Snap modes are available in a Face window when you need to specify a location. For example, when working in CAD mode you can use snap modes to specify the end point of a line or the center of a circle. When working in CAM mode, snap modes are also available for you to define a toolpath profile.
The following snap modes are available.
XY Coordinates snap mode (ZX for Turning) — Use this snap mode to specify a location using X,Y coordinates.
You can use incremental coordinates by typing the @ sign in front of X or Y. For example, if the previous point was created at (2,2) and you enter @3 for the X coordinate PartMaker creates the next point at (5,2).
Polar Coordinates snap mode — Use this snap mode to define a point by entering polar coordinates (namely, Polar Radius measured from the part origin, and Polar Angle measured from the X axis) in the counter-clockwise direction.
Angle Distance snap mode — Use this snap mode to create a line with a given length at an absolute angle to the horizontal. The
Angle Distance snap mode button is available only after the first point is selected.
- Select the start point for the line in the Face window.
- Click
Angle Distance snap mode
.
- Enter an angle, measured from the horizontal, to draw the line.
- Enter the length of the line.
If Multi-Snap mode is enabled, use other snap modes to select the end point of the line, rather than entering an angle and distance.
Point on a Circle snap mode — Use this snap mode to define a point on a circumference of an existing arc or circle, by clicking an arc or a circle and entering an angle.
Screen snap mode — Use this snap mode to define a point by clicking a cursor location.
Grid snap mode — Use this snap mode to specify a point by clicking on a grid location.
Circle Center snap mode — This snap mode allows you to define a point in the center of an existing arc or circle by clicking an arc or circle.
Closest Intersection snap mode — Use this snap mode to specify a point by clicking the closest intersection of geometric elements.
End of an Element snap mode — Use this icon to specify a point, by clicking the end of an existing line or arc.
Middle of an Element snap mode — This icon allows you to specify a point by clicking the middle of an existing line or arc.
Tangency snap mode — Use this snap mode to specify a point by clicking near a tangency point that will be calculated by
PartMaker.
Perpendicular snap mode — Use this snap mode to specify a point at which
PartMaker will create a perpendicular line. This snap mode is available only after you have defined a first point using one of the following
CAD tools:
Line Through Two Points.
Connected Lines.
Circle with a Known Radius and Two Points.
Circle with a Known Centre and a Point.
Horizontal constraint — Use this icon to specify a point whose vertical coordinate remains constant, allowing changes in the horizontal coordinate only.
Vertical constraint — Use this icon to select a point whose horizontal coordinate remains constant, allowing changes in the vertical coordinate only.
Multi-Snap mode — Select this button to enable Multi-Snap mode, and deselect it to enable Single-Snap mode.
In Single-Snap mode, you can select only one snap mode at a time. In Multi-Snap mode, you can have multiple eligible snap mode icons selected at a time.
When Multi-Snap mode is enabled, PartMaker chooses a snap mode based on an element's proximity to the cursor. The following entity snap modes are eligible to be part of Multi-Snap mode:
- XY Coordinates snap mode
- Polar Coordinates snap mode
- Angle Distance snap mode
- Circle Center snap mode
- Closest Intersection snap mode
- End of an Element snap mode
- Middle of an Element snap mode
- Tangency snap mode
- Perpendicular snap mode.
Eligible snap modes are available only if there is appropriate geometry in the Face window. For example, if there are no circles or arcs in the Face window, the Circle Center snap mode is not available in Multi-Snap mode. If you have no geometry when you select Multi-Snap, only the ZX Coordinate icon is selected.
See also: