plane normal.
Select Object
Appears when the Direction option is Relative to Object, to let you select an
object to which you want to make the datum plane parallel.
Specify Vector
Appears when the Direction option is Normal to Vector, Parallel to Vector, or
Through Axis, to let you specify a vector or axis on which to align the datum
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plane.
YC-ZC Plane
WCS / Absolute
Specifies the coordinate system on which to create the plane.
XC-ZC Plane
Distance
Adds a distance to offset the new plane from the coordinate system.
XC-YC Plane
Plane Orientation
Appears when there is more than one possible solution for creating the datum plane using
the current parameters.
Displays the other possible solutions for creating a plane when you click or press the
Page Down or Page Up keys.
The following animation shows an example of using Alternate Solution with tangent
datum planes.
Alternate
Solution
Reverse
Direction
The plane preview always displays an arrow from its center that points in the direction of
the plane normal.
Common to all types.
Offset
Available to all datum plane types except At Distance, Coefficients, YC-ZC Plane, XCZC Plane, XC-YC Plane, and View Plane.
Offset
When selected, it creates a datum plane offset from the defined plane, in the Direction
and at the distance you specify.
Available when the Offset check box is selected and a base plane has been defined.
Distance
Enter the value, or drag the handle to the desired offset distance.
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Available when the Offset check box is selected and a base plane has been defined.
This reverses the offset direction.
Settings
Available to all datum planes of non-fixed types.
Makes a datum plane an associative feature that appears in the Part Navigator with the
name Datum Plane.
Associative
If you clear the Associative check box, the datum plane is created as the Fixed type, and
appears in the Part Navigator as a non-associative Fixed Datum Plane.
When you edit a datum plane, you can change a fixed datum plane to a relative plane by
changing the Type, redefining its parent geometry, and selecting the Associative check
box.
Change its parameters and parent geometry, when allowed by its defined Type.
Change its Type.
Convert a relative datum plane to fixed by clearing the Associative option box, or by changing its
Type to that of a fixed method.
Convert a fixed datum plane to relative by changing its Type to a relative (non-fixed) method.
Move a fixed datum plane by choosing EditFeatureMove Feature.
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2. Use any of these methods to change the size of the datum plane:
o Drag the sizing handles to change the length and height of the datum plane.
o Click a sizing handle and enter Length and Height values in the on-screen input boxes.
o Click a sizing handle and then select a Snap Point location on which to align it (Snap Point
is available only with some methods, such as Plane on Curve and Point and Direction).
o Right-click a sizing handle and choose Symmetric to constrain the datum plane with equal
sides. You can drag a length handle to size both length sides equally, or drag a height
handle to size the two height sides equally. Drag a corner handle to size all sides equally.
o Right-click a sizing handle and choose Reset Plane Size to return the datum plane to its
original size.
3. Finish the resize of the datum plane by doing one of the following:
o Click Apply and select another datum plane to resize.
o Click OK to dismiss the Resize Datum Plane dialog box.
Note You can also open the Resize Datum Plane dialog box by:
Warning You can resize fixed datum planes created in any release, all datum planes created in NX1 or
later, and Point and Direction and Three Points datum planes created in V18 and later. You
cannot resize or drag older, relative datum planes using the old Datum Plane Pre-NX dialog box.
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You can:
Create multiple datum plane grids in your model, which lets you optimize each grid for the object
it belongs to.
Rotate a datum plane grid within the plane it is located on.
Create section curves where the grid intersects the model after you rotate the grid to the
orientation you want.
Use the model's work plane grid even when datum plane grids are visible.
The parent-child relationship between the datum plane and the datum plane grid is displayed in the
Dependencies panel of the Part Navigator.
Part Navigator
Model History
Datum Coordinate System (0)
Datum Plane (1)
Dependencies
Datum Plane (1)
Children
Datum Plane Grid
Parents
Datum Coordinate System (0)
Where do I find it?
Application
Modeling and other applications where you can create a datum plane
Menu
InsertDatum/PointDatum Plane Grid
Graphics window Right-click a datum planeDatum Plane Grid
a. Create a datum plane grid
The Datum Plane Grid command is available in applications where you can create a datum plane, such
as Modeling or NX Sheet Metal.
1. Choose InsertDatum/PointDatum Plane Grid.
2. Select a datum plane or a plane of a datum CSYS, as shown in the following figure.
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170
The datum plane grid moves after you release the manipulator
Another way to make the grid labels more readable is to leave the grid in place, but expand the
sides.
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5. If you want to inherit attributes from an existing datum plane grid, click Select Grid
select the existing datum plane grid.
, and
You can then click OK to create the new grid, or continue with the following steps to modify the
attributes as desired.
6. In Major Line Spacing, specify the distance between the datum plane grid's major lines.
7. In Minor Lines per Major, specify the number of minor lines in each set of two major lines.
One of the minor lines in each set appears in the same location as a major line. For example, if
you set Minor Lines per Major to 2, and your major lines are visible, one minor line is visible
between each set of major lines.
8. Set the Line Attribute options as desired to specify the grid's color, line style, and line weight (or
thickness).
9. In Show Labels, select one of the following:
o None the grid has no labels
o Parallel the grid's labels are visible only when the datum plane grid is parallel to the
view
o Always the grid's labels are visible whenever the grid is visible
10. In Origin Reference, specify whether the labels' origin reference is the absolute CSYS, the WCS,
or a local CSYS.
If you set Origin Reference to Local, the Specify Origin option appears, so you can select a
point for the origin.
11. If you want to create section curves where the datum plane grid crosses your model, do the
following:
o Set the Show Section Curves check box.
o In Color Option, specify whether the section curves' color is Body Color or Specify
Color.
To specify the color, click the Color swatch and select a color.
o
If you want to save the section curves with your model, click Save Copy of Section
Curves
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12. Click OK when you finish defining the datum plane grid.
b. Datum Plane Grid options
Bounded Plane
Lets you select a datum plane (for creating a datum plane grid) or a datum plane grid
(for editing).
Select Datum
Planes and
Grids
Grid
Orientation
Selectable datum planes include those used to create objects, or a plane of a datum
CSYS.
Appears only after you select a datum plane.
Specifies whether the grid orientation is custom or based on the datum plane.
Appears only after you select a datum plane, and only when Grid Orientation is set to
Custom.
Lets you specify or modify the orientation and location of the datum plane grid.
Specify
Orientation
Show
Manipulator
Appears only after you select a datum plane, and only when Grid Orientation is set to
Custom.
Controls whether the manipulator handles are visible.
Inherit Attributes
Lets you select an existing datum plane grid to inherit its attributes for your new grid.
Select Grid
Line Spacing
Major Line
Spacing
Lets you specify the distance between the grid's major lines.
Minor Lines
per Major
Lets you specify the number of minor lines in each set of two major lines. (One minor
line appears in the same location as a major line for each set.)
Line Attributes
Line Color
Major Line
Style
Lets you specify the line style, such as dashed, for major lines.
Major Line
Weight
Minor Line
Style
Lets you specify the line style, such as dashed, for minor lines.
Minor Line
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Weight
Settings
Display Grid
Display On Top Controls whether the datum plane grid is visible through objects.
Display Major
Lines
Controls whether the grid's major lines are displayed, or only its minor lines.
Labels
Show Labels
Specifies whether labels are displayed, and whether they are always visible or visible
only when the grid is parallel to the view.
Origin
Reference
Specifies whether the labels' origin references the WCS, the Absolute CSYS, or a local
CSYS.
Appears only after you select a datum plane, and only when Origin Reference is set to
Local.
Specify Origin
Modeling Settings
Show Section
Curves
Controls whether section curves are visible where the datum plane grid crosses the
model.
Color Option
Lets you specify whether the section curves are in the object's color or a color that you
select.
Color
Save Copy of
Section Curves
If you do not enable this customer default, the Save Copy of Section Curves option
sometimes creates approximate section curves from the loaded lightweight geometry.
Tip To find a customer default, choose FileUtilitiesCustomer Defaults, and
click Find Default
3. Datum Axis
Use the Datum Axis command to define linear reference objects to help you create other objects, such as
datum planes, revolved features, extruded features, and circular arrays.
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Modeling
Toolbar
Menu
InsertDatum/PointDatum Axis
Graphics window
or
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Note You can also use the Snap Point toolbar or the Point Constructor
points.
4. For this example: the edge of the hole was selected first and the face was selected next.
7. Click OK or Apply.
2. In the Datum Axis dialog box, from the Type list, select Point and Direction
.
3. In the Through Points group, with Specify Point active, specify the location for the origin of the
datum axis.
Note You can also use the Snap Point toolbar or the Point Constructor
points.
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4. For this example, the arc center is selected as the origin of the datum axis.
5.
6. In the Direction group, with Specify Vector active, select an object to specify the direction.
For this example, the linear edge is selected.
7. In the Direction group, from the Orientation list, select Parallel to Vector or Perpendicular to
Vector.
For this example, Parallel to Vector was selected.
8. Click OK or Apply.
or
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Tangent
Normal
Bi-Normal
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9.
10. Click OK or Apply.
or
2. In the Datum Axis dialog box, from the Type list, select Curve/Face Axis
.
3. In the Curve or Face group, with Select Object active, select the curve or face you want to use
for the datum axis orientation.
For this example the toroidal face is selected.
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Inferred Determines the best datum axis type to use based on objects you select.
XCAxis Creates a fixed datum axis on the XC-axis of the Work Coordinate System
(WCS).
YCAxis Creates a fixed datum axis on the YC-axis of the WCS.
ZCAxis Creates a fixed datum axis on the ZC-axis of the WCS.
Point and Direction Creates a datum axis from a specified point in a specified direction.
Two Points Creates a datum axis by defining two points through which the axis passes.
On Curve Vector Creates a datum axis tangent, normal, or binormal to a point on a curve
or edge, or perpendicular or parallel to another object.
Intersection Creates a datum axis at the intersection of two planar faces, datum planes, or
planes.
Curve/Face Axis Creates a datum axis on a linear curve or edge, or the axis of a
cylindrical or conical face or torus.
Fixed Available only when editing a datum axis.
Any datum axis created using the YC-Axis, XC-Axis, or ZC-Axis, or any of the other relative
types used with the Associative check box cleared, appear as the Fixed type during an edit.
Type-Specific Options
Objects to Define axis
Inferred
Select Object
Lets you select one or more objects that define the axis. The objects you
select determine the axis type and which additional object types (if any)
you can continue to select.
Options that support the determined type appear in the dialog box.
Orientation on Curve
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Alternate Solution
Available depending on the object or objects you select.
Lets you cycle through the different possible solutions.
XC-Axis
YC-Axis
Axis
ZC-
Create a fixed datum axis on the corresponding axis of the Work Coordinate
System, so there are no input parameters.
Through Point
Specify Point
Lets you select the origin point for the datum axis.
You can use a point type from the list, or use
Point Constructor.
Direction
Orientation
Lets you define how the direction of the datum axis is determined, based
on the selected point and a vector. There are two options: Parallel to
Vector or Perpendicular to Vector.
Specify Vector
Lets you specify a vector to be used with the orientation setting and which
defines the direction of the datum axis.
You can select from the list or use
Vector Constructor.
Curve
Select Curve
Lets you select a curve or an edge on which to locate the datum axis.
Location on Curve
On Curve Vector
Lets you specify whether the axis is located on the curve or edge at an Arc
Length or a % Arc Length distance from its end.
The label of this option box changes to match the setting of the Location
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on Curve option.
You can enter a value or drag the origin handle along the curve or edge.
Associative
Settings
An associative datum axis displays the name Datum Axis in the Part Navigator.
A non-associative datum axis displays the name Fixed Datum Axis in the Part
Navigator.
4. Datum CSYS
Use Datum CSYS to quickly create a coordinate system consisting of a set of reference objects. You can
use the reference objects to associatively define the position and orientation of other features.
An existing datum CSYS at the absolute coordinate system origin is included in many of the default part
templates.
A coordinate system
An origin point
Three datum planes
Three datum axes
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Modeling
Toolbar
Menu
InsertDatum/PointDatum CSYS
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or
5. In the Datum CSYS dialog box, in the Offset from CSYS group, type the required translation
and rotation parameters.
Note The translation and rotation parameters are stored with the datum CSYS feature and can be
edited as expressions.
6. Click OK or Apply to create the datum CSYS.
For this example, the following are used:
X=75, Y=200, Z=50, Angle Y=25
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or
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In the Part Navigator, the Alerts column indicates that the datum CSYS is out of date.
The datum CSYS is fixed relative to the absolute origin. You can edit the datum CSYS to move it
dynamically or change its type and associate it to different parent geometry.
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In this example, a sketch and revolved feature are the parents of two datum CSYS features. When the
sketch and revolved feature are deleted, the two datum CSYS features and their children are not lost when
the model is updated. You can edit the datum CSYS features and associate them to new parent geometry
at a later time.
5. Point
Use the Point command to create point objects.
You can create points:
See the Point tool options for details on point types and the Point dialog box.
The Snap Point options on the Selection bar are also available to specify point locations.
Where do I find it?
Application
Modeling
Toolbar
FeatureDatum/Point Drop-downPoint
Menu
InsertDatum/PointPoint
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6. Point Set
Use the Point Set command to create a set of points that correspond to existing geometry.
You can:
5. Under Parameters, you can specify the parameters for the subtype.
For this example, specify the following:
Number of Points = 10, Start Percentage = 10, End Percentage = 100, Ratio = 1.5
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5. Selected face
6. Under Parameters, specify the number of points in the U and V direction.
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Type
Subtype
Appears when Type is set to Curve Points.
Lets you define the spacing of the points along the curve using one of the following
options:
Equal Arc Length Spaces the set of points at equal distances along the path
of the curve.
Equal Parameters Spaces the set of points based on the characteristics or
parameters of the curve. In some cases, tight curves cause tighter spacing, while
the straighter sections of curves allow wider spacing.
Curve Points
by
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For example, if you specify the following parameters, the Point Set feature is
created as shown in the figure.
Number of points = 5
Start Percentage = 0
End Percentage = 100
Ratio = 0.75
Distance A
Distance B = A * (Ratio)
Distance C = B * (Ratio)
Distance D = C * (Ratio)
Chordal Tolerance Spaces the set of points based on a chordal tolerance. The
points are created from the curve start to the curve end. The value you enter in the
Chordal Tolerance box represents the maximum distance between the parent
curve and the straight line (chord) between two adjacent points in the set.
Incremental Arc Length Lets you enter a path length between the points. The
arc length distance must be equal to or less than the length of the curve you select
and greater than zero. When you choose the curve, its total arc length is
displayed; then you enter arc length (the path length you want between each
point). The total number of points and the partial arc length (the amount of the
path length left over) is calculated, based on the arc length you entered and the
total arc length of the selected curve.
Specified Projection Points Projects the selected point to the specified curve
and creates a point at that location. If the projected point does not project on the
selected curve, a point is created at the end of the curve closest to where the
projected point would fall. If multiple curves are selected, a point is created on
each curve. If multiple points are selected, each point is projected to the curve(s).
Multiple points projected to the same location create overlapping points.
Curve Percentage Creates a point on each curve at the distance that
represents the percentage you specify. For example if you select three curves and
specify the curve percentage as 10%, then points are created at 10 percent of the
curve length location on each curve.
Note Points are not created at percentage increments over the entire curve. If you
select multiple curves, each curve is treated individually and points are not
created at the specified percentage of the total length of all the selected
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curves.
The point location is based on the curve's parametric orientation; that is, if
you select multiple curves that are not oriented end to end, you need to
review the point location to verify that points are created from the end of
each curve as expected.
Defining Points Lets you select a spline that was created through points and
recreate the construction points. Splines created with poles or by other
construction methods do not have defining points to recreate.
Knots Lets you create a set of points using the knot points of an existing
spline. You can create point sets on as many splines as you like. Each time you
select a spline, a point is created at each of its knot points.
Note Keep in mind that the knot points are the endpoints of each spline segment
making up the curve. If the spline has only one segment (for example
Bezier splines), there are only two knot points.
Spline Point
Type
Poles Lets you create points at the poles of any spline. These points can be
used to create an adjoining spline while maintaining continuity of slope where the
two curves join. When you select the spline, points are created at each pole of the
curve, including the endpoints.
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Selected face
U direction
V direction
Points on face
Selected face
Point created at U = 0%, V= 0% location on the selected face
Point created at U = 20%, V= 20% location on the selected face
Point created at U = 50%, V= 50% location on the selected face
BSurface Poles Allows you to create points at the poles of any face. These
points can be used to create adjoining sheet bodies while the face's underlying B
Surface maintains continuity of slope where the two bodies join. When you select
the face, points are created at each pole of the curve, including the points along
the edge of the face.
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Selected face
Points created at surface poles
Base Geometry
Appears when Type is set to Curve Points.
Select Curve
or Edge
Lets you select the curve or edge to create a point set feature.
Appears when Type is set to Spline Points.
Select Spline
Lets you select the spline to create the point set feature.
Appears when Type is set to Face Points.
Select Face
Lets you select the face to create the point set feature.
Parameters
Appears when Type is set to Curve Points.
Number of
Points
Appears when Curve Points by is set to Equal Arc Length, Equal Parameters, or
Geometric Progression.
Specifies the number of points to create on the selected curve.
Start
Percentage
Appears when Curve Points by is set to Equal Arc Length, Equal Parameters, or
Geometric Progression.
Specifies the start percentage value.
Appears when Curve Points by is set to Equal Arc Length, Equal Parameters, or
Geometric Progression.
Select Object
for Start
Percentage
Lets you specify the start location of the point set as a percentage of the length of the
curve.
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This selection is optional. You can select a cursor location, an existing point, a control
point, or a curve, to calculate the start percentage for the Point Set feature.
If you select a point, or multiple intersection points, the point on the base curve that is
closest to the selected point is used to calculate the start percentage.
If you select a curve, the intersection point of the selected curve and the base curve is
used to calculate the start percentage. If the two curves do not intersect, the intersection
point is still determined using extensions of the curves as necessary.
Consequently, it is possible that the Point Set feature ends at a location that is not on the
base curve (for example, it is possible to have a percentage less than 0, or a negative
percentage).
End
Percentage
Appears when Curve Points by is set to Equal Arc Length, Equal Parameters, or
Geometric Progression.
Specifies the end percentage value.
Appears when Curve Points by is set to Equal Arc Length, Equal Parameters, or
Geometric Progression.
Lets you enter the end location of the Point Set feature as a percentage of the length of
the curve.
This selection is optional. You can select a cursor location, an existing point, a control
point, or a curve, to calculate the start percentage for the Point Set feature.
Select Object
for End
Percentage
If you select a point or multiple intersection points, the point on the base curve that is
closest to the selected point is used to calculate the end percentage.
If you select a curve, the intersection point of the selected curve and the base curve is
used to calculate the end percentage. If the two curves do not intersect, the intersection
point is still determined using extensions of the curves as necessary.
Consequently, it is possible that the Point Set feature ends at a location that is not on the
base curve (for example, an end percentage value greater than 100%).
Appears when Curve Points by is set to Geometric Progression.
Ratio
Specifies the geometric ratio for the spacing of points.
Chordal
Tolerance
Arc Length
Specifies the value for the arc length.
Appears when Curve Points by is set to Specified Projection Points.
Specify Point
Lets you specify the projection points to define the Point Set feature.
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Appears when:
Type is set to Curve Points, and Curve Points by is set to Specified Projection
Points, or Curve Percentage.
Type is set to Face Points, and Face Points by is set to Face Percentage.
Lets you add a new set of projection points to define the Point Set feature.
Parameters
Appears when Type is set to Face Points.
Lets you specify the number of points in the U and V direction when Face Points by is set to Pattern.
Lets you specify the U and V percentage when Face Points by is set to Face Percentage.
List
Appears when:
Type is set to Curve Points, and Curve Points by is set to Specified Projection Points, or
Curve Percentage.
Type is set to Face Points, and Face Points by is set to Face Percentage.
List window
For Curve Points Lists all the selected projection points. You can also add a new set
of projection points as required.
For Face Points Lists all the defined percentage values.
Pattern Limits
Appears when Type is set to Face Points, and Face Points by is set to Pattern.
Lets you define the two points to be used in determining the parametric bounds. The
cursor locations selected will be in a plane parallel to the viewing screen.
Diagonal
Points
Percentages
Lets you define the start and stop positions of the rows of points as a percentage. The
percentage is of the path lengths that the underlying surface occupies in the U and V
directions.
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U direction
V direction
Starting V Value = 10%
Ending V Value = 75 %
Starting U Value = 15 %
Ending U value = 95%
Settings
Associative
Distance
Tolerance
7. Plane object
You can create an unbounded plane object using the Plane dialog. The plane you create is
represented by a 3-4-5 triangle symbol situated with the right angle vertex on the origin point of the plane.
The short leg is oriented along the implied X axis and the long leg along the implied Y axis.
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Plane objects are non-associative and do not appear in the Part Navigator.
The scale of a plane object symbol is fixed.
You can delete, hide, and show a plane object.
For details on plane type options, see Datum Plane options.
Where do I find it?
You can add the Plane tool to a toolbar or a menu using either Tools Customize or by right-clicking
and choosing Customize in the toolbar area.
K.
Curve
View a topic
Line
Arc/Circle
Helix
Law Curve
Basic Curves
Spline
Curve Chamfer
Studio Spline
Rectangle
Fit Spline
Polygon
Text
1. Line
Use the Line command to create straight line segments.
You can:
Specify line start and end options using points, direction, and tangency.
Specify constraints during line creation, such as creating a line at an angle to another line.
Specify start and end limits to control line length, such as selected objects, locations, or values.
Define lines on individual support planes.
Create either associative or non-associative lines.
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If all of your lines are on a 2D plane, it may be easier to create a sketch instead of individual lines.
Where do I find it?
Application
Modeling
Toolbar
CurveLine
Menu
InsertCurveLine
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3. For the end point, select the end point of a second existing line.
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3. In the End Point or Direction group, from the End Option list, select At Angle.
4. Select an existing line as a reference from which to measure an angle to the new line.
In this example, the line on the WCS is selected.
o
o
o
The preview line is now parallel to the selected line (default angle value is 0).
An angle handle appears.
The autoplane changes to the plane of the selected line.
5. Drag the angle handle until the value shows 240 degrees.
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6. In the Limits group, from the End Limit option list, select Until Selected.
7. Select the same reference line you selected earlier.
The end of the new line stops at the selected line.
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3. Drag the cursor until the preview line snaps to the X axis and the X label appears.
5. Change the line limits by dragging the start and end handles, or by typing values in the on-screen
input box or dialog box.
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5. (Optional) Change the length of the line by doing one of the following:
o Drag the limit handles.
o Change the length of the line:
o Enter length values in the on-screen input box or dialog box.
o In the Settings group of the dialog box, click Alternate Solution to see different lines that
can be created, as shown in the following graphic.
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Start
Option /
End Option
Inferred Determines the best start and end options to use, based on which
objects you select.
Lets you select objects to define a line's start or end points (such as curves, edges, or
points) using Snap Point, and if needed, Point Constructor options. Start and end options
are chosen automatically by the software based on the objects you select.
Point Reference
Lets you specify which coordinate system to use for the line's start or end points. An onscreen input box shows the current point position.
Point
Lets you select start or end points for the line using Snap Point, and if needed, Point
Constructor options. If you click where there is no point, the cursor location is used.
The start and end points appear as cube-shaped handles, with Point1 and Point2 labels.
You can drag the point handles to new Snap Point locations. An on-screen input box is also
available to let you specify a 3D coordinate location.
Select CSYS
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Lets you select a curved object (such as a line, arc, spline, or edge) from which a start or
end point is derived and which is tangent to a specified object. A sphere-shaped tangent
handle appears with a Tangent1 or Tangent2 label.
Select Object
Lets you select a linear reference object (a curve, edge or datum), from which an angle can
be measured to draw the line from the start point.
Angle
Lets you specify the number of degrees to create the line, measured from the reference
object. You can drag the Angle handle around the start point or type a degree value in the
Angle on-screen input box or in the dialog box.
A dashed reference line shows the angle as measured against the selected reference object.
At Angle
Existing line
selected for the angle
reference
Angle handle
If you set the angle to 0 or 180 degrees, the Parallel constraint symbol appears in the
graphics window. If you set the angle to 90 or 270 degrees, the Perpendicular constraint
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symbol appears.
Along
XC
Along
YC
Automatically places the end point on a line parallel to the XC, YC, or ZC axis. Once you
select one of these options, you can use the Limits options to adjust the length of the line.
Along
ZC
Automatically places the line end point on a selected object's normal plane. The label
"Normal2" appears.
If the plane is user-defined, selected reference objects are projected onto it.
Normal
Select Object
Lets you select an object to define the line's end point (such as a curve, edge, face or
datum).
Common options
Use Plane Options in the Support Plane group to specify the plane on which to build the
line.
Select from the following options:
Automatic Plane
The software infers a temporary auto-plane based on the specified line start and end points.
If you specify an end point on a different plane from that of the start point, the auto-plane
changes so it is common to both.
Changing the start or end points may also move the auto-plane.
Plane
Options
Locked Plane
Makes the auto-plane immovable if you change the start or end points. A locked auto-plane
appears in the color of a datum plane object.
You can lock and unlock an auto plane by double-clicking it or by selecting this option.
Select Plane
Enables the Specify Plane option, to let you define a plane on which to construct the line.
Specify Plane
Lets you define the support plane for the line by selecting a plane method type from
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the option list, such as the default Inferred method type, or by clicking the Full
Plane Tool.
Use the Start Limit and End Limit options in the Support Plane group to specify points,
objects, or distance values that limit where the line starts and ends.
Value
Lets you specify numeric values for the start or end limits of the line.
At Point
Lets you specify points for the start or end limits of the line using Snap Point options.
Until Selected
Start Limit
/ End Limit Lets you start or end the line at the limit of a selected object.
Select Object
Lets you select an object to define the line's start or end limit (a curve, face, edge, or
datum).
Distance
Available when Start Limit or End Limit is set to Value or At Point.
Lets you type numeric values to specify the distance from the start and end limits to and
from the line start point.
