Creating a Plane Offset From another Plane

You can create one or more planes parallel to the reference plane with a given offset distance.

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 Offset from plane.
      A preview plane is displayed In the work area.
      Important:

      Repeat object after OK option has no effect in Assembly Design context.

    2. In the Reference box, select a plane.
    3. Specify the offset distance by changing the default value in the Offset box or manipulating the handle in the work area.


    4. Click Reverse Direction or the arrow handle to reverse the offset direction.
    5. 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.

    Warning: If after the import of an offset plane the input plane of the offset feature is replaced by a surface, the offset result cannot be synchronized when being re-imported as the offset type has changed and a plane cannot be synchronized with a surface.

    Conversely, a surface can be synchronized with a plane, as a plane is a surface.