compass manipulation; snapping to features; possible?
compass manipulation; snapping to features; possible?
(OP)
The compass eludes me. Is there any way to snap to features? Say I slap the compass on a face. It makes Z normal to the surface. Wonderful. I then want to rotate the compass to a line element or maybe translate one axis to snap to a point (only the one axis) without losing my previous alignments.
What am I missing here? Do I actually have to interrogate the model and calculate my own angles and offsets?
Nick
What am I missing here? Do I actually have to interrogate the model and calculate my own angles and offsets?
Nick
Light structural commercial aircraft parts
PCDMIS 4.3 CAD++, CATIA V5 R20
APM Consortium Inc.
Ontario, Canada





RE: compass manipulation; snapping to features; possible?
You seem to be describing the SNAP command in Assembly Design, although it doesn't require using the Compass. There's also a Manipulate command that's pretty handy to move parts. Have you tried either of these?
RE: compass manipulation; snapping to features; possible?
Once you have the compass snapped to a surface (say, "datum A"), there is no way to further snap it or orient it. Short of measuring and calculating your own angles and offsets.
Nick
Light structural commercial aircraft parts
PCDMIS 4.3 CAD++, CATIA V5 R20
APM Consortium Inc.
Ontario, Canada
RE: compass manipulation; snapping to features; possible?
Grab that and hover over any line you want it aligned to.
I do not think you can define four inputs (point and three directions) to define the orientation of the compass on the part.