Workplanes

(Available in Platinum, Professional and Deluxe)

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS

Ribbon UI Menu:

A workplane is the plane on which 2D objects are created within the the current coordinate system (UCS or WCS), and on which most 3D objects are based. In 2D, you always work on the same workplane - the XY plane of the current UCS. In 3D, however, the workplane may change frequently. In 3D, the workplane is still in the XY plane by default. But if you have 3D objects in your model, you can temporarily move the workplane to the facet where your cursor is. This is set in the Drawing Aids window, which can be opened by right-clicking on the SNAP or GEO field at the bottom of the screen.

Note: For details on Drawing Aids,

When Auto Workplane by Face* is checked, the facet will highlight in red when the cursor passes over it.

The object you draw will be placed on that facet.

The facet workplane is temporary; after the object is created, the workplane returns to the XY plane. If you highlight another facet, that workplane will be temporarily active for the next object you create.

Note: If you create an object with no facet highlighted, the default workplane will be used.

If you uncheck Auto Workplane by Face in Drawing Aids, the workplane will always be the default workplane. If you don't want to use the XY plane of the current UCS, you can use one of the Workplane commands. These commands can be found on the flyout toolbar on the main toolbar.

You can also display the Workplane toolbar by right-clicking in any toolbar area and selecting Workplane.

Note: The Design Director also contains tools for manipulating workplanes, creating workplanes, and displaying the view according to a selected workplane.

If you are working with the grid turned on, the grid will lie on the current workplane.

Changing the Workplane

While working in 3D, you will probably have to change the workplane frequently to create objects that have the correct location and orientation. For example, create a cube based on the default workplane. If you want to create a cylinder on the top face of the cube, you must move the workplane up to this face. Then you can place the cylinder in the correct location.

The workplane can also change when you select objects, depending on whether the 2D or 3D Selector is used.

Workplane by View

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/By View

Ribbon UI Menu:

Sets the workplane according to the current view.

Position the model to the desired view. In this example, the current workplane is By World.

Select By View. The workplane is turned so that it is parallel to the view plane. The Z axis becomes perpendicular to the drawing screen.

Workplane by World

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/By World

Ribbon UI Menu:

Sets the workplane based on the WCS (World Coordinate System).

Note: By World is the default workplane when selecting objects that reside on different workplanes.

You can display the WCS at the lower left corner of the screen by opening the Preferences and checking Show World CS.

By World, top view

By World, Isometric_SW view

Workplane by Entity

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/By Entity

Ribbon UI Menu:

Sets the workplane according to the coordinate system of a selected object, block, or group.

Click By Entity, and the cursor becomes a dashed representation of the current UCS. Click the desired object.

The workplane is placed along the plane on which the object was created.

To change the workplane to another object, use the tool again. Click the desired object.

The workplane is positioned according to the selected object.

Tip: If an object is listed in the Graphics section of the Design Director, you can set the view to an object's Workplane by Entity, and set this workplane as the current workplane.

Workplane by 3 Points

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/By 3 Points

Ribbon UI Menu:

Sets the workplane to fit three points. You can select these points, or enter their coordinates in the Coordinate Fields.

Select the UCS origin.

Select the second point to define the +X direction.

Select any point that lies on the desired X-Y plane.

The workplane is created.

Workplane by Z axis

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/By Z Axis

Ribbon UI Menu:

Sets the workplane by defining the Z axis of the UCS. The X-Y plane is perpendicular to this axis.

Select the UCS origin, or enter the coordinates in the Coordinate Fields. In this example, the workplane is to be aligned with face shown.

Select the second point to define the +Z direction.

The workplane is created.

In this example, because of the view, it may not appear that the workplane was aligned correctly. You can rotate the model to verify that the workplane is indeed aligned with the desired plane.

Workplane Origin

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/Origin

Ribbon UI Menu:

Sets the workplane parallel to (offset from) the current workplane, by relocating the UCS origin.

