Information toolbar

The information area of the Status bar enables you to create and activate workplanes, display various preset fields and display user defined fields.

Note: Most of these fields display values, but do not allow you to edit them.

Workplane — Creates a new workplane of the selected type.

Active Workplane — Select the active workplane. If no workplane is displayed, then the transform (global coordinate system) is used. Selecting one of the workplanes from the list makes it the active workplane.

YZ Face — Use the YZ face of the workplane as the principal working plane. The active axes in the graphics window changes to .

ZX Face — Use the ZX face of the workplane as the principal working plane. The active axes in the graphics window changes to .

XY Face — Use the XY face of the workplane as the principal working plane. The active axes in the graphics window changes to .

Note: The principal plane is automatically updated if you select one of the six orthogonal views from the View tab > Views panel > From menu).

When the face is selected, any curves that you create are created in this plane. If it is not possible to create the curve in this plane, PowerMill creates the curve in a plane parallel to the principal editing plane.

— Click to enable point-locking. When enabled, intelligent cursor snap points are projected onto the principal plane of the active workplane.

Grid — Provides snapping points at regular intervals. The grid is placed on the principal plane (determined by which of , , and is active).

The snapping points are at the intersection of the grid lines.

Note: This option is only available when in a mode which enables you to construct geometry (such as the curve editor or workplane creation).

Grid size — Distance between the grid lines.

— The Coordinates of the cursor. These coordinates are determined by the intelligent cursor.

Position — Uses typed coordinate input rather than the cursor.

Note: This option is only available when PowerMill requires position information.

Relative/Absolute Coordinates — Toggles between relative and absolute coordinates.

• Relative Coordinates — The entities are moved by the amount specified in .
• Absolute Coordinates — The origin of the entities is moved to the coordinates specified in .

Coordinates —Enter the coordinates here in the form x y z. For example, to move the origin by 10.4 in x, 25.6 in y, and 12.2 in z, enter 10.4 25.6 12.2.

Calculation Queue— Displays a log of all entities added to the background calculation queue.

— The current Units (mm or inches).

— The Tolerance of the active toolpath.

— The Thickness, or material to be left on, whilst the toolpath calculation is taking place. This can display either a general thickness parameter, or, if used, the radial and axial thickness values .

— The diameter of the active tool.

— The tip radius of the active tool.

Any User Defined Fields are listed at the end of the toolbar.