Creating a Plane Using an Equation

You can create a plane by defining the components of the equation of the plane.

Before you begin: You must create or include a 3D Shape containing geometry.
  1. From the Assembly section of the action bar, click Plane .
    The Choose a 3D Shape dialog box appears.
  2. Click Create new in the Choose a 3DShape dialog box.

    In the Choose a 3D Shape dialog box:

    • The Product box displays the name of the active product.
    • 3DShapes either lists the available 3D shapes instanced under the active product or lists the available 3D shapes instanced under a selected product. In both cases, these 3D shapes can be modified.
    • The Create new command allows you to create a 3D shape.
      Important: When you create a new 3D shape in Assembly commands context, its Nature is set as Specification whatever your choice in the dialog box, and you cannot change the nature of this 3D shape after it has been created with this command. See Nature of a New 3D Shape Created in Assembly Commands Context.
    • The Automatically create new 3D Shape when none exists option allows you to create a 3D shape either under the active or selected product automatically. In this case, the Choose a 3D Shape dialog box does not appear.

    The New Content tab appears.
  3. Click 3D Shape under Physical Product Structure node in the New Content tab.
  4. Click OK in the 3D Shape dialog box.
    The new 3D Shape is created under the active product.
  5. Click OK in the 3D Shape dialog box.
    • The new 3D Shape is created under the active product.
    • The Axis System Definition dialog box appears. The axis system's parameters Origin, X axis, Y axis, and Z axis are automatically computed, and Default (Computed) appears in the boxes.
  • Important: You switch from Assembly Design app to the last representation app you used.
    1. Select Equation.
    2. In the A, B, C and D boxes, enter the A, B, C, D components of the Ax + By + Cz = D plane equation.
    3. Select a point to position the plane through this point, you are able to modify A, B, and C components, the D component becomes grayed.
      When the command is launched at creation, the initial value in the box is the current local axis system. If no local axis system is current, the box is set to Default. Whenever you select a local axis system, A, B, C, and D values are changed with respect to the selected axis system so that the location of the plane is not changed. This is not the case with values valuated by formulas: if you select an axis system, the defined formula remains unchanged.
    4. Click Normal to Robot to position the plane perpendicular to the Robot direction.


    5. Click Parallel to screen to position the plane parallel to the screen current view.


    6. Click OK to create the plane.
      The plane (identified as Plane.xxx) is added to the tree.
      Important: You come back in the Assembly Design app.