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Construction Plane

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Use the Construction Plane icon-add-cgplaneoffset.pngtool to create custom reference planes. Some examples of creating construction planes include:

  • Creating a plane at the desired location for a new sketch.
  • Creating a plane that can be used as a mirroring plane.
  • Creating a cutting plane for splitting bodies or making sectioned views.

Tip

Planes are infinite but are represented in the modeling space with a size based on how they are defined. For general information regarding construction geometry, visit Understanding construction geometry.

Creating a Construction Plane

To create a Construction Plane:

  1. Go to Add > Construction Plane.
    For other methods of accessing this tool, visit Accessing tools.
  2. Select Type and choose a construction plane type.
  3. Select appropriate references for the type of plane you chose (for details, see Construction Plane types).
  4. Select Done.

Tip

You can use Shapr3D's Adaptive User Interface as a shortcut for creating some construction plane types. To make use of this shortcut, pre-select an element in your project that will be used to define the plane, then select Add Plane from the customized menu at the left. After defining the plane, click in an empty area of the modeling space to complete the command.

Construction Plane types

You can define a Construction Plane in several different ways. Select the type of construction plane you want to define from the Type menu. The tooltip at the top of the modeling space will provide you with directions on what you need to do to create the type of plane you have chosen

ConstructionPlane-01.png

Offset

Use the Offset construction plane type to create a plane that is offset from an existing planar element. Follow these steps to create this type of plane:

  1. Select a face, plane, or sketch profile.
  2. Select Next.
  3. Drag the arrows to define the offset distance or use the dimension label to enter a value.
  4. To finish, select Done.

History settings

To manage history settings for the Construction Plane action, find the step for your specific construction plane offset from face and then view or modify the following:

  • Face –  Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different face and then select Done to finish.
  • Offset –  Enter a new value for your preferred offset distance.
  • Size – Enter a new value for your preferred construction plane size.

    history-plane-offset.png

Midplane

Use the Midplane construction plane type to create a plane that is centered between two selected planar elements. To create this type of plane:

  1. Select faces, planes, or sketch profiles.
  2. To finish, select Done.

History settings

To manage history settings for the Construction Plane action, find the step for your specific midplane construction plane and then view or modify the following:

  • Face –  Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different face and then select Done to finish.
  • Offset –  Enter a new value for your preferred offset distance.
  • Size – Enter a new value for your preferred construction plane size.

    history-plane-midplane.png

3 Points

Use the 3 Points construction plane type to create a plane that is defined by three selected points. Follow these steps to create this type of plane:

  1. Select existing points or select anywhere in the modeling space to define the three points for the plane.
  2. Optional: Drag the automatically generated points to reposition the plane. The points will snap to the grid, sketch geometry, or body geometry.
  3. To finish, select Done.

History settings

To manage history settings for the Construction Plane action, find the step for your specific construction plane through 3 points and then view or modify the following:

  • Point #1 – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different first point and then select Done to finish.
  • Point #2 – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different second point and then select Done to finish.
  • Point #3 – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different third point and then select Done to finish.
  • Size – Enter a new value for your preferred construction plane size.

    history-plane-3points.png

On Curve at Point

Use the On Curve at Point construction plane type to create a plane that is normal to a curve at a selected point. Follow these steps to create this type of plane:

  1. Select an existing curve, such as a curved edge or sketch curve.
  2. Drag the point that is generated to position the plane as desired.
  3. To finish, select Done.

History settings

To manage history settings for the Construction Plane action, find the step for your specific construction plane perpendicular to curve at point and then view or modify the following:

  • Curve – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different curve and then select Done to finish.
  • Point – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different point and then select Done to finish.
  • Size – Enter a new value for your preferred construction plane size.

    history-plane-oncurveatpoint.png

Perpendicular to Edge

Use the Perpendicular to Edge construction plane type to create a plane that is perpendicular to a linear element located at a selected point. Follow these steps to create this type of plane:

  1. Select a linear edge, axis, or sketch line.
  2. Select Next.
  3. Select an existing point or select anywhere in the modeling space to define a point where the plane will be located.
  4. Optional: Drag the automatically generated point to reposition the plane. The point will snap to the grid, sketch geometry, or body geometry. 
  5. To finish, select Done.

History settings

To manage history settings for the Construction Plane action, find the step for your specific construction plane perpendicular to edge at point and then view or modify the following:

  • Edge – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different edge and then select Done to finish.
  • Point – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different point and then select Done to finish.
  • Size – Enter a new value for your preferred construction plane size.

    history-plane-perptoedge.png

Along Edge at Angle

Use the Along Edge at Angle construction plane type to create a plane that is rotated about a selected linear element. Follow these steps to create this type of plane:

  1. Select a linear edge, axis, or sketch line.
  2. Select Next.
  3. Select a face, plane, or sketch profile.
  4. Select Next.
  5. Drag the arrows to define the angle or use the dimension label to enter a value.
  6. To finish, select Done.

History settings

To manage history settings for the Construction Plane action, find the step for your specific construction plane through edge at angle and then view or modify the following:

  • Edge – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different edge and then select Done to finish.
  • Face –  Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different face and then select Done to finish.
  • Angle – Enter a new value for your preferred angle.
  • Size – Enter a new value for your preferred construction plane size.

    history-plane-alongedge.png

Parallel to Face

Use the Parallel to Face construction plane type to create a plane that is offset from an existing planar element and located at a selected point. Follow these steps to create this type of plane:

  1. Select a face, plane, or sketch profile.
  2. Select Next.
  3. Select an existing point or select anywhere in the modeling space to define a point where the plane will be located.
  4. Optional: Drag the automatically generated point to reposition the plane. The point will snap to the grid, sketch geometry, or body geometry.
  5. To finish, select Done.

History settings

To manage history settings for the Construction Plane action, find the step for your specific construction plane parallel to face at point and then view or modify the following:

  • Face –  Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different face and then select Done to finish.
  • Point – Click/tap Edit… or Select… to choose a different point and then select Done to finish.
  • Size – Enter a new value for your preferred construction plane size.

    history-plane-parallelface.png

 

Learn more by watching the video below:

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