Create a plane along path

Learn how to use the Plane Along Path tool to create a construction plane that stays normal to a path along an edge, sketch line, or chain in Fusion.

1. On the toolbar, select Construct > Plane Along Path .

   The Construction Geometry dialog displays, Type is set to Plane and Method is set to Along Path.

2. Select an Extent Type option to establish the end point of the plane.

3. In the canvas, select an edge, sketch line, or chain of connected edges to use as the Path.

4. In the dialog, select a Distance Type:

   • Proportional: Specify the distance value as a proportion of the path.
   • Physical: Specify the distance as a physical measurement.

5. Drag the Distance manipulator handle in the canvas, or specify an exact value. You can move past the end of the path or chain to place the plane outside the selected geometry, and drag back to return the plane onto the path or chain.

6. Click OK.

The new construction plane displays in the canvas, normal to the path at the location you chose along the path or past its end.

Tips

• Create construction planes when you want to create sketches that do not lie on one of the 3 default planes.
• Use construction planes as the input for other tools, like the cutting tool for the Split Body tool.
• Use a Plane Along Path when you want to create a sketch profile to sweep along the path.
• Use the Proportional distance type when you want the location of the construction plane to adjust when you change the size and shape of the path.
• Use the Physical distance type when you want the location of the construction plane to remain at a fixed distance along the path when you change the size and shape of the path.
• Uncheck Tangent Chain if you don't want to automatically select tangentially connected geometry.
• For a chain selection, when you move past the end of the chain, placement continues in the normal direction of the last segment until you drag back onto the chain.