Resource Layout and Definition Context Toolbars

Context toolbars are smart toolbars that contain only those tools that can be applied to the current selection.

This page discusses:

Offset Plane

The table below lists the most commonly used tools available for defining an offset plan. You can select a point, line, or face elements of 3D representation.

Define Plane
Define the plane by selecting a point, axis, 2D element, or circle center.
Using Offset Planes.
Define Origin
Select a corner, center of the face, or edge on a geometry.
Define Plane by an Imaginary Circle
Define the plane within an imaginary circle by whose center is determined by three points you select.
Define a Plane with 3 Points
Define a plane with three points. The first point you select is the origin. The second is the X-axis direction. The third is used to calculate the Z-axis.
Define Plane Using 2 Points
The plane is defined by two points. The first point is the origin. The second point is the Z-axis direction.
Define New Orientation of X-Axis
  • Select a new orientation of the X-axis.
Define Plane at Product Origin
  • Select the product origin to define the plane.
OK
  • Confirms the plane offset definition and closes the toolbar.

Axis System Definition

Use axis system commands enable you to select and define an axis on a product or resource. Select a point, line, or face elements of 3D representation to compute the axis system.

You can visualize the axis system by snapping the Robot to the plane axis system location. Then use the position and orientation manipulators of the Robot to fine-tune the plane axis system location.

Plane Axis System Using Plane Identifier
Define the plane using the Robot manipulator.
Plane Axis System Using Orientation of X-Axis
Enables you to select any edge to define the new X-axis orientation; the orientation aligns the X-axis to the direction specified by the selected edge, but the original position is not changed.
Plane Axis System Using Existing Axis System
Define the plane by selecting the center of an existing axis.
Plane Axis System Using Three Points Circle
Enables you to select three points of an imaginary circle that define the new axis system origin.
The three points should be noncoincident and noncollinear.
The direction of the first point from the imaginary circle's origin is taken as the X-axis orientation.
The Z-axis is defined as the normal to the plane selected by the three points.
Plane Axis System Using Three Points
The plane is defined by three points, where:
  • The first point is the origin.
  • The second point is the X-axis direction.
  • The third point is the Z-axis direction.
Plane Axis System Using Two Points
The plane is defined by two points, where:
  • The first point is the origin.
  • The second point is the Z-axis direction.
Plane Axis System Using One Point
Enables you to select one point, and move the original position of the plane axis system to the selected location without changing the orientation.
Plane Axis System Using Center of a Face
Enables you to select the center of a face, and move the original position of the plane axis system to the selected location without changing the orientation.
Plane Axis System Using Center of an Edge
Enables you to select the center of an edge to use as an axis system, and move the original position of the plane axis system without changing the orientation.

Mechanical Port Creation Context Toolbar

Locator Mechanical Port
Locators are helpful when you have an object with a difficult or problematic object axis definition, or when you have imported objects from the other CAD systems. Each object can have only one locator mechanical port. If the locator mechanical port is defined, all the layout positioning tools use locators as the temporary origin for positioning purposes.
Connector Mechanical Port
Connectors help you precisely snap the object to other objects. Use connectors to align, snap, and attach two objects together.
Base Port
Connectors help you precisely snap the object to other objects. Use connectors to align, snap, and attach two objects together.
Mount Port
The mount port is the reciprocal port to the base port. You define the mount port on the object to which another object is snapped; the base port is port on the object that is snapped. For example, a robot has a base port; a weld gun has a mount port.
Tool Center Port
The Tool Center Port is the location on the end effector of a mechanical device controller whose position and orientation define the coordinates of the controlled object.
Finalize Step
Saves the definition of the port and the axis systems.
Cancel Step
Cancels the port definition and axis system definition.

Attachment Context Toolbar

Select Resource / Product
Clicking this command toggles your selection mode between resource and product selection.
  • If resource selection is on, you select the full object when you select 3D content. That is, if you click a robot's base, you select the entire robot. This is the most common way to select resources.
  • If product selection is on, you select the object on which you click when you select 3D content. That is, if you click a robot's base, you select only the base. This is the most common way to select products.
Show / Hide Panel
Use a panel to define the child, child port, parent, and parent port for an attachment. If you are using Snap to create the attachment, the values in the panel reflect the selections in the work area. The command either shows the panel (which is hidden by default) or hides it, after you have displayed it.
Snap
In the Create Attachment and Edit Attachment Offset commands, Snap works as a toggle:
  • Click and the child gets snapped to the parent.
  • Click again and the child resets back to its original position.
Accept
Creates the attachment between the two ports. Any offsets that have been previously defined are respected.
Reject
Ends the attachment action without the attachment occurring. You can select a different device.