Creating Multiple Points, Planes, and Axis Systems

You can create multiple points, planes, and axis systems at a time, and subsequently modify repetition parameters, such as instances and spacing.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Create a 3D shape containing a curve and a surface.

Create Multiple Points and Planes

You can create multiple points and planes.

  1. From the Wireframe section of the action bar, click Points and Planes Repetition .
  2. In the First Point box, select the point.
  3. In the Curve box, select the curve.
    Notes:
    • If the First Point selected lies on a curve, the Curve box is automatically filled in with the underlying curve. If not (point created using the Datum mode for instance), you have to manually select a curve.
    • If you select only the curve to create multiple points on it, the First Point box is updated with the curve's default extremity.
    • If you select only the curve to create multiple points on it, then Reverse Direction option in the dialog box is unavailable.
    • If you select Clear Selection from the First Point context menu for a point lying on a curve, the default curve selection will also be cleared.
  4. Choose the side on which the points are to be created in relation to the initially selected point.
  5. Click Reverse Direction in the dialog box or click the arrow in the geometry.
  6. In the Parameters list, select Instances or Instances & spacing.
  7. In the Instance(s) box, define the number of points to be created.


    When you select a point on a curve, Instances & spacing is available from the Parameters list. In this case, points will be created in the given direction and taking into account the Spacing value.



    When you select Instances & spacing, you can choose the repetition mode:

    • Absolute (default mode): The spacing value of the repeated feature directly refers to the spacing value of the parent feature.
    • Relative: The spacing value of the first repeated feature refers to the spacing value of the parent feature. Every next repeated feature will refer to the spacing value of the previously created feature.

      A new parameter called "Relative XXX" is aggregated under the repeated features in the tree (except for the first repeated feature). Therefore, every created repeated feature is created with the spacing value of the previous feature plus the "Relative XXX" value.

      Note: Once the Repetition Features are created, the "Relative XXX" value can be edited and modified from the tree only. As a consequence, the repeated feature will move according to the new value, and further repeated features will be created or updated using this new value plus the "Relative XXX" value of the parent feature.

    When you select Spacing, you can create points or planes distributed over the whole distance of the the selected curve or from the selected point, respectively, according to the defined spacing. The number of created instances is indicated in the Instances box and cannot be modified.

  8. Click Preview to view the point instances.
  9. In the Second point box, select a point.

    This capability lets you define the area of the curve where points should be created.

    Note: If the selected point on curve already has a Reference point, this reference point is automatically taken as the second point. By default, the Second point is one of the endpoints of the curve. For more information, see Creating Points.
  10. Select the With end points check box to define the last and first instances are the curve end points:


  11. Select the Create normal planes also check box to automatically generate planes at the point instances:



  12. Select the Create in a new editable Body check box to create and group all object instances under the Repetition node in the tree. Otherwise the instances are created in the current body.
    A new geometrical feature set will be created automatically, depending on the type of body the points or planes to be repeated belong to.
    Note: You cannot delete individual points grouped under the Repetition node.
    Warning: In case an Ordered Geometrical Set is created, it is considered as private: it means that you cannot perform any modification on its elements (deleting, adding, reordering, etc., is forbidden).
  13. Click OK.

The point instances are created, evenly spaced over the curve on the direction indicated by the arrow. The points (identified as Point.xxx as for any other type of point) are added to the tree.

Notes:
  • Selecting sub-elements of a feature (i.e. edges or faces) or of an axis system (i.e. xy plane) is not allowed.
  • Performing a local Undo is unavailable with this command.

Create Multiple Axis Systems

You can create multiple axis systems.

  1. From the Wireframe section of the action bar, click Points and Planes Repetition .
  2. In the First Point box, select the point.
  3. In the Curve box, select the curve.
  4. In the Instance(s) box, define the number of points to be created.
  5. Select the Create Axis System check box to automatically generate axis systems at the point instances.
  6. In the Axis System Repetition frame, select the Clones type.
  7. In the Axis System box, select an existing axis system as reference.
  8. Optional: Click Preview to see the result.
    The axis systems are created at the point instances and link to the reference axis system.
    Important: If you modify the reference axis system, the created axis systems are modified accordingly.


  9. Select the Directional type.
  10. In the Direction box, select any direction.
  11. Optional: Click Preview to see the result.
    The axis systems are created using the following inputs:
    • Origin: Points on the curve
    • Z axis: Direction
    • X axis: Plane defined by the direction and the line tangent to the curve


  12. Select the Along Surface type.
  13. In the Surface box, select a surface.
  14. Optional: Click Preview to see the result.
    The axis systems are created using the following inputs:
    • Origin: Points on the curve
    • X axis: Line tangent to the curve
    • Y axis: Line normal to the surface


  15. Click OK.

The axis systems are created at the point instances.

Edit Multiple Points, Planes, and Axis Systems

You can edit multiple points, planes, and axis systems.

Before you begin: The Create in a new editable body option must be selected.
  1. Double-click the Repetition node in the tree.

    You can modify only the number of instances and spacing.

  2. In the Instances(s) box, enter the instance value or use the arrows to change the instance value.
    If you increase the number of instances, new points are added. Old points are retained but their formula is re-computed.

    If you decrease the number of instances, a warning message is issued.

    • Click Yes to delete the old points.
    • Click No to remove the old points from the Repetition node and re-aggregate after the node.

  3. Click OK.
    The point instances are updated.