Types of 3D Copies

Copy of Operations

3D copy of operations allows a user to copy existing operations of the model. As a result of creating the copy operation, new Bodies appear – copies of the source operations.

In the structure of the model the result of 3D copy of operations is shown in the following way: if for creating the copy only one operation was selected, then the last operation of the created Body-copy will be the 3D copy operation itself. On the other hand, if the 3D copy was created for several objects simultaneously, then the references to the copy operation will serve as the basic operations of the new Bodies.

Optional mode of copying with union automatically combines the created copy with the body of the source operation. If the collection of the objects of copy contains more than one operation, then each created copy is combined with the corresponding to it source operation.

1. Source coordinate system

2. Target coordinate system

3. Source body

1. Source coordinate system

2. Target coordinate system

3. Copying without union

1. Source coordinate system

2. Target coordinate system

3. Copying with union

3D copy of operations can work in the move mode. In this case, the body of the source operation is removed, and only created copy remains in the 3D scene and in the tree of the 3D model.

1. Source coordinate system

2. Target coordinate system

3. Source body

1. Source coordinate system

2. Target coordinate system

3. 3D copy in moving mode (source body removed)

Copy of Bodies

3D copy of Bodies is created in the same way as the copy of operations. But while the 3D copy of operations copies only results of specific operations, the copy of Bodies copies the whole Body obtained by using the selected operation. If this Body is modified in the future, the 3D copy will be regenerated, accounting for new operations included in the Body history (similar to arrays of Bodies).

Copy of 3D fragments

Copy of 3D fragments is created in the same way as the copy of Bodies.

The operation gets into the model tree in the form of an item, inside which all the elements of the copy are fully functional fragments. This allows you to apply, for example, transformations, exploded view scenario, and other operations to selected elements of copies.

Copy of 3D Construction

The copy operation allows a user to create copies of any 3D construction elements.

In the tree of the 3D model, the created operation is put into the special folder 3D Construction > Clones. The elements-copies, obtained as a result of using this operation, are also put into the corresponding folders of the tree. For example, when creating the copy of a 3D profile, the resulting profile-copy will be put into the folder 3D Construction > 3D Profiles.

When copying workplanes and LCS, the additional transformation of symmetry can not be applied to the created copies.

The tree of the 3D model before and after creating 3D copy of construction elements

Copy of Faces

Copy of faces allows a user to add to the bodies present in the 3D model the holes and raised portions which duplicate already exiting structural elements.

3D copy of faces is always created on the basis of a single body of the model: all faces being copied have to belong to the same body. The outcome of creating the copy operation – collection of faces-copies – is also included into the source body.

1. Source coordinate system

2. Target coordinate system

3. Result of creating 3D copy of faces

The collection of faces selected for creating 3D copy can be arbitrary, but it has to fully describe the geometry of the copied structural element of the part. Faces-copies have to lie within the bounds of the source body and intersect with its other faces in the same way as the faces of the original collection.

1. Source coordinate system

2. Target coordinate system

3. Intersection of the copy with the faces of the source body is different than that of the source set (a 3D copy will not be created)

4. Intersection of the copy with the faces of the source body is the same as that of the source set (the 3D copy will be created successfully)

5. Result of creating 3D copy of faces

When creating the copy with the symmetry, one more additional condition is imposed on the source collection of faces: all edges bounding the collection of faces being copied have to be belong to the same “base” (not included into the list of copied faces) face of the body.

Specifying the initial collection of faces is carried out in the same way as in the arrays of faces by:

•Selection of closed sequence of edges bounding the desired collection of faces.

•Direct selection of all desired faces;

•Selection of the operation that created the desired collection of faces.

The outcome of creating the face copy operation can be also affected by the following additional modes:

•Copy to one Face. Use of this mode considerably reduces the copy regeneration time;

•Extend Faces (used only in combination with the Copy to one Face mode). The system will be automatically extending or trimming the copied faces in order to insure their correct connection to the body;

•Check Intersection with other Faces (used to avoid body self-intersections).

A detailed description of the copy types is given in the Optional Parameters of Array of 3D Elements section.