When you select UCS Origin, the cursor becomes a set of dashed axes, with the X-Y plane parallel to the current X-Y workplane.

Select a new UCS origin, or enter the coordinates in the Coordinate Fields.

The parallel workplane is created.

Workplane by Facet

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/By Facet

Ribbon UI Menu:

Sets the workplane to be aligned along a facet of a solid.

Note: The workplane is set to a facet automatically by default, as long as Workplane by Face mode is checked in the Drawing Aids window. You can open this window by right-clicking on the SNAP or GEO field at the bottom of the screen.

Move the cursor to the desired facet, which is highlighted in red, and the workplane axes are displayed.

Note: To select a facet behind or in front of the indicated facet, use the Page Up and Page Down keys.

2. Click to create the workplane.

Displaying the Workplane

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/Display WorkPlane

Ribbon UI Menu:

Displays or hides the red indicator representing the current workplane.

WorkPlane hidden

WorkPlane displayed

Note: If Workplane by Face mode is checked in the Drawing Aids window, the location of the workplane will change temporarily when you highlight a facet and create an object on it. As soon as the object on that facet workplane is finished, the workplane returns to the default location.

Initially the indicator is sized to fit the entire window, but you can change this, as well as the angle and location of the workplane. You can also display the origin of the workplane coordinate system by opening the Preferences (Options / Preference) and checking Show User CS.

Fit to Window

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/Fit To Window

Ribbon UI Menu:

Fits the workplane rectangle to the current window. This is useful after a view change such as zoom or pan.

Display Intersections with 3D Objects

Default UI Menu: View/Display/UCS/Show 3D Intersections

Ribbon UI Menu:

Enables you to visualize where the current workplane intersects with 3D objects. This is a toggle command; if selected, the interactions will always be displayed whenever the workplane is displayed.

Note: You can snap to points along intersection lines and curves.

Workplane without interactions

Workplane with interactions

Editing the Workplane

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/Edit

Ribbon UI Menu:

Enables you to move or rotate the workplane, and to scale the workplane indicator. Drag the blue handles to change the scale (only affects the indicator). Use the green handles to rotate the workplane about a specific axis. Use the yellow reference point to move the workplane. Press D to select the workplane's reference point if you want to move it. You can also use the scale, position, and rotation fields in the Inspector Bar.

Click Edit, and the workplane is displayed with editing handles.

Click on a green rotation handle (Y in this case), and move the mouse to rotate the workplane.

Click anywhere outside the workplane to finish and accept the new position.

Place on WorkPlane

Default UI Menu: Modify/Place on Workplane

Ribbon UI Menu:

Enables you to place 2D objects on the current workplane.

Select the objects you want to move.

Select Modify / Place on Workplane. The objects are moved onto the current workplane.

This tool can be useful, for example, for objects that have been selected with the 3D Selector and moved from their original workplane. If you try using a 2D tool like Fillet on two lines that sit on different workplanes, the tool will not work; one of the lines must be moved to the workplane of the other.

Flatten on Workplane

(Available in Platinum, Professional and Deluxe)

Default UI Menu: Modify/Flatten

Ribbon UI Menu:

Flatten tool is used for making 3D polyline and spline flat on the work plane.

Select the 3D polyline or spline by using selection tool.
Select Flatten tool from the Modify menu.

Saving and Recalling WorkPlanes

Default UI Menu: Tools/New UCS/Named

Ribbon UI Menu:

Saves workplanes so that you can recall them later.

Note: You can also create saved workplanes in the Design Director.

Create the desired workplane.

Click the Set Named Workplane, and assign a name for the workplane. Click New Workplane to add it to the list.

Type In a name for the workplane. Then click OK.

Now, when a different workplane is active, you can recall the one you saved. Click Set Named Workplane again, find the desired workplane on the list, and tick mark it in the active column.. (You can also double-click on the name.)