Views, Workplanes, Co-ord Systems

Program and Drawing Settings

Options | Preferences

Certain drawing and system settings should be applied to obtain optimal results when working in a 3D environment.

Settings which are applied from the Program setup section of the Options menu will store such settings in the TurboCAD program.  These settings remain fixed from drawing to drawing and are only changed when new settings are applied.

Settings which are applied from the Drawing setup section of the Options menu apply certain settings in the current drawing only.  Settings and standards which are required to be applied in all subsequent drawings are saved in the drawing template.

Settings which are modified throughout this training are found in Options > Preferences.

Take Note

By right-clicking in the editor, a selection of convenient 3D Views and Workplane tools are available, shown below.

2D/3D Selector Properties

When objects are handled (modified, manipulated and duplicated) in 3 dimensional model space, a  Selector Shell is placed around the objects in a similar manner to that used when handling objects in 2 dimensional model space

So that a distinction is made between 2D profiles and 3D objects, the Selector Shell settings are applied to toggle between  2D or 3D mode.  This is done using the Selector 2D Properties.

In the Worked Example below, the Selector Shell Properties is displayed in 3D mode.

Worked Example

Turn the view to Isometric South East, shown above.

Select the Rectangle tool from the Sketch menu and draw a simple rectangle which measures approximately 100 x 80.

Select the newly drawn rectangle, then use the 2D/3D toggle selector shown below to switch between 2D and 3D Selector mode.

2D/3D Selector toggle

To convert the rectangle to a 3D box, do the following :

Activate the Selection Info palette using Tools > Palettes > Selection Info (Ctrl-Shift-I)

Select the rectangle, then open the 3D page of the Selection Info Palette. Input a height of 50 into the Thickness field. The result is shown below.

Use the 2D/3D toggle selector to switch between 2D and 3D Selector mode.

2D/3D Selector Mode shown in 2D mode, above left and 3D mode, above right

 

Setting the 2D/3D Selector Mode

To set the 2D/3D Selector Mode so that it automatically switches between the selection mode for a 2D or 3D object, right click in the workspace and select Selector 2D Properties (r Selector 3D Properties)

Select the General page, then activate 2D/3D Depending on Selected Object and Space Mode, shown below.

Applying the 2D/3D Selector Mode to automatically adapt to selected object

Option to turn on/off the assignment of materials to color faces

In Program Setup, an option to turn off or on the assignment of materials to colored faces for files with ACIS objects (TCW, SAT, ASAT, SAB, STEP, IGES), has been added.

Use Options | Program Setup to switch on the ‘Assign material to color faces during importing InterOp data’

Views, Workplanes and Coordinate Systems

All objects in 3-dimensional space are viewed in accordance to the current view. This view can be a Standard, Isometric, Dimetric or dynamically rotated view.

Objects are drawn, inserted or assembled by utilizing the current plane of the Workplane. The Workplane can be positioned in any plane, with 2 axes of the plane lying in a parallel plane, and the 3rd axis lying in a perpendicular plane.

Coordinate Systems apply either a relative or absolute coordinate factor and all spatial information can be supplied using polar or rectangular coordinates. Polar coordinates are input by defining the Length and Angle; Rectangular coordinates are input by defining their X-Y-Z values. In 3-dimensional design, it is usually preferable to define spatial values by inputting their X-Y-Z values into the coordinate fields.

Standard and Isometric Views

Local menu, right click in workspace.

Views such as Standard views (orthographic) and Isometric views are used to display the model from different viewpoints.

In the example below, a box and an adjoining wedge are shown from different standard and isometric viewpoints.

Standard Views

Top View

Side View

Front View

Isometric Views

 

Isometric South East View

Isometric North West

Dimetric Views

In dimetric views, 2 of the axes are visually foreshortened. In the example below, the view is set to Dimetric South East. The Workplane is shown for context.

Dimetric South East view with Workplane

 

Exploded View

Format | Exploded View

A new menu item Exploded View has been added to the Format menu. This tool creates an exploded view for a layout. The user is able to pull apart the component along defined X, Y and Z axes. In case of two axes, then the exploded view will be created along a plane, whereas, in case of 3 axes defined, the exploded view will be created in a 3D space.

