Points

A point is a zero-dimensional geometric entity.

A free point is a zero-dimensional geometry entity in space that is not associated with a surface. It is displayed as a small "x", and its color is determined by the component collector to which it belongs. These types of points are typically used for weld locations and connectors.

A fixed point is a zero-dimensional geometry entity that is associated with a surface. It is displayed as a small "o", and its color is determined by the surface to which it is associated. The automesher places a node at each fixed point on the surface being meshed. A fixed point that is placed at the junction of three or more non-suppressed edges is called a vertex or vertex point. Such vertices cannot be suppressed (removed).

Create Points

Create Free Points

  • xyz - Creates free points by specifying (x,y,z) coordinates (Points panel).
  • arc center - Creates at the center of the arc that best approximates the input set of nodes, points or lines (Points panel).
  • extract parametric - Creates free points at parametric locations on lines and surfaces (Points panel).
  • intersect - Creates free points at the intersection of geometric entities: lines/lines, lines/surfaces, lines/solids, lines/planes, vector/lines, vector/surfaces, vector/solids and vector/plane (Points panel).
  • suppressed fixed points - Creates free points at suppressed fixed point locations (Point Edit panel).
  • circle center - Creates free points at the center of the circle defined by three free or fixed points (Distance panel).
  • duplicate - Creates free points by duplicating existing free or fixed points. This is available in many panels when the "duplicate" advanced entity selector is available on a points collector.
  • Misc. API commands that do not have an associated panel.

Create Fixed Points

  • by cursor - Creates fixed points at cursor locations on surfaces and surface edges (Point Edit panel, Quick Edit panel).
  • on edge - Creates fixed points at uniform locations on a surface edge (Point Edit panel, Quick Edit panel).
  • on surface - Creates fixed points at existing node/free point locations on/near a surface (Point Edit panel).
  • project - Creates fixed points on surface edges by projecting existing free or fixed points (Point Edit panel, Quick Edit panel).
  • defeature pinholes - When defeaturing pinholes, fixed points are created at the center of the each removed pinhole (Defeature panel).
  • Misc. API commands that do not have an associated panel.

Edit Points

Edit Free Points

  • delete - Deletes free points (Delete panel).
  • translate - Moves free points along a vector direction (Translate panel).
  • rotate - Rotates free points about a vector axis (Rotate panel).
  • scale - Scales the dimensions of free points either proportionally or uniformly (Scale panel).
  • reflect - Reflects free points about a plane to create a mirror image (Reflect panel).
  • project - Projects free points onto a plane, vector, line/surface edge or surface (Project panel).
  • position - Translates and rotate free points into new positions (Position panel).
  • permute - Switches the coordinates of free points (Permute panel).
  • renumber - Renumbers free points (Renumber panel).
  • Misc. API commands that do not have an associated panel.

Edit Fixed Points

  • suppress/remove - Suppresses non-vertex fixed points (Point Edit panel, Quick Edit panel).
  • replace - Combines multiple fixed points by moving them to one fixed point location (Point Edit panel, Quick Edit panel).
  • release - Releases fixed point vertices such that any shared edges attached to the point become free edges (Point Edit panel, Quick Edit panel).
  • renumber - Renumbers fixed points (Renumber panel).
  • Misc. API commands that do not have an associated panel.

Query Points

Query Free Points

  • distance - Finds the distance between two free points (Distance panel).
  • shortest distance - Finds the shortest distance between entities (Shortest Distance dialog).
  • angle - Finds the angle between three free points (Distance panel).
  • organize - Moves free points into different component collectors (Organize panel).
  • numbers - Displays the IDs of free points (Numbers panel).
  • count - Counts the total or displayed free points (Count panel).
  • Misc. API commands that do not have an associated panel.

Query Fixed Points

  • distance - Finds the distance between two fixed points (Distance panel).
  • shortest distance - Finds the shortest distance between entities (Shortest Distance dialog).
  • angle - Finds the angle between three fixed points (Distance panel).
  • numbers - Displays the IDs of fixed points (Numbers panel).
  • count - Counts the total or displayed fixed points (Count panel).
  • Misc. API commands that do not have an associated panel.