3D Construction Aids
- Last UpdatedNov 27, 2025
- 9 minute read
The 3D Aid Constructs window displays a menu bar which allows you to create 2D construction aids in 3D space. The 3D Aid Constructs functionality is available from the main menu bar, Utilities > 3D Aid Constructs to display the 3D Aid Constructs window.
The options available on the Control menu are:
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List |
Displays the Aid Constructors window. |
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Save |
Displays the Save Construction Graphics window, allows the user to save all the aids in a named file. Note: |
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Load |
Displays the Load Construction Graphics window, allows the user to load a saved file. |
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Control |
Closes the 3D Aid Constructs window. |
The options available on the Settings menu are:
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Repeat |
Select Settings > Repeat to allow the user to continue creating instances of the same construction aid until the user presses Esc on the keyboard. |
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Size |
Displays the Working Points Size window, allows the user to display the size of the work points. |
The options available on the Create menu are:
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Copy |
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Offset |
Displays the Aid Copy/Move Offset window, allows the user to create multiple copies and move each by a specified offset distance. |
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Rotate |
Displays the Aid Copy/Move Rotate window, allows the user to create multiple copies and rotate each through a specified angle about a given axis. |
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Mirror |
Displays the Aid Copy/Move Mirror window, allows the user to create a single copy and mirror it in a specified reflection plane. |
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Circle |
The options available include normal geometric constructions, deriving the 2D geometry from modelling elements and explicit definitions. The Toolbar option displays the Circles window, which displays a set of icons that provide shortcuts to the available construction methods. The user can position the cursor over any icon to view a tooltip summarizing its function.
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Line |
The options available include normal geometric constructions, deriving the 2D geometry from modelling elements and explicit definitions. The Toolbar option displays the Lines window, which displays a set of icons that provide shortcuts to the available construction methods. The user can position the cursor over any icon to view a tooltip summarizing its function.
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Work Point |
The options available include normal geometric constructions, deriving the 2D geometry from modelling elements and explicit definitions. The Toolbar option displays the Work Point window, which displays a set of icons that provide shortcuts to the available construction methods. The user can position the cursor over any icon to view a tooltip summarizing its function.
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Plane |
The options available include normal geometric constructions, deriving the 2D geometry from modelling elements and explicit definitions. The Toolbar option displays the Plane window, which displays a set of icons that provide shortcuts to the available construction methods. The user can position the cursor over any icon to view a tooltip summarizing its function.
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Grids |
The options available include normal geometric constructions, deriving the 2D geometry from modelling elements and explicit definitions. The Toolbar option displays the Grids window, which displays a set of icons that provide shortcuts to the available construction methods. The user can position the cursor over any icon to view a tooltip summarizing its function.
Refer to , and for further information. |
The options available on the Modify menu are:
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Move |
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Offset |
Displays the Aid Copy/Move Offset window, allows the user to move the aid by a specified offset distance. |
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Rotate |
Displays the Aid Copy/Move Rotate window, allows the user to rotate the aid through a specified angle about a given axis. |
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Mirror |
Displays the Aid Copy/Move Mirror window, allows the user to mirror the aid in a specified reflection plane. The Toolbar option displays a set of icons that provide shortcuts to the available construction methods. The user can position the cursor over any icon to view a tooltip summarizing its function.
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Other options allows the user to Cut, Copy and Paste construction aids.
You can also Position an aid, change the Radius of a circle or Extend a line, use the options on the menu. The Toolbar option displays a set of icons which provide shortcuts to the available methods; position the cursor over any icon to view a tooltip summarizing its function or display the Toolbar which contains icons for these operations.
Definition displays the appropriate definition window for the picked aid.
Project onto plane projects the picked aids onto the current working plane.
The options available on the Delete menu deletes the construction aids. Select Delete > Pick to delete a graphical aid or select Delete > All Constructs to delete all graphical aids from the system.
Aid Constructs
From the 3D Aid Constructs window, select Control > List to display the Aid Constructs window.
The 3D Aid Constructs window contains a list of the aids the user has defined and allows the user to modify the display and definition of aids selected in the list. Select the type of aid from the Aid Type drop-down list. The scrolling list displays all the aids of that type with the coordinates and numbers.
The menu options under Control allows the user to Save and Load From definitions and Close the window.
The menu options under Edit allows the user to change the definition of the aid selected in the list and select all the aids in the list.
The menu options under Display and Settings sets the display limits to the extents of the grid and how the aids are labelled in the 3D view.
Delete allows the user to delete aids in the following ways:
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Selected
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All current aid type
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All aid types.