Extend To View Bounds
Extends any line you create to the limits of the view boundary.
Alternate Solution
Available when there is more than one possible solution to creating a line.
Displays different lines that can be created using the current parameters.
Settings
You can also cycle through alternate solutions using the Page Down and Page Up
keys.
Associative
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2. Arc/Circle
Use this command to create associative arcs and circle features. The type of arc you get depends on the
types of constraints you combine. You can create many types of arcs by combining different types of
constraints.
Note You can also create non-associative arcs with this option, but they are not features.
Arcs are created on the support plane. You can specify a support plane or let the system infer one
when you create arcs.
You can use limits to define the start and end point of arcs using one of the constraints.
You can use associative arc features to project or intersect reference geometry to the support plane.
Note Use associative arcs for a small number of curves that are related to the geometry and to each other
in a 3D space. If all your arcs are on a 2D plane, it may be easier to use a sketch.
Where do I find it?
Application
Modeling
Toolbar
Curve Arc/Circle
Menu
InsertCurveArc/Circle.
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After the end of the arc is selected, a preview of the arc appears. The preview and the autoplane
are based on the currently selected objects.
6. Select the highlighted line end point for the middle point of the arc.
For this example, the selected points or objects are on the same plane.
Note If the selected points or objects are not in the same plane the autoplane may change.
7. (Optional) Do any of the following:
o Drag the point handles to new locations. This may change the autoplane.
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Change the start or end limits of the arc using the Limit options or by dragging or rightclicking the limit handles.
Change the constraint type of a point using the dialog box Start Option, End Option or
Mid Option lists, or by right-clicking a point handle.
o
o
1.
2.
3.
4.
5. In the End Point group, from the End Option list, select Point.
6. Select an end point for the arc.
For this example, the end point of a line is selected, and a preview of the arc appears.
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7. In the Mid Point group, from the Mid Option list, select Tangent.
8. Select the object.
For this example, the circle is selected. That midpoint now has a tangent constraint.
o
o
1.
2.
3.
4.
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5. In the End Point group, from the End Option list, select Tangent.
6. Select an end point for the arc.
For this example, an existing arc is selected for the end point and a preview of the new arc appears.
7. In the Mid Point group, from the Mid Option list, select Tangent.
8. Select a middle point for the arc.
For this example, an existing arc is selected.
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Select the Full Circle check box if you want the arc to form a complete circle.
10. Click the middle mouse button, OK, or Apply to create the arc.
1.
2.
3.
4.
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5. In the End Point group, from the End Option list, select Tangent.
6. Select an end point for the arc.
For this example, an existing line is selected. A preview of the new arc appears.
7. In the Mid Point group, from the Mid Option list, select Radius.
8. In the Radius group, in the Radius block, type the radius value and press Enter.
For this example, a radius value of 30 is entered.
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o
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5. In the End Point group, from the End Option list, select Radius
6. In the Radius group, in the Radius box, (or in the on-screen input box) enter a radius value and
press Enter.
An initial preview of the arc based on the start point and the specified radius appears. As you
move the cursor around, the radius of the previewed arc remains locked.
Note You can specify either the end or the middle constraint with a radius value, but not both.
You cannot specify the start constraint with a radius value.
7. In the Mid Point group, from the Mid Option list, select Point.
8. Select a mid point for the arc.
For this example, a line end point for the arc's mid point is selected.
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o
o
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For this example, a line's end point is selected for the radius value and for the start limit.
5. In the Limits group, from the End Limit list, select Until Selected.
6. Select the object where you want to limit the end of the new arc.
For this example, the line on the left is selected for the end limit of the new arc.
Note This may or may not be available. It depends on the selections made.
o
o
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Sets the type of creation method to use to create the arc or circle.
Type
Three Point Arc Creates an arc when you specify three points that the arc
must pass through or two points and a radius.
Arc/Circle from Center Creates an arc when you specify an arc center and a
second point or radius.
Start Point
Appears when Type is set to Three Point Arc for the arc or circle.
Lets you specify the start point constraints.
Inferred Determines the best option and constraint type to use to specify the
start of the arc.
Point Lets you specify a start point for the arc. The point constraint appears as
a cube shaped handle with a Point label.
Point1 is the start point, Point2 is the end point, and Point3 is the mid point
Start Option
Tangent Lets you select a curve object (such as a line, arc, conic, or spline)
from which a start point is derived that is tangent to a selected object. A tangent
sphere-shaped handle appears with a Tangent label
If the support plane is user-defined, selected reference objects are projected onto
it.
Point
Reference
WCS Defines the points relative to the Work Coordinate System. An onscreen input box with XC, YC, and ZC fields appears. As you move the cursor,
the fields are updated to show the current distance from the WCS.
Absolute Defines the points relative to an Absolute Coordinate System. An
on-screen input box with X, Y, and Z fields appears. As you move the cursor, the
fields are updated to show the current distance from the ACS.
CSYS Defines points relative to a reference coordinate system using Select
CSYS. When you select a reference coordinate system, an on-screen input box
with D-X, D-Y, and D-Z fields appears. As you move the cursor, the fields are
updated to show the current distance from the selected CSYS.
Lets you specify a point to be used as the point reference. Snap Point options are
available on the Selection bar to help you select objects.
Select Point
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You can use the following Select Point options to specify the point.
Point Constructor Displays the Point dialog box.
Specify Point Lets you specify the start point.
End Point
Appears when Type is set to Three Point Arc for the arc or circle.
Lets you specify the end point constraints. The Inferred, Point, and Tangent options for
the end point constraints work the same as the Start Option constraints.
End Option
Radius You can specify a radius constraint for the end or middle points by entering a
value in the Radius on-screen input box or the Radius box in the Arc/Circle dialog box.
You can enter a radius value after specifying the first constraint.
Lets you select the end point for the arc or circle.
Point Constructor Displays the Point dialog box.
Select Object
Select Object Lets you select the end point.
Specify
Radius
Mid Point
Appears when Type is set to Three Point Arc for the arc or circle.
Lets you specify the constraints for the mid point.
Mid Option
The Inferred, Point, Tangent, and Radius options for the mid point constraints work
the same as the End Option constraints.
Lets you select the mid point for the arc/circle. Works in the same way as start point
Select Object options.
Select Object
Specify
Radius
Center Point
Appears when Type is set to Arc/Circle from Center for the arc or circle.
Lets you select a point or location for the arc center. In addition to the Snap Point options
you can use the XC, YC, ZC on-screen input boxes to specify the coordinates of the
center of the arc.
Specify Point
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Point
Reference
Inferred, Point, Tangent, and Radius options for the mid point constraints work the
same as the End Option constraints for the Three Point Arc type of arc/circle.
Lets you specify the point for the Point type of end constraint.
Radius
Appears when Type is set to Arc/Circle from Center for the arc or circle.
Radius
Lets you enter a value for the radius constraint for the end or mid point of the arc. You
can also enter a radius value in the Radius on-screen input box.
Support Plane
Lets you specify the plane on which to build the arc or circle. You can change the plane
constraint at different points in the line creation process. Unless you lock the plane, it
may change when you change the constraints.
Automatic Plane Infers a temporary plane based on the arc or circle's start
and end points. An autoplane appears.
If you specify an end constraint on a different plane from the start constraint, the
autoplane moves to support a plane common to both.
Plane Options
Changing either the start or end constraints may also move the autoplane.
Locked Plane Makes the autoplane immovable, so that it does not move
automatically if you change the start or end constraints.
You can also double-click to lock and unlock an auto plane.
Plane Constructor
Inferred Plane
Limits
Start Limit
Lets you specify the start of an arc or circle. To define the start limit, you can enter the
start limit value in the dialog box, drag the limit handle, or type values in the on-screen
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input box.
Value Lets you type a value for the start of the arc.
At Point Sets the arc limits at the start and/or end point.
Until Selected Lets you select a curve, face, edge, datum, or body, to define
the start of the arc.
You can reverse the current arc limits and display the complement by double-clicking a
limit handle.
Angle
Sets the Value or At Point type of start limit to the value you specify.
Select Object
Available when Start Limit us set to Until Selected. Lets you select objects.
End Limit
Let you specify where an arc or circle ends. The End Limit options work the same as the
Start Limit options.
Full Circle
Alternate
Solution
Cycles through the various possible solutions if an arc or circle's constraints allow more
than one solution. You can also use the Page Down and Page Up keys to cycle through
alternate solutions.
Tip Right-click the arc/circle point and limit handles in the graphics window to quickly access many of
the following options.
To create simple associative and non-associative arcs without having to open the Arc/Circle dialog
box, use the options in InsertCurveLines and Arcs.
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Snap Point rules apply to most of the line and arc creation options.
Lines and arcs are created automatically when all constraint conditions are satisfied.
Plane constraints are not used.
If you use the Associative option:
o All point constraints are stored with respect to absolute coordinates.
o Editing associative lines and arcs created with the Lines and Arcs menu opens the
Associative Line and Associative Arc/Circle dialogs.
Note You can not edit associated line or arcs if they are created in the Drafting
environment.
Where Do I Find It?
Insert Curve Lines and Arcs
Lines And Arcs Toolbar
a. Lines And Arcs Basic Procedures
Overview How To Related Topics
Associative
Choose this option to specify that the curve you create is an associative feature.
Associative curves update automatically if their input parameters change. You can
edit associative curves using Edit Parameters or the Part Navigator Details Panel.
This option works like a toggle switch.
Creates a line using start and end point constraints.
Line Point-Point
Line Point-XYZ
Line PointParallel
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Creates a line using a start point and a perpendicular constraint ( Angle constraint set
to 90 degrees).
Line PointPerpendicular
Line PointTangent
rubberbanding a length, or
entering a value in the on-screen input box,
rubberbanding a length, or
entering a value in the on-screen input box,
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Arc TangentTangent-Tangent
Arc TangentTangent-Radius
Circle PointPoint-Point
Circle PointPoint-Tangent
Circle TangentTangent-Tangent
Circle TangentTangent-Radius
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Return key.
Creates a center-based arc circle using center and start point constraints.
Circle CenterPoint
Circle CenterRadius
Circle CenterTangent
4. Basic Curves
When you choose this option, the Basic Curves dialog is displayed. The icons at the top are the curve
types that you can create, plus two editing methods.
Line
Arc
Circle
Fillet
Trim
Edit Curve
Parameters
Other options on the Basic Curves dialog vary, depending on which of the icons you choose. The unique
options are described in the appropriate individual curve creation sections. Options that are common to
more than one curve type are described in the Overview.
Overview
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The Basic Curves dialog is available from both the Create Curve dialog and the Sketch Tools dialog. The
Basic Curves dialog provides you with several tools to make curve creation faster and easier.
Basic Curves Tools and Common Options
Tools
Dialog bar
Preview of
Object
Creation
Shift/MB3
Popup Menus
Status line
Text fields in which you can enter values for the location or parameters of the curve that
you are creating.
In most cases, as you are creating a curve, the display shows what the curve will look like
based on its current definition.
Provide quick access to frequently-used options for specific curve types.
Gives you valuable feedback while you are creating curves, such as what kind of point is
highlighted, or whether you have highlighted an object. The Status line is located below
the graphics window.
Common Options
Delta
When this option is ON, any values you key into the dialog bar are relative to the last
defined point.
Point Method Lets you specify points relative to existing geometry, or by specifying a cursor location
or using the Point Constructor.
String Mode
Lets you create an unbroken string of curves. When this option is on, the end of one
object becomes the beginning of the next. To stop string mode, turn the button OFF. To
break string mode and start it again with the next object created, choose Break String or
press MB2.
Break String
Breaks the string of curves at the place where you chose this option, but String Mode
remains active (i.e., if you create more lines or arcs, they will be in another unbroken
string).
a. Basic Curves Creation Tools
The Dialog Bar
The dialog bar is a series of data entry fields that appear at the bottom of the graphics window, just to the
right of the work layer input box, when the Basic Curves dialog is active. The data entry fields in the
dialog bar vary depending on which type of curve you are creating, and which options you have selected.
For example, this is what the dialog bar looks like when you are creating lines.
There are two types of data entry fields in the dialog bar:
Location fields - XC, YC, and ZC. These fields track the location of the cursor, or you can use
them to input a fixed value.
Parameter fields - These fields control parameters of the curve, such as length of a line, or radius
of an arc.
There are also two options on the User Interface Preferences dialog that affect dialog bar interactions:
Decimal Places - This controls the number of decimal places displayed in the fields.
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Tracking - This controls whether or not the fields track the current location of the cursor.
To give a text field focus, you can use the <Tab> key or click MB1 in the field you want (once for
"insert" mode, twice for "replace" mode), as with any other Motif text field.
Here are the general rules that apply to keying in text in the dialog bar fields:
When the XC, YC, or ZC field has focus, and you press <Enter>, the location you have specified
is accepted and an asterisk is displayed in the graphics area indicating that point.
When a parameter field (such as length, radius, etc. - any field other than the three mentioned
above) has focus and you press <Enter>, the values in all parameter fields are accepted and
applied to the curve being constructed.
As soon as you finish creating a line, arc, or circle, you can enter new values in the parameter text
fields and the newly created object will be updated accordingly (unless you are using String
Mode).
The content and function of the fields are discussed in the individual curve creation sections.
Preview of Object Creation
As you go through the steps to create a line, arc, or circle, in most cases you will see a "preview" of what
the new curve will be, so that you know what the curve will look like before you create it. You can also
change some of the parameters of a curve right after you create it.
When you are creating a curve in the Basic Curves dialog, all curves other than fillets are created with
some type of dragging method. The shape of the curve is previewed, i.e., you see what the curve will look
like, as you are dragging it, before it is actually created. When the curve looks correct, you can accept it
by completing selection of the currently highlighted geometry or indicating a screen location.
Shift/MB3 Popup Menus
When you are in line, arc, or circle creation mode in the Basic Curves dialog, there is a special popup
menu you can use. To display this menu, move the cursor to the graphics window and press <Shift>MB3.
This popup menu changes depending on what type of curve you are creating. The figure below shows
what the popup looks like when you are creating lines and arcs. (When you are creating circles, the top
two options are not displayed.)
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Intersection Point
Arc/Ellipse/Sphere Center
Quadrant Point
Select Face
Point Constructor
Inferred Point
Cursor locations
Control points (end point, midpoint, existing point)
Arc centers
The type of point currently selected is displayed in the Status line. As you move the cursor around the
graphics area, objects, control points, and arc centers are prehighlighted to help you select them.
Note See the Snap Point Tool for specific types of point inferencing methods that are available when
specifying points and point locations during the creation and editing of certain geometric objects.
When you use an option other than Inferred Point, several things change:
Select Face
The Select Face option lets you select a face and use it as the limiting object for a line. This option is
unavailable when you are in any other curve creation mode. After you select a face, you are automatically
returned to Infer mode.
If you choose the Point Constructor method, the Point Constructor is displayed. When you choose OK or
Back from that dialog, you are returned to the Basic Curves dialog.
c. Basic Curves Line
There are several options on the Basic Curves dialog that are unique to line creation.
Unbounded
Lock Mode /
Unlock Mode
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Parallel options Options for creating parallel lines. The lines can be parallel to a WCS axis, or at a
specified distance from a selected line.
Line Creation Special Dialog Bar fields for Line Creation.
Dialog Bar
Angle
If you specify the first point, then drag the cursor around the graphics window, the line
Increment
snaps to each degree of increment that is specified in this field. The Angle Increment is
effective only when the Point Method is set to Inferred Point. If any other Point Method
is used, the Angle Increment is ignored.
To change the Angle Increment, enter a new value in the field and press the <Enter> key.
(The new value will not become effective until the <Enter> key is pressed.)
Other options on this dialog are common options (i.e., shared by several modes) that are described in the
Overview.
You can change the angle and/or length of a line immediately after you create it, by keying new values
into the dialog bar text fields and pressing <Enter>.
Lock/Unlock Mode
When you are creating a line that is parallel, perpendicular, or at an angle to an existing line, and you
choose Lock Mode, the mode of line creation that is currently "rubberbanding" in the graphics window is
locked. You can use this option when your next action would normally cause the line creation mode to
change, and you want to avoid that.
When you choose Lock Mode, the button changes to Unlock Mode. You can choose Unlock Mode to free
up the line being created, to switch to a different mode.
Let's say you wanted a line through a point, parallel to line A, and ending at a point projected from the
endpoint of line B.
When you have specified the start point and selected line A, the new line "rubberbands" parallel to the
line A. At this time, the word "Parallel" is displayed in the Status line. However, if you try to select the
endpoint of line B, to determine the projection for the end of your new line, the line will snap to that
endpoint - not what you want.
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Press MB2 to choose Lock Mode, which is the default action. Now you can select the endpoint of Line B
to establish the end of the new line.
The XC, YC, and ZC fields display the location of the line's start point.
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The Angle field displays the angle of the line. This is usually the angle measured counterclockwise from
the XC axis. However, for certain creation methods, you can enter a value for an angle measured from
another line.
The Offset field lets you enter a value for creating a line parallel to another line at the specified distance.
For most line creation methods, you can establish precise values for the angle and/or length of the line by
keying the values into the text fields in the dialog bar and pressing <Enter> immediately after creating the
line.
Basic Curve Line Creation Methods
Below is a list of all available Basic Curve line creation methods. The following sections cover these
methods in detail. There is also a quick reference sheet of the most commonly used methods.
Between two points
Through a point and horizontal or vertical
Through a point and parallel to the XC, YC, or ZC axis
Through a point and at an angle to the XC axis
Through a point and parallel, perpendicular, or at an angle to a line
Through a point and tangent or perpendicular to a curve
Tangent to a curve and tangent or perpendicular to another curve
Tangent to a curve and parallel or perpendicular to a line
Tangent to a curve and at an angle to a line
A bisector of the angle between two lines
Midway between two parallel lines
Through a point and normal to a face
Parallel at a distance
Line Between Two Points
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To create a line between two points, simply define the two points. The points may be cursor locations,
control points, or values established by keying numbers into the XC, YC, and ZC fields in the dialog bar
and pressing <Enter. You can also define the points with the Point Constructor, if you choose Point
Constructor from the Point Method option menu.
Note Remember, if you want to key values into the dialog bar, the XC, YC, or ZC field must have focus
when you press Enter.
Be aware that, if you specify a cursor location for the second point, and the Angle Increment value is not
zero, the line snaps to the nearest angle as determined by that value.
To create a constant length line through two points, define the first point, then key in the length in the
Length field in the dialog bar and press Tab. When you define the second point, the line will remain at the
constant length. As always, you can also just key in the desired length immediately after the line is
created.
Line Through a Point and Horizontal or Vertical
If, when the Point Method is set to Infer, you define the second point using a cursor location, the line
snaps to vertical or horizontal if it is within the Snap Angle.
Line Through a Point and Parallel to the XC, YC, or ZC Axis
To define a line through a point and parallel to the XC, YC, or ZC axis:
1. Define the start point.
2. Under Parallel to on the dialog, choose XC, YC, or ZC. The line rubberbands in the graphics area.
3. Establish the length by specifying a cursor location, selecting geometry, or keying a value into the
Length field in the dialog bar and pressing <Enter.
Line Through a Point and at an Angle to the XC Axis
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To define a line through a point and parallel, perpendicular, or at an angle to an existing line:
1. Define the start point of the new line.
2. Select the existing (reference) line, being careful not to select one of its control points.
You may do the first two steps in either order.
Move the cursor around. Depending on where your cursor is, you can preview the parallel,
perpendicular, or angled line. The Status line shows you which mode is being previewed.
The angle used during the "preview" is whatever happened to be in the Angle field of the dialog
bar at the time you selected the line.
3. If you want to create a line at a specific angle to the selected reference line, tab to the Angle field
in the dialog bar, key in the desired angle, and tab out of the field.
Note You should be aware that the line at an angle from a point on the reference line may not be a
true perpendicular line unless the reference line lies on the construction plane or is on the
WCS.
4. Make sure you use the <Tab> key, not the <Enter> key. If you use <Enter>, the line is created at
the specified angle from the XC axis, at the length specified in the Length field.
5. If Tracking is ON, when the line starts to rubberband, the Angle field in the dialog bar will not
display the angle you keyed in. Rather, it will show the angle of the line relative to the WCS.
6. To turn Tracking OFF, use PreferencesUser Interface.
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7. When the desired line is displayed, establish the length by specifying a cursor location, selecting
geometry, or by entering a Length in the dialog bar.
If selecting geometry to specify the length of your line would result in the line type being changed,
press MB2 to choose Lock Mode (the default action), then select the limiting geometry.
Line Through a Point and Tangent or Perpendicular to a Curve
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3. When the desired line is displayed, establish the length by specifying a cursor location, selecting
geometry, or by entering a Length in the dialog bar.
If selecting geometry to specify the length of your line would result in the line type being changed,
press MB2 to choose Lock Mode (the default action), then select the limiting geometry.
In the figure, you would get the dashed line with the cursor in the dashed position and the solid line with
the cursor in the solid position.
Line Tangent to a Curve and at an Angle to a Line
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If selecting geometry to specify the length of your line would result in the line type being changed,
press MB2 to choose Lock Mode (the default action), then select the limiting geometry.
Line that Bisects the Angle between Two Lines
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You can use the Parallel at Distance From options to create a series of parallel lines. When you are
creating multiple parallel lines, the offset distance can be measured either from the last created line (New)
or from the original selected line (Original).
The value in the Offset field in the dialog bar determines the distance between the selected line and
parallel line.
To define a line parallel to another line at a distance:
1. Turn String Mode OFF. You cannot create a line parallel at a distance when you are in string
mode.
2. Select the base line, keeping the center of the selection ball on the side of the line that you want
the offset measured in.
3. Enter the offset distance in the Offset field in the dialog bar and press <Return. The offset line is
created.
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4. To create another line at the same offset, press <Return again. To create another line at a different
offset, key in that value and press <Return.
Quick Reference on Line Creation Methods
Note With most line creation methods, the order of some of the creation steps can be reversed.
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Other options on this dialog are common options (i.e., shared by several modes) that are described in the
Overview.
Creation Method
There are two basic methods for creating arcs:
With this method, you define the center point, then the start and end of the arc.
The start and end points can be adjusted by entering angle values in the dialog bar, as shown below.
Dialog Bar Fields
The following fields are available in the dialog bar during arc creation and editing:
The XC, YC, and ZC fields display the location of the arc's start point.
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The Start Angle field displays the beginning angle of the arc, measured from the XC axis and moving
counterclockwise.
The End Angle field displays the ending angle of the arc, measured from the XC axis and moving
counterclockwise.
Note The Start Angle and End Angle fields are unavailable when you are using the Start, End, Point on
Arc creation method.
Basic Curves Arc Creation Methods
Below is a list of all available arc creation methods. The following sections cover these methods in detail.
There is also a quick reference sheet of the arc creation methods.
Note The object selected for tangency cannot be a parabola, hyperbola, or spline. (However, one of these
objects can be selected for tangency to a complete circle.)
For all arc creation methods, you can establish precise values for the radius or diameter by keying the
value into the text field in the dialog bar and pressing <Enter> immediately after creating the arc.
Start Point, End Point, Point on Arc or Tangent to an Object
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An arc is displayed by dragging. Its endpoints are the two defined points.
2. Define a third point or select a tangent object (other than a parabola, hyperbola, or spline).
Start Point, Tangent to an Object, End Point
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Note The String Mode option is unavailable; it is not available in circle mode.
Dialog Bar Fields
The following fields are available in the dialog bar during circle creation and editing:
The XC, YC, and ZC fields display the location of the circle's
center.
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The Radius field displays the radius of the circle.
The Diameter field displays the diameter of the circle.
Define a point (by selecting it in the graphics area, by one of the Point Method options, or by
entering the XC, YC, and ZC values in the dialog bar). This becomes the center of the circle.
Define a second point. The circumference of the circle passes through this point. (If the Delta
option is toggled ON, any values that you enter in the dialog bar XC, YC, and ZC fields for the
second point will be applied relative to the first point.)
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When you choose the Fillet option, the Curve Fillet dialog is displayed. You can use the Fillet
option to "round off" the intersection between two or three selected curves. You can also specify how the
curves are trimmed when the fillet is created.
Note Fillets in active sketches are created with the Sketch Fillet dialog, instead of the Curve Fillet dialog
that is described in this section.
Create Fillet Dialog Options
Simple Fillet Creates a fillet between two coplanar nonparallel lines.
Constructs a fillet between two curves, including points, lines, circles, conics or splines. A
2 Curve
two curve fillet is generated in the counterclockwise direction from the first selected curve
Fillet
to the second.
3 Curve
Creates a fillet between three curves, which can be any combination of points, lines, arcs,
Fillet
conics, and splines.
Radius
Defines the radius of the fillet.
Inherit
Lets you define the values of the new fillet by selecting an existing fillet.
Trim Options If you choose to create a two or three curve fillet, you need to choose a trimming option.
Trimming shortens or extends the selected curves to join with the fillet. (Depending on the
fillet option selected, some trimming options are changed or are not available.)
Point
Lets you use the Point Constructor to select some or all of the curves to fillet.
Constructor
Overview
The figure below shows the three types of fillets you can create in NX.
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Note Many of these steps are done simultaneously when creating simple fillets.
There is a quick reference sheet about creating fillets at the end of this section.
You can use the Point Constructor to select one, two, or all three of the curves for a 2 curve fillet or 3
curve fillet. The Point Constructor remains modal until you choose OK or Back. The figure below shows
two examples of fillets created using the Point Constructor.
Trimming Options
If you choose to create a two or three curve fillet, you need to choose a trimming option. Trimming
shortens or extends the selected curves to join with the fillet. Depending on the fillet option selected,
some trimming options are changed or not available.
Note Points cannot be trimmed or extended.
Choose one of the following trim options:
Trim First Curve Delete Second Curve Trim Third Curve
In 2 Curve Fillet, you can choose to trim the first, last, or both curves. The Delete Second Curve and Trim
Third Curve options are not available.
In 3 Curve Fillet, you can choose to trim the first, last, or both curves and delete the second curve.
If you do not select any of the trimming options, none of the curves are trimmed.
Note If the trimmed curve has a length equal to zero and there is no associative connection to the curve, it
is deleted.
