Point Perpendicular

Introduction

This topic will explain the Point Perpendicular function, and the options found in it. This topic will also describe where to find the function, provide quick steps and an example on how to use it, and provide links to related topics.

The Point Perpendicular Function

The Point Perpendicular function is used to create points on existing geometry, at a location that is perpendicular from another selected point geometry. This is accomplished by selecting a point, and wireframe geometry, or visa versa.

 

Note: As seen below, this function will also produce points on what would be the extension of the selected wireframe entity.


To open Point Sketch / Enter:

 

  • In the Entity group of the Create 2D ribbon, click the down arrow under Point, and select Point Perpendicular.

 

The parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.

 

Note: Whether you click the main icon, or the down arrow to get to the other options, you will have access to the same options in the Data Entry Manager.

The Data Entry Parameters

Selected Geometries

The Selected Geometries list, shows the entity chosen for the creation of a perpendicular point.

Selected Geometry

 

(Delete All) - removes all entities from the list.
The list box will list the entities currently selected for the function.

 

    • OK - has no use with this function.

    • Cancel - Closes the function without creating previewed points.

Point Perpendicular - Quick Steps

  1. To perform the function, move your mouse into the graphics area, and select either:

    1. The point
    2. The wireframe entity

  2. Select the other entity.

    The perpendicular point is created.

  3. Continue this process to create the needed points.

  4. To close the function, click Cancel.

Example

Part 1) Create Example Geometry

  1. in the Quick Access Toolbar, click New.

  2. In the Shapes group, of the Create 2D ribbon, click Rectangle.

    The Rectangle parameters display in the Data Entry Manager.

  3. Under Corner Type, click Radius.

    In the Radius box, change the value to 0.500, and press Tab to update that CAD preview.



    To create the rectangle as shown in the CAD preview, click OK.



    To end the function, click Cancel.

  4. In the Document Toolbar, click Select Mode.

    In the graphics area, click to select the upper arc, the vertical line, and the lower arc on the right side of the rectangle.



    Press the Delete key. (Alternatively, in the Edit group, of the Home ribbon, click Delete.)



  5. In the Entity group of the Create 2D ribbon, click the down arrow under Spline, and select Blended.

    In the graphics area, click near the right side of the upper line to define the start of the spline. (If the line is not highlighted when you click it, the spline will not be connected to the line.



    Sketch the spline by clicking three times as you move towards the lower line.



    To define the end of the spine, click near the right side of the lower line.



    To confirm the selections and finish the spline, press the Spacebar. (Alternatively, right-click in the graphics area, and click OK.)



  6. In the Entity group of the Create 2D ribbon, click Point.

    Click twice to create two points similar to the image shown next. Be sure to create one of the points to the left of the vertical line and above the upper horizontal line.



  7. To end the function, click Cancel.

Part 2) Create Points Using Point Perpendicular

  1. In the Entity group of the Create 2D ribbon, click the down arrow under Point, and select Point Perpendicular.

  2. Move the pointer to the reference point that is inside the geometry (so that it displays in the Highlight color), and click to select it.



    The reference point changes to the selection color.

 

Note: When using Point Perpendicular, you can select the reference point or the wireframe entity first. The result of the function is the same for either method. In this example, we select the reference point first so that we can use the CAD preview to see where the (perpendicular) point will be created on any of the wireframe entities before performing the function.

 

Point to the spline, and notice the CAD preview.

 

 

Point to the lower line and click to create the point. (In the following images, the active drawing color was changed to make it easier to see the points created with Point Perpendicular.)

 

 

That is all that is needed to perform the function. You can repeat this process to create many points as needed.

 

How it Works

The following image shows that Point Perpendicular creates a point at a right angle to the wireframe entity from the reference point. If you create a line between the reference point and the perpendicular point, it forms a right angle with the wireframe entity.

 

Part 3) Create Perpendicular Points as an Extension of the Wireframe Entity

  1. Click the reference point (inside the contour) again to select it and enable the CAD preview.



  2. Point to both the lower and upper arcs, and notice where the CAD preview displays for each.



    You can see that the preview does not appear on the arc entities. In this case the preview shows that the point will be created as an extension of the arc geometry. Before getting into detail about how the function works with arcs, we create a perpendicular point as an extension of a line.

  3. Click the reference point again to remove it from the selection. (After selecting the first entity, you can click it a second time to clear the selection and start over.)



    Select the reference point in Quadrant 2.



  4. Point to each of the three lines, and notice where the CAD preview displays the point.



    You can see that the perpendicular point will be created as an extension of the lines. It does not have to be on the wireframe (lines).

  5. Click the lower horizontal line to create a point.



    You can see that the point is created as an extension of the line in order to make a right angle between the reference point and the line.

Part 4) Using Point Perpendicular with Arcs

When using Point Perpendicular, the software draws a line between the reference point and the arc center. It then creates the point at the intersection of this line and the arc. As a result, the point may be on the arc, or it is created as an extension of the arc. (The point is always placed along the radius of the arc.)

 

  1. Click the reference point that is outside the contour.



  2. Click the upper arc.



  3. If you were to draw a line between the reference point and the arc center, you can see that the point is created at the intersection of the line and the arc.



  4. Click the reference point that is inside the contour.



  5. Click the upper arc.

 

Img Img

 

Notice the point is not created on the arc, but rather as an extension of the arc (as if it was a circle). As explained earlier, a line is drawn from the arc center to the reference point, and the point is created along the radius of the arc. This is shown in the following image.

 

Img

 

  1. To end the function, click Cancel.

 

 

This concludes the example.

Related Topics

The CAD Overview