A Block of the exploded view can be created in the Blocks palette.

Format > Explode View

1. Select the parts; 2. Shows the x-y-z axes orientation; 3. Select axis; 4. Select ‘Finish Selecting’; 5. Input Explode Size; 6. Finish’ 7. Exploded parts shown.

 

Using the Mouse Wheel to Rotate the View

Most pointing devices such as the wheel mouse contains a wheel between the left and right button. This can be used to dynamically rotate the view of a 3D object in to examine the object from unusual viewpoints. Hold down the mouse wheel and move the mouse around to obtain the desired viewpoint.

Using the mouse wheel to rotate the view of the model

 

Workplanes

Local menu, right click in workspace.

To assist with the visualization of the coordinate system, Workplanes are used.

The Workplane is represented by a red, broken-line square which will be displayed in relation to the current User Coordinate System and adapts to each viewpoint.

The Workplane responds in accordance with the User CS (coordinate system) and always lies parallel to the X-Y plane of the User defined CS, with the Z axis lying in a perpendicular direction to the Workplane.

It may be helpful to visualize the Workplane as a sheet of glass upon which all 3D objects are drawn.

Only one Workplane at a time can be displayed in model space, however a Workplane which has been specifically applied to a unique surface can be saved and retrieved at a later stage.

Workplanes can only be placed on surfaces or planes, never on curved surfaces. They can also be aligned by placing their X-Y-Z points on specific points in the workspace.

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Take Note

Some frequently used Workplanes are shown below, however all Workplanes are discussed and demonstrated in detail throughout the Tutorial Sessions. Use the Index or Search tool to find a specific Workplane.

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Show/Hide Workplane

This feature displays the Workplane in the model space layout.  Workplanes are not applicable to paper space layout.

Most 3D design is approached with the Workplane displayed as it provides an easy spatial reference in the workspace.  It allows the user to instantly understand the position of the X-Y-Z axis  in order to use these coordinates effectively.

Most of the practical work in this Training Guide will encourage the user to work with the Workplane displayed.

Worked Example

Turn the view to Isometric South East, then reduce the zoom slightly.

Draw one or more 3D objects in the workspace, similar to the box and wedge shapes shown below.

Right click in the workspace and select Show/Hide Workplane from the  Workplane menu panel, shown above.

The Workplane should be displayed in a similar manner to that illustrated below.

Workplane shown in Isometric South East and Front view

The Workplane adapts each time to differently selected viewpoints.

Fit Workplane to Window

By using the Fit Workplane to Window option, the border of the Workplane is accommodated within the current zoom magnification.

When using the Fit Workplane to Window feature, the entire Workplane is visible, irrespective of the current zoom magnification.

 

Worked Example

In the illustration below, the objects are zoomed to the extents of the workspace. The edge of the workspace is shown by the arrow.

Plane by Active View

Aligns the Workplane to the 2D drawing plane, irrespective of the User Coordinate System.

Worked Example

In the example below, the Workplane and the User CS are in alignment. The view is set to Isometric South East.

A profile can only be drawn strictly in alignment with the current Workplane, therefore a circle profile would be drawn similar to the illustration below.

By setting the Workplane to Plane by Active view, the Workplane is set to ‘normal 2D’ so that the profile can be drawn as if in a 2D view, shown below. The existing objects are not rotated in alignment to the Workplane, allowing a 2D plane to be assumed in an Isometric View.

Plane by World

Aligns the Workplane to the X-Y axes of the World Coordinate System, irrespective of any user defined coordinate system.

Example

In the example below, the Workplane has been aligned to the sloped face of the wedge. The Workplane feature ‘By Facet‘ was used to do this.

Point 1 indicates where the Workplane intersects with the parts.

Point 2 indicates that the World CS icon shows the view is set to Isometric South.

Point 3 indicates the User CS icon, showing the newly aligned Workplane on the sloped face of the wedge. Any new profile could now only be drawn on the sloped face of the wedge.

Workplane aligned to sloped face of the wedge

When the Plane by World option is used, the Workplane is restored to a parallel plane to the X-Y axes of the World Coordinate system, shown below, thus realigning the Workplane to the View.