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Note The trim options and Point Constructor are not available.
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If the selection ball contains only one line, an error message displays.
Cannot find two lines within the selection ball radius
Both lines are selected by indicating a single point. The point determines how the fillet is created; it
indicates the center of the arc. Position the center of the selection ball nearest to the intersection where
you want the fillet formed. Each line extends or trims to the arc.
2 Curve Fillet
Constructs a fillet between two curves, including points, lines, circles, conics or splines. A two
curve fillet is an arc generated in the counterclockwise direction from the first curve to the second.
The fillet created by this method is tangent to both curves.
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Note If the vector between the two points is parallel to the ZC axis, the fillet cannot be constructed.
Fillets Between One Point and Another Curve
If only one curve is a point, the fillet plane is defined as the plane which contains the vector between the
point and the fillet tangency point (A), and the tangent of the filleted object (B) (see the figure below).
The fillet plane is totally independent of the WCS.
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3 Curve Fillet
This option creates a fillet between three curves, which can be any combination of points, lines,
arcs, conics, and splines. The Radius option is not available.
A three curve fillet is a circular arc generated in a counterclockwise direction from the first curve to the
third curve. The fillet is constructed in such a way that the center of the arc is equidistant to all three
curves. The three curves do not have to lie in the same plane.
The curves are trimmed to the tangent point of the fillet. If the original curve is not tangent to the fillet arc,
the extrapolation of the curve necessary to intersect the fillet is calculated and displayed (except for points
and splines which cannot be extrapolated).
If One Curve is an Arc
If any one of the curves selected is an arc, you are required to supply additional information to create the
fillet:
Tangent Outside
Fillet Within Circle
Circle Within Fillet
Tangent Outside
Use Tangent Outside if you wish to have the selected arc lie outside of the fillet to be created.
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In the figure above, Tangent Outside was chosen after Curve 1 was selected. With automatic trim, Curve
1 is trimmed from its starting point to the point of tangency. Curve 2 is deleted; Curve 3 is trimmed to the
point of tangency.
Fillet Within Circle
If you want the fillet to lie inside the selected arc, use Fillet Within Circle.
In the figure above, Fillet Within Circle was chosen after Curve 2 was selected. This causes the fillet to
lie within the selected arc. With automatic trim, Curve 2 (arc) is deleted, and Curves 1 and 3 are trimmed
to the points of tangency.
Circle Within Fillet
If you want the selected arc to lie inside the fillet, use Circle Within Fillet.
In the figure above, Circle Within Fillet is chosen after selecting Curves 1 and 2. This causes the selected
arcs to lie within the fillet. With automatic trim, Curve 2 is deleted, and Curves 1 and 3 are trimmed to
their points of tangency to the fillet.
Error Messages
The following error message is displayed if the three curves you selected cannot form a fillet arc, or if the
filleting procedure is unable to converge to a fillet center.
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The latter occurs when the maximum allowable number of iterations (100) used to find a point on each of
the three curves that is equidistant from the indicated fillet center is exceeded. In this case, choosing
another approximate fillet center may yield a fillet.
The following error message is displayed when the system is unable to solve the set of quadratic
equations. In this case, choosing another approximate fillet center may create a fillet.
No Solution - Fillet Not Created
g. Trim
The Trim option on the Basic Curves dialog opens the EditCurve Trim Curve dialog.
Edit Curve Parameters
This option lets you edit most types of curves without having to leave the Basic Curves dialog. This
option has the same functionality as the Edit Curve Parameters dialog found under EditCurve.
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To edit a fillet, use the Edit Fillet option on the Edit Curve dialog.
5. Curve Chamfer
This option creates a beveled corner between two coplanar lines or curves.
To create a curve chamfer:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Choose the type of curve chamfer to create, either Simple Chamfers or User Defined Chamfers.
Indicate how you wish to trim the two curves.
Enter either an offset and an angle with respect to the first curve or an offset for both curves.
Select the curves that form the corner to be beveled.
Indicate the approximate intersection point between the curves.
Note Many of these steps are done simultaneously when creating simple chamfers.
When indicating the approximate intersection point between the curves, select the side of the intersection
where you want the chamfer created. After the chamfer is created, you have the option to remove the
chamfer and restore the original curves.
You may create the following types of chamfers:
Simple
User
Defined
Offset
Offset is the distance between the intersection of the two curves and the beginning of the chamfer line.
For simple chamfers, the offset is the same along both curves.
Note The offset is measured along the path of the curve and is not necessarily a linear distance.
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Angle
A chamfer can also be created using one offset and an angle. The angle is measured from the second
curve.
a. Simple Chamfers
Creates a beveled corner between two coplanar lines.
Note This option only works with lines. To create a chamfer between other types of objects, see User
Defined Chamfers.
To create a simple chamfer:
1. Enter an offset and choose OK.
2. Select the corner such that the two lines are both within the selection ball and the center of the
selection ball is inside the desired corner. The lines are shortened or extended as needed to create
the chamfer.
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Use one of the two following approaches to create user defined chamfers:
Define the offset from the first curve and an angle from the second curve.
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6. Rectangle
Lets you create a rectangle by selecting two diagonal corners. When using the cursor to define the
corners, a rubberbanding effect takes place. This allows you to see the rectangle before it is actually
created. Rectangles are created in the XC-YC, YC-ZC, or XC-ZC plane.
The Rectangle option is available from both the Create Curve dialog and the Sketch Tools dialog.
Procedure
To create a rectangle:
1. Indicate the first corner; use Point Constructor or enter the coordinates.
2. Indicate the second corner; either drag the cursor to the desired location and click the mouse
button or enter the coordinates.
Note If the rectangle you are creating does not lie in the XC-YC, YC-ZC, or XC-ZC plane, two of its
edges are created parallel to the YC axis.
7. Polygon
Creates a polygon in a plane parallel to the XC-YC plane of the WCS.
To create a polygon:
1. Specify the number of sides.
2. Choose the size method.
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3. Enter either a radius and orientation angle or length of side and orientation angle.
4. Specify the origin for the polygon.
There are three methods available for defining the size of a polygon.
Inscribed Radius
Side of Polygon
Circumscribed
Radius
Note The software does not create the circles or the reference dimensions shown in the figures on this
page. They are included here only as visual aids to support the text.
Circumscribed Radius
This option defines the size of a polygon given the radius of a circumscribed circle. A circumscribed
radius is the distance from the origin to a corner of the polygon.
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Specific types of conics are created when working with geometric constraints or certain types of
applications. There are four types of conic curves you can create: arc/circle, ellipse, parabola and
hyperbola. Each is a separate icon under curve creation. The General Conic option gives you another way
to define ellipses, parabolas, and hyperbolas. An ellipse and a general conic are described using
construction techniques (major and minor axes, end slopes, etc.). A parabola and hyperbola require more
of a "textbook" definition (focal length; vertices; etc.).
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Conics curve in a single direction. In some instances they can be more useful than splines. One good use
for conics is in blending transitions between two existing curves where reversals in slope (or bumps in the
transition curve) are a problem (see the figure below).
a. Ellipse
Creating an ellipse is most useful when you want to draw a foreshortened circle, because it lets you
specify the major and minor diameters. Major diameter is usually equal to the true diameter of the circle.
Minor diameter usually represents the amount of foreshortening. The default ellipse is created in a plane
parallel to the work plane, as shown below.
Note The Ellipse option is available from both the Create Curve dialog and the Sketch Tools dialog.
To create an ellipse:
1. Indicate the center point of the ellipse using the Point Constructor.
2. Define the creation parameters of the ellipse.
Semimajor and Semiminor
An ellipse has two axes: a major axis and a minor axis (the midpoint of each is at the center of the ellipse).
The longest diameter of the ellipse is the major axis; the shortest diameter the minor axis. The semimajor
and semiminor values refer to half the length of these axes.
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b. Hyperbola
This option allows you to create a hyperbola. By definition, a hyperbola contains two curves - one on
either side of its center. In NX, only one of these curves is constructed. The center lies at the intersection
of the asymptotes and the axis of symmetry passes through this intersection. The hyperbola is rotated
from the positive XC axis about the center and lies in a plane parallel to the XC-YC plane.
To create a hyperbola:
1. Indicate the center of the hyperbola using Point Constructor.
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A parabola is a set of points equidistant from a point (the focus) and a line (the directrix), lying in a
plane parallel to the work plane. The default parabola is constructed with its axis of symmetry parallel to
the XC axis.
To create a parabola:
1. Indicate the vertex for the parabola using the Point Constructor.
2. Define the creation parameters of the parabola.
The focal length is the distance from the vertex to the focus. The focal length must be greater than zero.
Note A parabola created by selecting five points on the curve lies in the plane defined by those points. A
parabola created by defining the vertex location and keying in values to describe the curve,
however, always lies parallel to the XC-YC work plane.
Width parameters for a parabola are the Minimum DY and Maximum DY. Minimum DY and Maximum
DY limit the sweep of the parabola on either side of the axis of symmetry.
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DY values determine the length of the curve by limiting the displayed width of the parabola. If a
Minimum DY value is entered that is algebraically greater than the Maximum DY value, the lower value
is automatically made the minimum and the higher value the maximum.
The rotation angle of a parabola is the angle formed between the axis of symmetry and the XC axis. It is
measured in a counterclockwise direction with a pivot point at the vertex.
d. General Conic
This option creates conic sections by using either one of the various loft conic methods or the general
conic equation. The resulting conic is either a circle, an ellipse, a parabola, or a hyperbola; depending on
the mathematical results of the input data. The General Conic option is more flexible than the ellipse,
parabola, and hyperbola options, since it allows several different methods for defining the curve.
To create a general conic:
1. Choose a construction method.
2. Indicate the location of the first point of the conic using the Point Constructor or define the first
coefficient.
3. Specify the remaining points of the conic and/or define the slope, anchor, Rho, or remaining
coefficients.
Construction Methods
5 Points
4 Points, 1
Slope
3 Points, 2
Slope
3 Points,
Anchor
2 Points,
Anchor, Rho
Coefficients
2 Points, 2
Slope, Rho
The conic always passes through each point you specify, unless points lie on the two branches of a
hyperbola. With the two methods utilizing slopes, the slope(s) lies at the end(s) of the conic.
The slope is projected to the plane of the conic. If the slopes are not in the plane generated by the points
defining the conic, the conic is not created and an error message is displayed.
5 Points
This option lets you create a conic section by defining five coplanar points. Define the points using the
Point Constructor.
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If the conic section created is an arc, an ellipse, or a parabola, it will pass through the points starting at the
first point and ending at the fifth.
If the conic section created is a hyperbola, the first and fifth points are not necessarily connected. Even
though points on both branches are defined, only one of the two branches is created (see the figure below).
4 Points, 1 Slope
Creates a conic section defined by four coplanar points, with a slope at the first point. The tangent vector
does not need to lie in or be parallel to the plane of the curve.
Controlling the Slope
To control the slope of the curve at the endpoint (the first point in the conic), use one of the following
options:
Vector
Components
Direction Point
Slope of Curve
Angle
Defines the slope of an imaginary line from the origin through a position you enter in
work coordinates.
Lets you use a direction relative to the first point of the curve which lies along the
slope.
Lets you define the slope by selecting a curve endpoint.
Lets you define the slope by entering an angle.
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Vector Components
The Vector Components method enables you to define the slope of an imaginary line from the origin
through a position you enter in work coordinates (see the figure below). As an example, vector
components would be used if you knew the slope should be over three inches in the X direction and up
two inches in the Y direction. The slope defined with vector components is parallel to the imaginary line.
Direction Point
Direction Point lets you use a direction relative to the first point of the curve which lies along the slope.
The slope is defined by indicating a point in the direction of the desired curvature. With the point defined,
an imaginary line is calculated from the current position on the conic through the direction point.
Slope of Curve
Slope of Curve lets you define the slope by selecting a curve endpoint (see the figure below). The selected
curve does not have to lie in the same plane as the conic. This method is used when you have an existing
curve which represents the slope of the curve at the first point.
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Angle
Angle lets you define the slope by entering an angle. The angle specified is in the work plane and is
always measured counterclockwise from the positive XC axis. The derivative vector is computed from
this angle.
3 Points, 2 Slope
Creates a conic section using three points, the slope at the first point, and the slope at the third point.
To control the slope of the curve at the endpoints, use one of the following options:
Vector
Components
Direction Point
Defines the slope of an imaginary line from the origin through a position you enter in
work coordinates.
Lets you use a direction relative to the first point of the curve which lies along the
slope.
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Use the Point Constructor to specify the three points. The position of the anchor point (the intersection
point of the two vectors) is used to calculate the slope of the conic at the first and third points.
The anchor provides a method of modifying the slope of the curve. The farther away the anchor is from
the endpoints, the more rounded the slope of the curve (see the figure below).
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In the figure above, the distance D1 is determined from the value entered for Rho. The value entered for
Rho must be between 0 and 1. The type of conic section created is determined by this value.
Coefficients
This method creates a conic using the equation
Ax2 + Bxy + Cy2 + Dx + Ey + F = 0
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where the controlling conic parameters (A, B, C, D, E, and F) are user defined. The conic created lies in
the work plane. The orientation and shape of a conic, limiting form of a conic, and degenerate conic can
be defined by entering the desired coefficients.
The coefficients method is useful when converting curves from another graphics system, since it
represents the data commonly used in the database to redefine a conic. The default coefficients define a
circle with a unit radius, centered at the origin of the WCS.
2 Points, 2 Slope, Rho
Creates a conic given two points on the conic section, the starting and ending slopes, and the projective
discriminant. The lines defined by the two points and their respective slopes are intersected to establish
the anchor point.
To control the slope of the curve at the endpoints, use one of the following options:
Vector
Components
Direction Point
Slope of Curve
Angle
Defines the slope of an imaginary line from the origin through a position you enter in
work coordinates.
Lets you use a direction relative to the first point of the curve which lies along the
slope.
Lets you define the slope by selecting a curve endpoint.
Lets you define the slope by entering an angle.
The projective discriminant, Rho, is used to determine a third point on the conic section. Consider a line
constructed from the anchor point to the midpoint of the line connecting the two endpoints of the conic
section. The third point on the conic section lies somewhere along this line.
The value entered for Rho must be between 0 and 1. The type of conic section created is determined by
this value.
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9. Helix
Use the Helix command to specify the number of turns the helix makes about its axis, its pitch (the
distance between each turn), its turn direction, its orientation, and a fixed or variable radius.
The resulting helix is both a spline and a helix feature.
The following are examples of helices with both a fixed radius and a law controlled radius.
Fixed radius helix
Number of Turns = 3.
Turn Direction = Right Hand (counterclockwise)
Pitch
Radius
Linear law variable radius helix
Number of Turns = 3
End Value = 2 (distance from the helix end point
to the helical axis)
Turn Direction = Right Hand (counterclockwise)
Pitch
Start Value = 1 (distance from the helix base point
to the start point)
Where do I find it?
Application
Modeling
Toolbar
CurveCurve Drop-downHelix
Menu
InsertCurveHelix
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1. Choose InsertCurveHelix.
2. In the Helix dialog box, in the Number of Turns box, type a value for the number of turns you
want the helix to make about its axis.
For this example, a value of 3 is entered.
Note The value can be less than 1 to make a partial turn (such as 0.5), but it must be greater than 0
(zero).
3. In the Pitch box, type a value to define the separation distance between each turn.
For this example, a value of 1 is entered.
4. In the Radius box, type a value for the constant radius of the helix.
For this example, a value of 2 is entered.
5. In the Turn Direction group, click the Right Hand option for a helix that turns counterclockwise,
or the Left Hand option for a helix that turns clockwise.
For this example, the Right Hand option is selected.
6. Click Define Orientation.
The Specify the orientation dialog box appears to let you select the Z-Axis for the helix.
7. In the graphics window, select an existing edge that you want to use to define the orientation of
the helical axis.
For this example, the red highlighted edge is selected.
The end of the line that is selected determines the direction.
Note If you do not select the Define Orientation option, NX uses the ZC-Axis and the WCS for
the helix base point
8. In the Point dialog box, specify the base point of the helical axis (around which the helix will
turn).
For this example, the center of the highlighted arc is selected for the base point.
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Number of Turns:
Pitch:
Radius Method:
Turn Direction:
3
1
Enter Radius = 2
Right Hand
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7. In the End Value box, type a value for the distance from the end point of the helix to the helical
axis.
For this example, a value of 2 is entered.
8. Click OK.
.
9. In the Helix dialog box, in the Turn Direction group, click the Right Hand option for a helix that
turns counterclockwise, or the Left Hand option for a helix that turns clockwise.
For this example, the Right Hand option is selected.
10. Click OK or Apply to create the helix.
The helix is created in the default ZC direction on the WCS.
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Number of Turns:
Pitch:
Radius Method:
Turn Direction:
3
1
Use Law = Linear
Start Value: 1
End Value: 2
Right Hand
Pitch
Set the distance between turns of the helix along the helical axis.
The pitch must be greater than or equal to zero.
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Distance
Tolerance
Angle
Tolerance
Radius
Method
Enter
Radius
Specifies a value for a fixed radius of the helix in the Radius box. The
radius remains constant throughout the length of the helix.
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Turn
Direction
Lets you specify the direction of the turns around the helical axis.
Right
Hand
The helix starts at the base point and curls to the right
(counterclockwise), as shown in the top part of the following figure.
Left
Hand
The helix starts at the base point and curls to the left (clockwise), as
shown in the bottom part of the following figure.
Note The example helixes shown here are 2D, and were created using a pitch of 0 (zero),
with the Radius Method set to Use Law Linear Law (start value: 0.5, end value:
5).
The base point for both helixes is along the XC axis.
Creates a helix in a user-defined orientation and location.
Define
Orientation
If you do not use this option, the positive ZC direction is used for the direction.
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Displays the Point dialog box to let you define the base point for the helix orientation.
Point
Constructor
If you do not use this option, the base point is the current XC=0, YC=0, and ZC=0.
10.
Law Curve
Creates a spline using the Law Subfunction. A law spline is defined by a set of X, Y, and Z
components. You must specify a law for each of these three components.
To create a law curve:
1. Using the Law Subfunction, choose and define a law option for each of the X, Y and Z
components.
2. (Optional) Control the orientation of the spline by either defining an orientation and/or base point,
or specifying a reference coordinate system.
3. Choose OK or Apply to create the curve.
You can use Information Object to display nonparametric or feature information about a law spline.
X, Y, and Z Components
Law Curve uses a combination of X, Y and Z components to define a law spline. You must select a law
type for each component using Law Subfunction options.
For all law splines, you must use a combination of the these options (that is, an X component may be a
linear law, a Y component may be an equation law, and the Z component may be a constant law). By
combining different options, you can control the mathematical characteristics of each component and the
spline.
You can define both two-dimensional and three-dimensional law splines. For example, a two-dimensional
law spline requires that one plane has a constant value (i.e., a Z component defined by a constant law with
a value equal to zero, results in a curve in the XC-YC plane at Z=0. Similarly, an X component with a
constant law value equal to 100, results in a curve in the ZC-YC plane at X=100).
Note
A law curve is approximated according to the Distance Tolerance and Angle Tolerance set in
the Modeling Preferences dialog.
Any law curve that is to be greater than 360 degrees must be constructed using either the
Helix command or the By Equation law subfunction.
When you copy a law curve that was created using the By Equation law subfunction, you
must select Reuse Original when you paste it from the Paste Feature dialog box. Otherwise,
the copied law curve will not update correctly.
If you edit a law curve using Edit Transform Scale or Point Fit, the spline's creation
parameters are removed.
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The Define Orientation option lets you control the orientation of the spline by specifying a local Z-axis
and point, similar to using the Z-Axis, X-point option of the Coordinate System Tool. You can also define
a base point using the Point Constructor option.
If you do not define an orientation, the current WCS is used. If you do not define a base point, the current
XC=0, YC=0, and ZC=0 is used as a default base point.
Coordinate System
You can also control the orientation of the spline by specifying a coordinate system using three datum
planes or two datum planes and a datum axis. The advantage of this method is that, if you change the
datum planes and/or axes (by altering the geometry they are associated with), the spline changes
accordingly.
The datum planes and axes for the reference coordinate system must be created before you create the
spline.
To use a coordinate system, specify the X, Y, and Z law, then choose Specify Csys Reference on the
Create Coordinate System dialog and follow this procedure (as illustrated in the figure below):
1. Select a datum plane as the Placement Plane. The local Z-axis is normal to this plane, as shown by
a conehead vector. If the vector is pointing in the wrong direction, choose Reverse Placement
Normal.
Note If you select any plane of a Datum CSYS, then the entire Datum CSYS coordinate system is
used for the Law Curve, and steps 2 and 3 are skipped.
2. Select another datum plane as the Horizontal Reference. The local X-axis points along the
intersection of the two planes, as indicated by a conehead vector. If the vector is pointing in the
wrong direction, choose Reverse Horizontal Reference.
3. Select a third datum plane or a datum axis to establish the Origin Reference. If you select a plane,
the origin of the reference coordinate system is the intersection of the three planes. If you select an
axis, the origin is the intersection of the axis with the first selected plane. The cross product of the
Z-axis with the X-axis defines the local Y-axis.
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Note If you delete any datum plane or axis that defines a local coordinate system for a spline, the spline is
deleted.
Examples of Law Curves
The example in the figure below shows a spline created using the Law Curve option, where the X and Y
components consist of equations that create a circle and the Z component is determined by a law curve,
which consists of two lines and two fillets. A simple sketch was used to define the law curve, which
creates a smooth transition in Z as the equations create the circular shape in X and Y.
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Note The required expressions must be created before you create the spline. The "t" variable is an internal
system variable that is required with By Equation laws. It varies from 0 to 1, which defines the
parameter space of the function.
The next figure shows two splines. The X component of the dashed line is a cubic law from 0 to 1. The X
component of the solid line is a linear law from 0 to 1. The Y and Z component are the same for both
splines. The Z components are constant laws with a value of 0 (results in a planar curve in the XC-YC
plane) and the Y components are equation laws.
The last figure shows an example of a simple parabola. The X component is a linear law from 0 to 1. The
Z component is a constant law with a value of 0 (results in a planar curve in the XC-YC plane) and the Y
component is an equation law.
11.
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Spline
You can create splines using one of several methods. All splines created in NX are Non Uniform
Rational B-splines (NURBS). In this section, the terms "B-spline" and "spline" are used interchangeably.
There are four creation methods for splines:
By Poles
Through Points
Fit
Perpendicular to
Planes
Causes the spline to gravitate towards each data point (that is, pole), but not pass
through it, except at the endpoints.
The spline passes through a set of data points.
A specified tolerance is used in "fitting" the spline to its data points; the spline does
not necessarily pass through the points.
The spline passes through and is perpendicular to each plane in a set.
Note The Spline option is available from both the Create Curve dialog and the Sketch Tools dialog.
Common Concepts
The figure below shows three of the spline creation methods.
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This section discusses concepts that are common to several Spline options. However, most are common
only to By Poles and Through Points.
Defining Data
A spline is created using either defining data or poles. Defining data includes the points, slopes, and
curvatures that describe its shape. For example, when you use the Through Points method, the curve
passes exactly through all of the defining points. When you use the Fit method, the curve only passes
exactly through the endpoints. For the other points, the spline passes through them within a specified
tolerance. Slopes can be assigned to any point that the curve passes through exactly. For this reason, the
Fit option only allows slopes to be assigned to the endpoints.
Point Specification Methods
With Through Points and Fit, you must first choose a point specification method in order to specify the
points that will define the spline:
Chain From All
Chain Within
Rectangle
Chain Within
Polygon
Point
Constructor
Points From File
Lets you specify the start and end points, then selects all the points in between.
Let you indicate points to form a rectangle. All points within the rectangle are selected.
You then must specify the first and last points.
Let you indicate points to form a polygon. All points within the shape you have created
are selected. You then must specify the first and last points.
Lets you use the Point Constructor to define the spline points.
Lets you specify a point file to use. (This option appears on this dialog only for Fit. It
also appears on the Create Spline Through Points and Create Spline By Poles dialogs.)
Point Chain Methods
All of the chain methods build a string of points based on the selected objects. You specify which points
are to be considered for the chain. The system begins the chain by searching the set of points for the one
closest to the start point. The chain then moves on and selects the point closest to that point, then the point
closest to that point, and so on until the point selected as the end point is found to be the next closest point.
The points chosen for the chain are marked with an asterisk in the system color. It is possible that some of
the original set of points will not be included in the chain if they were not one of the "next closest points"
before the end point was found.
Specifying Points from a File
For splines created with By Poles, Through Points and Fit, you can also choose the Points From File
option and specify the points using a point file. The table below shows which type of point file should be
used for each spline type.
Spline Type
Point File Type
Through Points Series of Points with Slope and Curvature
By Poles
Series of Points
Fit
Series of Points
Segments (Curve Type)
Splines are created in one or more segments. This lets you create splines with an unlimited number of
points, since each segment is limited to a maximum of 25 points. The minimum number of points
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required for all splines is one more than the degree of the spline, and all splines are limited to a degree of
24. A Single Segment spline is a Bezier curve; a Multiple Segment spline is a B-spline (the divisions
between spline segments are not visible).
Curve Degree
Every spline has a degree - a mathematical concept referring to the degree of the polynomial that defines
the curve. The degree is generally one less than the number of points in a spline segment. For this reason,
you cannot have a spline with less points than the degree.
A higher degree curve is stiffer in the sense that you have to move its poles a long way to produce any
appreciable change in the shape of the curve. Lower degree curves are more pliable, and tend to follow
their poles much more closely.
As explained above, the degree of a NX spline must be between 1 and 24. However, we recommend the
use of cubics (a degree of 3) when creating splines.
Higher degree curves are more likely to contain undesirable oscillations, and they reduce the chance of
transferring data to other systems which may not support them. Creating lower degree curves results in
faster performance during subsequent operations such as machining, display, etc. You should use lower
degree curves whenever possible (3, 4, 5). Use the default degree of three (3) unless you have some good
reason for doing otherwise.
We do not recommend that you use a degree of one (1), since this produces curves with corners that may
not work in downstream applications.
Note The Curve Degree option is not available if you make the curve type Single Segment. The degree of
a single segment curve is dependent on the number of its specified points.
Closed and Open Splines
In general, splines are open - they start at one point and end at another. Closed splines, which start and
end at the same point, can be created by choosing the Closed Curve option. This option is only available
for multiple segment splines.
Note When you create a closed spline, you do not specify the first point as the last point - the spline is
closed automatically.
Curve Analysis Display
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You can display curve analysis information for any curve or spline using the Curve Analysis tools from
the Analyze Shape Toolbar, or from Analysis Curve. See Curve Analysis in the NX Analysis help for
details.
Information Options
You can use the Information options described below if you want a more comprehensive analysis of your
spline.
Information Object provides basic object information (layer, color, etc.) plus some spline specific
information such as degree, number of poles, number of segments, number of each continuity type of knot
points, and the spline's polynomial/rational status.
Information Spline provides the same spline specific information as Information Object. The
Complete listing option adds the continuity and coordinates of each knot point, the weight and
coordinates of each pole, and additional information (which may include the coordinates, weight,
curvature, tolerance, and/or the number of segments) for each defining point.
AnalysisCurve allows you more control of some of the Curve Analysis Display parameters, such as the
number of teeth, their maximum length, and their minimum or maximum values in the U direction. To
control other display parameters (for example, layer, color, line font, or Curve Analysis Display), use
Edit Object Display.
a. By Poles
The data points that you specify for a By Poles spline are called the poles or control points of the curve.
The spline gravitates towards each of its poles, but usually does not pass through any of them, except at
the endpoints.
The figure below shows the differences in a spline's shape when the same data points are used for through
points and as poles.
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If the spline is created using By Poles, the specified points are interpreted as vertices of a control polygon.
Using poles gives you much better control of the overall shape and character of the curve. This option
also helps avoid unwanted undulations (reversals of curvature) in the curve.
When you choose By Poles, the Create Spline By Poles dialog appears.
Create Spline By Poles Dialog Options
Curve Type Splines can be created in one (Single Segment) or more (Multiple Segments) segments. Each
segment is limited to 25 points.
Curve
The degree is generally one less than the number of points in a spline segment. (It is a
Degree
mathematical concept referring to the degree of the polynomial that defines the curve.)
Closed
If this option is toggled ON, the spline will be closed (i.e., it will start and end at the same
Curve
point).
Points
Lets you specify a file containing data points that you wish to use for the spline.
From File
b. Through Points
A Through Points spline passes through a set of data points. You can also define slope and/or curvature at
any or all of the points.
When you choose Through Points, the Create Spline Through Points dialog appears.
Create Spline Through Points Dialog Options
Curve Type Splines can be created in one (Single Segment) or more segments (Multiple Segments).
Each segment is limited to 25 points.
Curve Degree The degree is generally one less than the number of points in a spline segment. (It is a
mathematical concept referring to the degree of the polynomial that defines the curve.)
Closed Curve If this option is toggled ON, the spline will be closed (i.e., it will start and end at the same
point).
Assign Slopes Lets you specify or edit the slope at any point.
Assign
Lets you assign the curvature of a point on the spline; a slope constraint is automatically
Curvatures
applied, and the spline's degree must be at least 3.
Points From Lets you specify a file containing data points that you wish to use for the spline.
File
To create a Through Points spline, follow this general procedure:
1. Set the parameters on the Create Spline Through Points dialog, then choose OK.
2. Specify the points for the spline, using one of the point specification methods.
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Direction to Point - This option works the same as the Vector to Point option. The only difference is that
the distance between the points (i.e., the magnitude) is not significant.
Vector to Point - Use this option to define the slope at a point by specifying another point, using the Point
Constructor. The vector between the two points defines the slope of the curve at that defining point. Also,
the distance between the two points (i.e., the magnitude of the vector) determines how strongly the slope
affects the shape of the curve.
Slope of Curve - This option matches the slope at the specified point to the slope at the endpoint of an
existing curve.
Angle - When you choose this option, the DXC field changes to the Angle field, where you enter the
desired slope angle (the DYC and DZC fields are unavailable). The angle is specified relative to the work
coordinate system. The angle is measured from the XC axis in the XC-YC plane; counterclockwise about
the ZC axis.
Note You can only apply slopes to a curve whose degree is greater than one. Otherwise, the following
error message is displayed:
Assigning Slopes Is Not Allowed On Degree 1 Splines
Creating splines with a degree of one (1) is discouraged in any case.
Note If you change the slope at a point whose curvature has already been assigned, you can get an
unexpected result where the curvature's direction changes, but not its magnitude. The existing
curvature is always rotated so that the new slope and new curvature are always orthogonal.
Assign Curvatures
There are some general rules that affect assigning curvature to the points on the spline:
Curvature constraints can only be applied to a point when slope constraint has also been specified.
Therefore, when you specify curvature at a point that does not have a specified slope, a slope
constraint is applied automatically.
Removing the slope constraint at a point also removes any existing curvature constraint at that
point.
Note You can only change curvature on a spline whose degree is three or more. Otherwise, the following
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If a spline is defined using points, tangents, or curvature values, this data is removed if you perform
nonuniform scaling (under EditTransformScale).
You can use Assign Curvatures to specify or edit the curvature at any point. Follow this procedure:
1. Choose the Assign Curvatures button. The Assign Curvatures dialog is displayed.
2. Choose one of the Curvature Method options.
3. Notice that there is no selection ball on the cursor. Click anywhere near a point - the closest point
is selected.
An "x" appears at the point and its number is displayed in the Status line.
4. Specify the correct parameter values and/or geometry for the curvature method you selected, then
choose OK.
5. Repeat these last two steps until all curvatures have been specified.
Assign Curvatures Dialog Options
The method, either Curvature of Curve or Enter Radius, that will be used to assign a
Curvature
curvature to a selected point.
Method
The radius used for the Enter Radius curvature method.
Radius
Lets you evaluate the deviations between a spline and its defining data points. None is the
Deviation
default, or you can choose By Vectors or By Markers for a graphical display of the
deviations whose minimum distance between spline and defining point exceeds the value
entered in Threshold. For each qualifying defining point, By Vectors draws a scaled
vector from the minimum-distance point on the spline toward the defining point. The
length of the vector is determined by scaling the actual deviations. By Markers puts
special markers around the qualifying data points.
Used with the By Vectors and By Markers options of the Deviation function (see above).
Threshold
Removes the user-defined curvature value from the active point. If the selected point has
Remove
no assigned curvature, this option is unavailable.
Curvature
Removes user-defined curvature values from all points. If none of the points have
Remove All
curvature assigned, this option is unavailable.
Curvatures
After a refresh, this option redisplays all the specified points, slopes, curvatures, and the
Redisplay
current active point.
Data
Available when editing a spline using the Change Curvature option (choose Edit Curve
Undo
and select the spline).
Curvature Methods
Curvature of Curve - With this option, you can match the curvature to the curvature at the endpoint of
another curve. The slope from the end of the other curve is also inherited. After you select this option and
indicate at which point to apply the curvature constraint, choose OK to select the other curve.
Note If you use the Curvature of Curve option on a point that already has a defined slope, the slope
inherited from the other curve overrides the existing slope value.
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Enter Radius - When you choose this option, the Radius field becomes available. Enter the desired radius
of curvature, then choose OK.
Note If you enter a negative value for the radius of curvature, the absolute value is used, and a warning
message ("Negative radius is not allowed. Using the absolute value") is displayed in the Status line.
c. Fit
You can create a spline by "fitting" it to the construction points with a specified tolerance. This method
reduces the amount of data needed to define the spline. Since you are not forcing the spline to pass
exactly through the construction points, the definition is simplified.
To create a spline using the Fit method:
1. Using one of the displayed point specification methods, select the data points for the spline.
2. Once you have the data points you can specify the creation parameters as needed from the Create
Spline By Fit dialog.
3. Choose OK.
Create Spline By Fit Dialog Options
Fit Method After you have specified the data points and the Create Spline by Fit dialog displays, you
may define how the spline is created by choosing one of the following methods:
By Tolerance - Lets you specify the maximum allowable distance (in Tolerance) that the
spline may deviate from a data point. The system attempts to reduce the spline data while
ensuring that the maximum distance from any raw data point to the spline to be created is
less than the error value you specify. The Error value is the maximum distance from any data
point to the created spline.
A tighter tolerance causes the spline to be closer to the data points; resulting in more spline
segments.
Note When importing a spline created by the Fit method from a part file which uses
different units, if the spline was created using the By Tolerance method, the tolerance
value is not changed. For example, if a spline was created using a 0.1 inch tolerance in
an inch part file, and you import it into a millimeter part file, the new curve will use a
tolerance value of 0.1 mm. Although the shape of the curve is not changed after it is
imported, if you edit it the shape may change.
By Segments - Lets you specify the number of segments (in Segments) in the spline. With
this method, given the number of segments, the best possible fit is made without adding any
more knot points. This method only gives you indirect control over the allowable distance
the spline may deviate from a data point. This option is faster than the By Tolerance method,
since it requires much less computation.
The number of segments you should specify depends on the degree of the spline you want to
create, the shape of the data, and the degree of tolerance that you are trying to achieve. A
general rule of thumb is that you need one segment for every time the slope varies as much
as 90 degrees. You can use fewer segments if the spline has a higher degree.
By Template - Lets you select an existing spline as a template in which the degree and knot
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sequence are used in the fit process. After invoking the Create Spline by Fit dialog when
creating or editing a spline and choosing this method, you are prompted to select a template
spline. After selecting a template spline and clicking OK, a fitted spline in which the degree
and knot sequence are the same as the template spline is created.
The fitting curves created with the By Template option can be used whenever you want fitted
curves to have the same degree and same knot sequence. Then, when constructing surfaces
from these curves, the number of patches in the surface are reduced.
Note You can use the By Template option any time you need to create a freeform surface
using either Ruled Surfaces, Thru Curves, or Sweep along three guides with zero
tolerance, and you don't want the resulting surface to have an enormous amount of
patches. First use the By Template option to refit all of your splines from which the
surface is to be constructed, and then apply the surface construction function to these
refitted splines.
Curve
Degree
Tolerance
Segments
Assign End
Slopes
Change
Weights
The degree is generally one less than the number of points in a spline segment. (It is a
mathematical concept referring to the degree of the polynomial that defines the curve.)
Controls how closely the points must conform to the data points.
The number of segments in the spline.
Opens the Assign Slope dialog to let you specify or edit the slope at an endpoint.
Only the end slopes of splines created using the Fit method are definable. You can flip a
specified slope by 180 degrees because the direction of the end slopes are limited by the
natural shape of the curve, due to the least squares computation. This prevents the curves
from having sharp bends. You cannot assign a slope value to an interior point.
Lets you control the shape of the spline by changing the weight factor of any of the data
points.
You are prompted to select a point, and then change its' weight value from the displayed
default. The value for the weight of a selected point must be greater than zero. The larger the
weight value, the closer the curve will come to that point, although there is no guarantee that
the curve will pass through the point. You can successively select points and assign weight
values to each. When you have finished assigning weight values to points click OK to return
to the Create Spline by Fit dialog.
Weight values are used directly as entered into the system, and are not proportionally
converted to anything else, such as coordinates or vectors.
When creating a fitted spline you can specify a tolerance for how closely the spline must
come to the points. If you are concerned about the deviation of the spline from those points,
then you should change the Tolerance value instead of using the Change Weights option.
Note The default weights are such that sparsely located points are weighted more heavily
than densely located points.
Note Splines created using the Fit method are not supported for nonuniform scaling under Edit
Transform Scale.
Information Display
Once the spline is created, average and maximum error values display. The error values define the
distances that the spline deviates from the data points. A diamond is displayed in a color other than the
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system color over the data point that is farthest away from its intended position on the spline (maximum
error). The control polygon is displayed in the system color.
If the displayed error data is unacceptable, you may back up and recreate the spline.
Note The error values that display are not the same as those you would get with functions such as the
Deviation Gauge. The difference becomes obvious if you specify a relatively loose tolerance
followed by only a few iterations of the Fit process. Generally, the error reported by Fit will be
greater than the deviation reported by the Deviation Gauge.
d. Perpendicular to Planes
With Perpendicular to Planes, you can create a spline which passes through and is perpendicular to each
plane in a set. The maximum number of planes allowed in each set is 100.
The figure below is a spline created with the Perpendicular to Planes option. As this figure shows, many
methods can be used to create the planes in a set.
The spline segments are linear between parallel planes, and circular arcs between nonparallel planes. The
center of each circular segment is the intersection of its bounding planes. The figure below shows how the
radius of one circular segment is determined.
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Error Messages
If the start point you selected is not on the starting plane, the following message appears.
Point is not on starting plane
The following message appears if you select the same plane consecutively. (Selecting the same plane
more than once is allowed, though, as long as you do not select it consecutively.)
Plane selected is identical to previous
12.
Studio Spline
Use the Studio Spline command to interactively create an associative or non-associative spline.
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Modeling
Toolbar
CurveStudio Spline
Menu
InsertCurveStudio Spline
1.
Click Studio Spline
2.
From the Type list, select Through Points.
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3.
In the graphics window, select the End Point of the first line
that the studio spline will be tangent with.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Select the End Point of the last line as the tangent for the studio
spline.
8.
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9.
To change a constraint before the studio spline is created, clear
the check boxes for Infer G1 and Infer G2.
10.
Click OK.
To insert a new defining point handle on a spline, click on a segment of the spline.
A new point handle is inserted on the spline at the cursor position.
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To insert a new pole handle on a spline, position the cursor over an existing pole and do one of the
following:
o Right-click and choose Insert Pole - Previous
o Right-click and choose Insert Pole - Next
Note The movement of point and poles works in conjunction with the settings in the Movement group of
the Studio Spline dialog box.
If necessary, specify a different movement direction in the dialog box before moving poles
or points.
Click the middle mouse button or OK when editing is complete to modify the spline.
Note
With the cursor over a point or pole handle, right-click and choose Delete Point or Delete Pole.
You can make a non-associative spline associative using the Make Associative option, but
you cannot make an associative spline non-associative by clearing the Associative option.
You can switch between Through Points and By Poles spline types.
o When you switch from Through Points to By Poles, the through points and any
internal constraints are deleted.
o Only the start and end constraints are retained.
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Through
Points
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By Poles
Note While creating a spline, you can switch back and forth between the Through Points and By Poles
options.
When switching from Through Points to By Poles, the through points and any internal constraints
are deleted. Only start and end constraints are kept.
Point Location / Pole Location
Defines spline point or pole locations on the specified Drawing Plane.
When referencing existing geometry, you can define G1, G2 and G3 constraints for the
first spline point immediately after you specify the point.
Specify
Points /
Specify Poles
Constraints
None
The point or pole has no constraint. If a point or pole has a constraint and None is
used, any constraint on the point or pole will be deleted.
G1 (Tangent)
Continuity
Type
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G3 (Flow)
Applies a flow constraint on a selected spline point.
Symmetric Modeling
Makes one end point symmetric to a specified direction.
With this type of constraint, the spline can be mirrored later on and it will be
continuous to its copy
Reverse
Tangent
Direction
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When a tangent constraint is assigned at a point, the best possible direction is chosen in
order to minimize spline shape change.
When this check box is selected, the movement of the constrained point relative to the
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neighboring points does not affect the orientation, and the direction remains static.
When the check box is not selected, the movement of the constrained point relative to the
neighboring points may change the orientation.
Lists the defining points of the spline and their constraint conditions in a table format.
If you pause your cursor over one of the constraint cells, the constraint condition is
explained.
Example
List
A low degree 2 point spline may result in multiple segments, depending on the
constraints applied.
o
Degree
Matched
Knot
Position
Single
Segment
Closed
Creates a spline preview when at least two poles have been specified.
The spline degree is one less than the total number of poles.
The higher the number of poles, the greater the degree of the spline.
Lets you specify that the start and end of the spline are at the same point, forming a closed
loop.
Drawing Plane
Specifies a plane on which to create and constrain the spline.
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Lets you constrain the drawing plane to the X-Y plane of the CSYS.
During spline specification, selected objects that are not on the X-Y plane of the CSYS
will be projected onto it.
Constrained
to Plane
When this check box is not selected, you can constrain the drawing plane to one of the
other available planes.
If you want to constrain the drawing plane to a plane you specify, then click General
and use the available plane options.
Movement
Moves spline points and poles in a specified direction or along a specified plane.
Moves points or poles in a specified X, Y or Z direction of the work coordinate system or
along one of the principal planes of the WCS.
WCS
XC
YC
ZC
YC-ZC
XC-ZC
XC-YC
Tip Press and hold the Shift key while dragging points or poles to limit movement to the
vertical or horizontal directions of the viewing screen.
Vector Lets you define a direction in which to move the selected poles or polylines.
You can select a line, a datum axis, an OrientXpress vector, or use the Specify Vector
options to define the direction.
Vector
NX moves the points or poles in a direction parallel to the vector you specify.
Snapping is active. If the object to snap to does not lie in the drag path of the pole,
projected snapping is used.
Plane Select a datum plane, datum CSYS or use Specify Plane to define a plane in
which to move the selected poles or polylines.
Plane
NX moves the points or poles in a direction parallel to the plane you specify.
Snapping is active. If the object to snap to does not lie in the drag path of the pole,
projected snapping is used.
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Polygon
Positive value
Symmetric
Negative value
When this check box is not selected, you can specify unique Start and End extension
values.
Settings
Proportional Lets you specify how a spline I updated when a parent of a constraint is modified.
Update
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All the points or poles between the updated point and the next fixed point are moved
proportionally.
Example
When this check box is not selected, only the point of the updated constraint is moved.
The surrounding defining points maintain their positions.
Example
Associative
Makes the spline associative, and parametrically related to parent features. An associative
spline creates a spline feature.
Available when editing a non-associative spline.
Associates the defining points of the non-associative spline to existing geometry.
Make
Associative
If the non-associative spline has defining data, and its poles are in sync with that data, a
new, associative Through Points spline is created. Otherwise, it becomes an associative
By Poles spline.
When this check box is not selected, the spline being edited remains non-associative.
Available when the Make Associative check box is selected.
Input Curve
Specifies what happens to the original spline when you edit a non-associative spline.
Infer
Preferences
Inferred Type
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Iso-parametric
Limits constraints to the U and V directions of a surface.
Sectional
Allows constraints aligned with any direction.
Tip Hold the Ctrl key to momentarily activate Micro Positioning while dragging a point
or pole.
Lets you specify an incremental value by which to move a selected point or pole.
Step Value
13.
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Fit Spline
Use the Fit Spline command to create a spline by fitting it to specified data points. The data points can
reside in a set of chained points, or on faceted bodies, curves, or faces.
You can set endpoint and inner continuity constraints, and you can control the accuracy and shape of the
fit by specifying:
In the Shape Studio application, accelerated access to companion tools like Deviation Gauge help you
assess the accuracy and shape of the Fit Spline.
This example shows a fit spline on a faceted body:
Toolbar
Menu
InsertCurveFit Spline
1. Click
2. Specify a fit Type that's appropriate for your part. For this example, we'll accept the default
Degree and Segments.
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3. Specify the number of Degrees and Segments for the new Fit Spline.
4. (Optional) Use the Selection Step 1 drop-down to choose a target selection method. If you use the
default Infer method, NX infers the entity type from the first object you select. For this example,
we'll select
Chain From All.
5. Select the first and last target points. NX adds intervening points to the set using a next-nearest
point algorithm, previews the Fit Spline, and advances automatically to the Constraints step.
6. To set an endpoint constraint, click MB3 on the graphics window handle and select Specify
Constraint.
Specify Constraint
Delete Point
Delete G0
Show All Points
7. Note that you must specify start and endpoint constraints before you can add inner constraints. Fit
Spline handles are the same as Studio Spline handles:
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Degree and Segments Choose this option if you want to control the number of
degrees and segments in the spline exactly.
Degree and Tolerance Choose this option if you want to control the number of
degrees in the spline exactly, and achieve a specified tolerance as closely as possible.
Template Curve Choose this option if you want to fit a spline using the degrees
and parameterization of an existing curve.
Degree and Segments Specify the number of degrees and segments. NX fits the spline to
Fitting
Parameters the target as closely as possible using the values you provide.
Uniform Segments Select this option if you want NX to distribute knots uniformly along
the spline.
Degree and Tolerance Specify the number of degrees and a tolerance. NX fits a spline of
the specified degree, using as many non-uniform segments as necessary to reach the
tolerance. NX displays a warning if it cannot achieve the tolerance. If you specify start
and/or end constraints, NX will not violate those constraints in order to meet the tolerance
target.
Keep Template Curve Selected Select this option if you want to keep the template curve
selected after pressing Apply. Use this option when you want to create a set of curves with
the same parameterization for input to a loft operation.
Selection
Steps
Infer NX infers the entity type automatically from the geometry you select.
Point Constructor Lets you use the Point Constructor to create target points when
those points do not already exist in your part.
Chain from All After you specify the start and end points, NX selects all the points
in between.
Points Crayon Tool Lets you use the crayon tool to draw a line around the target
points for the new spline.
Points From File Lets you read point coordinates from an external file.
Curve Lets you limit your selection target to a curve.
Face Lets you limit your selection target to a face.
Faceted Body Lets you limit your selection target to a faceted body.
Select Template Curve Lets you select a template curve that defines the degrees and
segments of the Fit Spline. NX activates this option automatically when you choose the
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Template Curve type. This method fits a spline as closely as possible to the target using
the degree and parameterization of the template curve.
Constraints Lets you specify endpoint and inner constraints using graphics window
handles. Note that you must specify start and endpoint constraints before you can add inner
constraints. Once you have specified endpoint constraints, you can add inner G0
constraints. Fit Spline handles are the same as Studio Spline handles:
1. Tangent Direction
2. Curvature
3. Tangent Magnitude
Edit Spline
Fitting
Errors
14.
Lets you reselect a spline for additional editing. Press Apply to save your changes
and reset the Fit Spline dialog.
In preview mode, NX displays the maximum and average deviation between the new fit
spline and the target data points.
Text
Use the Text command to generate NX curves from the True Type fonts in your native Windows font
library.
Use this function whenever text is required as a design element in your part models.
Text traces the shape of selected True Type fonts and uses lines and splines to produce character outlines
of a text string, placing the resulting geometry on a plane, curves, or surfaces.
The following graphic shows how text created on a plane can be extruded.
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Before you apply the geometry to complete the conversion, you can use the handles on the temporary text
geometry to modify its shape and location.
Modifying the shape
Before you apply the outline, you can modify its shape; for example, you can:
Select a curve or a chain of tangential smooth curves for the geometry to follow.
Define the location of characters along a curve.
Flip the starting direction.
Control an offset distance of the baseline from a curve.
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Choose InsertCurveText.
An outline of the text follows the cursor until you click to specify a point. After you select a
location, the preview appears with handles.
4. In the first box under Text Properties, type the text string you want to convert to a curve.
5.
6.
7.
8.
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5. In the first box under Text Properties, type the text string you want to convert to a curve.
The following graphic shows the ZC-axis selected as the vector for the Vector type orientation
method.
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6.
7.
8.
9.
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6.
7.
8.
9.
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becomes available.
Type
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Specify Vector
Inferred Vector This is the default vector method. Click to see available
vector methods, and then select objects supported by that method. You can change the
vector methods anytime and select new objects.
Available only for the Vector type orientation method.
Reverse
Direction
Location on Face
Appears only for On Face type of text.
Lets you specify the placement method of the text.
Placement
Method
Lets you select the curve for the Curves on Faces type placement method.
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Tip To enter a double quotation mark as text, hold down the Shift key and press tilde
(~) and double quote ().
This is available when the Reference Text check box is selected.
Select
Expression
When Select Expression is clicked, the Relationships dialog box is displayed where
you can then select an existing expression to associate with the text string or define a
expression for a text string.
When the check box is selected, any text generated is created as a text string expression.
Lets you select an alphabet for the text string (For example Western, Hebrew, Cyrillic).
Lets you select the Font Style. You can select from the following options:
Font Style
Select this check box to increase or decrease the kerning between characters.
Use Kerning
Spaces
Note Kerning reduces the gap between adjacent pairs of characters, and is possible
only if the font in use has in built kerning data. Not all fonts have kerning data.
Select this check box to create a frame around the geometry when it is generated,
otherwise the geometry will consist of only the character outlines. The bottom frame
Create
Bounding Box line is the typographical baseline. The top frame line approximates the text height. The
side frame lines represent the left-most and right-most boundaries of the outline curves.
Curves
The frame is not a bounding box.
Text Frame
Anchor
Location
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Specifies the anchor location of the text. Select from the following options:
Top Left
Top Center
Top Right
Middle Left
Middle Center
Middle Right
Bottom Left
Bottom Center
Bottom Right
Sets the value for the length of the text outline box to the value you specify.
Width
Sets the value for the width of the text outline box to the value you specify.
Height
Sets the value for the height of the text outline box to the value you specify.
W-Scale
Sets the ratio of the user-specified width to the natural font width for a given font height
to the value you specify.
Settings
Associative
Join Curves
Joins all the curves forming one loop into a single spline. Text geometry is a
combination of lines and cubic Bezier splines connected end to end. This reduces the
output number of curves per text feature.
Available only for On Face text type.
Project Curves
Projects text curves on the parent faces on which text is placed. The projection is done
in the face normal direction.
Preview
Show Result
Use this option to see how the feature will look when you create it. Show Result
performs the actual computation and uses the currently assigned part shading colors for
the display.
Exits the result display and takes you to the dialog box where you can make changes.
Undo Result
Using handles to modify the text outline
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You can modify the text to get the desired output using the dynamic handles before you click OK or
Apply to create the text curve.
The location of the dynamic handles for creating text curves on planar surfaces is shown in the following
figure:
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View a topic
Offset Curve
Join Curves
Project Curve
Combined Projection
Bridge Curve
Mirror Curve
Simplify Curve
Wrap/Unwrap Curve
1. Offset Curve
Use the Offset Curve command to offset lines, arcs, conics, splines, edges and sketches.
Offset curves are constructed through points calculated normal to the selected base curves. You can
choose whether to associate the offset curves to their input data.
Curves can be offset within the plane defined by the selected geometry, to a parallel plane using the draft
angle and height options, or along a vector you specify when using the 3D Axial method. Multiple curves
can only be offset if they are in a contiguous string. The object types of the resulting curves are the same
as their input curves, except for conics and curves created using the Rough Offset option or the 3D Axial
method, which are offset as splines.
Selection Intent options are available on the Selection Bar, to select the curves.
If the input string is linear, you must define a plane by defining a point which is not colinear with the
input string. This plane is used as the offset plane.
Choose InformationFeature to open the Feature Browser dialog box, where you can view
information on offset curves, such as lists of parents and lists of expressions used in the creation
parameters.
The following graphic shows the different types of offset curves you can create.
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1. Choose InsertCurve from CurvesOffset, or on the Curve toolbar, click Offset Curve
to open the Offset Curve dialog box.
2. From theType list, select the type of offset curve you want to create. Select Curve
3. In the graphics window, select the curve you want to offset.
is active.
Note For the Distance, Draft and Law Control type of offset curves, the curves to offset must lie
in the same plane.
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Specifies how the curves are to be offset. Select from the following options:
Distance Creates offset curves at a constant distance, in the plane of the input
curves.
Draft Creates offsets curves in a plane parallel to the plane of the input curves,
at a specified angle. A plane symbol marks the plane in which the offset curves
lie.
Note Placement of the offset plane with the Draft type is in the direction of the
plane normal. The plane normal is determined by various factors, such as
the loop direction in curve sections and the location of the pick point when
selecting curves. The result is that selecting at different locations affects
placement of the offset plane, causing it to vary.
Type
For a simple example of a draft type offset curve, see Draft type offset curve.
Law Control Creates offset curves in the plane of the input curves, at a
distance defined by a law, specified by the law types.
3D Axial Creates offset curves of coplanar or non-coplanar 3D curves. You
must specify the distance and the direction. The ZC-axis is the initial default. The
resulting offset curve is always a spline.
Curve
Lets you select the curve you want to offset.
Select Curve
Point on Offset Plane
Appears only for the Distance, Draft, and Law Control type of offset curves, when the input curve does
not define the plane.
Lets you specify a point on the offset plane.
Point Constructor Opens the Point dialog box.
Specify Point
Inferred Point This is the default point method. Click to select from the list of
available point methods and then select the objects to support that method.
Offset
Appears only for the Distance and 3D Axial type of offset curve.
Distance
Lets you specify the offset distance from the selected curves in the direction indicated by
the conehead vector. Negative distance values create an offset curve in the opposite
direction.
Appears only for the Draft type of offset curve.
Height
Lets you specify the draft height (the distance from the plane of the input curves to the
plane of the resulting offset curves).
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Lets you specify the angle from the offset vector to a line normal to the reference plane,
where the input curves lie.
Law
Appears only for the Law Control type of offset curve.
Specifies the law type to create the offset curve. Select from the following options:
Law Type
Constant Specify the Value for the offset distance to create a Constant law
type offset curve.
Linear Specify the Start Value and End Value to create a Linear law type
offset curve.
Cubic Specify the Start Value and End Value to create a Cubic law type
offset curve.
Linear along Spine Specify the required parameters for the Specify New
Location and Values Along Spine options.
Cubic along Spine Specify the required parameters for the Specify New
Location and Values Along Spine options.
By Equation Specify a value for the Parameter. Also specify the Function
which will define the By Equation law type offset curve.
By Law Curve Specify the required parameters for the curve using the Select
Law Curve and Select Base Line options.
Parameter
Lets you specify the parameters for the equation.
Function
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Appears only for the By Law Curve law type of offset curve.
Select Base
Line
Lets you select the base line for the law curve.
Appears only for the By Law Curve law type of offset curve.
Reverse
Direction
Number of
Copies
Reverse
Direction
Constructs multiple sets of offset curves. Each set offsets by the distance that you
specified (with the Offset options) from the previous set.
Sets the offset distance value at the specified location along the spine to the value you
specify.
Specifies a method to modify the specified location along the spine. Select from the
following options:
Location
Arc Length Uses an arc length value along the spine to modify the previously
specified location.
% Arc Length Uses a percentage arc length value along the spine to modify
the previously specified point location.
Through Point Uses a different point along the spine to modify the previously
specified point location.
Lets you specify an arc length value along the spine to modify the previously specified
location.
Appears only for the % Arc Length location option.
% Arc
Length
Lets you specify a percentage arc length value along the spine to modify the previously
specified point location.
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List
Displays a list of the points along the spline and the offset values at these points in the
List box.
Settings
Associative
Lets you create offset curves which are associated to the input curves and defining data.
When the original curves are modified, the offset curves also update as necessary.
Specifies what happens to the original input curves when the offset curves are created.
Select from the following options:
The following options are available if the Associative check box is not selected:
Input Curves
The curve type may change when you use Replace. For example, when a conic is input,
the offset curve is a spline. Also, the output is always a spline when Law Control is used.
Input Curves options only apply to curves and not to edges or sketch curves, which are
always kept. You can use the Hide option with sketch curves when the Associative check
box is not selected.
Appears only for the Distance and Draft type of offset curves if the Rough Offset check
box is selected.
Specifies the methods for trimming or extending the offset curves to their intersection
points.
Select from the following options:
Trim
None Available only if the Rough Offset check box is not selected. The offset
curves are neither trimmed nor filleted.
Extend Tangents Extends the offset curves to their intersection points. The
length of the offset tangent extension lines is controlled by the Extend Factor
(only available for non-associative offset curves), which is a multiple of the offset
distance. It is used for all curves except lines, which are simply extended to the
intersection points.
Fillet Constructs an arc tangent to the end point of each offset curve. The
radius of the arc is equal to the offset distance. If you create repeated offsets (by
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clicking Apply without changing any inputs), the radius of the arc increases each
time by the offset distance.
Appears only for the Distance and Draft type of offset curves.
Provides more robust handling of offset curve applications. Use this option when you
have self-intersecting input curves when extra offset curves may be produced, or when
curves may not be trimmed properly. The offset curves are splines.
Rough Offset
Tip If you select the Rough Offset check box only the Extend Tangents and Fillet type
Trim options are available.
If a single curve has sharp corners, the Rough Offset option may extend tangents and
produce sharp corners in the offset curve. You can use the Fillet option to round off these
sharp corners.
Appears only for Distance, Draft, and Law Control type of offset curves.
Lets you select the curve fit from the Method list.
Advanced
Curve Fit
Degree and Segments Use this option to specify the degree and segment of
output curves. This provides explicit control on the parameterization of output
curves
Degree and Tolerance Use this option to specify the maximum degree and the
tolerance to control the parameterization of the output curve.
Keep Parameterization Use this option to inherit the degree, segments, pole
structure and the knot structure from the input curve (or, in the case of Intersection
Curve, the input surface) and apply it to the output curve.
Auto Fit Use this option to specify the minimum degree, the maximum degree,
the maximum number of segments and tolerance to control the parameterization of
the output curve.
If the output curves do not meet the specified tolerance, then an Alert message is
displayed to inform you that the specified tolerance is not met.
Maximum
Degree
Maximum
Segments
Tolerance
Non-associative Settings
Appears only if the Associative check box is not selected.
Group
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Objects
Extend
Factor
Appears only for Extend Tangents trim type for the Distance and Draft type of offset
curves.
Controls the length of the offset tangent extension lines. Specify a multiple of the offset
distance.
Preview
Computes the feature and shows the result. When you click OK or Apply to create the
feature, the software reuses the Show Result computation, making the creation process
Show Result faster.
Exits the result display and returns you to the dialog box where you can make your
changes.
Undo Result
c. Offset Curve error messages
The following Offset Curve error messages apply to both the creation and edit modes:
Error Message
Cause
The input curves do not lie in the same plane, for the
Distance, Draft and Law Control type of offset curves.
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335
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Modeling
Toolbar
Menu
337
5. In the Cylinder group, make sure that Direction Option is set to Best Fit, and that the Radius
Option is set to Value.
6. Set the Radius to 100.
7. Click OK.
The following graphic shows the model with two Circular Blend curves.
Select Curve
Lets you select the first and second chain of curves or feature edges. The curves in the
chain must be tangent continuous. Open and closed loops are valid.
Cylinder
Lets you specify the direction of the cylinder axis. The circular blend curve appears like
an arc when viewed along the direction of the cylinder axis.
Best Fit
Finds the plane that most closely contains the input curves. The inferred cylinder
axis is normal to the Best Fit plane.
Direction
Option
Variable
Uses the tangents of the input curves at the points of contact with the blend fillet
to define the view vector. The direction of the cylinder axis is parallel to the cross
product of the tangents at the point of contact.
Vector
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Lets you specify a vector as the cylinder axis using the Vector Constructor or
other standard vector methods.
Current View
Specifies the cylinder axis which is normal to the current view.
Note This direction of the cylinder axis is non-associative. After the normal to
the current view is selected, the Direction Option changes to the Vector
type. You can change this cylinder axis using the Vector Constructor or
other standard vector methods.
Lets you specify the value for the cylinder radius.
Point on Curve 1
Lets you select a point on Curve 1 as the anchor point, and searches for the point
on Curve 2.
Radius
Option
Point on Curve 2
Lets you select a point on Curve 2 as the anchor point, and searches for the point
on Curve 1.
Value
Lets you type a value for the cylinder radius.
Available only for Point on Curve 1 and Point on Curve 2 radius options.
Lets you specify the location of the point of contact on Curve 1 or Curve 2.
Arc Length
Lets you specify a distance along the arc length as the point of contact.
Location
% Arc Length
Lets you specify a percentage of the arc length as the point of contact.
Through Point
Lets you select a point as the point of contact.
Available only for the Value cylinder radius option.
Radius
Sets the cylinder radius to the value you type in the box.
Show
Cylinder
Lets you show or hide the cylinder that is used to create the circular blend curve.
Shape Control
Curve 1,
Controls the curvature of the circular blend curve and its deviation from Curve 1 and
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Settings
Associative
Complement
Arc
Creates a circular blend curve that is the complement of the existing arc.
Lets you specify the curve fitting method.
Cubic
Uses degree 3 splines. This is the default Curve Fit method.
Curve Fit
Quintic
Uses degree 5 splines.
Advanced
Specifies the values for the maximum number of degrees and the maximum
number of segments.
Different spanning methods let you fill the gaps between the curves. There are also options to let
you trim against the selected face boundaries.
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The resulting offset curves are either cubic splines or analytic curves, depending on the input
curves and the faces from which they are offset.
The offset curves can be created outside, of off their faces if there is enough surface.
The Modeling Distance Tolerance parameter determines how accurately the offset curve
approximates the true theoretical offset curve, although you can specify your own tolerance.
Use the same options to edit an Offset in Face feature that you used to create it.
Application
Toolbar
Menu
341
Set Section1:Offset1 to 45 mm.
3
To advance.
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343
To advance.
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Generates a curve with a constant offset from the original in-face curve.
Lets you specify different distances from point locations on the original curve to
create a variable curve in face.
Variable
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Curve
Lets you select a curve or edge to offset on the specified face.
After you select a curve, the current Section:Offset item is updated in the list box
with an offset value in the following format:
Select Curve
Parameter
Section1:Offset1
Value
25.4
Expression
p3=25.4
Sets an offset value to the highlighted Section:Offset entry in the list box or handle in
the graphics window.
The label of the box changes to match the specific Section:Offset you are changing
(for example, Section1:Offset3).
The box displays the offset value for the selected item in the list box.
Section1:Offset1
You can enter a different value in this box, which updates the offset curve
(both in the list box and in the graphics window).
You can give a unique offset value to each curve in the Section:Offset set
(that is, each Section:Offset item in the list box).
Value
1
1.2
-0.5
10.4
Expression
p3=1
p3=1.2
p3=-0.5
p3=-0.4
As you select curves and edges and add them to Section:Offset sets, entries for each
are updated in the list box.
Reverses the direction of the offset curve of the selected Section:Offset.
Reverse
Direction
Only the offset direction for that particular offset curve or edge is reversed. To reverse
all offsets for all curves in a section, right-click either Section:Offset items in the list
box or offset handles in the graphics window and choose Reverse All Directions.
Available when Type is set to Constant.
List
Right-click Section:Offset items in the list box to see the following commands:
List box
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Remove Removes the highlighted or selected Section:Offset or section.
Add Offset to Section Adds additional offset curves to a Section:Offset
item in the list box, Section:Offset or section handle in the graphics window.
Reverse All Directions Reverses the direction of the Section:Offsets of a
selected section. When you select this option, all the offset curves and edges
for the section reverse their directions, putting them on the opposite side of the
section. The offset values do not change when you reverse the direction.
Note You can also access the preceding commands when you right-click the offset
handles and section anchors in the graphics window.
Offset
Available when Type is set to Variable.
Law Type
Value
Offsets an in-face curve using the designated value.
Available when Law Type is set to Linear or Cubic.
Start/End
Designates the offset value of the start point and the end point of a variable offset.
Available when Law Type is set to Linear along Spine or Cubic along Spine.
Specify New
Location
Lets you specify locations on the spine from which offset values are measured.
After you specify a location, the Values along Spine positioning parameters
become available.
Available when Law Type is set to Linear along Spine or Cubic along Spine.
Pt x Lets you define an offset value for each location specified. Point offset values
are listed as Pt 1, Pt 2, and so on, in the List.
Location Determines how the location will be defined.
Values along
Spine
Arc Length Uses an arc length value to determine the position of the
location along the spine.
The Position on Spine box sets the arc length value.
% Arc Length Determines the point location as a percent of total edge arc
length.
% Arc Length box sets the distance value.
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The parameters you set for Values along Spine are listed in the List box where they
can be edited.
Available when Law Type is set to By Equation.
Parameter /
Function
Select Law
Curve
Lets you select a line to serve as the local reference X-axis for the law curve
evaluation.
If you do not select a base line, absolute X is used as the default base line.
Face or Plane
Lets you select faces and planes on which to create the offset curves.
Select Face or
Plane
1. Input curve.
2. Offset direction based on
perpendicular to tangential
vectors of input curve.
3. Resulting offset curve.
Offset Direction
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1. Input curve.
2. Specified
vector.
3. Normal
direction of
offset.
4. Resulting offset
curve.
Defines the way the offset distances are measured. The method you select applies to
all the strings for the feature.
Offset Method
Chordal Creates offset curves based on the chordal distance, using line
segments between points on the string curve.
Arc Length Creates offset curves following the arc of the string curve.
Geodesic Creates offset curves along the minimum distance on the face(s).
Tangential Creates offset curves at a distance along the tangent to the face
where the curves initially are, and projects them back onto the face.
Projected Distance Lets you designate an offset distance on a virtual plane
using a specified normal vector.
1. Input curve.
2. Input vector.
3. Input curve is projected
onto virtual plane that is
normal to input vector.
4. Offset distance.
5. 2-D offset curve is projected
back up to surface.
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o
o
Projection Vector Uses the projection direction as the axis direction of the
virtual fillet cylinder.
Extend to Each
Other within
Section
Trim to Face
Edges
The tangents of two curves are extended to form a corner, and are trimmed.
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Extend to Face
Edges
Remove SelfIntersections
within Offset
Curve
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Infer Body
Faces from
Curve
The offset body faces are determined automatically by the curves you select to offset.
Lets you specify the curve fit method for the curve to be offset.
Note The Curve Fit Method option in Modeling Preferences is used as the default.
This method is valid throughout the NX session, until you modify it.
Curve Fit
Tip Use Advanced to create curves that are more suitable to styling related tasks.
Use Cubic and Quintic for curves that must be in tolerance.
For more information, see Curve Fit Method in Modeling Preferences.
Lets you assign the kind of curve to create when you join curves of multiple faces.
Gaps between curves are filled based on a specified tolerance.
Join Curves
Tolerance
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Quintic Joins the output curves to form a degree 5 polynomial spline curve.
4. Bridge Curve
Use the Bridge Curve command to create, shape, and constrain bridge curves between curves, points,
surfaces, or surface edges. You can also use this command to create symmetric bridge curves across a
datum plane.
This following graphic shows five bridge curves between a surface edge and points on a curve. The
bridge curves are perpendicular to the surface edge at the intersection point.
Modeling
Menu
353
5. To change the tangent magnitude from the start point, click the handle at
ENTER.
and
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1.
2.
3.
4.
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5. Right-click the constraint handle at the start of the curve and select Infer G3.
6. To create the first curve, click Apply.
7. To create the next 3 curves, select each remaining curve end, and the datum plane, and click
Apply.
1.
CurvesBridge Curve
2.
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3.
In the End Object group, choose Vector from the Option
menu.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Click OK.
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Select Object Selects an object that defines the start of the curve. You can select:
Points
Curves and curve features such as curves on surface, projected curves, and offset
curves
Edges, including surface edges
Surfaces, including the faces of sheet bodies and solid bodies
End Object
Option
Lets you define the end of the curve by selecting an object or a vector. Use the vector
option when you want to construct a symmetric bridge curve.
Select Object Lets you select an object or a vector that defines the end of the curve.
This option is available only for the end object, and selects a datum plane or
datum axis for a symmetric bridge curve. The software sets Continuity to G2 and Shape
Control to Depth and Skew.
Bridge Curve Attributes
Lets you specify the point you want to edit. You can set Continuity, Position, and
Start/End
Direction options independently for the start and end points of a bridge curve.
Continuity,
Lets you define constraints, location, and orientation of bridge curve start and end points.
Position, and
Direction
Point Available when you select a point to define the bridge curve start or end:
Continuity Lets you set the continuity. Only G0 (Position) and G1 (Tangent)
continuity are available.
Position Not available as position settings do not apply.
Direction Lets you define the curve direction at the point by using the Vector
Constructor.
Reverse Direction Reverses the curve direction at the start and end points. If
you specify a G0 constraint, this option is unavailable.
Curve or surface edge Available when you choose a curve or surface edge to define
the bridge curve start or end:
Position Lets you specify the U percentage along the curve or edge.
Direction
o Tangent defines the tangent vector direction at the pick point to the
bridge curve end.
o Perpendicular imposes the bi-normal direction at the selection point to
the bridge curve end. You can use the Select Face option to select one or
more reference faces
Reverse Direction Reverses the curve direction at the start and end points. If
you specify a G0 constraint, this option is unavailable.
Surface Available when you choose a surface to define the bridge curve start or end:
Position Lets you specify the U and V percentages along the surface.
Direction Lets you specify the bridge curve direction at the start or end points
using Isoparametric and Sectional options.
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Type
U/V
Percentage
Direction
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Reverse Direction Reverses the curve direction at the start and end points. If
you specify a G0 constraint, this option is unavailable.
Sets continuity at the curve point. Continuity options are available depending on the
input geometry and current bridge curve settings.
Lets you specify the U and V point position as a percentage of the target geometry.
You can also set the Start/End Location using the Specify Location option, which
opens the Point Constructor.
Sets the direction of the bridge curve. The options vary depending on the target
geometry:
Vector Constructor Lets you specify the bridge curve direction at the point using the
Vector Constructor when you select a point
Tangent and Perpendicular Lets you specify whether the bridge curve is tangent or
perpendicular at the point.
Reverse
Direction
Select Face Lets you select a target face. This option is available only when you select
Perpendicular.
Reverses the direction of the tangent vector at the Start or End object. This option is not
available for the Reference Shape Curve selection step or the Conic Shape Control
method.
Constraint Faces
Lets you select constraint faces for the bridge curve. Use this option when your design
Select Faces
requires a curve that is coincident with a set of faces, or when you create a curve network
that defines a tangent edge for blending.
Radius Constraint
Input curves must be coplanar.
Type
Specifies Minimum or Peak constraint values for complex transitions such as washouts.
For both options, the software sets Shape Control to the Depth and Skew type. As you
edit the curve shape, the curve does not go below the minimum or above the peak values.
Only the Skew shaping tool is available with Radius Constraint.
Specifies Minimum or Peak radius value.
Value
Shape Control
Lets you reshape the bridge curve interactively.
Type
Tangent Magnitude Represents the percentage of tangency in Start and End values.
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These are initially set to 1. To get a reverse tangency bridge curve, click the Reverse
Direction button.
Depth and Skew Depth Controls how the curvature of the curves affects the bridge.
The value represents the percentage of the effect of the curvature.
Skew Controls the location of the maximum curvature (or reversal of curvature, if you
chose the Reverse Direction option) where the value represents the percentage of the
distance along the bridge from start to end.
Top Skew = 80
Middle Skew = 50
Bottom Skew = 0
Conic The input curves must be coplanar. Changes the bridge curve shape by altering
the fullness of a conic curve based on the Rho value you specify. Valid values are
from .01 to .99. A small Rho value produces a flat conic, while a large rho value
produces a pointed conic. Note that Conic supports only G0 (Position) and G1 (Tangent)
continuity.
Reference Shape Curve Lets you select an existing spline to control the general shape
of the bridge curve. Note that Reference Shape Curve supports only G0 and G1
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continuity.
Settings
Associative
Curve Fit
Method
Lets you specify whether the output bridge curve is associative. An associative bridge
curve updates automatically when you change the source objects.
Available only when you select constraining faces:
Cubic Creates a degree 3 curve on surface. Use this option if you need to transfer your
spline data to another system that supports only degree 3 splines.
Quintic Creates a degree 5 curve on surface. Curves created with this method have a
smaller number of segments than those created with the Cubic fit method, and are easier
to edit. The curvature distributions are smoother, and they better replicate the curvature
properties of the true curve.
Advanced Enables the Maximum Degree and Maximum Segments options in the
dialog box. You can specify a maximum number of degrees and a maximum number of
segments. The software builds the curve without adding segments, up to the maximum
degrees. If the curve is out of tolerance at the maximum degree, the software adds
segments up to the maximum number you specify. If the curve is still out of tolerance at
the maximum segments, the software creates the curve and displays an error message.
Specifies the tolerance. By default this value equals the Distance tolerance in Modeling
Preferences.
Distance
Tolerance
Microposition
Activates or deactivates micropositioning. You can also use the Control key to activate
Enable
micropositioning without selecting this check box.
For very fine curve point editing, reduces the relative amount by which a handle drag
Rate
moves the corresponding point. You can specify a value between 0 and 100. Lower
values produce finer point movement.
5. Simplify Curve
Creates a string of best fit lines and arcs from a string of curves (you may select a maximum of 512
curves).
Prior to simplifying the selected curves, you may specify a status for the original curve(s) after the
conversion. You may choose one of the following options for the original curve(s):
Maintain The original curves are maintained after the lines and arcs are created. The curves are created
over the selected curves.
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Removes the selected curves after simplification. Once deleted, you can no longer recover the
selected curves. (If you choose Undo, the original curve is recovered but is no longer
simplified.)
The selected original curves are removed from the screen, but not deleted, after the simplified
curve is created.
Delete
Hide
Note Use the Edit Show and Hide Show command to return hidden original curves to the screen.
When a spline is simplified, it is approximated into arcs and lines using the Distance Tolerance. If the
spline is long and nearly straight and the default distance tolerance (0.01") is used, the spline is
approximated using a large arc whose radius could be outside the maximum part size limit of 1000 x 1000
x 1000 meters. You can avoid this problem by increasing the distance tolerance.
Drawing View Edges
In the Drafting application, you can use the Simplify Curve functionality to simplify drawing view edges
so that they can be selected later for annotation purposes. Edges that can be simplified include member
view edges, silhouettes, and section edges. For more information, see the Drafting Help.
6. Join Curves
Use this command to join a chain of curves and/or edges into either a Join Curve feature or an
unassociative B-spline.
Join Curve feature
Create a feature when you want to maintain associativity between the original curves and the
output spline. You can control the shape of the feature only by editing the original curves.
B-spline
Create an unassociative B-spline when you want to edit the output spline directly. The output
spline can be a degree 3 or degree 5 spline that approximates the original chain, or a general spline
that exactly represents the original chain.
The following graphic shows a chain of basic arcs and lines joined to create a Join Curve feature.
In Drafting, you can use the Join Curves command to join curves that were previously created from
simplified member view edges. For more information, see Drafting Help.
Where do I find it?
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Application
Modeling
Toolbar
CurveJoin Curves
Menu
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
If you edit the input curves, the software automatically updates the Join Curve feature. In the following
graphic, the last curve in the original chain is extended, and the Join Curve feature is updated.
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If there are gaps greater than the Angle tolerance between any curves, the
software creates a corner at the gap and marks the corner with an asterisk.
If there are gaps greater than the Distance tolerance between any curves, the
software cannot join the curves.
Settings
Associative
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Input
Curves
Replace
Replaces the first input curve with the output spline and deletes all other input
curves. You can use Replace to preserve associativity between the new spline
and any features you built from the input curves. You cannot replace the input
curves if the output spline is associative.
Note The Delete and Replace options are available only for non-associative input
curves; edges, sketch curves, and associative curves are ignored. For example, if
you use the Delete option when the input curve chain consists of an edge, a
sketch curve, and a non-associative curve, the software deletes only the nonassociative curve.
Lets you specify the spline type.
General
Creates a spline that is an exact representation of the input curves. The General
option can create a higher degree curve than the Cubic or Quintic type. In
applications where an approximate representation is acceptable, you may prefer
to use Cubic or Quintic.
Cubic
Output
Curve Type
Approximates the input curves with a degree 3 polynomial spline. Use this
option to minimize the number of knots.
Quintic
Approximates the input curves with a degree 5 polynomial spline.
Advanced
Rebuilds the curves using only one segment until the number of degrees
specified by the Maximum Degree parameter is reached. If tolerances cannot be
met with the Maximum Degree parameter, segments are added until the number
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7. Project Curve
Use this command to project curves, edges, and points onto faces, faceted bodies, and datum planes. You
can direct your projection toward, or at an angle to, a specified vector, a point, or along the face normals.
The software trims projected curves at holes or edges of the faces.
This example shows sketch curves projected along the Z axis onto a sheet body.
Modeling
Toolbar
CurveProject Curve
Menu
366
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Because the Project Curve feature is associative to the input curves, any changes you make to the
original sketch update the feature. In this example, the sketch is closer to the front end of the sheet body,
so the projected curves move along with the sketch.
