Turning a part...

[m4rc]

Hi,

I've just modelled an part in 3D and I've a need to re-orientate the part to a different plane... If I try to copy and paste the sketch from one to the other the dimensions don't follow properly. The other method that I think should work is to re-orientate x,y,z. Is it possible?

Cheers,

M

 

[PatCouture]

You could also use the modify command to rotate the body in the right dimension but I would recommend that only if you need a quick fix. If you are going to use this part a lot then you would be better to reselect your base plane accordingly and then to repair the failed dimensions.

Hope this helps

Pat

 

[m4rc]

Hi,

Thanks for the answer Pat, so I guess it's not as easy as telling the program to change the x,y,z... which is a shame as I swear you can do it in Mechanical Desktop... if you ask me it should be very easy to sort... oh well.

M

 

[ksudavid]

m4rc,

Why do you need to reorient the part relative to the base planes? Maybe there is another solution to the bigger issue.

Not being able to reorient as you suggest is important. If users could simply reorient parts then you could wreck havoc on assembly relationships. A large number of people use the planes for orientation in assemblies.

David

 

[donyoung]

Hi,

for me the question is not 'why can't a 3D-Cad swap the ref-planes'
but 'why do you have a need to do that'?

dy

 

[onefjef]

dy,

Most CNC lathes contain code in the XZ plane. If the part was drawn with central axis in XY plane this might create a code problem. Having said that, unless the part is very complex, moving the geometry to another plane and repairing dimensions and constraints would be best solution.

I would imagine that some code post processors have the ability to transform to another plane.

Jef

 

[beachcomber]

m4rc,
Before you start modifying the part think about the other points made here - especially how it may impact on assembly relationships.
If you then decide to go ahead I would suggest using the following procedure.
Firstly, if the part is entirely turned, and all your sketches are on one plane, you can work your way through the feature tree and change the reference plane for the sketch to use "feature's plane". Here you should select the base feature as the reference. If you do this all features will be created from the same reference, so when you finally change the base feature's plane all subsequent operations should follow, and you will have minimal (if any) rebuilding.
If you have other 'non-turned' features you may still be able to do something similar with those.
In any case you should always avoid re-creating sketches and profiles using copy/paste - MODIFY your existing ones and you will minimise re-building.

good luck

bc

 

[m4rc]

Hi,

Thanks for all the replies! The reason that re-orientation of the plane is a requirement of mine is more to do with getting all drawing of similar parts to be drawn/reated identically. In the future, when 3D is implemented into the company I work for I have no doubt that someone would create a part that is not oriented how we would wish. I'd drawn a part and attempted to find a method of changing the plane but didn't find one so I asked on here...

As a side story, one of my old bosses would always draw items starting in y-z plane. Something I could never explain to him that z should be up, not x...

Thanks beachcomber, I'll give that a go in the morning.

M

 

[PatCouture]

I would suggest using a template with a feature in the right orientation so that when anyone want's to start a new piece they can begin with this one and you will always have it in the same orientation. Of course you seem to have a lot of existing data that may need to be converted so for this you may need another solution.

I don't use this method but I think you can create your own coordinate system.

Patrick