This describes the Method Input section as it differs for the various Point Method buttons.
When the Datum Type is Point, the Point Method can be any one of the following. The contents of the subsequent Method Input section depends on the Point Method, too.
Point Method is CAD
- by defining a point on a face of a CAD object.
Point Method is Best
Fit - by defining a region in which the point lies.
Point Method is
Intersect - by defining the intersection of two lines.
Point Method is Centroid
- by defining a group of surrounding points.
Point Method is
One Point - by selecting it precisely.
When Point Method is CAD, the Method Input section is:
Type group -
Sphere radio button - you will select a CAD face that is a sphere. The point datum will be its center.
Cone radio button - you will select a CAD face that is a cone. The exact location of the point datum depends on Position parameters.
Cylinder radio button - you will select a CAD face that is a cylinder. The exact location of the point datum depends on Position parameters.
Circle Center radio button - you will select a CAD face that is circular. The point datum will be its center.
Position group (applicable when Type is Cone or Cylinder) - specifies the exact location of the point datum on a cone or cylinder.
Position section when Type is Sphere - specifies the location of the point datum on the selected sphere.
Center radio button (the only choice) - the point datum will be at the center of the selected sphere.
Position section when Type is Cone - specifies the location of the point datum on the selected conical face.
Apex radio button - the point datum will be at the apex of the selected cone.
End 1 radio button - the point datum will be at End 1 of the selected cone.
End 2 radio button - the point datum will be at End 2 of the selected cone.
Position section when Type is Cylinder - specifies the location of the point datum on the selected cylinder.
Center radio button - the point datum will be at the center of the selected cylinder.
End 1 radio button - the point datum will be at End 1 of the selected cylinder.
End 2 radio button - the point datum will be at End 2 of the selected cylinder.
• Position section when Type is Circle Center -
Center radio button (the only choice) - the point datum will be at the center of the selected circular face.
Action group -
Instruction: “Select sphere/cone/cylinder/circle on CAD object.”
X,Y,Z - indicates the position of the point datum
Apply button - generates an image of the datum in the Viewing Area.
Next button - stores the datum in the Current Datums list and the Model Manager.
When Point Method is Best Fit, the Method Input section is:
Primitive group - specifies the primitive geometry that you will select in the viewing area.
Sphere radio button - a point datum will be created at the center of the spherical geometry.
Cone radio button - a point datum will be created at the apex of the conical geometry.
Circle Center radio button - a point datum will be created at the center of the circular geometry.
Action group -
Instruction - “Select region for best fit.”
X,Y,Z - indicates the point that is calculated to be the point datum.
Apply button - generates an image of the datum in the Viewing Area.
Next button - stores the datum in the Current Datums list and the Model Manager.
When Point Method is Intersect, the Method Input section is:
Type group - specifies a method of specifying a single point.
3 Planes radio button - specifies that the point datum will be specified as the intersection of three planes.
Plane and Axis radio button - specifies that the point datum will be specified as the intersection of a plane and an axis.
2 Axes - specifies that the point datum will be specified as the intersection of a two axes.
Axis and Polygons - specifies that the point datum will be specified as the point of intersection of an axis and the polygon mesh. If a given axis intersects the mesh in more than one location, the exact point is selectable.
Action group - the Action section depends on the radio button in the Type section:
• Action group when Type is 3 Planes -
Plane 1 radio button and dropdown (XY, XZ, YZ, and existing datum planes) - specifies the position of the first plane.
Plane 2 radio button and dropdown (XY, XZ, YZ, and existing datum planes) - specifies the position of the second plane.
Plane 3 radio button and dropdown (XY, XZ, YZ, and existing datum planes) - specifies the position of the third plane.
X,Y,Z - indicates the calculated point of intersection that will be the resulting point datum. This field is editable.
Apply button - generates an image of the datum in the Viewing Area.
Next button - stores the datum in the Current Datums list and the Model Manager.
• Action group when Type is Plane and Axis -
Plane radio button and dropdown (XY, XZ, YZ, and existing datum planes) - specifies the position of a plane.
Axis 2 radio button and dropdown (X, Y, Z, and existing datum axes) - specifies an axis.
X,Y,Z - indicates the calculated point of intersection that will be the resulting point datum. This field is editable.
Apply button - generates an image of the datum in the Viewing Area.
Next button - stores the datum in the Current Datums list and the Model Manager.
• Action group when Type is 2 Axes -
Axis 1 radio button and dropdown (X, Y, Z, and existing datum axes) - specifies the first axis.
Axis 2 radio button and dropdown (X, Y, Z, and existing datum axes) - specifies the second axis.
X,Y,Z - indicates the calculated point of intersection that will be the resulting point datum. This field is editable.
Apply button - generates an image of the datum in the Viewing Area.
Next button - stores the datum in the Current Datums list and the Model Manager.
• Action group when Type is Axis and Polygons -
Axis dropdown (X, Y, Z, and existing datum axes) - specifies the axis whose intersection with the mesh defines a point datum
X,Y,Z - indicates the calculated point of intersection that will be the resulting point datum. This field is editable.
Apply button - generates an image of the datum in the Viewing Area.
Next Intersection button - If the axis intersects the polygon mesh in more than one location, this button moves the point datum from one location to the next. Press this button until the datum is in the correct location.
Next button - stores the datum in the Current Datums list and the Model Manager.
When Point Method is Centroid, the Method Input section is:
Instruction: “Select region for centroid.”
X,Y,Z - indicates the calculated position of the point datum (at the center of the selected region).
Apply button - generates an image of the datum in the Viewing Area.
Next button - stores the datum in the Current Datums list and the Model Manager.
When Point Method is One Point, the Method Input section is:
Instruction: “Specify a point.”
Five buttons for point selection technique (surface, center, vertex, datum, curve) and X,Y,Z - specifies and indicates the exact position of a the resulting point datum.
Apply button - generates an image of the datum in the Viewing Area.
Next button - stores the datum in the Current Datums list and the Model Manager.