Manipulating Objects Using the Edit... Command

You can modify the coordinates of the Robot's manipulation handle as well as the translation and rotation increments to be applied when moving the Robot. You can also move and rotate non-constrained objects.

The Increment options let you translate or rotate the Robot about the U, V and W axes in increments. When using these options, axes are highlighted according to the increment button you click.

  1. Drag the Robot onto an object.
  2. Double-click the Robot or right-click it, and then select Edit....


    The Parameters for Robot Manipulation dialog box stays open during manipulation.

    Important: The current coordinates of the manipulation handle (that is, the blue cube), with respect to the center of the scene, are displayed in the corresponding boxes in the Position and Angle areas.
  3. Modify the parameters:
    OptionDescription
    Reference Lets you select the axis system with respect to which you want to edit the coordinates of the Robot.
    or Translates the Robot and the object by increments along an individual axis (U, V or W).

    To do so, type the translation values for an axis and then click the appropriate icon: the Robot and the object are translated in forward or reverse direction.

    When an axis is highlighted, it remains so until:
    • You highlight another axis by clicking it with the mouse.
    • You move the Robot to another location using any interaction other than a click on one of the increment buttons.
    • You close the Parameters for Robot Manipulation dialog box.
    Note: Increment options can be used in Part Design but axes are not highlighted.
    Distance Translates the objet along a vector derived from two objects you click. You need to click Distance first, then click the two elements.

    The value for the detected distance is highlighted in the appropriate boxes, expressed in the units of the Robot. Depending on the Robot orientation, some or all of the X, Y and Z coordinates might be calculated:

    • If the first element is a line or a plane, you can then select a second element or enter a distance. For example, selecting a line implies that you want to translate the object in the direction of the line, and you can enter the distance for the translation in the Distance box. However, if you select only the two elements, the distance between the two is displayed in the Distance box, and the object is translated over this distance and in the same direction.
    • If the second element is a plane, the direction of translation is normal to the plane.
    or Translates the objet in reverse or forward direction.
    or Rotates the object about the U, V, or W axis.

    To do so, type the rotation values, and then click the appropriate icon.
    Angle Lets you define the rotation angle between two elements you click. You need to click Angle first, then click the two elements.

    The object is rotated through the angle between the two elements (you can select a line or a plane). The angle value is displayed in the Angle box.

    If the rotation axis is parallel to one of the Robot's axes, the value is also displayed in the appropriate box in the Rotation increment area, the 2 other ones being reset to 0.

    or Rotates the Robot and the object about the computed rotation axis in reverse or forward direction.

    To do so, type the rotation value, and then click the appropriate icon.

    Important:
    • The values you enter in the Rotation increments area and in the Acquisition area have no impact on each other. For example, if you enter a value for Along U then click , the value is not taken into account. The Rotation increments values let you rotate the object about an axis whereas the Angle box in the Acquisition area lets you specify a rotation angle between two elements you select.
    • Rotations are computed as follows: Rz Ry Rx. Because of their non commutativity (Rz Ry Rx != Ry Rx Rz), the order in which rotation increments are applied along the U, V and W axes matters. If rotation increments are applied in a different order (for instance along V then along W), the angle values for X, Y and Z are recomputed to match the result obtained with U, V and W. In that case, the values displayed for Along X, Along Y and Along Z are different than those displayed for Along U, Along V and Along W.
  4. Optional: When the Robot is snapped to the object, drag its arcs.
    The object is translated or rotated according to the increments you entered.
  5. Click Close.
    The increments are kept for the Robot and bounding box motions.