Plane by World aligns Workplane to X-Y axes of World & User CS

 

Workplane by Facet

This Workplane feature applies a Workplane to a selected facet (flat surface) of a 3D object.

The Page Up and Page Down keyboard keys can be used to cycle between the available facets of the unit.

Workplanes can be placed onto a facet for single-instance applications using the Auto Workplane by Facetool. 

Example

At this stage, the box and the wedge reside on the Workplane, shown from the Front View in the illustration, below.

Parts shown in Front view

All new objects can only be drawn on the surface on which the Workplane resides. To seat the Workplane on the sloped face of the wedge, the Workplane by Facet tool is used, shown below.

Placing the Workplane on the sloped face of the wedge using Workplane by Facet

The Workplane is shown seated on the sloped face of the wedge below, from the Right side view.

Workplane shown on sloped face of wedge from Right side view

Consequently, all new objects will be drawn on the sloped face of the wedge, similar to the illustration below – shown from an Isometric view and a side view.

New object drawn on the Workplane shown from Isometric view (above left) and Right side view (above right)

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Take Note

The Page Up and Page Down keys can be used to cycle between the available facets.

Left click to place the Workplane on this facet, then view the model from different viewpoints to check the position of the Workplane.

Below is an example of the model viewed from the right side, with the Workplane shown on the top of the objects.

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Workplane by 3 Points

Ribbon : Workplanes | Workplane by 3 Points

Right click in the Editor | Workplane by 3 Points

This Workplane tool attaches a floating UserCS to the cursor and aligns the Workplane to the surface by defining an origin and the positive direction of the X-Y axes.The Workplane by 3 Points option is used in favor of the Workplane by Facet when a specific XYZ axis is required, particularly for dimensioning purposes.

In the illustration below, the Workplane has been placed on the highlighted face by defining the origin (lower left corner of the green rectangle), the direction on the X axis (lower right corner of the green rectangle) and the direction of the Y axis (upper left corner of the green rectangle)

The Workplane will be seated on the selected face, show below.

Coordinate System & UCS

Modes | Coord System

When drawing in either 2D or 3D Model Space, the Coordinate System represents the way in which entities are drawn and viewed in plan and elevation-type drawings.

User and World UCS (User Coordinate System)

From the Options menu, select Preferences, then activate both the Show User CS and the ShowWorldCS options.

The abbreviation CS relates to Coordinate System and is used frequently throughout this Training Guide.

Options | Program Setup | Preferences

World Coordinate System

The World Coordinate System (World CS) represents the way in which entities are drawn and viewed in standard isometric and orthographic views.

The World coordinate system is represented by an icon, shown below right.

The location of the World coordinate system icon, shown below right, remains fixed in the workspace.  The default position being the lower left corner.

The world coordinate system cannot be changed ; it responds strictly to the current view of the model.  When the coordinate system should be changed to create a new definition of the axes, a User Coordinate System is created.

When drawings are viewed from a Plan view, the icon, shown below will represent the X, Y and Z axis.  In this example, all objects drawn horizontally will be drawn in accordance with the X axis.  All objects drawn vertically will be drawn in accordance with the Y axis.

The Z axis represents the positive or negative elevation.

The World Coordinate system icons are shown in the illustrations below from different viewpoints.

Top / World Plan View

Right Side

Front View

Isometric South East View

The World Coordinate System icon, shown in the illustrations above, is activated in Options | Preferences, shown below.

Options | Program Setup | Preferences

User Coordinate System

The User Coordinate System, (User CS) allows the user to define the orientation of the X-Y-Z axis.

The origin of the User CS and the Workplane will always lie in the same plane.

The User Coordinate System is represented by an icon, shown below right.

The position of the UCS icon is not fixed; it will respond to the current view of the model and can be moved to a more appropriate position.

The User Coordinate system icon, shown circled below, is significantly larger than the World Coordinate system icon and can be adapted to user requirements.

In the example below, both the User CS and the World CS are in alignment. Only when the Workplane is changed will the User CS differ from the World CS.

Render Modes

Ribbon : | View | Views

Default : View | Visual Styles

Different Render modes are used to display the model.

