Assemble by 3 Points

In this Task

• The Cylinders will be moved in 3-dimensional space using the Assemble by 3 Points tool.
• Relative Coordinates will be used to do this.

 

Associated Tasks

• Using the Orbit tool to rotate the view of the object. Hold down the mouse wheel and rotate the view around the cursor.

 

Before you Start

• Use your drawing which was saved in the previous Task or make use of the sample drawing for this Session. The previous Task/Tasks must be completed in order to continue with this Task.
• The view is set to Isometric South East. Workplane is displayed and set to Plane by World.
• Current layer is Part 2 Model.

Take Note

• When using the Relative Coordinate Mode, a red dot will always appear at the current position in the editor. This point will always represent 0,0,0.

 

Relative Coordinates

Modes | Coord System | Relative

This system of coordinates always moves the origin of 0,0 to the last indicated position in the graphics editor.

This means the calculation of the next point always assumes the last position was 0,0.

When using Relative Coordinate input, a red dot is always displayed at the last point indicated in the graphics editor. This point will always be 0,0.

Relative coordinates are particularly useful when moving objects in 3-dimensional space.

Select Modes | Coordinates| Relative to activate relative coordinates. A red dot will appear in the graphics editor. The red dot always indicates a base coordinate of 0,0,0.

Assemble by 3 Points

Ribbon : Modify | 3D Modifications | Assemble by 3 Points

Default Menu : Modify | Modify 3D Objects | 3D Assemble | Assemble by 3 Points

Palette : 3D Model | 3D Modify | Assemble by 3 Points

This feature allows the assembly of objects by defining source and destination points.When using the Assemble by 3 Points feature, 2 or more source and destination points can be supplied.Objects which are relocated using the Assemble by 3 Points tool are moved from their source position and placed in their destination position.The Copy in Place option can be used prior to using Assemble by 3 Points if a copy of the relocated objects is required to remain in the source position.

The cylinders are required to be moved by 3mm below the Workplane, shown below.

Select Assemble by 3 Points from the menu options above and select the larger cylinder shown below.

At the prompt > select the source point, select anywhere close to the cylinder, shown by the arrow, below left. Remember that all points are relative when using Relative Coordinates, so the destination point will always be relative to the source point.

Select a source point close to the object to be moved

At the prompt > select the destination point, use the SHIFT TAB keys to enter the coordinate fields at the bottom right of the graphics editor.

As can be observed from the User coordinate axes below, the direction of movement should be along the Z-axis, negatively. Input -3 into the Z field only, making sure both the X and Y fields contain 0.

The movement indicator will move downwards slightly. Right click and select Finish from the local menu or use Finish in the Status bar.

The result is shown below from the right side view.

Repeat this for the remaining cylinder, again using Assemble by 3 points to move the cylinder 3mm below the Workplane. Input -3 into the Z field of the Coordinate fields using Shift-TAB.

The result is shown below.

Always check the model from different viewpoints. The view in the illustration below was achieved by pressing and holding the mouse wheel and rotating the object around the cursor. Right click and select Isometric South East view to return to a standard or isometric view.

Cylinders shown moved downwards by 3mm

Save Drawing

This drawing is continued in the next Task.