Creating Cutting Elements

You can create cutting elements using the reference plane system. These elements are created according to the specified limit, category, and name.

See Also
Editing Cutting Elements
  1. Activate a 3D shape representation.
  2. From the Operations section of the action bar, click Cutting Element .
    The Cutting Element dialog box appears.
  3. In the Category box, select the required category.
    Note: These options are available depending on the dictionary set in Data Setup.
  4. Under Support, select the required deck planes.

    Notes:
    • The selected planes should be parallel to each other.
    • You can also select a surface as a support for cutting element.

    The horizontal cutting elements are created with deck supports.
    Note: You can:
    • Click Reference Plane Browser .

      The Plane Systems dialog box appears. You can select reference planes directly from Selection List or create formulas for the selection of planes under Formula.

      For more information, see About Using Reference Planes Browser.

      Note: To use Reference Plane Browser, a space reference system must be set in the Common Geometry Resource table in Data Setup.

    • Select the required cutting element under Support and do the following:
      • Click Delete or Replace to remove or replace the selected support respectively.
      • Enter a value in the box available next to the selected support to change its offset. The offset can be applied to only planar supports.
    • Right-click the required cutting element under Support and do the following:
      • Select Center Graph to view the selected element in the center of the work area.
      • Select Reframe On to improve the visibility of the selected element.
      • Select Hide/Show to hide and show the selected element.
  5. Optional: Under Limits, select the limits:
    • One dimensional features such as sketch, edges, lines, splines, etc.
    • Two dimensional features such as wire, surface, plane, cutting element, etc.
    • Volumes

    Important: All the selected limits should form a closed boundary.

    Note: You can:
    • Click to create a sketch limit. The sketch is positioned on the first support selected under Support.
    • Select the limiting element under Limits and do the following:
      • Click Delete or Replace to remove or replace the limiting element respectively.
      • Click Flip to consider the other side of the selected deck planes cut by the limiting element.
  6. Optional: Clear the Automatic check box and enter the required name in the Name box.
  7. Click OK.
    The horizontal cutting elements are created under a geometrical set. If the Enable hybrid design inside part bodies and bodies check box available at Me > Preferences > Common Preferences > Object Properties > 3D Shape > Infrastructure is selected, the cutting elements are created under a hybrid body or a geometrical set depending on the option specified.
  8. Create other cutting elements supported on cross/long planes (as per your requirements) by repeating the above steps.


    Tip: You can create a surface by extruding a profile, and use this surface as a support for cutting elements. For more information about creating a surface by extruding a profile along a given direction, see Generative Shape Design User's Guide: Creating Surfaces: Creating Extruded Surfaces.