Point 3D CoPilot
Description: 15 minutes
Use the new Point 3D CoPilot in 3D Curves and
Surfacing commands. This feature increases functionality while decreasing your
number of clicks.
Watch a video about
Using the Point 3D CoPilot.
Overview
The Point 3D CoPilot is activated in the 3D curve
and Surfacing commands. The
Point 3D CoPilot appears on the screen with a local coordinate system shown by 3
arrows (U, V, and W) and 3 planes (UV, VW, and WU).

When Follow Me is switched on in a task dialog, the
Point 3D CoPilot will follow the cursor with each click and move to each
interpolation point as it is created.
To keep Follow Me
on all the time,
-
Click Settings
in the Tools section of the
3D Curve menu.
-
Click Follow
in the Coordinate System section.
Follow
Me is now on by default.
Modes
The Point 3D CoPilot operates in two modes:
Right-click to access the 3D Pick mode, plane mode, and
other options.
Follow the directions in the
Prompt Bar to use the Point 3D CoPilot.
3D pick
mode
In 3D Pick mode, the Point 3D CoPilot catches to existing
geometry elements.
If there is no existing geometry, the behavior of the tool
depends on the visibility of the workplane.
- Active workplane is visible - The current cursor position
is projected onto the workplane's (0,0) point. Rectangular feedback
indicates the position of the workplane and the position of the 3D point.
- Active workplane is not visible – The current cursor
position is projected onto a virtual plane through the Point 3D CoPilot’s
origin and normal to the viewport direction. Rectangular feedback always
starts at the Point 3D CoPilot’s origin.
Plane mode
The options for plane mode are UV, VW, WU.
- Switch from 3D Pick mode to plane mode by
clicking on an arc between two axes or right-click and select the plane from
the context menu. The arc disappears and the associated CoPilot arrows
become green. The Point 3D CoPilot now has the same functionality as the
2D CoPilot.

- Click points on your model or in the
workplane.
- The 3D Snapping option from the 2D CoPilot
is available. Vertices and edges can be projected temporarily onto the
active plane by hovering over these elements with the cursor. Feedback
is drawn as a catchable element in the active plane. When the cursor
approaches one of these catchable elements, the feedback snaps to that
element. Click to use the position of that element as a 3D point.
Menu options
Lift Point
In plane mode, define an offset for the interpolation point
in relation to the active plane.
- Select Lift Point
from the context menu. A dragger appears at the current cursor
position.

- When you move the mouse the offset is
displayed near the cursor. Feedback in the form of a 3D box shows the
base point in the active plane and the lift point’s position with respect to
the active plane.
- Drag the mouse and align the point’s
position with existing geometry. When the cursor is on an element that
is parallel to the active plane or on a vertex, the point snaps to the same
height as that element. Deactivate the snapping capability by holding
down the Shift key while dragging.
View by active plane
Available in plane mode. While creating points,
change the view so that the current plane is shown.
Show Coordinates
In the right-click menu, turn on Show
Coordinates to show Global,
Local, and
Polar coordinates.
When
Show Coordinates is on, a
Point Coordinates dialog appears below
the existing 3D curve dialog.

Use the Point Coordinates dialog to
see and specifically determine the exact location of your interpolation points.
If you want to type a
value into the dialog, right-click and choose
Freeze Coordinates from the CoPilot's context menu. After you type a
value(s),
- Click Continue to
continue typing coordinate values.
- Click Accept to
accept the value(s) you typed and create the interpolation point at the
specified coordinates.
- Click Reject to
clear the coordinates.
To make the Local and Polar coordinates active, the Point 3D CoPilot must be
in plane mode.
Freeze Coordinates
Stop the Point 3D CoPilot so that you can enter coordinates
into the Point Coordinates dialog. When you change a coordinate, the
coordinates in the other sections update accordingly. The point in the
viewport will not move, but CoPilot feedback in the viewport is updated.
To continue, click Accept.
2D CoPilot Settings
Modify the 2D CoPilot settings.
Clear 3D Snaps
In plane mode, clear the temporary projections of elements
that appear in the active plane.
Repositioning menu options
The initial position of the Point 3D CoPilot is determined
by the current command. This position may be the origin of the global or
local coordinate system or a previously-defined point from the Follow Me
mode.
Reposition the Point 3D CoPilot:
- Position
Dynamic – The 3D CoPilot appears. Click the 3D CoPilot and move the
mouse to reposition the Point 3D CoPilot. To redefine the origin, click
the blue sphere and click a new position.
- Define
Origin – Click on a new position to redefine the Point 3D CoPilot’s
origin.
- Define
W-Axis – Redefine the W axis with the
Direction 3D CoPilot. The U and V axes are rotated accordingly.
The origin is not changed.
- Define U-Axis
– Redefine the U axis with the Direction 3D
CoPilot. The W axis will not be modified. The U axis will be
aligned with the new direction. The V axis will be rotated accordingly.
The origin is not changed. You must define the W axis before defining the U
axis or the U axis will be modified to fit the W axis definition.
Use the Point 3D CoPilot in the following labs: