03-workplanes.doc

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PowerSHAPE 3. Workplanes

3. Workplanes

WorkplanesWorkplanes are additional XYZ datums that can be activated or deactivated as required. A

Workplane can be snapped to entities, rotated, copied, moved and aligned to existing

geometry or key points. Working on large complex models is easy as you can create your

own workplanes and work in 2D on the XY plane.

Example Create the wireframe shape from 0, (shown as a circle) with a baselength

100, width of75, back height of150 and a front height of125.

Create a workplane and snap it into position at the rear corner point, as

shown (by default a newly created workplane becomes the active datum).

Move the cursor over one of the arrowheads and using the left mouse key

dynamically rotate the workplane in 3D (all axes move).This is used in cases where an initial alignment is required (to fix one of the main axes).

Undo the command .

In this case it is required to dynamically rotate the workplane in 2D locally about the Z-axis.

When selected, the Workplane

borders contain yellow and blue lines.

The yellow lines are used to control

dynamic rotation about X or Y and the

blue lines rotation about Z. Accurate

alignment is achieved by dragging

and snapping the coloured lines to

key points on other entities.

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3. Workplanes PowerSHAPE

Move the mouse to the small blue line just beyond the X arrow.

Note for rotation about

the Z Axis the bluelines also include the

corners for quick

alignment at 45 degrees.

Drag the workplane blue line (rotating around the Z-axis) to line up as

shown below.

The intelligent cursor will

find end points of lines,

mid points and other

location as the mouse is

moved. When a suitable

position is found, releasing

the mouse will fix the X-

axis.

Release the left mouse button. The X and Y axes are now modified.

To re-orientate the Y (and Z) axes

without changing the X-axis one of

the yellow lines parallel to the X

arrow is selected. The workplaneis then dynamically rotated around

the X-axis the intelligent cursor

being used to fix the rotation.

Select one of the yellow lines beyond the Y arrow and drag the

workplane to the top of vertical line (along Z) and release.

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The modified workplane being active is the dimensional

datum until such time that it is deactivated or differentworkplane is activated.

Deselect the workplane by on a blank area of the screen.

Create a square ofside length 10, with a start position of20 20.

Double click on the workplane to access the editing form for non-dynamicmodifications.

Within the Workplane Editing form direct values can be

entered for position, rotation, etc. Tick boxes are available

to Activate/De-activate or to nominate as the Master

Workplane. When a workplane is Active it is displayed in

red and is appears larger on the screen. When a workplane

is de-actived it is displayed in grey and appears smaller in

size. TheMasterworkplane, if nominated is the default

datum if another Workplane is deactivated.

Select the Active button (so it becomes unticked) and then press Accept

Create a small square ofside length10, starting at 20 20.

The second square appears relative to the world origin. If a

workplane is deactived, then the datum of the model will

default to world origin (unless a Master workplane has been

specified).

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Create a new workplane and snap it to the front corner of the slope.

Select a yellow line by parallel with the X arrow and dynamically rotate the

workplane into place as shown below.

The new workplane is active. The View menus will

operate relative to the active workplane.

Select an isometric view.

Create a square of side length 40 from 20 20 0.

Generate a composite curve and create an extruded surface of height

30.

By default all extrusions occur normal to

the planar base. As the new workplane is

already aligned to the plane, the extrusion

occurs along the workplane Z-axis.

This mode can be switched off such that

extrusions can be forced to occur along one

of the main axes, by switching off Extrude

normal to planar base. This is found inTools - Options Objects Surfaces.

Click on the workplane icon and then the position icon.

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Select the Between tab from the position form.

The between option positions the

workplane midway between two

specified key points on the model. These

can be defined either dynamically or by

typed input.

Select the two corners of the top extruded square surface as shown.

The form will mark with an asterisk theposition of each point as they are selected.

Accept the form.

The workplane appears exactly at the mid-point between the two selected points.

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Modification of WorkplanesThe Workplane editing form enables changes in rotation, realignment, repositioning, etc. As

the form operates on the local datum it is not important whether the Workplane is Active or

not but it must be selected. (For modifications relative to an alternative active datum use the

options in the general Edit toolbar (Swiss Army Knife)).

ROTATION (Twist) Create a workplane at 30 0 and double click the workplane to bring up the

editing form.

Select X-twist.

Enter30 into the calculatorform as shown.

The workplane has rotated about itself

by 30 degrees. At this stage it is

possible to selectACand enter a

different angle.

Select Accept on the CalculatorForm.

Select Accept on the Workplane form and the Workplane is rotated.

REALIGNMENT (Axis) Double click on the workplane and select Align X-Axis.

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Select the Align Z icon in the direction form.

Select Accept on the Direction Form.

Select Accept on the Workplane form.

The X-Axis is now re-aligned to the World Z direction.

Workplane toolbarBelow the graphics area in the bottom left hand corner is the workplane toolbar, which

includes an icon for creating temporary workplanes as well as a table as an alternative means

to control the naming and activation of workplanes.

Select the down arrow to select another workplane.

If workplane 1 is selected in the form it becomes active. A

workplane can be renamed by clicking on the current name and

typing over it with the new name followed by the return key.

Click on the Temporary Workplane icon.

Snap to some existing geometry (or anywhere in the

graphics area).

The red and black temporary workplane appears. This

workplane does not have access to a local editing form,

but can be modified using the Edit toolbar options (Swiss

Army Knife). It is automatically called Temporary and can

be deleted from using the local menu or by pressing the

Temporary Workplane icon.

Click on the Temporary Workplane icon.

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The Temporary workplane is removed from the model.

Master WorkplaneIn a PowerSHAPE model you can designate a workplane as the Master Workplane. This

master workplane is shown with thicker lines to distinguish it from the others.

If another active workplane is deactivated, instead of PowerSHAPE returning to the World

co-ordinate system it activates the Master Workplane.

Example Open the model golf_fin.

There are two Workplanes on this model called 1 and 2.These are situated

above the World Co-ordinate system in the workplane menu.

Select Workplane 1 and click the right mouse button to

bring up the menu.

Select the option Master(this becomes ticked).

Deselect the workplane to display the master

status.

The workplane also appears below the World in the Workplane selector, so

it is easy to find.

Activate workplane 2 and then deactivate it.

The master workplane becomes active, instead of the world origin. This

is a must for users handling imported data in the car industry where

traditionally every component part has a common datum (Car Line).

This World datum could be metres away as well as being in an

unsuitable orientation for tooling purposes. It must however be retained

in case a copy of the data is to be returned to the supplier (in Car Line).

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Documents

03-workplanes.doc