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Create plane normal to a view??
2

Create plane normal to a view??

Create plane normal to a view??

(OP)
If I use my mouse or arrow keys to position my screen view, I can save that view orientation, but is there a way to create a plane normal to that view?

tom...

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

If I'm reading your question right - sure.  But let me get to my work computer with SolidWorks.

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

You would need to know the exact orientation of the part/assy in relation to a feature or existing reference plane.

I do not know of a way to simply place a plane parallel to an indeterminate view seen on the screen. It  may be possible with an API macro though!

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

Yeah, I take it back - you need to know some dimensional aspect of the plane you're creating.  

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

(OP)
Thanks guys, thats what I thought

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

2
I have an Excel macro that does what you want.  You put the view on the screen at any angle that you want, then you run the macro in Excel, and a plane is created at that view.  I don't remember where I found it, but I have it at home and can post it tomorrow if you still hadn't had any luck Google-ing it.

Flores
SW06 SP3.0

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

Found it... it creates the plane parallel to the view, and coincident with the origin.  
http://www.mytempdir.com/423393

(plane.xls, file number 423393)

Flores
SW06 SP3.0

RE: Create plane normal to a view??


[thumsup2]

cheers
Helpful SW websites  FAQ559-520
How to get answers to your SW questions  FAQ559-1091

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

(OP)
I have been away for a while, wow, this is so so cool. Thank you very much SMCADMAN...

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

I can't take credit for writing it because I found it on the web some time back, but I'm glad I was able to help.   
wink

Flores
SW06 SP3.0

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

Not sure why uou'd need that... plese elaborate a little.


Windows 2000 Professional / Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2006 SP02.0 / SpaceBall 4000 FLX
Diet Coke with Lime / Dark Chocolate
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

Here's another way, without the macro.  I can't take credit for this, I think it was from Kevin Silbert.

In the view where you want to create a plane,

- open 3D sketch
- draw 3 points with no relations
- make the 3 pts coincident
- delete the coincident relations
- drag 2 of the points somewhere else with no relations
- exit the 3D sketch and create a 3 pt plane.

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

(OP)
TateJ
We do a lot of surgical blade edge grinding with elaborate custom built grinding machines. Sometimes the shape of the blade requires a helix like movement of the grind operation using a flat wheel to maintain a flat ground surface as you spiral down the curved blade. But sometimes we can save time and money by fixturing the blade at unconventional multiple compound angles that allow us to grind a straight path across the blade and achieve the same results as a helix grind. In this case we use a diamond wheel with a curved shape but the grind operation is just a straight path across.
So to answer your question, In the rough prototype stage of a new project I often position the blade model without a ground edge on the screen and rotate it by eye to a position that looks like a straight grind will get us close enough for discussion and evaluation. Now I can create a plane at that screen position so I can model a grinding wheel shape in context to cut the finished grind shape in the model. This will save me quite a bit of time up front. After we prove that this approach will work I will mate the blade and planes appropriately as I should. I have tried using the rotate component tool but I run into roadblocks that slow me down. This macro does the job nicely.
Thanks for you interest
Tom..

Tom Malinski
Sr Design Engineer
OKay Industries
New Britain CT

RE: Create plane normal to a view??

OK then... Learned a litle today after all.

BTW - I tried Silberts's method & it worked brilliantly!


Windows 2000 Professional / Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer
SolidWorks 2006 SP02.0 / SpaceBall 4000 FLX
Diet Coke with Lime / Dark Chocolate
Lava Lamp
www.Tate3d.com

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