Instantiating Power Copies Using Part Comparison Instantiation

You can analyze the 3D shape structure and isolate specific features within a part. This is particularly useful when managing power copies, for example.

Before you begin:

  • Ensure you have the Generative Shape Design 2 app as well as the 3D Templates Capture license.

  • This instantiation mode is only available providing the power copy to be created is ordered and the chosen destination (that is the current feature) respects ordering rules.

  • Open reference and destination documents.

See Also
About the Instantiation of Power Copies
  1. From the destination document, click Instantiate from Selection .
  2. Select the power copy from the reference document.

    Warning or error messages can be issued if the chosen destination is ambiguous or forbidden, for example if you select an ordered geometrical set as the After destination.

    • In case of error message, the destination box is emptied and the OK button is unavailable.

    • In case of a warning message, the power copy can still be instantiated but some elements may not be inserted in the chosen destination.

    Use the Reference list to select the correct power copy when several have been defined in the product.

  3. Select the Part comparison instantiation mode.
  4. In the Destination list, select the destination of the instantiation.

    The destination depends on the current feature as it is automatically filled with the latter. If there is no current feature, the box is empty.

    • When possible, you can modify the default destination, either by modifying the relative position or by selecting another destination feature.

    • The destination is filled with

      After when the destination is a geometric feature. In this case, the After box is unavailable.

    • The destination is filled with

      Inside when the destination is a geometrical feature set.
  5. Complete the Inputs within the dialog box by selecting the adequate element in the geometric area.
    After each selection, an indicator is displayed in the left viewer, with orientation when necessary. Click on the green arrow to reverse orientation if needed.
  6. Optional: Click Use identical name to automatically select all the elements with the same name.
    Tip: This is especially useful when the input is the same one repeated several times.
  7. Optional: Click Parameters to display the Parameters dialog box and modify values.
  8. Click OK to create the power copy instance.
    A PowerCopy Instances node is automatically created in the tree of the current document. The Comparison Window opens on the right side of the screen and the Comparison Window section is displayed.
    Note:
    • Instantiated features are not updated to let you update them one by one and check the consistency of the result.
    • The current feature is not yet synchronized at this step. It allows you to see the result of the power copy on the right side.
    • A PowerCopy Instances node has been created in current document. This node allows the mapping between referenced objects and instantiated objects.
    • When editing a feature in the Comparison Window, the edited feature is highlighted simultaneously on both left and right sides of the screen, in the trees and work area.
    • All the inputs must have been provided before launching the instantiation. Otherwise, OK is unavailable.
  9. Click First or First to update .
    The Scan command is automatically launched.
  10. Then click Next or Play update to scan the instantiated features and update them.
    Warning: Only the Structure mode is available here.
  11. Close the Comparison window.
    Tips:
    • If you start the Quick Select command , either in the left or in the right window, the visualization is updated in both windows: pre-highlighting is synchronous and a color code indicates the current selection (green labels) in the Quick Select dialog box and the parents/children (red labels).
    • Once the power copy has been instantiated, you can close the comparison window and delete the power copy Instance features.
    Important: The feature defined as the current object corresponds to the last instantiated component of the power copy.