Workplanes

Workplanes form the basis of all drawings and models. They provide a point of reference for all objects.

A workplane can be likened to a thin sheet of glass that is coated in anti-graffiti paint which prevents it being drawn on.

When a new design is created, it has three principal workplanes:

• base
• frontal
• lateral

Of the three principal workplanes, only the base workplane has a sketch. This sketch is called Initial.

It is possible to create new workplanes at any angle or position.

A workplane can contain one or many sketches.

Sketches

A sketch can be likened to a very thin (invisible) layer of clear plastic which can be stuck onto a workplane. The thin clear plastic that the sketch is made from is designed to be drawn on (unlike the anti-grafiti glass of the workplane).

A sketch is used to create 2D objects (drawings) constructed from lines, circles, squares etc.

It is possible (usually necessary) to create a new sketch.

Before attempting to draw on a sketch, the sketch must be activated.

Putting it together!

• you cannot draw on a workplane

• you can only draw on a sketch

• when you create a workplane it DOES NOT contain a sketch

• you must to add a sketch to a new workplane before attempting to draw

• one workplane may contain many sketches

• you may create as many workplanes and sketches as necessary

Selecting a workplane

To select a workplane

• view all workplanes by clicking the select workplanes button on the design menu

• click on the workplane of you choice

Creating new workplanes

Most designs will require the creation of additional workplanes.

To create a new workplane:

• determine the orientation of the new workplane

• select one of the principal workplanes OR part of an object to indicate the orientation of the new workplane

• from the Workplanes menu select New Workplane

• in the dialog box give the new workplane an appropriate name

Offset workplanes

An offset workplane is one which is created parallel to an existing workplane or surface.

To create an offset workplane

• EITHER

  • select an existing workplane OR

  • select a surface using the surface select tool

• from the Workplane menu select New Workplane

• in the dialog box

  • check that the Offset button is selected

  • give the new workplane a name

  • EITHER

    • type the required Offset distance into the Offset box OR

    • in the drawing , drag the yellow handle to the required distance

  • click the OK button to complete the operation

Inclined workplanes

By default, a new workplane will be created parallel to one of the principal workplanes.

Where a plane is required at another angle, it is necessary to create an inclined workplane

To create an inclined workplane:

• indicate the direction of the new workplane by EITHER

  • drawing a line on a sketch OR

  • selecting one edge of a model using the select edge tool

• from the Workplane menu select New Workplane

• in the dialog box

  • click on the Angled button

  • give the new plane a descriptive name

  • EITHER

    • type the required angle into the Angle box OR

  • in the drawing , drag the yellow handle to the required angle

• click OK to complete the creation process

Top of page

Adding sketches

A new sketch may be added to:

• a Principal plane

• a new plane

• a flat surface of a model

To create a new sketch

• EITHER select the workplane

• OR select the surface that the sketch is to be attached to using the surface tool

• EITHER from the Workplanes menu select New Sketch

• OR right mouse click and from the menu select New Sketch

• in the dialog box

  • give the sketch a descriptive name (Side in this example)

  • if the sketch is being added to the surface of a model:

    • a new workplane will be created

    • give the new workplane a descriptive name if required (NewWorkplane in this example)

• click OK to complete the creation of the new sketch

NOTE - when a sketch is added to an existing surface, Pro Desktop automatically creates a new workplane for the sketch.

Activating a sketch

Before being able to draw on a sketch, the sketch must be be activated.

To activate a sketch:

• view the Workplanes Browser - to do this EITHER

  • from the Tools menu select Workplanes Browser OR

  • in the Browser, click the down arrow and select Workplanes OR

  • press Shift and K on the keyboard

• click on the + next to the workplane to view all sketches on that workplane

  NOTE the active sketch is shown in bold (initial in this example)

• right mouse click on the sketch you want to activate (handle in this example)

• from the menu select Activate Sketch

Occasionally it is necessary to remove sketches which are not needed any more.

To delete a sketch:

• view the Workplanes Browser

• activate a sketch which you do not want to delete (centre-line in this example)

• right mouse click on the sketch to be deleted (empty in this example)

• select Delete from the menu

NOTE it is not possible to delete a sketch if it is active

Deleting unwanted workplanes

To delete an unnecessary workplane:

• delete all sketches from the workplane

• right mouse click the plane to be deleted (Accident in this example)

• choose Select Workplane

• from the Edit menu select Delete

Renaming sketches and workplanes

To rename an existing sketch or workplane:

• in the browser window select the workplane or sketch

• right mouse click on the sketch or workplane

• select properties from the menu

• in the dialog box change the name

• click OK to complete the change

Some common problems