Create New 3D Document

T-FLEX CAD provides following dedicated commands for creating documents based on 2D prototypes:

•3D Model;

•3D Assembly;

•Sheet Metal Part.

Moreover, the New from Prototype command and the Create new Document section of the Start Page allow creating documents based on most prototypes existing in the system.

The prototype selection defines initial content, name and parameters of the resulting document. It also defines the tab of the ribbon and view windows, which will be active, upon opening the document for the first time. However, upon creating a document, you can change its content, name and parameters to your liking and use any commands, regardless of the selected prototype.

Default prototypes used in 3D Model and 3D Assembly commands have following differences in comparison to prototypes used in Drawing and Assembly Drawing command:

•3D model of 3D prototypes contains standard workplanes and default material; 3D model of drawing prototypes is empty;

•3D window is open by default for 3D prototypes, 2D window - for drawing prototypes;

•prototypes have different names.

3D Model

In order to create a new 3D model document, you can use the following command:

The command is also available in the quick access toolbar.

Upon calling the command, a 3D window of a new document appears. Content and parameters of the document coincide with content and parameters of the prototype, specified in system options for drawings (Options > Files > Templates > 3D Model). The name of the document is formed by adding an index number to the name of the prototype file (index number are counted from 1 for all documents created from the same prototype within current T-FLEX CAD session). Upon saving the document you will have to specify its location, then you may also change its name.

If the specified prototype file doesn't exist, the command will throw an error and create an empty document.

Depending on the Default Standard specified, when installing T-FLEX CAD, the default prototype used by this command is either ISO 3D Model or ANSI 3D Model, which affects default units of measurement, paper size and some other parameters. These are the prototypes from the common list of prototypes used by several commands (the information on the list of prototypes is available in the description of the Save as Prototype command). Therefore, the resulting document is the same, as when creating a document from the same prototype using the New from Prototype command or the Start Page. If you specify a different prototype for the 3D Model command in system options (see above), the resulting document will differ from documents created from ISO 3D Model or ANSI 3D Model prototypes.

3D Assembly

In order to create a new 3D assembly document, you can use the following command:

The command is also available in the quick access toolbar.

Upon calling the command, a 3D window of a new document appears. Content and parameters of the document coincide with content and parameters of the prototype, specified in system options for drawings (Options > Files > Templates > 3D Assembly). The name of the document is formed by adding an index number to the name of the prototype file (index number are counted from 1 for all documents created from the same prototype within current T-FLEX CAD session). Upon saving the document you will have to specify its location, then you may also change its name.

If the specified prototype file doesn't exist, the command will throw an error and create an empty document.

3D Model and 3D Assembly commands use same prototypes by default.

Depending on the Default Standard specified, when installing T-FLEX CAD, the default prototype used by this command is either ISO 3D Model or ANSI 3D Model, which affects default units of measurement, paper size and some other parameters. These are the prototypes from the common list of prototypes used by several commands (the information on the list of prototypes is available in the description of the Save as Prototype command). Therefore, the resulting document is the same, as when creating a document from the same prototype using the New from Prototype command or the Start Page. If you specify a different prototype for the 3D Assembly command in system options (see above), the resulting document will differ from documents created from ISO 3D Model or ANSI 3D Model prototypes.

Sheet Metal Part

The Sheet Metal Part command is not displayed by default, but you may add it into the ribbon or a toolbar using the interface customization dialog.

Upon calling the command, a 3D window of a new document appears. Content and parameters of the document coincide with content and parameters of the prototype, specified in system options for drawings (Options > Files > Templates > Sheet Metal Part). The name of the document is formed by adding an index number to the name of the prototype file (index number are counted from 1 for all documents created from the same prototype within current T-FLEX CAD session). Upon saving the document you will have to specify its location, then you may also change its name.

If the specified prototype file doesn't exist, the command will throw an error and create an empty document.

Default prototypes used in the Sheet Metal Part command have following differences in comparison to prototypes used in 3D Model and 3D Assembly command:

•the Sheet Metal tab is open in the ribbon by default for Sheet Metal Part, 3D Model tab - for 3D Model and 3D Assembly;

•prototypes have different names.

Depending on the Default Standard specified, when installing T-FLEX CAD, the default prototype used by this command is either ISO Sheet Metal Part or ANSI Sheet Metal Part, which affects default units of measurement, paper size and some other parameters. These are the prototypes from the common list of prototypes used by several commands (the information on the list of prototypes is available in the description of the Save as Prototype command). Therefore, the resulting document is the same, as when creating a document from the same prototype using the New from Prototype command or the Start Page. If you specify a different prototype for the Sheet Metal Part command in system options (see above), the resulting document will differ from documents created from ISO Sheet Metal Part or ANSI Sheet Metal Part prototypes.