SpaceClaim Online Help

Sheet metal three-point circles

Use the Sheet Metal Three-PointSingle location in the sketch grid. 2-D object that has no height, width, or length. The origin, an axis, and a vertex are examples of points. Use the Point tool to sketch a point on the sketch grid. Points are useful as a dimensional reference, for splitting, and for creating a point on a line or curve through which you want to draw a three-point circle. Circle tool to draw circles when you know the location of the edge of the circle but you don't know the location for its center, or when you want to draw a circle that is tangent to two objects.

Rectangles, circles, polygons, and ellipses are automatically extruded to the thickness of a sheet metal wall as you sketch. You can change the default wall thickness in the sheet metal properties.

In addition, you can choose the ProfileLine in space; outline of an object; used to describe objects when sweeping or blending. option to create a wall that is perpendicular to the sketch plane as you sketch.

To sketch a three-point circle in sheet metal

1. Click on the Sheet Metal tab.

2. Click Three-PointSingle location in the sketch grid. 2-D object that has no height, width, or length. The origin, an axis, and a vertex are examples of points. Use the Point tool to sketch a point on the sketch grid. Points are useful as a dimensional reference, for splitting, and for creating a point on a line or curve through which you want to draw a three-point circle. Circle in the Sketch group.

3. (Optional) Select Three-point circle segment in the Options panelArea of the user interface that enables you to modify functions specific to tools. to create an arc that is a segment of a three-point circle.

4. (Optional) Click the ProfileLine in space; outline of an object; used to describe objects when sweeping or blending. option if you want to create walls as you sketch.

5. Click to set the first point on the circle’s edge.

   If you click a curve or line, the circle will be drawn tangent to the curve or line, unless you click the midpoint or vertex.

   You can dimension the points relative to other sketch objects.

6. Click to set the second point on the circle’s edge.

   If the circle disappears as you move your mouse over the sketch grid, then the cursor location cannot be included in any circle drawn through the first two points and the current point. If you click a curve or line, the circle will be drawn tangent to the curve or line unless you click the midpoint or vertex.

7. Click to set the last point on the circle’s edge.

Options

The following options are available in the Options panelArea of the user interface that enables you to modify functions specific to tools.:

• Three-point circle segment: Check this option to create an arc that is a segment of a three-point circle. To create an arc with this option, click to set the first point, click to set the second point, then enter the diameter or click to set the final point.

The following Sheet Metal sketch options allow you to choose between sketching a flat wall or a wall that is perpendicular to the sketch plane:

The following options are available for every sketch tool:

• Cartesian dimensions: Select a point in a sketch and then click this option to see Cartesian dimensions from the point. Cartesian dimensions show you the X and Y distances from the point you select. If you don't have a point selected, it shows you the X and Y distances from the origin.

• Polar dimensions: Select a point in a sketch and then click this option to see Polar dimensions from the point. Polar dimensions show you an angle and a distance from the point you select. If you don't have a point selected, it shows you the angle and distance from the origin.

• SnapConstrain to objects, angular and linear increments, or grid points while you are sketching or editing solids. You can customize the snapping behavior in File>Options. Pressing Shift while dragging snaps the tool based on your snap settings. You can use the Snap to grid tool to constrain or lock all drawing to grid points only. to grid: Select this option turn snapping on or off while sketching. The cursor will snap to the minor grid spacing increment while you sketch. The defaults are 1mm for Metric and 0.125in for Imperial units. See Units options to change the minor grid spacing.

• SnapConstrain to objects, angular and linear increments, or grid points while you are sketching or editing solids. You can customize the snapping behavior in File>Options. Pressing Shift while dragging snaps the tool based on your snap settings. You can use the Snap to grid tool to constrain or lock all drawing to grid points only. to angle: Select this option to turn angle snapping on or off while sketching. The cursor will snap to the angular snap increment while you sketch. The default is 15 degrees. See Snap options to change the angular increment used for snapping.

• Create layout curves: The sketch curves are created as layout curves. If you move the design to a drawing sheet, with Sketch modeMode for drawing in two dimensions using the sketching tools on the sketch grid. A sketch is a collection of lines and other 2D objects on a sketch grid. Sketching creates regions that can be pulled into 3D. When you pull your sketch into 3D with the Pull tool, regions formed by intersecting lines will become solids and lines will become edges. selected you must select the Create layout curves checkbox again in the Sketch Options group of the Options panelArea of the user interface that enables you to modify functions specific to tools. in order to create layout curves on the drawing sheet. See Layout Curves.

• CurveIn 3D, any line in space. Fitter Options: If the Sketch plane passes through a Mesh objectObject created by importing an STL file lightweight (facets only). Mesh objects have the ability to snap to the facets., the system will fit curves through the facet points. Lines are displayed green and arcs are displayed blue. The following options apply to the system-generated curves.

  • Fit curves - Uncheck this option if you do not want the system to fit curves through the points.

  • Tolerance - Determines how many points will be found, which also determines how many curves will be created. The smaller the tolerance, the more points will be found and the curves will be generated.

  • Auto-merge - When checked On, the system will merge linesd and arcs to form splines. Splines are displayed pink.