Reference Geometry Walkthrough

A step by step example: a plane at 30 degrees along the edge of a plate, a sketch on that plane, a mid plane through the plate, an axis, and then planes and axes made before any solid exists. For everything the tool can do, see Reference Geometry.

Before You Start

• Modeling comes with the Pro plans.
• The examples use inches. Use any unit you like, and type it after the number.
• Make a plate first: sketch a rectangle 8 in by 3 in on the Top plane and extrude it 3/4 in. (The last section shows how to make planes and axes with no solid at all.)

A Plane at an Angle

1. On the Features tab, click Advanced, then Reference Geometry. Choose Plane, then At angle.
2. Click the long top front edge of the plate. That is the line the new plane will hold.
3. Click Top plane in the panel. Type 30 in the Angle box.
4. The new plane is shown in orange, leaning 30 degrees up from the Top plane along the edge. Tick Flip to lean it the other way.
5. Press OK. The Model tree gets Plane1, described as at 30 degrees to the Top plane through the edge.

Sketch on the New Plane

1. Click the blue plane in the view, or right-click Plane1 in the Model tree and choose Sketch on Plane1.
2. A sketch opens on the plane, square to it. Draw a circle and extrude it to see a boss that leans with the plane.

A Mid Plane

1. Open Reference Geometry again and choose Plane, Mid plane.
2. Click the top face of the plate, then turn the view and click the bottom face.
3. The new plane sits halfway through the plate, 3/8 in from each face. Press OK for Plane2.
4. Two faces that are not parallel are refused with a plain message, and nothing is made.

A Plane Through Three Points

1. Choose Plane, then Through 3 points.
2. Click three corners of the plate that are not in a straight line, for example the two lower front corners and the upper right front corner.
3. The new plane is shown in orange through the three corners. Press OK. Three points in a straight line are refused with a plain message.

A Plane Parallel Through a Point

1. Choose Plane, then Parallel through point.
2. Click the top face of the plate, then click a corner on the bottom of the plate (or a sketch point, or Origin).
3. The new plane is shown in orange, parallel to the top face and passing through that corner. Press OK for the next plane. A point that is already on the first plane is refused with a plain message.

A Plane Square to a Curve

1. Choose Plane, then Square to curve.
2. Click a straight edge of the plate. The new plane stands square to the edge at its start. Press OK, or pick a corner on the edge first to put the plane there.
3. With a sketch open, click a sketch arc or circle instead. The plane is square to the tangent at the arc's start (or where you clicked on a circle), so the curve runs straight through it. Pick a point on the curve to move the plane along it.
4. A point that is not on the curve, or past its end, is refused with a plain message. Flip turns the plane round.

An Axis

1. Choose Axis, then Two planes, and click Top plane and Front plane in the panel. The axis is the line where they meet.
2. Or choose Line or edge and click any straight edge or sketch line, or Round face and click a cylinder or a cone to get the line down its middle.
3. Press OK. The Model tree gets Axis1.

Planes and Axes With No Solid

1. Start a new part with nothing in it. Click Reference Geometry, choose Plane, then At angle.
2. Click X axis in the panel for the line, then Top plane for the plane, and type 30 in the Angle box. The new plane leans 30 degrees up from Top about the X axis.
3. Press OK. Plane1 appears in the Model tree with no solid in the part. Right-click it and choose Sketch on Plane1 to start drawing on it.
4. To use your own sketch: open a sketch on Top, draw three points, then click Reference Geometry, Plane, Through 3 points and click the three points. The plane is made right through them, wherever they sit in 3D.
5. A line and a point work the same way (Line and point: click a sketch line, then a sketch point), and Two points or Line or edge make an axis from sketch points or a sketch line.
6. Click Origin to use the origin as a point.

Show, Hide and Undo

• Click the eye beside a plane or axis in the Model tree to hide it or show it again. Hiding does not rebuild the part.
• Show planes in the panel draws the Top, Front and Right planes faintly. It is off until you tick it, and the viewer remembers your choice.
• Undo takes away a plane or axis you just made, like any step.