Moving Objects

Moving objects involves selecting the right move level definition, examining the objects, and performing the move operation either directly or by using the Robot to snap axis systems onto a target axis system of another component.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: An assembly must be open in the widget.
See Also
Positioning Objects Relative to Each Other

Rotate the Object's Viewpoint

An orange bounding box helps you visualize the move level corresponding to an object and is displayed around the parent object when a component selected. You can drag the bounding box to rotate the viewpoint of the objects you are about to move.

  1. Select the component you want to move. In this example, select the top tube.
    • If you are using the Examine Selection functionality and you start the Section or Measure commands, the Move operation is not stopped. Therefore, its is not necessary to save the object's position into the database before.
    • A filter bar appears to filter the geometry selection.
    • A context toolbar appears along with the bounding box around the selection.
    • The top tube component belongs to the frame.
    • The frame is highlighted in the scene and the move level is set to frame:



  2. Optional: To filter the geometry selection, select one of the following options in the filter bar.
    OptionDescription
    Point

    Highlights points you can select directly (either an existing point on the model, or any point you click on the model).

    Center/Point

    Highlights the coordinates of the center point of a circle, or a sphere, or the coordinates of the selected point. You can only select center points.

    Axis* System

    Highlights the X, Y, and Z direction coordinates of local axis systems. You can only select axis systems.

    Line

    Colors lines in blue. You can only select lines.

    Plane*

    Colors in blue the area of a planar surface. You can only select planar surfaces.

    Cylinder/Cone*

    Colors in blue a cylinder or a cone. You can only select cylinders or cones.

    Surface

    You can select any kind of a surface.
    Product*

    Displays the volume of the bounding box containing the selected item. You can only select whole products. A level selector is available to select objects at a specific level.

    Notes:
    • By default, the filters are not visible until you click the Manipulate command from the action bar or drag the Robot.
    • *By default, axis system, plane, cylinder and product options are turned on. To refine your selection, choose the most appropriate option.
    • All options are cumulative options that can be combined.
    • By default, only axis system, plane, cylinder/cone and product filters are active.
    • For all the filters except the Surface and Product filter, the high quality representation of the selected geometry is loaded in the session.

  3. Select the bounding box.
    The selection instanced under the move level is colored in orange to help you visualize the objects you are about to move:
    • The top tub (the component you previously selected) and
    • The frame (the parent object to which the component belongs)


  4. Drag a bounding box handle to rotate the viewpoint according to the pointer position.
    The selection is set to full opacity while the rest of the model is set to semi-transparent opacity. At the end of the manipulation, the viewpoint is automatically reset to its initial orientation.

  5. Optional: Change the move level definition to top_tube. To do so:
    • Select the level selector and
    • Click the bar of interest.


    The selected component is changed accordingly and highlighted. It becomes the reference for the move level.



Move by Dragging

You can move objects directly by dragging them onto other objects. The axis system of the origin component is used to place the component onto the target component.

  1. From the Edit Structure section of the action bar, click Manipulate .
  2. Drag a component toward a second component.

    If axis systems are detected, they are identified and let you snap the component.

    The moved component becomes transparent. When finished dragging the component, the position can be modified, a notification lets you confirm the move operation and save the modification.

  3. Validate or continue the move operation:
    • Click Cancel to place the component in its original position.
    • Click OK to save the new position of the component.

    For more information, see Controlling Editability during a Move Operation.

  4. Optional: Open the data of only one platform within the same app. When you switch platforms, the previously edited data are cleared.

    You define the platform and security context options with the Preferences command.

The component is moved accordingly.

Note: You can move several components at a time or successively.

Reset to Local Coordinates

This command lets you remove any positioning information for the selected component instances to ensure they can be considered as designed in their parent product axis systems. This command is helpful to correct any unexpected move.

  1. Move a component.
  2. In the context toolbar, click
    The component is moved back to its original position.

Use the Robot

You can move objects using the Robot and the ruler.

  1. Select the Robot's origin and then drag it onto an object.

    For line, surface, cylinder, cone, plane, and product, a temporary representation is displayed while snapping the Robot.

    The Robot is snapped onto an object.

  2. Use the axes or arcs to move or rotate.
  3. Use the ruler to position precisely your object. The graduations help translating or rotating the object by snapping on specific values.
  4. To change the ruler's origin, select the ruler origin manipulator .

    You can change the ruler origin for all the translation axes of the Robot to move selected products according to this new origin. As the ruler displays the values according to this new defined origin, you can check distances regarding other faces, and you do not need to measure a distance after using the Robot.

    Selected ItemsDescription of the new ruler origin
    Planes are considered only if they are perpendicular to the translation axis. The new ruler origin is set at the intersection of the plane and the translation axis
    Cylinders and cones are considered only if their axis are perpendicular to the translation axis. The new ruler origin is set at the orthogonal projection of cylinder axis on the translation axis.
    Circles are considered only if circle plane normal is perpendicular to the translation axis. The new ruler origin is set at 0 value is set at the orthogonal projection of circle plane normal going through circle center on the translation axis.
    All spheres are considered. The new ruler origin is set at the orthogonal projection of the sphere center on the translation axis.
    All points are considered. The new ruler origin is set at the orthogonal projection of the point on the translation axis.
    All parts are considered. The new ruler origin is set at the orthogonal projection of part axis origin on the translation axis.
    All axis systems are considered. The new ruler origin is set at the orthogonal projection of axis system origin on the translation axis.
    Any other geometric element cannot be used to defined a new ruler origin. -
    Tip: You can reset the ruler origin to the position that was defined when the Robot was dragged on a geometric element. In that case, you do not need to restore the previously defined ruler origin except by redefining again this new origin.
  5. Drag the ruler origin manipulator anywhere in the 3D area.
    Notes:
    • If the ruler origin manipulator is dragged over nothing, it remains at the position where the Robot was dropped even if a new ruler origin has been previously defined.
    • If it is dragged over a valid geometry, product or axis system, it is moved to the new origin position.
    • If it is dragged over a not valid geometry, product or axis system, it remains at the position where the Robot was dropped.
    • Any usage of Robot rotation manipulators will reset any ruler origin defined on translation axis.
    • Any usage of Robot plane manipulators will not reset any ruler origin defined on translation axis.

The components are moved accordingly.