Reference Linear Grid
To position a sub-component using polar coordinates with a linear grid, from the Grids toolbar, select Create Linear Grid to display the Reference Linear Grid window.
Note:
The Reference Linear Grid window is displayed as follows with defaults.
Options
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Label |
Select the Label check box to label the plane with the text ‘Grid’ |
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Detail |
Select Detail check box to label the individual gridlines. |
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Number of visible lines |
Defines the number of lines displayed in the linear grid. |
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Spacing |
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X |
Defines the X spacing of the linear grid. |
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Y |
Defines the Y spacing of the linear grid. |
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Preview |
Click Preview to display the grid as it would be created using the current settings. |
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Limits |
Click Limits to set the display limits to the extents of the linear grid. |
Position & Orientation
Use the Position pane to explicitly define the position the linear grid, refer to for further information.
Orientation
The Orientation pane displays the following options:
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Through three points |
Click Through three points icon to define the orientation, pick three points anywhere on the model. The orientation defined by the three points defines the orientation of the plane. The plane is orientated but its origin is not moved. |
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Through origin and two points |
Click Through origin and two points to the define the orientation, pick to points. The plane is rotated so that its X axis is orientated in the direction of the first point and its Y axis in the direction of the second point. The plane is rotated about its origin. |
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Y is, Z is |
Type the directions explicitly into the text fields. |
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wrt |
Define the coordinates of the item with respect to any suitable element. |
Click OK to confirm changes or click Cancel to discard any inputs.
Reference Radial Grid
To position a sub-component using polar coordinates with a radial grid, from the Grids toolbar, select Create Radial Grid to display the Reference Radial Grid window.
Note:
The Reference Radial Grid window is displayed as follows with defaults.
Options
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Label |
Select the Label check box to label the plane with the text ‘Grid’ |
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Detail |
Select Detail check box to label the individual gridlines. |
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Settings |
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Angle Increment |
Type an angle increment into the text field. |
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Angles |
Defines the angles between the radial gridlines. Type an angle in to the text field and gridlines is created at regular intervals specified by the value or type a list of angles into the text pane. |
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Diameters |
Defines the diameters of the concentric gridlines. Type the values into the text pane. |
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Preview |
Click Preview to display the grid as it would be created using the current settings. |
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Limits |
Click Limits to set the display limits to the extents of the linear grid. |
Position & Orientation
Use the Position pane to explicitly define the position the linear grid, refer to for further information.
Orientation
The Orientation pane displays the following options:
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Through three points |
Click Through three points icon to define the orientation, pick three points anywhere on the model. The orientation defined by the three points defines the orientation of the plane. The plane is orientated but its origin is not moved. |
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Through origin and two points |
Click Through origin and two points to the define the orientation, pick to points. The plane is rotated so that its X axis is orientated in the direction of the first point and its Y axis in the direction of the second point. The plane is rotated about its origin. |
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Y is, Z is |
Type the directions explicitly into the text fields. |
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wrt |
Define the coordinates of the item with respect to any suitable element. |
Click OK to confirm changes or click Cancel to discard any inputs.
Reference Plant Grid
To position a sub-component using polar coordinates with a radial grid, from the Grids toolbar, select Create Plant Grid to display the Reference Plant Grid window.
The Reference Plant Grid window is displayed as follows with defaults.
Options
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Label |
Select the Label check box to label the plane with the text ‘Grid’ |
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Detail |
Select Detail check box to label the individual gridlines. If this is selected the user has the choice to display the spacings and/or the East/North/Up coordinates. |
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Spacing |
Defines the X and Y spacings between the gridlines, type a list of the required distances into the text panes. |
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Preview |
Click Preview to display the grid as it would be created using the current settings. |
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Limits |
Click Limits to set the display limits to the extents of the linear grid. |
Position & Orientation
Use the Position pane to explicitly define the position the linear grid, refer to for further information.
Orientation
The Orientation pane displays the following options:
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Through three points |
Click Through three points icon to define the orientation, pick three points anywhere on the model. The orientation defined by the three points defines the orientation of the plane. The plane is orientated but its origin is not moved. |
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Through origin and two points |
Click Through origin and two points to the define the orientation, pick to points. The plane is rotated so that its X axis is orientated in the direction of the first point and its Y axis in the direction of the second point. The plane is rotated about its origin. |
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Y is, Z is |
Type the directions explicitly into the text fields. |
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wrt |
Define the coordinates of the item with respect to any suitable element. |
Click OK to confirm changes or click Cancel to discard any inputs.