Creating a Plane Tangent to a Surface

You can create a plane tangent to a surface passing through a specified point.

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 Tangent to surface.
    2. In the Surface box, select a reference surface.
    3. In the Point box, select a reference point.
      A plane tangent to the surface at the specified point is displayed.

      If the reference point does not lie on the surface, the plane is aligned to the normal projection direction from the point to the surface or its tangential prolongation.

    4. 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.