How to Manage Graitec Advance Design Workplanes

Article by Mohamed Attibbi

Graitec Advance Design Workplanes

The modeling process differs from a structural software to another, the most common method is the use of nodes and coordinates to create the elements step by step, which is simple but time consuming. Hence, the need of a more efficient and intelligent method is of growing importance.

Graitec Advance Design has implemented an easy and user-friendly way to add components, by combining the snap mode and the work plane, designers can create elements by simply selecting nodes from the grid.

The work plane represents the area designated for drawing. It is composed of a grid that facilitates the creation of lines and surfaces. The element is automatically created and introduced in the project browser:

Users can define and modify the work plane using several options from the Home menu ribbon:

By default, the workplane will be created in the global XZ plan and, when selecting the element from the project browser, all the parameters will be displayed in the properties window:

The general section contains the basic information about the system such as their Id, name, description, and the type. In Advance Design we can define two types of systems: cartesian or polar.

• For the cartesian type the size of units are defined for the abscissa and the ordinate.

• For the polar system, we have to define the radius and the angle for the division units.

The properties window contains a section to display or hide the coordinate values:

In order to define a system or modify the existing one, Advance Design proposes three options:

1. User can define a workplane by simply selecting any predefined view from the Views section then selecting the tool from Plan section to confirm and create the work plane:

2. User can define the grid using a point and an orientation vector which will represent the origin and the normal respectively:

3.  As well, users can create their workplane using three points, the origin and the Y and X position:

Additional commands are available to customize the work plane:

• The workplane can be displaced along a normal, the new position is defined by the altitude value from the command line:

• Using the ‘’Center the workplane on the model’’ tool the system will be adjusted accordingly to place the grid at the center of the model:

• Users can change the type of work plane from cartesian to polar by selecting the designated tool from Plan section:

In this blog we discussed how to work with Advance Design workplane and the corresponding functions for a better control and smooth modeling. We’ve also introduced the snap mode tool, which will be addressed  in detail in a distinct article.

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