Feature Positioning Tools

Some features require specification of a location and a direction in addition to the geometry support. While defining these features, right-click the feature glyph to display a menu of tools for positioning and orientation. Shortcuts for some of these tools are also available in the context toolbar.

The tables below describe each of the tools available in the right-click context menu; an icon indicates that the tool is also available from the context toolbar. Where appropriate, before (left column) and after (right column) pictures use an arrow glyph to illustrate the effect of the tool on the feature's location and orientation. All of these tools are not available for every feature. For example, a feature that requires only a location will not have access to orientation tools.

This page discusses:

See Also
Creating Simulation Features
Support Selection

Orientation Tools

When you create a directional feature, a local axis system is created automatically and associated with the feature. The axis system is represented by a "feature triad" displayed close to the application point of the feature. Modifying the orientation of the feature triad in turn changes the direction of the feature.

Align Triad to <Select>: Select one of the entities below to align the feature triad.
Select a straight linear entity to orient the Z-axis of the feature triad in the same direction.
Select a predefined axis system to align the feature triad with that axis system.
Select another directional feature to align the current feature triad with the selected feature's triad.
Select two points to orient the Z-axis of the feature triad in the direction of a straight line connecting the points.
Align to Global Coordinate System: Align the feature triad with the global coordinate system.
Rotate: Display immersive fields that let you directly enter rotational angles; each time you enter a value, the feature triad is rotated accordingly and the field resets to zero.
Reset Orientation: Return the feature triad to its initial orientation.
Reverse Direction of Triad Z Axis: Reverse the Z-axis direction of the feature triad.
Enter Orientation Vector: Display immersive fields with X, Y, and Z values for a normalized vector representing the current direction of the feature triad's Z-axis; you can edit the vector values to change the direction (the vector renormalizes each time you edit a value).

Positioning Tools

Locate at a Point: Select a point to relocate the feature to that point.
Enter Global Location XYZ: Display immersive fields with the coordinates of the feature's current location; you can edit the coordinate values to change the location.

Enabling the Robot

Enable Robot: Activate the robot manipulator tool to directly move or orient the feature as described in Manipulating Objects Using the Mouse and Robot.