Lets you select the curves, edges, points, or sketches that you want to project the objects.
You can also create points using the Point Constructor.
Objects to Project To
Select
Object
Lets you select the faces, faceted bodies, and datum planes on which to project.
Specify
Plane
Lets you define a target plane using the Inferred plane method. You can also create a
plane using the Full Plane Tool.
Projection Direction
Direction
Lets you specify the projection direction. Projecting objects onto a plane using either the Along Face
Normal or Along Vector method is exact. All other projections are approximations that use the
Modeling tolerance value.
Projects the objects normal to the target.
Along Face
Normal
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Curves to project
Normals to the face
Projected curves
Projects the objects toward a specified point. For a projected point, you get the
intersection point of the line between the selected point and the projection point.
Toward
Point
Curves to project
Curves projected toward
this point
Projected curves
Projects the objects towards a straight line, along vectors perpendicular to the line. For a
projected point, you get the intersection point of the line from the selected point
perpendicular to the specified line. For a projected curve, you get the intersection curve
of the surface created by all the normals to the specified line that pass through the
selected curve.
Toward
Line
Curves to project
Curves projected toward
this line
Projected curves
Along
Vector
Lets you specify a direction vector using either the Vector list or the Vector Constructor.
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Projection Option
Lets you specify additional characteristics of the projection.
None
Projects the curves in the vector direction.
Project Both Sides
Projects the curves in both the vector direction and the reverse direction.
Equal Arc Length
The Equal Arc Length option is not available for sheet bodies or planes. Projects
curves from an XC-YC coordinate system to the u-v isocurve coordinate system
on the face being projected to, preserving curve arc lengths in the XC (or uisocurve) direction and the YC (or v-isocurve) directions as specified. The
projection uses only a single face, which you must select before choosing the
Equal Arc Length direction method.
V-isocurve
Point on face
U-isocurve
Reference point
Source Plane Definition
For the Equal Arc Length option, lets you specify the XY origin and X direction
of the Source Plane using the standard point and direction tools, and control how
the software prioritizes X and Y values for the arc length calculation.
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Keep Length
Lets you specify the attributes of the input curves you want to retain.
Both X and Y
'u' is determined by measuring an arc length distance of XC along the u-isocurve,
and 'v' is determined by measuring an arc length distance of YC along the visocurve.
First X, then Y
First 'u' is determined by measuring an arc length distance of XC along the uisocurve, then an arc length distance of YC is measured along the v-isocurve to
determine 'v'.
First Y, then X
First 'v' is determined by measuring an arc length distance of YC along the visocurve, then an arc length distance of XC is measured along the u-isocurve to
determine 'u'.
X Only
'u' is determined by measuring an arc length distance of XC along the u-isocurve,
and 'v' is determined by measuring a distance of YC along the surface tangent
vector in the v-isocurve direction.
Y Only
'v' is determined by measuring an arc length distance of YC along the v-isocurve,
and 'u' is determined by measuring a distance of XC along the surface tangent
vector in the u-isocurve direction.
Note The reference point, the projection vector, and the CX vector define the CX-CY
plane (the CY vector is orthogonal to the projection vector and to the CX vector).
The curves selected should be on (or parallel to) this plane for the arc length
distances to be preserved by the projection.
Warning Projecting onto a face or portion of a face that is not smooth or is almost
normal (orthogonal) to the projection vector may not work well.
Note When you select the Along Vector, Angle to Vector and Equal Arc Length
options, the vector remains associative. If you change the vector direction, the
projection direction is updated automatically.
Angle to
Vector
Projects the curves at a specified angle to a specified vector. The projection is angled out
or in with respect to the approximate centroid of the curves depending on the choice of
the angle value (angled in for negative value).
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Curves to project
Projection direction vector
Positive angle (out)
Resulting project curves
Angle to Vector
Lets you specify a value for the angle to the selected vector used for projecting curves.
Note The Angle to Vector option is not available for projecting points. There is no
unique solution for this case.
Available when Direction is set to Along Vector, and the Projection Option is set to
either None or Project Both Sides.
Projects a curve on the surface that is nearest to the input curve along the projection
vector, if there are more available surfaces on which the curve can be projected.
Project to
Nearest
Point along
Vector
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The gap distance is less than what is defined in Maximum Bridged Gap Size.
The gap distance is larger than the specified modeling tolerance.
Create
Curves to
Bridge
Gaps
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Available when the Create Curves to Bridge Gaps check box is selected.
Specifies the maximum size allowed between gaps. Gaps that are smaller than this value
are bridged when the Create Curves to Bridge Gaps check box is selected.
Lists the following information:
Gap List
Number of gaps
Number of bridged gaps
Number of non-bridged gaps
Length of the non-bridged gaps
The start and end point coordinate information for each gap
When you select a gap in the list, the corresponding gap segments are highlighted in the
graphics window.
Settings
Associative
Lets you specify if curves or points you create are associative to the original objects. This
option is selected by default.
You cannot break the associativity later.
Lets you specify the disposition of the input curves.
Keep
Keeps the input curves intact.
Hide
Input
Curves
Advanced
Curve Fit
Use this option to specify the degree and segment of output curves. This provides
explicit control on the parameterization of output curves.
Degree and Tolerance
Use this option to specify the maximum degree and the tolerance to control the
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Align
Curve
Shape
Applies the pole distribution of the input curve to the projected curve regardless of the
curve fitting method used.
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curve being projected, that is, for lines through the reference point and parallel to the XC and YC
axes of the plane.
The projection can be made to only a single face. The 'face' you select must be a face, and not a
plane or datum plane. If you select additional faces (and/or planes), they are ignored for the equal
arclength projection.
Defining the XC-YC plane
1. After selecting a curve to project, and the face or faces to project to, choose the Equal Arc
Length projection option (if it has not already been selected).
2. Define the XC-YC coordinate plane by making three selections.
3. Select the reference point. The reference point should be on or near the XC-YC plane of the
curves. It becomes the origin of the XC-YC plane that you are defining.
4. Select the projection direction. It will appear as an arrow through the reference point. The u
parametric direction appears on the face being projected to. The projection direction becomes the
normal (or ZC direction) for the XC-YC plane that you are defining. Note: The project operation
will fail if the projection of the reference point does not fall on the face to project to. Keep this in
mind when selecting the projection direction and the reference point.
5. Select an XC vector that corresponds to the u parametric direction that is displayed on the face
being projected to. The v parametric direction appears on the face being projected to. The YC
vector is displayed. It is perpendicular to the XC vector and the ZC vector, and in accordance with
the right hand rule. This YC vector corresponds to the v parametric direction on the face. The
XC vector is adjusted if necessary so that it is perpendicular to the ZC vector.
6. The XC-YC plane that is the basis for the projection is now completely defined.
The (XC,YC,ZC) coordinate system is then used to define the parametric u-v coordinates on the face
being projected to. The projected reference point (XC,YC,ZC) coordinate system origin, becomes the
origin of the u-v coordinate system. The surface isolines that pass through the projected point become the
u-v axes of the parametric coordinate system.
Note The reference point, the projection vector, and the X vector define the XC-YC plane (the Y vector is
orthogonal to the projection vector and to the XC vector). The curves selected should be on (or
parallel to) this plane for the arclength distances to be preserved by the projection.
The new 'u' and 'v' coordinates of the projected (XC,YC) points depend on the Keep Length option.
You can choose from one of the following options:
Both X and Y - 'u' is determined by measuring an arclength distance of XC along the u-isocurve,
and 'v' is determined by measuring an arclength distance of YC along the v-isocurve. The
projection of a line in the XC-YC plane, through the reference point and along the XC-vector or
the YC-vector, will have an arclength equal to the length of the line.
First X, then Y - First 'u' is determined by measuring an arclength distance of XC along the uisocurve, then an arclength distance of YC is measured along the v-isocurve to determine 'v'. The
projection of a line in the XC-YC plane, through the reference point and along the XC-vector, will
have an arclength equal to the length of the line. The projection of any line in the XC-YC plane
parallel to the YC-vector will have an arclength equal to the length of the line.
First Y, then X - First 'v' is determined by measuring an arclength distance of YC along the visocurve, then an arclength distance of XC is measured along the u-isocurve to determine 'u'. The
projection of the line in the XC-YC plane, through the reference point and along the YC-vector,
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will have an arclength equal to the length of the line. The projection of any line in the XC-YC
plane parallel to the XC-vector will have an arclength equal to the length of the line.
X Only - 'u' is determined by measuring an arclength distance of XC along the u-isocurve, and 'v'
is determined by measuring a distance of YC along the surface tangent vector in the v-isocurve
direction. The projection of the line in the XC-YC plane, through the reference point and along the
XC-vector, will have an arclength equal to the length of the line. For a line in the XC-YC plane
parallel to the YC-vector, the distance along the surface tangent vector in the v-isocurve direction
is preserved.
For a line parallel to the XC-vector, distance along the surface tangent vector in the u-isocurve
direction is preserved.
Y Only - 'v' is determined by measuring an arclength distance of YC along the v-isocurve, and 'u'
is determined by measuring a distance of XC along the surface tangent vector in the u-isocurve
direction. The projection of the line in the XC-YC plane, through the reference point and along the
YC-vector, will have an arc length equal to the length of the line.
8. Combined Projection
Use the Combined Projection command to combine the projections of two existing curves to create a
new curve.
Note The two curve projections must intersect.
You can:
In most cases, this command creates an approximated B-curve. However, you can also create an exact
curve without approximation if:
There is only one curve in each of the two original strings, which can be "matched" together
internally by NX with the same number of poles, degrees and knots.
The deviation between each correspondent control pole of the two resulting matched curves is less
than the current modeling tolerance along the "non-projection" direction, which is normal to the
two projection vectors.
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and select the arc on the lower plane. The default direction is set.
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You can also change the direction for the second curve similarly.
In this example, the default direction displayed is normal to the plane of the curves, which is the
direction in which you want to project both curve strings.
5. Click OK or Apply to create the combined curve projection feature.
b. Combined Projection options
Curve 1 and Curve 2
Lets you select the first and second chain of curves to project, respectively.
Select Curve
Reverse
Direction
Normal to Curve Plane: Sets the direction normal to the plane of the curves.
Along Vector: Specifies the required direction using either the Vector dialog
box, or the available vector constructor options.
Specify
Vector
Reverse
Direction
Settings
Associative
Creates combined projection curves which are associated to the input curves and defining
data. When the original curves are modified, the combined projection curves also update
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as necessary.
Specifies what happens to the original input curves when the curves are created.
Available options are:
Input Curves
Additional options when the Associative check box is not selected are:
Specifies the fitting method while creating or editing a combined projection curve
feature. Available methods are:
Curve Fit
Specifies the default maximum number of degrees to use with the curve fitting method
for developed curves.
Appears only for the Advanced type of curve fitting method.
Maximum
Segments
Specifies the default maximum number of segments to use with the curve fitting method
for developed curves.
9. Mirror Curve
Use the Mirror Curve command to create Mirror Curve features across a datum plane or planar surface.
You can:
In the following animation, curves and edges are mirrored about a datum plane.
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CurvesMirror Curve
InsertCurve From CurvesMirror
on the
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Select New Plane from the Plane list, and use either the Plane dialog box, or the available
plane constructor options to create a plane.
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Select
Curve
Mirror Plane
Lets you select the planar face or datum plane across which you want to mirror the selected
curves or edges. Available options are:
Plane
Existing Plane: Selects a face or datum plane to mirror the selected curves about.
New Plane: Creates a datum plane.
Lets you select a face or an existing datum plane about which to mirror the selected curves.
Appears when Plane is set to New Plane.
Lets you specify a plane to mirror the selected curves. Available options are:
Specify
Plane
Inferred
: This is the default plane type. Click to see the Plane list. Select
the required plane type, then select objects supported by that plane. You can change
the plane and select new objects as needed.
Settings
Associative
Creates mirror curves which are associated to the input curves and defining data. When the
original curves are modified, the mirror curves also update as necessary.
Specifies what happens to the original input curves when the offset curves are created.
Available options are:
Input
Curves
Additional options available when the Associative check box is not selected are:
10.
Wrap/Unwrap Curve
Use the Wrap/Unwrap Curve command to wrap curves from a plane onto a conical or cylindrical face
or unwrap curves from a conical or cylindrical face onto a plane.
Note You cannot delete defining geometry, such as the wrapped face or faces, the Wrap plane, or the
input curves until you remove all dependence on that geometry.
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4. Under Face, click Select Face and select the conical face.
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If the conical face you selected does not already have an appropriate tangent plane, you can create
one with the following steps.
o
Create a datum plane that goes through both the axis of the cone/cylinder and the tangent
line.
Note A tangent line is an imaginary line that lies on both the wrap face and the wrap plane
where they meet. It is a straight line that is coplanar with the axis of the cone or
cylinder.
Create another datum plane that is tangent to the face and normal to the datum plane
created in the previous step.
A major advantage to creating a tangent plane with this method is that the datum plane updates to
remain tangent to the face whenever the model is updated.
6. (Optional) Under Settings, change the Cut Line Angle value as required.
7. Click Apply or OK. The Wrap Curve feature is created.
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Unwrap
Curve
Lets you select a curve or curves to wrap or unwrap, depending on the Type option
selected.
Select Curve
Face
Lets you select a conical or cylindrical face for wrapping or unwrapping curves on which
curves will be wrapped, or from which curves will be unwrapped.
For the Wrap option, this is the face to which selected curves on a tangent plane are
wrapped.
Select Face
For the Unwrap option, this is the face from which selected curves are unwrapped onto a
tangent plane.
Note When you wrap a curve, you can select multiple faces if the face is split, but the
selected faces must be on the same cone or cylinder.
Plane
Lets you select a datum plane or planar face tangent to the conical or cylindrical face.
Select Object
Lets you select a plane as the Wrap or Unwrap plane. Available options are:
Specify Plane
Inferred
: This is the default plane type. Click to see the Plane list. Select
the required plane type, then select objects supported by that plane. You can
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Associative
Creates an associative Wrap or Unwrap Curve feature. If you modify the input curves,
the wrap/unwrap curves update accordingly.
This check box is selected by default.
Cut Line
Angle
Specifies the cut line angle, which is the rotation (between 0 and 360 degrees) of the
tangent line about the axis of the cone or cylinder. You can enter either a number or an
expression.
Distance
Tolerance
Specifies the maximum distance between the input geometry and the resulting body, that
is the maximum distance between a calculated point and the generated curve.
Angle
Tolerance
Specifies the angle tolerance which ensures that the generated curve is tangent
continuous within this tolerance.
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Wrap face. For the Wrap option, this is the conical or cylindrical face to which selected curves on a
tangent plane are wrapped. For the Unwrap option, selected curves on this face are wrapped onto a
tangent plane.
Wrap plane. For the Wrap option, selected curves on this plane are wrapped onto a tangent conical or
cylindrical face. For the Unwrap option, selected curves on a tangent conical or cylindrical face are
wrapped onto this plane.
M.
View a topic
Intersection Curve
Isoparametric
Curve
Extract Curve
Extract Virtual Curve
Section Curve
1. Intersection Curve
Use the Intersection Curve command to create intersection curves between two sets of objects.
The following graphic shows an example of intersection curves that are created where a sheet body
intersects a solid body.
Modeling or Drafting
Toolbar
CurveIntersection Curve
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Menu
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6. (Optional) In the Settings group, clear the Associative check box if you do not want the
intersection curve to be associative. This check box is selected by default.
7. (Optional) Select the required curve fitting method from the Curve Fit list.
8. Click OK or Apply to create the Intersection Curve feature.
Lets you define a datum plane to be included in the set of objects to intersect.
Keep Selected
When selected, lets you reuse the objects you selected as the set for a subsequent Intersection
Curve feature, after you create this intersection curve.
Common Options
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Associative
Makes the intersection curve associative.
Advanced Curve Fit
Lets you select the curve fit from the Method list.
Settings
Degree and Segments Use this option to specify the degree and segment of output
curves. This provides explicit control on the parameterization of output curves
Degree and Tolerance Use this option to specify the maximum degree and the
tolerance to control the parameterization of the output curve.
Auto Fit Use this option to specify the minimum degree, the maximum degree, the
maximum number of segments and tolerance to control the parameterization of the
output curve.
If the output curves do not meet the specified tolerance, then an Alert message is
displayed to inform you that the specified tolerance is not met.
Maximum Degree Sets the maximum degree for the fit calculation.
Maximum Segments Sets the maximum number of segments for the fit calculation.
Tolerance
Sets the tolerance value. you The default value is the Distance Tolerance value that is set in the
Modeling Preferences dialog box.
2. Isoparametric Curve
Use the Isoparametric Curve command to generate curves on a face along given U/V lines of direction.
Isoparametric curves represent the underlying geometry of the selected surface. For example, if you
create an isoparametric curve that runs along the parameter of revolution of a revolved body, the resulting
curve is an arc. For complex faces, the resulting curve is a spline.
The modeling tolerance value is used to calculate isoparametric curves on foreign faces and on offsets
obtained from non-analytic faces.
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Toolbar
Menu
1.
On the Curve toolbar, click Isoparametric Curve
2.
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3.
4.
5.
Optional: Click the Spacing check box and drag the slider to
adjust the distance between the isoparametric curves.
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6.
Click Apply.
1.
2.
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3.
4.
5.
Click Apply.
Once selected, U and V direction arrows display on the face to show its direction.
Iso Curve
Direction
Lets you select the U direction, the V direction, or both directions along which to create
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isoparametric curves.
Choose one of the following:
U
Specifies the U direction for isoparametric curves.
V
Specifies the V direction for isoparametric curves.
U and V
Specifies both the U and V direction for isoparametric curves.
Lets you specify a location method to place isoparametric curves on the selected face.
Choose from the following:
Uniform
Places isoparametric curves at an equal distance from one another on the selected
face.
Location
Through Points
Places an isoparametric curve through each specified point on the selected face.
Between Points
Places isoparametric curves at an equal distance from one another, between two
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specified points.
When the selected face is planar the extracted isoparametric curves do not follow the direction of
the face and edges as with a non-planar face, but are always either vertical or horizontal.
Specifying a point outside the face bounds using the Through Points option may generate
unexpected results and is not recommended.
3. Section Curve
Use the Section Curve command to create intersection geometry between specified planes and bodies,
faces, or curves.
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Analytic section curves (lines, arcs or conics) are created if the face is planar, analytic, or a
bounded plane.
Section curves are trimmed at edges and holes.
Modeling, Drafting
Toolbar
CurveSection Curve
Menu
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5. In the Settings group, make changes if needed. None were made in this example..
6. Click OK or Apply to create the section curve feature.
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For this example, in Start the value entered 8.0 and in End the value entered is 8.0
6. In Step distance enter a value for the distance between successive planes.
For this example, the value entered in Step is 8.0.
7. The preview shows a series of plane symbols. You now can change any of the parameters.
8. In the Settings group, make changes if needed. None were made for this example.
9. Click OK or Apply to create the section curve feature.
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4. In the Radial Axis group, with Specify Vector active, select or specify a vector.
All the radial planes will pivot around this vector.
For this example, the ZC axis is used.
5. In the Point on Reference Plane group, with Specify Point active, select an existing point, or
define a new point, that will lie on the base (initial) plane in the series.
A series of planes is displayed in the preview.
For this example, a quadrant point on the top of the circular edge is selected.
6. In the Plane Location group, enter values for the two limiting angles in the Start and End fields.
These values represent the angles between which the sectioning planes are placed.
For this example the following values are entered:
o
o
Start: 0.0
End: 180.0
7. Enter a value in Step. This represents the angle between successive planes.
For this example, the following value is entered:
Step: 45.0
8. The preview is updated. You can now change any of the parameters if needed. For this example
none were changed.
o
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Start: 10.0
End: 90.0
Number of Copies: 5
The preview shows the series of planes you have defined. You can now change any selections
made, or parameters chosen or values entered.
7. Click OK or Apply to create the section curves.
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Selected Planes Creates section curves using selected individual existing planes or those that
you define in the process.
Parallel Planes Creates section curves using a specified series of parallel planes. You specify a
base plane, a step value (distance between planes), and the start and end distances.
Radial Planes Creates section curves using a specified set of planes that fan out from a
specified axis. You specify a pivot axis and a point to define the base plane, a step value (angle
between planes) , and the start and end angles.
Planes Perpendicular to Curve Creates section curves using specified multiple section planes
perpendicular to a curve or edge. You can control the spacing of the section planes along the
curve.
Type-Specific Options
Section Plane lets you select or define planes for sectioning.
Select Plane
lets you select an existing plane as the section plane. You
can select one or more planes.
Selected Planes
Base Plane lets you define the base plane for the parallel series of planes.
Parallel Planes
You can click Full Plane Tool
base plane.
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Start The distance from the base plane for the first plane in the series.
End The distance from the base plane for the last plane in the series.
Step The distance between the planes in the series.
Radial Axis lets you specify a vector around which the radial planes will pivot.
Radial Planes
Reverse Direction
vector.
Point on Reference Plane lets you specify a point to define the base plane for the
radial series.
Start The angle from the base plane to the first plane in the series.
End The angle from the base plane to the last plane in the series.
Step The angle between the planes in the series.
Curve or Edge lets you select the curve or edge along which the perpendicular
planes will be calculated.
Plane Location lets you specify the number and the spacing of the planes.
Planes
Perpendicular to
Curve
Spacing lets you space the planes along the selected curve or edge using one
of the following methods in the list:
o Equal Arc Length Planes are at equal arc lengths along the curve.
o Equal Parameters Planes are at equal spaces based on the
parameterization of the curve.
o Geometric Progression Plane spacing along the curve are based
on a geometric ratio.
o Chordal Tolerance Plane spacing is based on a chordal tolerance
(distance between the selected curve and a direct line between the
planes).
o Incremental Arc Length Planes are at specified increments along
the curve.
Common options for Equal Arc Length, Equal Parameters, and
Geometric Progression:
o
o
o
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curve.
Unique option for Geometric Progression:
o
Ratio The spacing between the planes (measured along the arc
length of the selected curve) varies. Each succeeding spacing is equal
to the previous spacing multiplied by the ratio.
Arc Length Displays the specified arc length distance between the
planes.
Settings
Note When Associative is selected, the resulting section curves cannot be joined if
the object to section is a face.
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Show Result
Preview
Note If the feature string has any gaps then the ends of the chains are highlighted
(using big red dots).
Undo Result
4. Extract Curve
This option creates geometry (lines, arcs, conics, and splines) using the edges and faces of one or
more existing bodies. The bodies are not changed. Most extracted curves are not associative, but you can
choose to create associative isocline or shadow outline curves.
The following extract options are available:
Edge Curves
Silhouette
Curves
All in Work
View
Isocline Curves
Shadow Outline
Curves created using All in Work View, Silhouette Curves, or Shadow Outline are view-dependent in the
view that was the work view when they were created.
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a. Edge Curves
This option lets you create curves along the edges of one or more existing bodies.
Select the desired edges one at a time, or use the menu to select all edges in a face, all edges in a body, by
name, or by chaining. The total number of edges selected is displayed in the Status line, and you can use
Back to deselect edges. After all the edges are selected, choose OK and the curves are created.
Note If the body has no edges (as in the case of a complete sphere), consider using the Silhouette Curves
method.
b. Silhouette Curves
Creates outline (silhouette) curves for bodies (lines where curved faces change from pointing toward the
eye to pointing away from the eye). When you select the desired body, the silhouette curves are
immediately created and you are prompted to select another body. The creation of the curves is an
approximation, controlled by the modeling distance tolerance. Silhouette curves are created viewdependent in the work view.
Note Silhouette curves are not displayed when they are coincident with real edges.
c. All in Work View
Allows you to create all edge curves, including any silhouettes, from the visible edges of the solid bodies
and sheet bodies in the work view. If the work view's hidden edges are Invisible, curves are created along
the visible edges only. If the hidden edges are dashed or thin, the hidden curves are created in dashed or
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thin font. Curves are created along any displayed grid lines. All curves are created view-dependent in the
work view.
To use this option, you must have the Rendering Style set to Static Wireframe, and the Hidden Edges
option set to Invisible in the Visualization Preferences dialog box.
After you choose All in Work View, the curves are immediately created.
Note The created curves are not the same as those created using the Edge Curves option. All in Work
View curves approximates the curve from the visible display, while creates an exact copy of the
selected edge. If you compare the definitions of the two curves as shown in the Information window,
the results will be different in most cases.
d. Isocline Curves
Isocline curves are one or more curves that are drawn on a set of faces. They are created based on the
surface normal, an angle, and a vector direction.
The figure below shows single isocline curves created on a sphere, at 10 and 40 degrees from the
reference vector. You can see the relationship between the angle and where the isocline curve is created.
You can create isocline curves on any selected face, or on multiple faces. You may need to flip the
direction vector to get corresponding isocline curves on adjacent faces.
The figure below shows a sheet body with a family of isocline curves placed on it at 5 degree intervals,
from 0 to 90, with the +ZC axis as the reference axis.
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To split a surface.
To create a "draft angle map" of a face. You can use them to analyze a face, similar to the
Reflection Lines capability in AnalysisFace. However, isocline curves can give you a more
detailed analysis of the face.
To help in construction of parting surfaces on a mold or casting.
To create extracted curves that are associative and update when the faces from which they were
extracted are modified. (You can also create isocline curves that are nonassociative.)
When you choose Isocline Curves, you are first asked to specify a reference vector. After you have done
that, the Isocline Angle dialog appears.
Single /
Family
Angle
The angle at which the single isocline curve will be created. (If you chose Family, this
option is unavailable.)
Start Angle / The angles at which a family of isocline curves begins and ends. (If you chose Single, these
End Angle options are unavailable.)
Step
The increment between each curve for a family of isocline curves. (If you chose Single, this
option is unavailable.)
Tolerance
The creation of the curves is an approximation, controlled by this option, whose default is
the distance tolerance from the Modeling Preferences dialog.
Associate
If this option is toggled ON, the isocline curves will be associated to the faces from which
they were extracted.
