Polygon

Access: Invoke the Sketcher, define the sketch plane and then invoke this function from the following location:

Create N-sided shapes to form an equilateral polygon.

The polygon can be created in Free Mode or Dimension Mode. Toggle the Free / Dimension button as required. The created polygon is always equiangular, equilateral and convex. The size of the polygon can be controlled by edge length, bounding (outer) circle, or bounded (inner) circle.

Sketch Free/Dimension Note: You can toggle between Free and Dimension for circles, lines, ellipses, polygons and rectangles, so you can either create these entities without any dimension constraints, or to give preset dimensions on the geometry (which enables you to preview the exact shape before creating the entity).
Pre-dimensioned circles, ellipses, polygons and rectangles also have a center point, which makes it very easy to dimension or reference to the center of the geometry. Additional shapes can be constrained to the first one, or created with their own independent dimensions.

 

Free Mode:
Create polygons without any dimension constraints (default option).
See below.

Dimension Mode:
Create polygons with predefined dimension constraints.
See below.

Parameters:

Number of Edges

Set the number of edges for the polygon, from 3 to 100 edges.

By Edge Length

Define the length of one edge. When the size is defined by edge length, the edge receives a dimension.

In Free mode, define the first point of the first corner and then drag the other point of the first edge. This defines the edge length and also the angle between the edges.
Example:Example:

Free mode polygon creation; define the edge length by dragging the first edge.

Completed free mode polygon.

In Dimension mode, the following additional parameter is displayed and you position the center of the polygon:

Edge Length

Set the edge length with a predefined dimension constraint.

Example:Example:

Dimension mode polygon creation; define the edge length by setting the parameter. The preview automatically displays the size of the intended polygon at the cursor location. Position the center of the polygon.

Completed dimension mode polygon.

 

By Bounding Circle Diameter

Define the diameter of the bounding circle. When a bounding circle is used, it is created as a reference entity and receives a diameter dimension.

In Free mode, define the center point of the bounding circle and then drag the circle edge (this defines the radius).
Example:Example:

Free mode polygon creation; define the center point of the bounding circle and then drag the circle edge (this defines the radius).

Completed free mode polygon.

In Dimension mode, the following additional parameter is displayed and you position the center of the polygon:

Bounding Circle Diameter

Set the bounding circle diameter with a predefined dimension constraint.

Example:Example:

Dimension mode polygon creation; define the bounding circle diameter by setting the parameter. The preview automatically displays the size of the intended polygon at the cursor location. Position the center of the polygon.

Completed dimension mode polygon.

 

By Bounded Circle Diameter

Define the diameter of the bounded circle. When a bounded circle is used, it is created as a reference entity and receives a diameter dimension.

In Free mode, define the center point of the bounded circle and then drag the circle edge (this defines the radius).
Example:Example:

Free mode polygon creation; define the center point of the bounded circle and then drag the circle edge (this defines the radius).

Completed free mode polygon.

In Dimension mode, the following additional parameter is displayed and you position the center of the polygon:

Bounded Circle Diameter

Set the bounded circle diameter with a predefined dimension constraint.

Example:Example:

Dimension mode polygon creation; define the bounded circle diameter by setting the parameter. The preview automatically displays the size of the intended polygon at the cursor location. Position the center of the polygon.

Completed dimension mode polygon.

 

Angle

This is an counterclockwise rotation of the polygon around its center. The angle dimension is created between the first edge and the X axis.
Example:Example:

This parameter is not displayed in Free mode when using the By Edge Length option.

 

Free Mode

Draw a polygon without any dimension constraints (default option).

To create a polygon using the Free Mode:

InvokeInvoke (for more, click Access at the top of this Help topic) the Polygon Sketcher tool.
The cursor appears in the graphics display area as a crosshair-and-rectangle .

Depending on the option selected, either pick the center point of the polygon or pick the first point of the first corner (By Edge Length option) and move the cursor away from that point. A preview of a new polygon appears.

Click again to define the new polygon.

The polygon is created.

Dimension Mode

Draw a polygon with predefined dimension constraints. Pre-dimensioned polygons also have a center point, which makes it very easy to dimension or reference to the center of the box.

Set the parameters.

Note: When working in Dimension mode, the last parameter values selected in the function are kept as the default for the next time you access the function.

Create a polygon using the Dimension Mode

InvokeInvoke (for more, click Access at the top of this Help topic) the Polygon Sketcher tool.
The cursor appears in the graphics display area as a crosshair-and-rectangle .

Set the required parameters. The preview automatically displays the size of the intended polygon at the cursor location.

Pick a point to position the center of the polygon. The polygon is created according to the parameter settings.

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