Point Selection (Picking Points)

Access: Open this group of functions from one of the following locations:

The mouse is used as a tool for picking geometry. As you move over different types of geometric entities with the mouse cursor, the cursor symbol changes to indicate the type of entity to which you are pointing, thereby enabling you to pick a specific entity type.

There are numerous cursor symbols that are used to specifically indicate and pick points. There are also cursor point symbols that enable you to select a point by picking other entities. For example, picking two curves to select their intersection point. The various cursor point symbols are described below.

Note: When you 'pick' (click on) an entity, it becomes 'selected' and is displayed as selected in the defined color. You can define the color of selected entities (and also highlighted entities) in the Preferences under Tools > Preferences > General > Colors > Highlight and Select.

By default, you can always pick endpoints, midpoints, and center points. The cursor will tell you what kind of point you are selecting. For example:

Endpoint

Midpoint

Center point

Additional point picking options are available from the following locations:

The following point picking options are available:

Selection Filter Name

Function Icon

Cursor Icon

Description

End

Enable/Disable the selection of End points (of curves).

Pick the end point of a curve.

Middle

Enable/Disable the selection of middle points (of curves).

Pick the mid-point of a curve.

Center

Enable/Disable the selection of center points (for circles and arcs).

Pick the center point of an arc or circle.

3D Cone Edge

  

This option enables you to easily define a center point on a non-circular edge with just a few clicks.

Pick the 3D edges attached to a cylindrical face to select the center point projected onto the axis. The 3D Cone Edge filter is selected from the Selection Filter dialog when the Center radio button is selected in the Points tab.
Examples:Examples:

For example, to create a line (Line Between 2 Points) from one point to the center point of 3D edges attached to a cylindrical face . . .

 

using the 3D Cone Edge option enables you to pick these 3D edges, and to select the center point projected onto the axis . . .

which, in this example, completes the Line operation.

 

Close to Curve

Enable/Disable the selection of points that are on curves or edges.

Click on an edge or curve; the closest point to where you picked will be selected.

Close to Face

Enable/Disable the selection of points that are on a face.

Click on a face; the closest point on the face to where you picked will be selected.

By using this option, points on imported STL files can also be picked.

Intersection

Select a point of intersection between two curves or two axes.

Pick two curves or two axes; their 2D or 3D intersection point will be selected.

Pierce

Select a point where a curve pierces a face or plane.

Pick a curve and a face or plane; the pierce point (of the curve through the face/plane) is displayed.
Additional information:Additional information:

A pierce point is also displayed if there is no real intersection between the curve and the face/plane - in this case, the pierce point is displayed on the extension of the picked curve at the point where it would have pierced the face/plane.
Examples:Examples:

If a pierce point is created on the extension of a picked curve, the type of extension created is as follows:

For example, pick a curve with no real intersection between it and a face.

Then pick a surface to be pierced.

A pierce point is displayed on the extension of the picked curve at the point where it would have pierced the face/plane.

A curve (also an extension of a curve) can pierce a face at more than one point. The following cases define the type of occurrences and the location of the pierce point:

  • A curve has an actual (not an extension) pierce (intersection) with a face/datum more than once. In this case, the pierce point is displayed at the pierce location closest (3D) to the picked point on the curve.
    Examples:Examples:

    Pick a curve.

    Pick a surface to be pierced.

    A pierce point is displayed at the pierce location closest (3D) to the picked point on the curve.

  • A curve has one real pierce (intersection) with a face/datum and the others are on the extension of the curve. In this case, the pierce point is displayed at the pierce location of the real intersection (as in "intersection" filter) irrespective of the picked point on the curve/face.

  • An axis pierces a face. In this case, the pierce point is displayed at the pierce location closest (3D) to the picked point on the face.

  • An axis pierces a datum. In this case, the pierce point is displayed at the pierce location.

 

TP Node

Enable/Disable the selection of toolpath node points.

Pick a segment of a tool motion (for NC only).

UCS Origin

Enable/Disable the selection of UCS origin points.

Pick a UCS to select its origin.

Point

Create a point.

Pick a predefined point.

Screen

Enable/Disable the selection of points that appear anywhere in the display area.

Click anywhere on the screen to create a point.

Key In

Select a point by keying in its coordinates.

Enter the required point's X, Y and Z coordinates. In the Sketcher, only the X and Y coordinates are available.

Delta

 

Add delta on the main axes to a selected point.

This is similar to Key In (mentioned above). The only difference is that you must first indicate a reference point using one of the point indication options above, and then enter the required point's X, Y, and Z coordinates as delta values (DX, DY, and DZ). In the Sketcher, only the X and Y coordinates are available.

Stock Shape Point

 

Enable/Disable the selection of stock shape points.

Pick stock shape points (for NC only).

Points Optional Selection

 

Allow selecting and unselecting point filters simultaneously (as opposed to a single point filter at a time).

When this toggle button is ON (selected), this enables the selection of multiple point filters, either from the Selection Filter or from the Points toolbar (shown above) or from the Floating Toolbar.

Points Optional Selection = OFF:
Only one point filter can be defined. In the example below, when the End Points filter is defined, these points are highlighted when hovering over an entity - the point nearest the cursor is colored green.

Points Optional Selection = ON:
Multiple point filters can be defined. In the example below, when the End Points, Mid Point, Center Point and Close to Curve Point are defined, these points are highlighted when hovering over an entity - the point nearest the cursor is colored green.

Note: Keyboard shortcuts for picking points are also available.

 

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