About Branch Points Types

A branch point is a point on a branch curve that allows you to connect branches or to split branches into segments. Depending on your design, you can work with three types of branch points: standard, proxy, and associative.

Notes:

A branch point is not a route element. Therefore, it does not affect the shape of the branch curve.
Only the creation of standard and associative branch points split a branch into segments that are editable.
The more standard and associative branch points you create on your branch curve, the more segments there are in your branch.
Branch points created with Immersive Branch Definition and Classic Branch Definition are compatible.

This page discusses:

Standard Branch Points
Associative Branch Points
Proxy Branch Points

Standard Branch Points

A standard branch point is defined by its reference point and its position on the branch curve.

Reference Point

For standard branch points, the reference point can be a route element or another branch point that is part of the activated branch.

When creating or editing standard branch points, selecting Change Reference Object allows to select another reference point.

Positioning Standard Branch Points

To position a standard branch point, you can either work with distance, with ratio, or with the context of your design.

Using Distance

The distance is the branch length separating the branch point from its reference point (d1 in our example).

Clicking the Distance label enables to enter a precise value for the branch length. Others tools are also provided when you right-click the Distance box:


Tools	Description
Measure Item and Measure Between	Allow to create measurements. For more information, see Part Design User's Guide: Measuring in the Part Design App.
Change Step	Allows to edit the increment of the Distance box. The default step is 1mm but you can set as many steps as needed and retrieve them easily while using the Change step tool.
Range	Allows to edit the minimum and maximum branch length you can set between a branch point and its reference point. Ranges can only be reduced. Out of range values are not taken into account.

If you work with distance and edit the branch curve, the branch length (d1) remains the same. Therefore, even if the curve is edited, the branch point remains at the same position on the curve.


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Using Ratio

The ratio is the relation between the branch length separating the branch point from its reference point and the branch length between the reference point and the segment's end (d1 / d2 in our example).

0 is the value for the reference point and 1 is the value for the segment's end.

If you work with ratio and edit the branch curve, the ratio remains the same. However, as the ratio represents a percentage, the position of the branch point is updated according to the new relation (d1' / d2').


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Tip: Clicking Change Branch Point Unit

allows to display the position either in distance or in ratio.

Using Contextual Features

Geometrical elements that are part of your product can be used to position a standard branch point on the curve. The following elements can be used as contextual features:

Vertex
Point
Plane
Face

When you hover over a geometrical element (during creation or edition of a branch point), a visual feedback is provided if there is a valid intersection with the curve of the branch:


Plane Used as Contextual Feature	Point Used as Contextual Feature

Note: If you hover over a plane which has several intersections with the branch, BranchPoint labels appear in the 3D area to indicate the available positions.

After clicking the eligible element, a ruler appears to let you define an offset between the intersection and the branch point position.

For an intersection with a plane, the ruler's direction is normal to the plane.
For an intersection with a point, the ruler's direction is tangent to the curve.


Ruler for a Plane	Ruler for a Point

Important: There is no associativity between the standard branch point and the geometrical element used to define its position. Editing the selected contextual feature after positioning the branch point has no impact on the branch point's position.

Associative Branch Points

An associative branch point is a point placed at the intersection between a branch curve and a reference plane.

Reference Plane

For associative branch points, the reference plane can be a plane or a planar surface.

When editing associative branch points, selecting Change Reference Object allows to select another reference plane. If you select a plane which does not intersect the branch curve, a message appears to prompt you to select a valid plane.

Positioning Associative Branch Points

Positioning an associative branch point consists in selecting one of the intersections between the reference plane and the branch curve.

If you edit the position of a reference plane, the position of its related associative branch point is automatically updated on the curve.


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Proxy Branch Points

A proxy branch point is defined by its reference point and its position on the branch curve. Contrary to standard and associative branch points, proxy branch points don't split a branch into two segments.

Usage

When you work with a product composed of several networks, you can use proxy branch points to connect primary branches with secondary branches without impacting the primary branches.

The connection between primary and secondary networks is allowed within a single electrical branch geometry and also within different electrical branch geometries.

Reference Point

For proxy branch points, the reference point is a route element or another branch point that is part of the primary branch.

When editing a proxy branch point, clicking the Reference Point box in the Proxy Branch Point panel allows to select another reference point.

Positioning Proxy Branch Points

Positioning a proxy branch point consists in selecting a location on the curve of a primary branch.

To define the position of a proxy branch point, you can either work with distance, with ratio, or with your product's context. The method to position a proxy branch point is the same as for standard branch points. For more information, see Positioning Standard Branch Points.