Object Direction / Invert Direction

Access: Open this function from one of the following locations:

  • Select Analysis > Tools > Object Direction from the menu bar.

  • Select Mesh > Validation > Invert Direction from the menu bar.

  • Select Invert Direction from the Mesh Guide Toolbar.

The operation of this function depends from where it was invokedinvoked(for instructions on how to invoke this function, press the Access button at the top of this Help topic) .

Object Direction

Review and define the outside direction of open objects.

This function flips the normal of an open object. Its main use is when adding catalog components to a open object and there is no access to the Invert option. In the examples below the object normal has been flipped. This can be seen when the Outside Direction of the object is diagnosed.

Invert Direction

Invert the direction of open mesh objects.

 

Demo: Press the button below to view a short movie demonstrating the function:

Practice: Press the button below to open Cimatron with a practice ELT file similar to that used to create the movie (if the relevant feature already exists in the ELT file, you can either edit it or delete it and create a new feature).


The following is the Feature Guide for Object Direction. The display of the feature guide depends from where the function was invokedinvoked (for more, click Access at the top of this Help topic).

Object Direction (Analysis) function:

Invert Direction (Mesh) function:

   Tip: You can open the Feature Guide at any time by right-clicking the mouse in the graphic display area.

Required Step 1 : For the Object Direction (Analysis) function: Pick an open object. For the Invert Direction (Mesh) function: Pick an open mesh object.

Auto

This option lets you pick the reference object, flip the direction if required, and then pick the entire object to arrange its normal as the reference object.

Pick the reference object:

Click the arrow to flip the direction:

Click the Select All button then press OK to exit the function:

Reenter the function and notice that all the objects appear in white indicating that their normal is according to the reference object:

Manual

This option lets you manually pick each object and flip its normal. It is useful in cases where the body includes several lumps as it allows each lump to be flipped individually.

Pick each object individually.

Each object is immediately displayed in white indicating that its normal is flipped:

Press OK or Apply in the Feature Guide.

When completed, the Arrange Normal feature will appear in the Feature Tree as follows (the display of the icon depends from where the function was invokedinvoked (for more, click Access at the top of this Help topic)):

Object Direction (Analysis) function:

Invert Direction (Mesh) function:

Some functionality may be dependent on the product package. Contact your Reseller if you require a license.