The Wireframe mode is generally used when constructing and assembling the model and the Draft and Quality Render modes being used to view the finished rendered model.

When Material properties are applied to the model, realistic results are displayed when viewed in Quality Render mode.

Sketch objects and other non-renderable objects such as dimensions and construction objects can be viewed in conjunction with render modes by right clicking onto the Render mode and activating the non-renderable objects options.

Form Building Edges

Options | Display | Form Building Edges

Form Building Edges is a display setting which allows for a greater or lesser edge and surface representation to be shown when rendering a surface. Turning off Form Building Edges renders the part with a minimum amount of surface lines, showing only the edges.

Wireframe Mode

Right click | Wireframe Mode

When objects are displayed in Wireframe mode, shown below, all surface lines and interior lines are displayed, but the object is shown without shading.

Model shown in Wireframe mode

Suppress Hidden Lines Mode

Right click | Suppress Hidden Lines

When objects are displayed in Hidden Line mode, shown below, the object is displayed as an unrendered object, with all surface lines displayed.

Model rendered using Suppress Hidden Line mode

Draft Render Mode

Right click | Draft Render

Objects are rendered using draft render to provide instant reference to objects which are closed or with a hollow interior.

The draft render tool provides a uniform color over the object so that surface lines, faces and edges can be observed.

All surface and contour edges are displayed, but interior and contour lines are removed

Minimal light and shadow contrast is provided in this mode.

Model rendered in Draft render mode

Auto Update Current View

An option Auto update current view is available in Draft Render in Camera Properties.

When this option is enabled, the dialog parameter changes are immediately applied to the active window. Previously, the changes were applied only when clicking the “OK” button after selecting the options.

With this new option, the user is able to have immediate results when selecting/deselecting different options before even clicking the “OK” button.

 

VISUAL STYLES SETTINGS

Visual Style Settings are available in named views in the Design Director. New draft rendering visual styles have been added to the Camera Properties -, X-Ray, Conceptual, Shades of Gray.

CAMERA EXTENDED PARAMETERS

A new set of extended parameters have been added to Draft Rendering page of Camera Properties.

These parameters are available for 3 visual style modes i.e., X-Ray, Conceptual, Shades of Gray.

Each visual style has its own set of parameters. When changing the parameters, you can switch the styles from one to another. The extended parameters include Edge and Face mode/color related settings.

Quality Render Mode

Right click | Quality Render

When objects are displayed in Quality Rendered Mode, shown below, high quality, photo-realistic imaging is achieved, depending on the material properties applied to the model.

Model rendered in Quality Render mode

Dashed Hidden Lines

Right click | Right click onto Suppress Hidden Line

It is frequently necessary, when designing or assembling objects in the workspace, to display hidden lines as dashed.

When the Hidden Line render view is used, with both FormBuilding Edges and Degenerative Facet mode deactivated, the result is similar to the illustration below.

Right click in the editor, then right click on the Suppress Hidden Line tool. Selection the options shown below.

Options to shown Hidden Lines as Dashed

Displaying Non-Renderable Objects

Right click | Right click onto Draft or Quality Render

2D objects, such as profiles, construction entities and dimensions cannot be rendered under normal conditions. This applies to any rendering mode, from HiddenLine to Draft or QualityRendering. These are referred to as non-renderable objects.

It is frequently necessary, however, to view non-renderable objects when designing objects, particularly when reference is required from profiles, construction entities and dimensions.

By right-clicking onto the preferred render tool, these non-renderable objects can be shown when the model is rendered, shown below.

Model rendered in Quality Render, showing sketch profiles

Orbit

View | Orbit | Examine

It is frequently necessary to view the model from a non-conventional viewpoint. By holding down the mouse wheel and moving the mouse responsively, a unique viewpoint can be obtained, shown below. All render modes can be used to examine the model in this orientation.

View of model rotated using the mouse wheel

Visualize Hidden & Draft Render

View | Camera Options | Camera Properties

The Visualize render mode, added to the Hidden Line and Draft Render modes provides a highly detailed representation of surfaces, profiles and edges.

This option can be activated from Camera Properties, or by right-clicking onto the Render tools in the local menu.

In the example below, the settings for the Visualize render mode are shown below by selecting View | Camera Options | Camera Properties.

The model is then rendered using the Quality Render option.

Model rendered using Visualize render mode

Visualize PREFERENCES

The Visualize rendering technology includes the ability to import materials contained in TurboCAD files that have been rendered either by LightWorks or RedSDK. 

Currently, Visualize rendering supports color, texture, transparency map and bump maps, these parameters can be imported from LightWorks or RedSDK materials. These options are activated using Options | Program Setup | Visualize Preferences, shown below.

The Visualize render mode also provides two types of anti-aliasing for smoother or faster rendering.

Anti-Aliasing approximation

Visualize Ambient Occlusion

Options | Drawing Styles | Drawing Setup | Visualize Preferences

An Ambient Occlusion option is included in Visualize render mode.

Options for these are set in the Drawing Setup dialog box, and include the following parameters: Loops, Focus, Power, Blur Radius, Blur Power, shown below.

Dynamic Cut Plane

View | View Options | Dynamic Cut Plane

This viewing tool creates a Dynamic Cut Plane by creating a visual section through a 3D object.

After the Cut Plane is placed on the unit, the axes of the Cut Plane can be rotated to create the ideal visual section through the unit

To activate a Cut Plane, make sure the model is displayed in Wireframe render mode., then select View > View Options > Add.

To modify the Cut Plane, select View > View Options > Dynamic Cut Plane > Edit.

Cut Plane results are shown using the Suppress Hidden Line render mode.

In the illustration below, the arrow shows where the Dynamic Cut Plane is placed.

In the illustration below, the Cut Plane is placed on the midpoint of the edge by selecting View> Dynamic Cut Plan > Edit. The reference point of the selector is placed on the midpoint of the edge, shown above.

When the Suppress Hidden Line render mode is used, the result shown below is achieved.

Dynamic Cut Plane shows cut section using Suppress Hidden Line render

The Dynamic Cut Plane is removed by selecting View > View Options > Dynamic Cut Plane > Remove.

Take Note

This is a visual representation of the section only, viewed only when the Dynamic Cut Plane intersects the part and the render mode is set to Suppress Hidden Lines.

All render modes are found by right-clicking in the Workspace and selecting the render mode from the local menu.

This is a visual representation only.

CUTTING PLANE WITH VISUALIZE RENDER

Dynamic Cut Plane has is implemented for Visualize Render. Three pre-defined cut planes (XY, YZ, XZ) have been added to the Drawing Setup and Dynamic Cut Plane options. Ability to hatch section contours has also been added to the Dynamic Cut Plane Drawing Setup options.

User can now use Dynamic Cut Plane while in Draft render. The 3 cut planes introduced (XY, YZ, XZ) makes it easy to define the specific plane for the dynamic cut. The settings added to the Drawing Setup window helps the user to select different filling pattern styles for the cut plane.

EXAMPLE

View | View Options | Dynamic Cut Plane

The object is shown in Isometric South East view with the User-CS axes shown for reference.

By selecting View | View Options | Dynamic Cut Plane | Add, a cut plane is automatically added to the model, shown below.

The Cut Plane can be cycled through the XY, XZ and YZ planes by selecting these options from the Dynamic Cut Plane drop down menu. The selected Cut Planes are shown below.

Item 1 represents the XY plane

Item 2 represents the XZ plane

Item 3 represents the YZ plane

Cut Plane Options

Different visual options for the Cut Plane can be pre-selected using the settings in the Drawing Setup. To do this, select Options | Drawing Styles | Drawing Setup and select the Dynamic Cut Plane option.

In the example below, a crosshatch pattern style is selected.

In the example below, the color of the cut plane has been changed to green and a border has been placed around the cut plane, shown below. The shading is created using visual style X-Ray. To do this, select Options | Drawing Setup | Dynamic Cut Plane. Set the Graphic Color, then activate the Show Border option.

To recreate the rendering for this model, right click on the Draft Render tool in the editor, then set the Render Type to Visualize. Set the Render Mode to Visual Style:X-Ray.

Removing the front portion to reveal the interior using Draft Render Mode, Rendering Type set to Visual Style:X-Ray