Work on Support

Work on Support

Path: Tools | Grid | Work on Support

  Located in a fly-out on the Tools toolbar.

Use this to ...

• Create a support plane on which you can quickly create wireframe geometry.

Prerequisites

• You should be in the Generative Shape Design or Wireframe and Surface Design workbench.

Process: Creating a Support from a Surface

1. Select Tools | Grid | Work on Support. The Work On Support dialog displays.

2. In the Graphics window, pick a surface.

3. In the Graphics window, pick a point for the support origin.
Or
Right-click in the Point text box and select a point creation option.

The default is the midpoint of the surface.

4. Click OK to create the support. A Working Support element is added to the Specification Tree.

Process: Creating a Support from a Plane

1. Select Tools | Grid | Work on Support. The Work On Support dialog displays.
2. 

2. In the Graphics window, select a plane for the support. The Work On Support dialog box expands.

Or

Right-click in the Support text box and pick a plane.

3. Click OK to create the support. A Working Support element is added to the Specification Tree.

Options

Support

Defines the plane on which you create the wireframe geometry. If a plane doesn't exist, you can create a reference plane 'on-the-fly' by right-clicking in the Support text box and selecting Create Plane from the pop-up menu.

Point

Defines the origin point of the support. The default point is the Absolute Coordinate System origin. If a point doesn't exist, right-click in the Point text box to display the pop-up menu. You can then create a reference point.

Grid Type

Defines what type of grid you create.

None
Specifies that no grid type is created.

Cartesian
Creates a grid based on the Cartesian coordinate system.

Cartesian Grid Type - Hide Grid

Hides the grid.

Cartesian Grid Type - First Direction

Defines the first direction for the Cartesian coordinate system and the grid spacing.

Primary Spacing
Defines the spacing between the grid lines.

Graduations
Defines how many graduations are between the grid lines.

Direction
Defines the first direction for the Cartesian coordinate system. The default direction is the absolute horizontal direction. To set a new direction, click in the Direction text box and pick a reference direction in the Graphics window. If reference elements don't exist, right-click in the Direction text box and use the pop-up menu to define the direction.

Cartesian Grid Type - Second Direction

Defines the second direction grid spacing. By default, these options are unavailable and are equal to those set for the first direction. Activate Allow distortions to define independent second direction grid spacing and graduations.

Cartesian Grid Type - Shade Grid Plane

Shades the support plane in the Graphics window.

Cartesian Grid Type - Position Grid Plane Parallel to Screen.

Positions the grid parallel to the screen, making it easier to see when creating elements.

Preview

Allows you to check the support plane before clicking OK.

Tips

• Use Work on Support with a Cartesian grid to quickly create wireframe geometry on a plane. Once defined, you don't have to keep selecting the same plane on which to place geometry.