Creating a Patch from Points

You can create a patch projected on a plane or fitted to a support by clicking two, three, or four points on an existing geometry or in the work area. The patch can also be created without any projection of points.

This task shows you how to:

Create a Patch from Two or Three Points on a Plane

You can create a planar patch from two or three points.

Before you begin: Create a 3D shape.
  1. From the Surface section of the action bar, click Unified Patch .
  2. Click 2-Point Patch or 3-Point Patch .
  3. Select Reference Support: Robot Plane.

    The reference support can be:

    • The Robot Plane.
    • A user-defined plane: Right-click to define the plane. The patch is created on a plane parallel to the reference support plane.
    • A surface: Select the element in the work area. According to the Projection Type, the patch is created on a plane parallel to the mean plane of the reference support or is projected and fitted to the reference support.

    Note: When you create a 2-point or 3-point patch, the Reference Support option is always selected and cannot be cleared.

  4. Select Projection Type: Planar Direction.
    OptionDescription
    Planar Direction Creates a planar patch on a plane passing through the first selected point.
    Project on Plane Creates a planar patch on the reference support plane.
    Note: This option is only available if the reference support is a plane.
    Project on Mean Plane Creates a planar patch on the mean plane of the reference support.
    Note: This option is only available if the reference support is a surface.
    Project and Fit to Support Fits the patch to the reference support. The patch is not necessarily planar.
    Note: This option is only available if reference support is a surface.
  5. Click to position the starting point.
    • Points selected in the work area directly lie on the specified plane.
    • Points selected on an existing geometry are projected onto the plane.

    Tip: To create a 2-point patch with the starting point at its center, press Ctrl and select the position.

  6. To create a 3-point patch, do the following:
    1. Move the cursor to a different position.
      A line appears to show the direction of the axis of the patch.

    2. Click again.

      Tip: To create a 3-point patch with this line as its centerline, press Ctrl and select the position.

  7. Move the cursor to form the patch.
    An outline is previewed and two values appear to indicate the length and width of the patch.

    The patch is created in a plane parallel to the Robot plane and passing through the first selected point.



  8. Optional: Edit the patch orders using the Nu: and Nv: order labels.
    Tips:
    • Right-click the labels to activate the Order context menu. Select Link Orders to have identical orders in U and V direction.
    • Right-click in the work area anytime during the creation, if the selection is not yet finished, and select Edit Orders in the context menu.
  9. Complete the patch creation by doing one of the following:
    • Click again to define the opposite corner of the patch.
    • Right-click and select Edit Dimensions, enter the required values, and click OK.
  10. Optional: Refine the patch by moving the handles or editing orders and dimensions.


    Note: In the case of a 3-Point Patch or 4-Point Patch, the handles are moved by default in the U and V direction of the patch. With the Use Reference Support Direction option in the handle's context menu, they can be moved in the direction of the reference support.
  11. Click OK.
    A planar patch is created.

Create a Patch from Four Points on an Automatically Created Plane

You can create a planar patch from four points that is fitted to a plane, which is automatically generated from the first three selected positions.

Before you begin: Open an existing 3D shape containing a surface.
  1. From the Surface section of the action bar, click Unified Patch .
  2. Click 4-Point Patch .
    Auto Plane is selected by default in the Reference Support frame.
  3. Select three points on the surface or any existing geometry.
  4. Select the fourth point either in the work area or also on an existing geometry.
    The point is projected in the plane that is defined by the first three points.
  5. Click OK.
    The patch is created on this plane.

Create a Patch from Four Points on a Plane

You can create a planar patch from four points that is fitted to a plane.

Before you begin: Open an existing 3D shape.
  1. From the Surface section of the action bar, click Unified Patch .
  2. Click 4-Point Patch .
  3. Select the Reference Support check box.
  4. Select a plane.
  5. Select the projection type.

    Planar Direction is selected by default.

  6. Select four points in the work area or on an existing geometry.
  7. Click OK.
    The patch is created on the plane.

Create a Patch from Four Points Fitted to a Surface

You can create a planar or nonplanar patch from four points that is fitted to any geometry.

Before you begin: Open an existing 3D shape containing a surface, STL data, or any other geometry.
  1. From the Surface section of the action bar, click Unified Patch .
  2. Click 4-Point Patch .
  3. Select the Reference Support check box.
  4. Select a surface.
  5. Select the projection tType.

    Project and Fit to Support is selected by default.

    Note: If you select Planar Direction or Project on Mean Plane, the result is a planar patch.

  6. Select any point in the work area or on an existing geometry.
    The projection of the selected point to the nearest point on the reference support is visualized in the work area.
  7. Successively select three other points.
    The resulting patch is not necessarily planar. The maximum deviation of the resulting patch from the reference support appears at its location.

  8. Optional: To refine the patch, move the handles or edit the orders and dimensions.
  9. Click OK.
    A patch of any shape is created on the support.

Create a Patch from Four Points Without a Reference Support

You can create a planar or nonplanar patch from four points that is not fitted a support.

Before you begin: Open an existing 3D shape or an existing Physical Product containing STL data and a 3D Shape.
  1. From the Surface section of the action bar, click Unified Patch .
  2. Click 4-Point Patch .
  3. Clear the Auto Plane and Reference Support check buttons.
    The options in the Projection Type frame are disabled.
  4. Select four points in the work area, on any existing geometry, or on STL data.

    When selecting a point in the work area, the position is computed by means of the Robot plane.

    All positions are kept as the points are not projected.
  5. Click OK.
    A patch of any shape is created.