Tools > 3D Features > Create 3D Features - creates a 3D plane, cylinder, cone, or sphere feature on a point or polygon object, based on existing polygon structure or on parametric input.
Define section (activated by a checkbox) - controls the name, type, and creation method of a new 3D Feature.
Name dropdown (A through Z) and text field - specifies an optional alphabetic prefix used by other functions such as GD&T, plus a name for the 3D Feature being created. The default name is based on the Type chosen below, but can be overridden by user input.
Type set of icons - specifies a geometric shape of the new 3D Feature. Pick one:
Plane icon button
Cylinder icon button
Cone icon button
Sphere icon button
Method set of icons (the set of choices depends on the Type above) - specifies the method by which you will specify the exact location of the 3D Feature.
Best Fit icon button (for Plane, Cylinder, Cone, and Sphere) - by allowing the software to fit the new 3D Feature to existing structure.
Parameters icon button (for Plane and Sphere) - by entering a mathematical description
Endpoints icon button (for Cylinder and Cone) - by entering a mathematical description of the 3D Feature's endpoints.
Base and Height icon button (for Cylinder and Cone) - by entering a mathematical description of the 3D Feature's base and height.
Four Points icon button (for Sphere) - by clicking four points on the object in the Viewing Area.
Definition group -
Action section - When Method is Best Fit, this reminds you to select a region on the object to which to fit the 3D Feature. But when the Method requires a mathematical description, this group contains the relevant parameters for user input.
Apply button - creates the 3D Feature as described by Type and Method, and adds Name to the List in the Features group. Press Next.
Next button - adds the just-created 3D Feature to the list of features in the Features group, and prepares the dialog for the creation of another 3D Feature.
Features section (activated by a checkbox) - allows a single 3D Feature to be designated as the active feature. The Edit group and the Statistics group operate on the one active feature.
Filter dropdown (All, Plane, Cone, Cylinder, and Sphere) - limits the members of the list to the 3D Features of a given type.
List of 3D Features with Move Up, Move Down, Flip Orientation, and Delete buttons - Highlight a name in this list to designate it a the active feature. The active feature is the one that is subject to modification in the Edit section and analysis in the Statistics section. The buttons simply adjust the order of names in the list, flip the normals of the highlighted 3D Feature, or delete a 3D Feature from the list and from the object.
Edit section (activated by a checkbox) - allows modification of the active 3D Feature's shape
Parameters section - allows modification of the 3D Feature's shape by adjusting the its descriptive parameters.
a set of Feature-specific parameters - describes the 3D Feature mathematically. These fields can be changed manually.
Accept button - saves changes to the 3D Feature's shape.
Reset button - rejects changes to the parameters and returns them to their original values.
Correspondence section - The "correspondence" is the set of polygons that were selected in order to seed the creation process (unless the creation was performed parametrically). The correspondence is significant because it affects a) the portion of the polygon mesh that is subject to color-coding when the Deviation Spectrum is activated, and b) the set of triangles that will be moved during Tools > 3D Features > Fit to 3D Features.
Edit button - Use standard selection tools to add to the set of polygons that correspond to the 3D Feature, or use the Ctrl key with standard selection tools to subtract from the set of polygons.
Accept button - saves changes to the correspondence.
Reset button - restores the original set of polygons.
Statistics section (activated by a checkbox) - presents a mathematical analysis of the active 3D Feature.
Maximum Distance indicator - the greatest distance between an actual point and a corresponding ideal point on the 3D Feature.
Average Distance indicator - the average distance between actual points and corresponding ideal points on the 3D Feature.
Standard Deviation indicator - the standard deviation of actual points and corresponding ideal points on the 3D Feature.
Deviation section -
Display checkbox - whether to show a color-coded representation of the difference between the ideal shape of the 3D Feature and the actual shape of the corresponding polygons.
Spectrum Name dropdown (default is "Feature", meaning that default Feature-specific values are used) - allows the selection of a named set of Deviation Spectrum Controls, as configured at Analysis > Edit Spectrum.
Deviation Spectrum Controls (available when Display is checked) - See All About Spectrums.
OK button - saves the new 3D Feature(s) to a 3D Features folder under the point or polygon object in the Model Manager and closes the dialog.
Cancel button - terminates the dialog without saving 3D Features to the object.