Working with a 3D Support

You can create a 3D support, composed of three regular grid of lines, used both as an input to create geometry as well as a visual help.

It allows you to create reference points on the fly on each support, whenever you need a reference point to create other geometric elements. You will no longer have to explicitly select the support element.

Note: A new Part is automatically created with a 3D Support, if the Create a 3D work support option is selected in Me > Preferences > Common Preferences > Modeling, 3D Shape Infrastructure tab, When creating 3D Shapes section. However, 3D supports created this way cannot be deleted.

Before you begin: You must have access to the Automotive Body in White Template app. To access this command in the Part Design app, Automotive Class A, Automotive Body in White Template or FreeStyle Shape Morphing licenses are required.
  1. From the section of the action bar, click Work on Support 3D .
    Part Design default configurations do not provide this icon in the standard section. If you want to access it, use the Configure capability to add this icon to the section of your choice. Otherwise, select the Tools > Work on Support 3D item.
    Notes:
    • Each of three grid lines has one default primary spacing of 100mm for each direction. The three directions of the main axis system define the grids directions. When the local axis system is modified, all related features are updated.
    • You can edit the spacing values by clicking on the spacing tag to edit and modify them. Note that you can modify these values at creation, not at edition, and that there can only be one value per grid.
    • You can also modify the name of the labels of the main directions by clicking on the direction tag.
    • The labels' directions and primary spacing are defined in Me > Preferences > App Preferences > 3D Modeling > 3D Modeling Core > Generative Shape Design. See to Accessing and Customizing section for further information.
    • In Finite mode, you can edit
      • the range along grid axes using the handles on any of the grid faces or by editing the corresponding values in the Definition field of the dialog box,
      • the area to be visualized from the origin point for each of the three grids. To do so, select a position among the 8 possible positions (defined by double dots as shown in the picture below).
  2. In the Labels position list, select one of the options:
    • Full Screen: Labels are displayed all around the screen.
    • Bottom/Left: Labels are displayed on the bottom left of the screen.
    • None: No label is displayed.
    Note: It is recommended to select Labels position None to hide labels if the grid is moved to a work area border.
  3. In the Label size box, enter the value or use the arrows to change the value.

    The label size indicates the height of the label in pixels unit.

    By default, the value is set to 8 pixels.

  4. In the Support Type list, select a support type.
    • Reference: The 3D support is created according to the main axis system.
    • Local: A local system must be specified. There can be as many local 3D works on support as desired.
  5. In the Type list, select the type of the visible area, that is the visualization range for each of the three grids.
    • Infinite (default type): The visible area corresponds to the three infinite planes.
      Note: If selected, the Furtive grids check box is automatically selected and the Origin and Offset From Origin boxes are dimmed.
    • Finite: An origin point that defines the intersection of the three grids should be selected (if not, the default origin of the reference or local axis system is taken into account).

      Note: If selected, the Furtive grids check box is automatically cleared.

      Once you have clicked Preview, the three limited grids appear in the work area. You can manipulate them as follows:



      • Robot: You can move the grid by dragging the Robot's origin and move its handles.

        The Offset From Origin values are available in the Work On Support 3D dialog box.

        Ranges along X, Y, and Z direction are 1000mm each and can be modified.

      • Grid handles: You can resize the visible area of the grids by moving the grid handles parallel to the corresponding plane.

        The Offset From Origin is displayed in the X, Y, or Z text boxes.

        The Offset From Origin and range values are dynamically updated.

      Important: In Infinite mode, there can be only one reference 3D work on support, whereas in Finite mode, multiple 3D working supports can be created for both Local and Reference support types.
  6. Optional: Clear the Furtive grids option to visualize the three grids.
    Note: By default, this check box is selected and it is persistent. When selected, it lets you see the grids only when they are parallel to one of the three planes of the 3D support.
  7. Optional: From the App Options panel, click Grid Featurization Switch to create either featurized lines or featurized planes on the grid lines. Featurized planes are created normal to the current grid.
  8. Optional: From the App Options panel, click Snap to point to snap the point being created onto the nearest intersection point on the grid.
  9. Click OK in the dialog box.

    The elements (identified as Working support 3D.xxx) are added to the tree under the Working supports node.

    The 2D working supports belonging to the 3D working supports feature are displayed in the tree and are aggregated under the 3D feature. Therefore, the visualization of the three grids can be individually controlled by Hide/Show through the context menu.

    Important:
    • The work on support must be parallel to one of the three planes to be visualized. As a consequence, the active 3D work on support may be seen independently in each view of the same document.
    • There can only be one active 3D work on support at the same time.
  10. Click Top View from the View section of the action bar.
    The active work on support is visualized and labels are displayed on each straight line.

Important:
  • If you are working in an environment, and provided there are several representations, you can only see the 3D working support whose representation is active. If the product is active, 3D working supports cannot be applied.
  • The children that appear under any feature may not follow the same order as their order of creation.
  • The Work on Support 3D command can be used along with the Measure between command. See Using the Measure Between Command with a 3D Support.