Curve Fit
During edit, you can change the Curve Fit Method that was originally used to create the
Method
isocline curve(s), as specified in Modeling Preferences. You can select Cubic, Quintic or
Advanced fitting methods.
Cubic
Cubic uses degree 3 splines.
Quintic
Quintic uses degree 5 splines.
Advanced
Selecting Advanced displays fields where you can enter your own values for the maximum
number of degrees and the maximum number of segments. The system will try to rebuild
the curves without segments until the number of degrees specified by the Maximum Degree
parameter is reached. If tolerances cannot be met with the Maximum Degree, segments are
added until the number defined for Maximum Segments is reached. If the maximum degree
and maximum segments combined still does not allow the tolerance to be met, the curves
are created and a message displays that they do not meet the specified tolerance.
These Curve Fit Method options are available on this dialog only when you are editing an
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Brings up the Isocline Angle(s) dialog, identical to the one used to create isocline curves,
except that
Edit
Direction
Replace
Faces
The Associate option has been removed. You can change the Angle of Single
isocline curves, or change the Start Angle, End Angle, or Step of Family isocline
curves. You can also change a Single curve to a Family of curves, or vice versa.
The Curve Fit Method panel is available.
Lets you modify the isocline direction using the Vector Constructor. The original direction
is shown with a temporary conehead vector.
Lets you select new faces for the feature from the work part.
Note For all of the editing options, you may have to choose OK in multiple dialogs before the edit occurs.
e. Shadow Outline
This option produces an outline of view-dependent curves of the bodies displayed in the work view. No
curves are created from interior details.
To execute this option, set the work view to the Static Wireframe display mode, with hidden edges set to
invisible and select Shadow Outline. The figures below show examples of parts with shadow outline
curves that have been extracted.
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This function is sensitive to the value found in the Preferences Visualization Line Curve
Tolerance field. If your results are not satisfactory, you can try making the tolerance smaller and
executing Shadow Outline again.
The shadow outline curves are not associative to the bodies from which they were created, unless the
operation was performed in Drafting. In that case, when the bodies are changed, the old shadow outline is
deleted and a new shadow outline is created as part of the drawing view update process.
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You can:
The following graphic shows the virtual blend centerline curve (blue) of the highlighted blend face.
Modeling
Toolbar
Menu
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For this example, revolved and circular faces are selected from which the virtual curves are
extracted.
4. Click OK or Apply.
The virtual curve feature is created.
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Rotation
Axis
Blend
Centerline
Type list
Note Only rolling ball (constant radius) face and edge blends are
supported.
Virtual
Intersection
Lets you extract the virtual intersection of the surfaces of the two
construction faces of the input blend face to create a virtual
intersection curve.
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The following graphic shows the virtual intersection curve (blue)
of the highlighted blend face.
Note Only rolling ball (constant radius) face and edge blends are
supported.
Face
Available only for the Rotation Axis type.
Select
Revolved
Face
Lets you select a cylindrical, conical, toroidal, or revolved face to extract the virtual curve.
You can select more than one face.
Available for the Blend Centerline and Virtual Intersection types.
N.Edit Curves
View a topic
X-Form
Edit Curve
Parameters
Divide Curve
Edit Fillet
Stretch Curve
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All (Legacy)
Curve Length
Parameters (Legacy)
Smooth Spline
Trim Curve
Shape by Template
Trim Corner
1. X-Form
Use the X-Form command to edit b-surfaces or spline curves by dynamically manipulating the pole
locations.
Available by choosing EditCurveX-form, or on the Edit Surface toolbar.
Note If the line is not associative, the dialog box header is Nonassociative Line.
See Arc/Circle creation
Ellipse
3. All (Legacy)
The options under All (Legacy) let you modify existing non-associative curves using the pre-NX7.5
dialog boxes.
Note All (Legacy) is only available by adding it to a toolbar or a menu using CustomizeCommands.
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You can edit a number of curve types using a Selection Steps dialog similar to the one that was used to
create them. The creation and editing of these types of curves is covered in the same section of the
documentation (for example, see Offset Curve and Wrap/Unwrap Curve).
The All (Legacy) option opens a dialog with all non-associative edit curve functions.
Edit Curve (All) Dialog Options For Non-Associative Curves
Edit Curve Parameters - Lets you edit the parameters (that is, the defining data) of most
types of curves.
Trim Curve - Adjusts the endpoints of curves (lines, arcs, conics, or splines) based on
the bounding entities selected (curves, edges, planes, faces, points, or cursor locations)
and the segment(s) of curve selected for trimming.
Trim Corner - Trims two curves to their intersection point, thereby forming a corner.
Divide Curve - Divides a curve into a series of like segments.
Edit Fillet - Lets you edit existing fillets.
Stretch Curve - Lets you move geometric objects, while simultaneously stretching or
shrinking selected lines.
Curve Length - Trims or extends a curve by a given curve length increment, or to a total
curve length.
Smooth Spline - to automatically remove imperfections in the curvature properties of a
B-spline.
Point Method Used to change the position of a line endpoint. The Point Method options let you specify
points relative to existing geometry, or by specifying a cursor location or using the Point
Constructor. In some cases, you will use the Snap Point tool instead of the Point Method
options.
Edit Arc/Circle You can edit an arc or circle two ways: by editing its Parameters, or by Dragging it.
By
Complement
Lets you create the complement of an existing arc.
Arc
Display
If you are editing a spline, this option lets you display the original spline for comparison
Original Spline during the editing.
Edit Associative By Parameter lets you edit an associative curve while preserving its associativity.
Curve
As Original breaks the associativity between the curve and its original defining data
(you receive a warning).
Arc Length
Total - Use this method to extend or trim a curve by its total arc length. Total arc length
Trim Method
is the distance from the start of a curve to the end of the curve, following the exact path
of the curve.
Incremental - Use this method to extend or trim a curve by a given arc length increment.
The arc length increment is the length used to extend or trim from the original curve.
Arc Length
Update
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Click on the following topics for additional information for editing non-associative curves:
Editing a Line
Editing an Arc or Circle
Editing an Ellipse
Editing a Spline
Use Edit Transform to change the location of an associative or non-associative curve. However, some
functions, such as copy, remove the relationship between a dependent curve and its associated geometry.
In many cases, you are warned if a transformation would have this effect. For cases like a copy operation
or circular/rectangular instance arrays, no warnings are issued.
Editing Associative Curves
To edit associative (feature) curves, select the curve in one of the following places:
4. Parameters (Legacy)
This option lets you edit most types of curves. When this icon is active and you select a curve, you
are automatically put into edit mode for that type of curve.
Note Parameters (Legacy) is only available by adding either it or All (Legacy) to a toolbar or a menu
using CustomizeCommands.
The Edit Curve Parameters (Legacy) dialog box includes the following options:
Point Method
Edit Arc/Circle
By
Complement Arc
Display Original
Spline
Edit Associative
Curve
Update
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a. Edit a Line
You can edit a line by changing its endpoints or its parameters (length and angle).
To change a line's endpoint:
1. Select the line end to be modified. The line can now be rubberbanded from the fixed end.
2. Specify a new position using any of the Point Method options on the dialog.
To change a line's parameters:
1. Select the line, avoiding its control points.
2. Key in new values for the length and/or angle in the dialog bar, then press <Enter>.
b. Edit an Arc or Circle
You can change an arc or circle's parameters by entering new values in the dialog bar, or you can change
it by dragging. You can also change an arc to its complement.
You can move an arc or circle to a new location, regardless of the editing mode that is active, as follows:
1. Select the center of the arc or circle (release MB1).
2. Move the cursor to a new location and press MB1, or enter a new XC, YC, ZC location in the
dialog bar.
You can use this method to move an arc or circle to another control point, such as the end of a line, or the
center of another circle.
To create the complement of an arc, you must be in Parameters mode. Simply select one or more arcs and
choose Complement Arc from the Edit Curve Parameters dialog.
Parameters
To change an arc or circle using Parameters mode:
1. Select the arc or circle, avoiding its control points.
2. Key in new values in the radius, diameter, start angle, and/or end angle fields in the dialog bar and
press <Enter>. If you select the arc's endpoints, rather than the arc itself, you will be in dragging
mode, regardless of the setting on the dialog, and you can change the start or end angle.
Dragging
There are two ways you can change an arc or circle using Dragging mode:
To change the radius of the arc or circle, select it, avoiding its control points, and drag it. When it
is the size you want, press MB1.
You can also select other geometry to control the size of the arc. For example, you can select a
line to make the arc tangent to it, or you can pick the endpoint of another arc to make the selected
arc pass through it. You can use all the same techniques that are valid during arc creation.
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To change the start or end angle of the arc or circle, select it at the desired endpoint and drag it.
When the angle is correct, press MB1.
You can also select other geometry to control the start and/or end angles of the arc. You can select
a line to stop the arc at its intersection with the line, or you can select an endpoint of another
object, and that endpoint is projected onto the arc to determine its start angle. Again, you can use
all the same techniques that are valid during arc creation.
c. Edit an Ellipse
Use the Parameters (Legacy) option to edit one or more existing ellipses. This option behaves much the
same as that for creating an ellipse. You are allowed to select a maximum of 128 ellipses.
When you select multiple ellipses, the values of the last selected ellipse become the default values. This
allows editing by inheritance:
1. Select ellipse(s) to edit.
2. Select the ellipse with the desired values.
3. Choose Apply.
All selected ellipses become identical.
The absolute value is used for the semimajor and semiminor values. For example, if you enter a negative
five for the semimajor axis, this is interpreted as positive five.
Any start angle, end angle, or rotation angle value is accepted. A new rotation angle is applied to the
original position of the ellipse. The new angle is not added to the current rotation angle value.
Note Any associated drafting objects are automatically updated when you change any of the ellipse
values.
After you choose Apply, the selection list is emptied and the values are reset to zero.
Undo resets the ellipse(s) back to their original state.
Error Messages
Semimajor and semiminor values must be nonzero. If you enter a zero for either of these values, one of
the following two messages occur:
Semimajor value cannot be zero. Semiminor value cannot be zero.
d. Edit a Spline
This option provides several methods that let you modify a spline. In general, to edit a spline, you must:
1. Select a spline to edit.
2. Select the edit method you wish to use.
3. Define the parameters to use in editing the selected spline.
The following options are available for modifying a spline:
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Move Point
By
Destination Point defines the new position by dragging or by using the Point Constructor.
Delta Offset defines the new position as specified changes in the XC, YC, and ZC
coordinates.
Micro
Positioning
Lets you move a point by 1/10th of the vector specified by the original location and the
location of the cursor, allowing very fine adjustments to the curve. This option only works
when you are dragging the point.
Deviation
Lets you evaluate the deviations between a spline and its defining data points.
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Threshold
This option's default is the Tolerance used in creating the spline. It determines which
deviations are displayed.
Redisplay
Data
Points From
File
Lets you identify a file from which points will be read in.
Undo
Restores the spline to its state prior to the last modification. When you use the dragging
method, each drag operation is considered to be one modification.
Once you choose an Edit Point method, select the point you want to edit by clicking near it. The closest
point is selected. Move Point also lets you select multiple points.
Deviation is used to evaluate the deviations between a spline and its defining data points. None is the
default option, or you can choose By Vectors or By Markers for a graphical display of the deviations
whose minimum distance between spline and defining point exceeds the value entered in Threshold. For
each qualifying defining point, By Vectors draws a scaled vector from the minimum-distance point on the
spline toward the defining point. The length of the vector is determined by scaling the actual deviations.
By Markers puts special markers around the qualifying data points.
If any of your edits (removing points, slopes or curvatures, etc.) result in the spline not having sufficient
defining data, the following error message is displayed:
Not Enough Defining Data for Current Degree
Move Point
There are three ways to move a single point:
Place the cursor over the point and drag it to its new location before releasing MB1. (This method
does not depend on the setting of the Move Point By options.)
If Destination Point is the current Move Point By option, select the point (click near it) and use the
Point Constructor to specify the new location.
If you choose Delta Offset as the Move Point By option, select the point and enter the offset
values in the Delta Offset dialog.
Multiple points are selected by dragging a rectangle around them. Once the points are selected, you have
two choices for moving them:
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You can choose Points From File and identify a file, exactly as when creating the spline originally. The
points from the file are read in and replace the original points, but the original degree and closed status of
the curve are retained if possible. You must use a Series of Points with Slope and Curvature type file.
If there are not enough points in the file to maintain the curve's degree, the degree is reduced. Tangents or
curvatures assigned to the original curve are not maintained.
Add Point
After you specify the location of the new point, the modified spline is displayed. (New points can be
selected from the graphics window or from the Point Constructor, which appears if you choose OK in the
dialog.) When you indicate where to add a new point, you cannot specify an existing defining point. If
you attempt to do this, an error message is displayed:
Specified Point is Already a Defining Point
Note If the edited spline was created using the Fit method, the least squares algorithm is used to edit the
curve.
Remove Point
You can use this option to remove points from an existing spline. To remove a point, just select it.
Edit Pole
This option lets you edit the poles of a spline, and provides graphical feedback in real time.
Edit Pole Dialog Options
Edit Method Move Pole lets you move one or more poles to a defined point or by a defined distance.
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Add Pole lets you add a pole to the control polygon of a spline.
Match End Slope lets you match the slopes of a spline and another curve at selected
endpoints.
Match End Curvature lets you match the curvatures of a spline and another curve at
selected endpoints.
Move Pole By Destination Point defines the new position by dragging or by using the Point Constructor.
Constrain
Define Drag
Direction
Define Drag
Plane
Micro
Positioning
2D
Curvature
Comb
Delta Offset defines the new position as specified changes in the XC, YC, and ZC
coordinates.
Let you control the shape of the spline by restricting the movement of the pole or the
shape of the spline.
Lets you define the vector used with the Along Direction constrain option.
Lets you define the plane used with the On a Plane constrain option.
Lets you move a pole using micro-movements, to 1/10,000th of the vector specified by the
original location and the location of the cursor, allowing very fine adjustments to the
curve. This option only works when you are dragging the pole. An option menu lets you
choose the level of precision (number of decimal places) for the movement. The decimal
places selected from the option menu is a multiplying factor that is used to scale the
dragging gesture. Pressing <Ctrl> and MB1 while dragging the pole automatically
engages Micro Positioning.
Lock Button - When the micro positioning lock button is unlocked, the micro positioning
mode can be temporarily set with the <Crtl> key, as described above. If the lock button is
locked, micro positioning is effective all of the time. The default is unlocked.
Displays a 2D curvature comb to let you graphically analyze splines to detect irregularities
such as inflections, flat curvature and sharp corners.
Scale and Slider - Controls the displayed length of the curvature comb's teeth. Either enter
a value in Scale or drag the slider.
Comb Density - Controls the number of teeth visible in the curvature comb. Drag the
slider to the right to increase the number of teeth. Drag it to the left to decrease the
number of teeth.
Deviation
Check
Suggest Scale Factor - Clicking this button automatically sets the scale factor to an
optimal size.
Opens the Deviation Gauge dialog. This dialog can provide graphical and numerical
feedback about the deviation between the target geometry (i.e., a curve) and a defined
reference. The reference can be a set of points, a set of curves, a face, or a facet body. You
can edit the target curve while having instantaneous graphical and numerical feedback of
the deviation with the given reference.
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Once you choose an Edit Pole Method, select the pole you want to edit by clicking anywhere near it. The
closest pole is selected; for Match End Slope and Match End Curvature, the closest endpoint pole is
selected. Move Pole also lets you select multiple poles.
Some of the options on the Edit Pole dialog are unavailable unless Move Pole is chosen. These options
are: the Move Pole By options, Constrain, Define Drag Direction, Define Drag Plane, and Micro
Positioning.
Holding the <Shift> key while using MB1 to drag a pole or multiple poles constrains the end cursor
position in the horizontal or vertical direction (with respect to the position of the cursor when MB1 was
first pressed). The cursor will snap to whichever is closest. This cursor constraint works if no directional
constraint is currently active (i.e., End Slope, End Curvature or Along Direction).
Holding the <Ctrl> key while using MB1 to drag a pole turns on Micro Positioning.
2D Curvature Comb
The ends of the vectors of the 2D curvature comb are joined, which differentiates it from the 3D curvature
comb and the deviation comb. To control the size of the comb, you can enter real values in the Scale data
entry field, or you can drag the Scale slider. For fine adjustments, you can use the left and right arrow
keys on the keyboard (the slider must have focus for the arrow keys to work). Use the Comb Density
slider to modify the number of combs displayed. If a 3D curvature comb was displayed when you turned
on the 2D Curvature Comb option, it is automatically hidden.
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2D Curvature Comb
Move Pole
Place the cursor over the pole and drag it to its new location before releasing MB1. (This method
does not depend on the setting of the Move Pole By options.)
If Destination Point is the current Move Pole By option, select the pole (click near it) and use the
Point Constructor to specify the new location.
If you choose Delta Offset as the Move Pole By option, select the pole and enter the offset values
in the Delta Offset dialog.
Multiple poles are selected by dragging a rectangle around them. Once the poles are selected, you have
two choices for moving them:
If Destination Point is the current option, you can drag the poles as a group.
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If Delta Offset is the current option, the Delta Offset dialog is displayed to let you enter the offset
values.
Constrain Options
The Constrain options let you control the shape of the spline by restricting the movement of the pole or
the shape of the spline. These options only apply when dragging a pole:
Constrain Options
On Curve
Plane
End Slopes
Option descriptionLets you change the shape of a curve near its endpoint without changing
the end slopes of the curve. The end slope is only affected by moving the first two or last
two poles.
End
Curvatures
Lets you change the shape of a curve near its endpoint without changing the curvature. The
end curvature is only affected by moving the first three or last three poles.
Along
Direction
Lets you drag the selected pole(s) along a vector that you specify with the Define Drag
Direction option. When you have successfully defined a vector using the Define Drag
Direction option, the current constrain is automatically set to Along Direction. The Along
Direction option is not available until you have first used the Define Drag Direction option
to specify the vector.
On a Plane
Lets you drag the selected pole(s) on a plane that you specify with the Define Drag Plane
option. If the pole is not on the plane that you define, a plane that passes through the pole
and is parallel to the plane you define is used instead. When you have successfully defined
a plane using the Define Drag Plane option, the current constrain is automatically set to On
a Plane. The On a Plane option is not available until you have first used the Define Drag
Plane option to specify the plane.
On View
Plane
Lets you move the selected pole(s) on the plane of the view on which the cursor resides.
You can choose Points From File and identify a file, exactly as when creating the spline originally. The
points from the file are read in and replace the original points, but the original degree and closed status of
the curve are retained if possible. You must use a Series of Points type file.
If there are not enough poles in the file to maintain the curve's degree, the degree is reduced. Tangents or
curvatures assigned to the original curve are not maintained.
Moving the Pole
After you specify the new pole, the modified control polygon and the modified spline are displayed, as
shown in the figure below.
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Add Pole
Note When you add a pole, the spline defining data is lost.
Once you have selected the control polygon segment, a knotpoint is added at the midpoint of the spline
segment and the control polygon is recalculated for the entire spline. The shape of the control polygon
changes, while the shape of the spline is unchanged.
Change Slope
When you choose this option, the Change Slopes dialog is displayed. You use this dialog the same way
that you use the Assign Slopes dialog during spline creation.
When you use the Change Slope option, it changes the derivative (tangent) of the spline at a selected
point and displays the edited spline.
Deviation and Threshold are used to evaluate the deviations between a spline and its defining data points.
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Note If the curve has least squares defining data, only the end slopes are definable. A specified slope may
be flipped by 180 degrees because the direction of the end slopes are limited by the natural shape of
the curve due to the least squares computation. This prevents the curves from having sharp bends.
You cannot assign a slope value to an interior point.
Change Curvature
You can use the Change Curvature option to change the radius of curvature value at any specified point.
When you choose this option, the Change Curvatures dialog is displayed. You use this dialog the same
way that you use the Assign Curvatures dialog during spline creation.
Deviation and Threshold are used to evaluate the deviations between a spline and its defining data points.
Note You cannot change curvature on a spline whose degree is less than three, or on a spline created
using the Fit method. Otherwise, one of the following error messages is displayed:
Assigning Curvature Is Not Allowed on Splines With Degree Less Than 3 Assigning
Curvature is Not Allowed on Fitted Splines
Change Degree
This option lets you increase or decrease the degree of a spline. The degree of a single segment spline can
be increased or decreased. The degree of a multiple segment spline, however, can only be increased.
While increasing the degree of a spline does not change its shape, decreasing the degree generally only
approximates the original shape, unless the degree reduction is performed immediately after the degree
has been increased.
When you enter the new value, you must specify an integer value between 1 and 24. If the degree entered
is less than 1, an error message is displayed:
Degree Less Than Minimum
In the same way, if you enter a degree value greater than 24, an error message is displayed:
Degree Greater Than Maximum
If you try to reduce the degree of a multiple segment spline, an error message is displayed:
Cannot Decrease Degree Of Multi-segment B-spline
Increasing the degree value increases the number of poles a spline has, as shown in the figure below,
allowing for a larger number of degrees of freedom when editing this spline. Reducing a spline's degree
decreases the number of poles and is often used to simplify a spline's representation, thus saving storage
space and improving performance.
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This option lets you move a segment of a curve without affecting the rest of the curve.
You select start and endpoints that define two segments on the curve, along with two offsets. The first
segment (limit) identifies the portion of the curve to be modified. The second segment (displacement)
identifies the portion of the curve that is moved.
To use this function, you need to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
After you select the first start displacement point, you can choose from the following displacement
methods:
Distance Normal to Curve Lets you move the point at a specified distance normal to the curve.
Vector and Distance
Lets you move the point along a specified vector at a specified distance.
Direction Point
Lets you move the point using the Point Constructor.
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Distance Normal to Curve lets you move the point at a specified distance normal to the curve. When you
choose this option, the normal vector is displayed and you are prompted to enter a distance value. A
negative value specifies a direction opposite that of the displayed vector.
Note When you choose this option, you must use it for both the start and end displacement points, as you
are not allowed to choose another method for the end displacement point. Also, this option does not
subsequently appear on the menu if you choose one of the other options for the start displacement
method.
Error Messages
If you select the same point for both the first and second limit points, the following error message is
displayed:
Limit Points Coincide
If you select a displacement point that does not lie between the two limit points, the following message is
displayed:
Displacement Point Must Be Between Limit Points
If the placement of the second displacement point is not between the first displacement point and the
second limit point, the following error message is displayed:
Second Displacement Point is Out of Order
In order for the edit to be defined sufficiently, you must indicate distinct segments for the new spline
portion to be determined. A single limit point and its nearest displacement point are allowed to coincide,
or both displacement points are allowed to coincide. However, a limit point and both displacement points
are not allowed to coincide. If this occurs, the following error message is displayed:
Too Many Zero Length Segments Indicated
Errors may also be reported during processing. For example, if sufficient memory cannot be allocated, the
following message is displayed:
Memory Error from Build Curve
For periodic curves, additional checking is performed during processing to identify interactive input that
does not satisfy the conditions necessary for a valid edit. If such input is detected, the following error
message is displayed:
Invalid Interactive Input
The input data is passed to a processor that defines the edited portion of the curve. If the processor is
unable to produce a curve the following error is displayed.
Cannot Create Curve
After you have defined the edited portion of the curve, the new segment is joined with the one or two
additional pieces that remain of the original curve. If this join operation fails, the following message is
displayed:
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Change Stiffness
This option lets you modify the shape of a curve by changing its degree while preserving the number of
control poles.
You are asked to enter the desired degree. The minimum degree allowed is 1 and the maximum degree is
equal to one less than the number of control vertices (poles) defining the curve. If the degree entered is
less than 1, this error message is displayed:
Degree Less Than Minimum
If you enter a degree value greater than the possible maximum, the following error message is displayed:
Degree Greater Than Maximum
Increasing the degree, as shown in the figure below, makes the curve "stiffer" and less sensitive to
undulations (reversals of curvature) in its control polygon.
Decreasing the degree, as shown in the figure below, reduces the stiffness of the curve, allowing it to
mimic the undulations of its control polygon more closely.
Fit
Reduces the data required to define a spline by "fitting" it to existing points that define the spline. This
option is most effective when used on a relatively smooth spline that has more points than necessary to
retain the shape of the spline.
To edit a spline using the fit method:
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The control method for fit is defined using the same process as that described for creating a Fit spline.
If the spline being modified was originally created using the Fit option, the points used to perform a Fit
edit will be the same as those used in creating the curve. Likewise, for a curve created through points, the
points used during creation are used to edit the spline.
Note If you defined the number of segments when creating the spline, the Fit dialog shows the number
that you defined, even if the spline's current segment number changed during editing. This helps you
fit the spline to the original segment number that you defined.
You cannot change curvature on a spline that was created using the Fit method. If you try, the following
error message is displayed:
Assigning Curvature Is Not Allowed on Fitted Splines
Smooth
Reduces variations in the curvature distribution of an open spline. You can smooth the entire spline
automatically, or select individual points to smooth. Splines have a degree of 5 after smoothing.
Smooth Spline Dialog Options
Source Curve The data source for sampling points and calculating the end slopes and curvatures. It can be
either the original spline or the edited spline in its current state.
Segments
Defines the number of segments that will be in the smoothed spline.
Approximate Updates the segments.
Constraints Match End Slopes matches the end slopes of the edited spline and the source curve during
approximation or smoothing.
Threshold
Smooth
Redisplay
Data
Undo
Match End Curvatures matches the end curvatures and slopes of the edited spline and the
source curve during approximation or smoothing.
The maximum distance that each point can move from its original location. If the curvature
distribution does not improve during approximation or smoothing, try increasing the
threshold.
Automatically smooths all the points of the spline, limited by the Threshold and any
Constraints you chose. This option is generally most useful at the beginning of the
smoothing process. (You can further refine the smoothing by moving individual points.)
Redisplays the spline's points.
Restores the spline to its state prior to the last modification. When you use the dragging
method, each drag operation is considered to be one modification.
Note Match End Slopes or Match End Curvatures restrict the amount of smoothing that can occur. These
options should only be used if you know that the end slopes or end curvatures of the source curve
are correct.
Additional display options are available with AnalysisCurve. You will probably find the Curvature
Graph option (Curvature versus Parameter Value) especially useful, available by choosing the Show
Graph option on the Curve Analysis dialog.
Smoothing a Spline
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In many cases, you will want to control the amount of smoothing that occurs at each point on the spline,
instead of letting the system smooth the entire spline. Local smoothing gives you control of both the
amount and the location of smoothing.
To perform local smoothing, click MB1 near a point whose curvature distribution you wish to improve.
(The Curvature Graph that is available from the Info menu - see above - may help you determine the
points to adjust.) The system adjusts the point's position and modifies the spline each time you click near
the point, until the Threshold is reached for that point.
Continue smoothing individual points with this method, increasing the Threshold if you need to, until you
are satisfied with the curvature distribution.
To smooth a spline:
1. Choose the Original or Current (edited) spline as the Source Curve.
2. Define the number of Segments you want in the smoothed spline, and choose Approximate. At
this point, Threshold and Smooth become active.
3. Define the Threshold.
4. Smooth the curve by clicking MB1 near individual points until you are satisfied with the curvature
distribution. Or choose Smooth at any time to automatically smooth the curve.
5. When you are finished, choose Back or Cancel to dismiss the dialog. (OK is always unavailable.)
5. Trim Curve
Use the Trim Curve command to adjust the end points of curves, based on bounding entities and
segments of curves selected for trimming. You can trim or extend lines, arcs, conics or splines. You can
trim to (or extend to) curves, edges, planes, faces, points, or cursor locations. You can specify that the
trimmed curve is associated with its input parameters.
You can use bodies, faces, points, curves, edges, datum planes and datum axes as bounding objects when
trimming a curve.
Selection Intent is available while selecting the curve to trim, as well as while specifying the bounding
objects.
Note You cannot trim bodies with Trim Curve.
When trimming feature curves, the software warns you that the creation parameters of the
highlighted curves will be removed. Click Yes to continue with the trim operation or No to cancel.
When trimming splines, the software warns you that the defining data of the spline will be changed.
Click OK to continue with the trim operation or Cancel to quit.
To select curves to trim from within a sketch, the Associative option should not be selected, because
the sketch cannot have a Trim Curve feature within it.
Where do I find it?
Choose EditCurveTrim.
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Choose EditCurveTrim to open the Trim Curve dialog box. Select Curve
is active.
In the graphics window, select the curve, or curves you want to trim or extend.
Specify which end (Start or End) of the curve you want to trim or extend
Specify the first bounding object. You can select curves, bodies, faces, points, edges, datum axes
or planes using the Select Object options, or create a new datum plane using the Specify Plane
options.
5. (Optional) Select the second bounding object.
6. In the Intersections group, select a direction from the Direction list.
If you select Along a Vector, use the vector options to specify the direction of the trim.
7. Specify the Method as either Inferred or Defined.
8. (Optional) You can do the following:
o Specify the state of the input curves after the trim operation.
o Specify the curve extension method for the selected curve.
o Select the Trim Bounding Objects check box if you want to trim the bounding objects.
9. Click OK or Apply to create the trim curve feature.
b. Trim Curve options
Curves to Trim
Lets you select one or more curves to trim or extend. Selection Intent is available.
Select Curve
Lets you specify which end of the curve to trim or extend.
If you select a single curve to trim or extend, an oval is displayed at its start or end
point. If you select multiple curves, no ovals are displayed.
End to Trim
If the multiple curves you select form a chain of curves, the trimming operation is
performed on the chain as though it were one continuous curve.
Start Trims, or extends, from the starting point of the curve to the bounding
object.
End Trims, or extends, from the end point of the curve to the bounding
curve.
Bounding Object 1
Lets you select objects from the graphics window for the first boundary against which
the selected curves are to be trimmed, or extended. Use the following options to select
the bounding object:
Object
Select Object
Specify Plane
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Select Object Lets you select curves, edges, faces, points, or cursor locations
as the bounding objects.
Appears when you select Specify Plane in the Object list.
Plane Dialog Opens the Plane Method dialog box.
Specify Plane
Inferred This is the default plane type. Click to see the plane type list.
Select the required plane type from the list, then select the objects supported by the
type.
Bounding Object 2
This is an optional step. The selection method and options are the same as for Bounding Object 1.
If you have selected the Trim Bounding Objects check box for the first bounding object, the second
bounding object is also trimmed. You can independently set the End to Trim option for the second
bounding object to Start or End.
Intersection
Specifies the direction method that the software uses to find object intersections. Select
from the following options:
Direction
Available only when you select Along a Vector as the Intersection option to let you
specify the vector direction for the trim operation.
Vector Constructor Opens the Vector dialog box.
Specify Vector
Method
Inferred Vector This is the default vector type. Click to see the vector type
list. Select the required vector type from the list, then select objects supported by that
vector. You can change the vector anytime and select new objects.
Lets you specify the method as Inferred or User Defined after you select an
intersection option.
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intersection point. If a single bounding object is selected, the selected point on
the curve being trimmed determines which intersection to use.
If two bounding objects are selected, the selected point on the bounding objects
determines which intersection to use.
Reverse
Direction
User Defined Trims or extends curves at the bounding objects to a userdefined intersection point.
Settings
Associative
Makes the output trimmed curve associative when the check box is selected. An
associative trim results in the creation of a TRIM_CURVE feature, which is a duplicate,
associative, trimmed copy of the original curve. The original curves change to a dashed
font, to be more easily visible against the trimmed, associative copy.
Note To select curves to trim from within a sketch, the Associative option should not
be selected, because the sketch cannot have a Trim Curve feature within it.
Specifies the state of the input curves after the trim operation. Select from the
following:
Keep keeps input curves in their original state and unaffected by the trim
curve operation. New curves are created based on the output of the trim
operation and are added as new objects.
Hide Hides input curves, as specified by the EditHide option. New
curves are created based on the output of the trim operation and are added as
new objects.
Note Input curves are hidden only at the initial creation of the trim curve
feature. Subsequent updates have no effect on the input or bounding
curves.
Input Curves
Additional options are available for non-associative curves, that is when you clear the
Associative check box.
Specifies how to extend the selected curve. Select from the following options:
Curve
Extension
Natural Extends the curve from its endpoint along the natural path of the
curve.
Linear Extends the curve from either endpoint to the bounding object where
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the extended portion of the curve is linear.
Circular Extends the curve from its endpoint to the bounding object where
the extended portion of the curve is circular.
None No extension is performed for any type of curve.
Automatically advances you through each selection step when this check box is
selected.
If this check box is not selected, you must manually click each selection step.
6. Trim Corner
Use the Trim Corner command to trim two curves to their intersection point, forming a corner. The
portion of the curves selected, with respect to their intersection point, is trimmed, as shown in the
following figure.
Before
After
Line 1
Line 2
Selection cursor
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When trimming splines, the software warns you that the defining data of the spline will be deleted. You
can choose Cancel to cancel the operation or OK to continue with the trim operation.
When trimming circles, they trim back from the zero-degree position, as shown in the figures below.
Before
After
After
7. Divide Curve
Use the Divide Curve command to divide a curve into a series of like segments (line-to-line, arc-toarc). Each segment is created as a separate entity and is assigned the same font as the original curve. The
new objects are placed on the same layer as the original curve.
Note Divide Curve is a non-associative operation.
The defining points for splines are deleted.
Divide Curve is not applicable for sketch curves. However, the option is available when a sketch is
active so that you can edit non-sketch curves, without having to disable the active sketch.
Where do I find it?
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Selected curve
Ellipse center
After
The figure below shows an example of segmenting a curve (ellipse) using the Equal Arc Length method.
Before
Selected curve
After
The plus signs indicate the start and endpoints of the divided segments and are
not actually displayed on the graphics screen
Resulting number of segments of equal length after the divide curve operation.
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6. Optional. In the Bounding Object group, from the Object list, select another type of object to use
to divide the curve.
7. Select additional objects of the newly defined object type to divide the curve.
8. Once you have selected all desired bounding objects, click OK or Apply to divide the curve.
Before
After
Selected curve
,
,
Resulting number of segments after the divide
curve operation.
Note The plus signs indicate the start and endpoints of the
divided segments and are not actually displayed on the
graphics screen.
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is active.
Select the curve near the end where you want to begin segmenting the curve. The software begins
at the end you select, and creates segments of your specified length along the curve until it reaches
the other end.
4. Specify the length of each segment in the Arc Length Segment box.
Note You cannot use a value which is equal to or greater than the arc length of the curve to be
segmented. If you attempt to do so, the following error message is displayed.
5. Arc Length Greater Than Or Equal To The Total Arc Length
After
Full segments
Point where the arc is selected,
where total arc length = 5.
Partial length
Note The plus signs indicate the start and endpoints of the
divided segments and are not actually displayed in the
graphics window.
is active.
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Selecting By Knotpoint Number lets you segment a spline by entering a specific knotpoint
number. Knotpoints are numbered in the order specified when the spline is created. For example,
if you create a spline using knotpoints indicated by screen position, the first screen position
indicated becomes knotpoint number 1; the second screen position becomes knotpoint number 2;
and so on.
5. Click OK or Apply to divide the curve.
Before
Selected spline
First knotpoint
After
Second knotpoint
e. Divide a curve at corners
1. Click EditCurveDivide to open the Divide Curve dialog box.
2. In the Type group, select At Corners. Select Curve
3. In the graphics window, select the curve to divide.
is active.
Note If the selected spline does not have any corners, the curve is automatically deselected and the
software displays the following error message: Cannot subdivide - curve has no
corners.
4. Select the required Method.
Selecting By Corner Number lets you segment a spline by entering a specific corner number.
5. Click OK or Apply to divide the curve.
Before
After
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Selected spline
First corner
Second corner
f.
Type
Sets the method by which to divide the curve. Select from the following options:
Equal
Segments
Divides a curve into equal segments, using the length of a curve or a specific curve
parameter. The curve parameter depends on the type of curve (line, arc, or spline) being
segmented.
By Bounding
Objects
Divides a curve into segments using bounding objects, like points, curves, planes, and/or
faces.
Divides a curve based on the arc length defined for each segment.
Arc Length
Segments
At Knotpoints
Note "Arc length" is a mathematical term and should not be confused with "arc," which
is an NX object. Arc Length is not only for arcs.
Divides a curve using selected knot points. A knot point is the endpoint of a spline
segment.
Divides a spline at corners, that is, at knot points where there are bends in the spline.
At Corners
Note If the selected spline does not have any corners, the curve is automatically
deselected and the software displays the following error message: Cannot
subdivide - curve has no corners.
Curve to Divide
Lets you select the curve to divide.
Select Curve
Segments
Appears only when the Equal Segments type is selected.
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Equal Parameter Segments the selected curve equally, based on the parameter
characteristics of the curve.
Curve parameters vary with respect to each curve type:
Segment
Length
If you select a line, the total linear distance between the start and endpoints is
divided by the number of segments entered.
If you select an arc or an ellipse, the total included angle of the arc is divided by
the number of segments entered.
If you select a spline, the segments are related to the distance between knot
points.
Equal Arc Length Divides the selected curve into separate curves of equal length.
Number of
Segments
Specifies the number of separate curves the original curve is divided into.
Number of
Segments
Divides a curve based on the arc length defined for each segment.
Displays the number of full segments created, based on the total length of the curve and
the Arc Length input for each segment.
Note This is different from the Number of Segments option that appears for the Equal
Segments type.
Displays the length of any remaining portion of the curve after the number of full
Partial Length segments created is based on the total length of the curve and the Arc Length input for
each segment.
Bounding Object
Appears only when the By Bounding Objects type is selected.
Sets the type of bounding objects you select or specify to divide the curve. Select from
the following types:
Object
Appears when Existing Curve is the selected Object type. Lets you select curve
bounding objects.
Select Object
Specify
Intersection
Lets you indicate an approximate intersection point between the bounding object and the
curve to be divided.
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Lets you select or specify a point as the bounding object when Project Point, Line by 2
Points, or Point and Vector is the selected Object type.
Point Constructor Opens the Point Constructor dialog box.
Specify Point
Specify Point Lets you select a point on the geometry.
Lets you specify a vector as the bounding object for the Point and Vector option.
Vector Constructor Opens the Vector dialog box.
Specify Vector
Reverse
Direction
Inferred Vector This is the default vector type. Click to see the vector type
list. Select the required vector type from the list, then select objects supported by that
vector. You can change the vector anytime and select new objects.
Lets you select a plane as the bounding object for the By Plane option.
Plane Dialog Opens the Plane Method dialog box.
Specify Plane
Inferred This is the default plane type. Click to see the plane type list. Select
the required plane type from the list, then select objects supported by that type. You can
change the vector anytime and select new objects.
Knot Points
Appears only when the At Knotpoints type is selected.
Sets the knot point method. Select form the following options:
Method
Corners
Appears only when the At Corners type is selected.
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Corner
Number
Select Point
points using Select Point
8. Edit Fillet
Edit Fillet lets you edit existing fillets. This option behaves similar to the two-object fillet creation
technique.
To edit an existing fillet:
1. Select the trim method you wish to use.
2. Select the objects to edit.
3. Define the parameters to use for creating the modified fillet.
There are three possible trim methods when you are editing a fillet: automatic trim, manual trim, and no
trim. These methods are the same as those used when creating fillets.
You must select the objects to be edited in a counterclockwise direction. This ensures that the new fillet is
drawn in the proper direction.
Warning Failure to select the proper fillet objects may corrupt associated boundaries and crosshatching.
The creation parameters of a fillet can be edited using any of the following options:
Radius
Radius
Default
New
Center
Lets you specify a new radius value for the fillet. The value of the radius defaults to the radius
of the selected fillet or to the last user specified radius.
Toggles between Fillet and Modal. When set to Fillet, the radius value defaults to the fillet
radius each time a fillet is edited. If the default is Modal, the radius value remains constant,
until a new radius is entered or the radius default is changed to Fillet.
Lets you choose whether to specify a new approximate center. If it is set to No, the current
fillet arc center is used to start the calculation for the modified fillet.
Note Any associated drafting objects are automatically updated when you change the center and/or radius
of the fillet.
9. Stretch Curve
Use this option to move geometric objects, while simultaneously stretching or shrinking selected
lines. You can move most object types, but you can only stretch and shrink lines.
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Note Stretch Curve works for all object types except sketches, groups, components, bodies, faces and
edges.
Note Stretch Curve is not applicable for sketch curves. The option is available when a sketch is active so
that you can still edit non-sketch curves without having to disable the active sketch.
Stretch Dialog Options
Delta XC, Delta
To use the Delta method, enter delta XC, YC and ZC values. The geometry is moved
YC, Delta ZC
or stretched by these delta values.
Reset Values
Resets the three delta buffers to zero.
Point to Point
Displays the Point Constructor dialog to let you define the reference and destination
points. (The Stretch dialog updates the delta XC, YC, and ZC values.)
Undo
Lets you change the geometry back to a previous state.
Basic Stretch Curve Procedure
To perform a stretch:
1. Choose Stretch from the Edit Curve dialog. The Stretch dialog is displayed.
2. Select the geometry you wish to stretch, either individually or using a rectangle.
3. Specify the method, Delta or Point to Point, you wish to use to stretch the selected objects
Choosing Apply or OK extends or moves the selected geometry from the reference point to the
destination point. Geometry that is moved is translated by the delta values, and zero length lines are
deleted.
If you choose Apply to perform the stretch, the Stretch dialog remains open and all objects remain
selected. You can then add new objects and deselect any previously selected, and use Apply again.
If, after you have used Apply, you are not satisfied with the results, choose the Undo button in the Stretch
dialog. The objects are repositioned back to their previous locations, or to their locations after the
previous Apply. You can use the Undo button repeatedly until all previous Apply operations are rolled
back. The objects remain selected as each Undo is entered. Selecting different objects, or choosing Cancel,
clears the Undo buffer.
If you choose Undo after an OK or Cancel (from the Edit drop-down menu, or the MB3 popup), the
geometry rolls back to the condition prior to entering the Stretch function.
When you stretch a line endpoint, the following conventions apply:
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Lines that are single-selected are moved if the selection point is near the midpoint of the line.
Otherwise, the line endpoint nearest the selection point is extended. Line endpoints that are going
to be stretched are highlighted with an asterisk after they are selected.
Lines selected with the rectangle method are extended if the rectangle contains only one of the
line's endpoints. Otherwise, the line is moved.
If a line to be stretched is contiguous to a fillet, the tangency of the fillet to the line may be lost.
Lines stretched to a zero length are deleted if the stretch operation is accepted.
Associated geometry is adjusted when Update is performed.
Selecting objects using a rectangle operates as described under Robust Selection methods for the Class
Selection Tool. You define the rectangle by indicating two diagonal corners. The rectangle must
encompass the objects you want to translate, as well as the endpoints of lines you want to stretch. If only
a part of an object (except a line) is within the rectangle, the object is not selected.
10.
Curve Length
Use the Curve Length command to extend or trim a curve by a given curve length increment, or to a
total curve length.
When you select a curve or a string of curves to edit, a preview of the curve is available on the screen.
You can edit the input before accepting the results. DesignLogic allows for greater efficiency.
Use Trim Curve to adjust the endpoints of curves based on bounding entities and segment(s) of curves
selected for trimming. You can use bodies, faces, points, curves, edges, datum planes and datum axes as
bounding objects when trimming a curve.
Note You cannot trim bodies, sheet bodies or solid bodies.
Where do I find it?
Choose EditCurveLength.
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1. Click EditCurveCurve Length to open the Curve Length dialog box. Select Curve
is
active.
2. Select the curve to extend or trim.
3. Set the Length Option to Incremental.
4. Set the End Option to either Start and End or Symmetric.
5. Choose from the Method option to specify the shape of the direction of the curve to be trimmed
or extended.
6. In the Limits group, enter the required values for the curve length increment in the Start and End
fields. You can also change the length by dragging the onscreen handles. The values in the Start
and End fields are dynamically updated in the Curve Length dialog box when you drag the
handles.
Note You can enter either a positive or negative value for the curve length. A positive value
generates an extension of the curve. A negative value truncates the curve. The following
figure is an example of an incremental curve length feature.
7. Optional. If you do not want associative output, clear the Associative Output check box.
8. Optional. Choose from the available Input Curves options to specify whether you want to Keep,
Hide, Delete or Replace the input curves.
Note Delete and Replace are available only if you clear the Associative Output check box.
9. Click OK or Apply.
An example of extending a curve by its incremental curve length is shown in the figure below.
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Curve
Extension
Lets you extend or trim the curve by the selected curve length. Select from the following
options:
Length
Lets you trim or extend the curve from the start, end or both directions of the curve. Choose
from the following options:
End
Start and End Trims or extends the curve from both its start and end points.
This option is available only for the Incremental method.
Start Trims or extends the curve from its start point. This option is available
only for the Total method.
End Trims or extends the curve from its end point. This option is available only
for the Total method.
Symmetric Trims or extends the curve from either start or end point, at an equal
length from both sides.
Note End options are also available on the shortcut menu when you right-click on handles.
Lets you select the shape of the direction of the curve to be trimmed or extended. Choose
from the following methods:
Method
Natural Trims or extends the end point of the curve along the natural path of the
curve.
Linear Trims or extends the end point of the curve along a linear path leading to
a tangential extension.
Circular Trims or extends the end point of a curve along a circular path.
Note Method options are also available on the shortcut menu when you right-click on
handles.
Limits
Start
Lets you specify a value for the length of the trimmed or extended curve at its starting
point.
Lets you specify a value for the length of the trimmed or extended curve at its end point.
End
Note Start and End options are available only for the Incremental length option.
Lets you specify a total length value by which to extend or trim the curve.
Total
Note This option is available only for the Total length option.
Settings
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Makes the extended or trimmed curve associative when selected. Associative trimmed
curves update automatically if the input parameters change.
Lets you specify the output options for the selected curves. For associative curves, select
from the following options:
Input
Curves
If you clear the Associative Output check box, two more output options are available for
non-associative curves:
Tolerance
11.
Keep Retains the original curve. This is the default output option for an
associative curve.
Hide Hides the original curve.
Lets you specify the tolerance value used to trim or extend the curve. The default is taken
from the tolerance setting in Modeling preferences.
Smooth Spline
Use the Smooth Spline command to remove minor imperfections in a spline by minimizing the curvature
magnitude or curvature variation.
Note If the selected spline is associative, the Smooth Spline command deletes the defining data and the
associated dimensions of the spline.
You can:
Smooth manually created splines that have minor imperfections depending on the number and
location of picked points.
Smooth a B-spline in a specified region or across the entire spline. Knots are inserted at the
boundary of the region and within the region until there are enough free control points to reduce
the variation to the desired levels. Repeated use of this command on a spline makes it increasingly
linear.
As you smooth a spline, the deviation between the original spline and the resulting spline is displayed at
the location of the maximum deviation.
Original spline
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Smoothed spline
Where do I find it?
Application Modeling, Shape Studio
Toolbar
Menu
a. Smooth a spline
Start location
End location
Selected B-spline with arrow indicating the maximum deviation value and location
4. In the Smooth Limits group, drag the %Start and %End sliders, or enter values in the boxes to
define the section you want smoothed.
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7. In the Smoothing Factor group, drag the slider to specify the number of times the smoothing
operation is to be performed each time you click Apply.
8. In the Modification Percentage group, drag the slider to specify the level of overall smoothing
you want for the B-spline.
The shape of the spline updates, and the maximum deviation from the original curve, indicated
with an arrow, is displayed in the graphics window. As you make additional changes to the
smoothing parameters, the maximum deviation updates dynamically.
9. Click Apply to smooth the B-spline.
You can continue to change the smoothing factor and modification percentage values until you get
the required shape. Click Apply after each change to view the updates in the graphics window.
Original spline
Modified spline after changing the smoothing factor and modification percentage
10. When you get the required shape, click OK to smooth the B-spline and close the dialog box.
Original spline
Smoothed spline
b. Smooth Spline options
Type
Type list
Lets you specify the type of algorithm you want to use to smooth the B-spline. Available
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options are:
Curve to Smooth
Lets you specify the curves to smooth.
Select Curve
Smoothing Limits
Specifies the smoothing limits for either a partial spline or the entire spline. Handles are placed on the
selected spline, one at the start of the spline and one at the end.
If you smooth a portion of a spline that does not have sufficient degrees of freedom for the smoothing
process, knot points are inserted, causing the spline to have more segments.
Specifies the start location.
%Start
You can drag the %Start slider, or enter a start percentage value in the box.
Specifies the end location.
%End
You can drag the %End slider, or enter a start percentage value in the box.
Constraints
Lets you to constrain either end of the spline you are modifying. Select the boundary
constraints from the list of available options.
Start, End
Continuity constraints are used to lock the position of the appropriate poles so they are not
free to move during smoothing.
Continuity constraints take precedence over smoothing. For example, when smoothing
splines of a lower degree while using continuity constraints, there may be insufficient
freedom of movement to perform the operation.
Smoothing Factor
Slider
Specifies the number of times to carry out the smoothing operation each time you click
Apply. Drag the Smoothing Factor slider to the number you want.
Micro-positioning is on by default with this slider. To disengage it, press the Ctrl key.
Modification Percentage
Changes the percentage of overall smoothing that is applied to the selected spline as you
drag the slider. The spline updates dynamically in the graphics window.
Slider
The goal of this option is to provide access to a series of steps between the starting and
ending conditions of the smoothing operation.
This option can be useful to balance the smoothness of a spline object against its deviation
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to a scanned image or other specification data. Zero percent causes no change to the
original curve. One hundred percent provides the maximum smoothing that can be
achieved.
Micro-positioning is on by default with this slider. To disengage it, press the Ctrl key.
Results
Maximum
Deviation
12.
Shows the deviation between the original spline and the resulting spline.
Shape by Template
Use the Shape by Template command to transform a spline from its current shape to match the shape
characteristics of a template spline, while preserving the start and end points of the original spline.
You can:
The template spline affects the degree, segmentation, peaks, inflection, and acceleration of the original
spline.
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, or choose EditCurveShape by
is active.
As you select the splines to shape, temporary arrows are displayed at the point nearest to the
selection. The arrow indicates the start direction for the shape operation. You can change the
direction of an individual spline to shape by deselecting it (Shift+MB2), and then selecting it on
the end you want as the start point.
4. Click the middle mouse button to advance to the Template Spline
5. In the graphics window, select the template spline.
selection step.
When you select the template spline, an arrow is displayed at the point nearest to the selection,
and the word "Template" appears next to it.
You can change the direction of the start point by first deselecting the template spline
(Shift+MB2), and then selecting a point on the spline that is nearest to the end you want as the
start point.
6. Drag the slider to change the shape of the spline while retaining both its start and end points and
the characteristics of the template spline.
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7. (Optional) Click Deviation Analysis to check the deviation as you edit the spline to shape.
8. When you specify the template spline, the spline to shape adopts its characteristics. You can:
o Click OK to make the change to the spline to shape permanent, and exit the dialog box.
o Click Apply to make the change to the spline to shape permanent. The template spline
remains selected, and you can select other splines to shape using the current template.
9. Click OK to finalize the changes made to the spline to shape.
Description
Spline to shape
Lets you select the splines you want to shape.
Template Spline
Lets you select a spline to act as the template to change the original spline.
Note You can select only one spline as the template spline.
Slider
As you drag the slider all the possible curves between the start and end point that match the
template spline's shape characteristics are displayed. The original spline and the altered
shape are simultaneously displayed in the graphics window.
Refit Curve Forces the spline to shape to match the degree and segmentation of the template spline.
Edit a Copy Keeps the original spline unchanged, and edits a copy.
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Opens the Deviation Gauge dialog box, to dynamically generate graphics and numeric
deviation data. This can be useful as you edit the Spline to shape.
The template has a higher degree, in which case the spline to shape has its degree increased to the
degree of the template spline.
The template spline has knots that are not in the spline to shape. In this case, the template spline
knots are inserted into the spline to shape, thus creating additional segments.
When the Refit Curve check box is not selected the spline keeps its original shape characteristics, plus
any change in degree and segments required by the template spline. This can result in the new spline
possibly having a higher degree or a higher number of segments than the original spline.