pclary Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Is there a way to pick a certain face (such as the Blue Automatic plane in attached image) in a model and then get an ortho view of that face without the objects between the viewer and the face being visible? Sort of a section view? I don't want a section viewport (I don't think) as I want to model some features on that face and would then immediatey switch to an iso view to extrude etc. Thanks for any help Quote Link to comment
michaelk Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 If I understand what you're asking… Have you tried the clip cube? Select the objects you want visible, turn on the clip cube. mk Quote Link to comment
rDesign Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) In addition to michaelk's comment to use the Clip Cube, which is the best way to do what you're asking - you can also define that selected 'blue' plane as the working plane and then you can 'Look at Working Plane'. Working Plane Commands - Vw2017 Help Edited November 15, 2016 by rDesign Quote Link to comment
Guest Wes Gardner Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) Yep, the easiest way I know is to set a Working Plane (shift 1 on the Mac) and then use the "guy with the eye to "look" at it...works real well... Also, are you familiar with the "Automatic Working Plane"? The way it works is as you mouse over objects, their face will glow blue, you can then model directly on that face. To invoke - choose any Basic tool (like a rectangle) and then go to the "Plane" control (right next to the "guy with the eye") and select "Automatic" Hope this helps - happy modeling Wes Edited November 15, 2016 by Wes Gardner Quote Link to comment
pclary Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 Thank you, the Clip Cube is exactly what I needed! The trouble with 'Look At Working Plane' is that is shows objects between viewer and selected plane which makes it hard to draw. A related Q: when using Automatic working plane, is there a way to temporaily lock that plane as the working plane? When I use it and then go to place a starting point for a feature such as a line or rectangle that is close to the intersection of other planes etc, the Automatic plane jumps around selecting adjacent planes. My work around is set a Working Plane but it should would be nice to hold Shift or something to fix/lock the automatic working plane. Thanks in advance. Quote Link to comment
P Retondo Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I group objects, then enter the group to get rid of the other distractions. Setting a working plane and "looking" at it is the way I've always worked. You can also save that working plane with a name to invoke it later. Quote Link to comment
Josh NZ Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 The clip cube can also be used to create a sectional viewport. Click the face of the cube so shows red, right click, then the option is down the bottom. Have started using this quite a bit. Hope that helps. Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) 23 hours ago, pclary said: A related Q: when using Automatic working plane, is there a way to temporaily lock that plane as the working plane? When I use it and then go to place a starting point for a feature such as a line or rectangle that is close to the intersection of other planes etc, the Automatic plane jumps around selecting adjacent planes. I draw lines very seldom. But I think as soon as you set your first points click, e.g. for a rectangele, the blue plane will (disappear or) get locked (?) For me the problem is more to lock the plane to the correct orientation for the first click, when geometry is crowded. The trick for me is to force myself to focus on the planes orientation and just "trust" that VW will still snap to the correct vertex although my cursor is too far to show any cursor hints. That is scary but somehow seems to work. Edited November 16, 2016 by zoomer Quote Link to comment
Guest Wes Gardner Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 You can always save a working plane(s) and toggle between them - Modify > Working Plane > Save Working Plane. To use this effectively, show your Working Planes palette. Window > Palettes > Working Planes Quote Link to comment
pclary Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 Thanks Wes for the reply. I basically understand the use of the Working Plane and end up using it a lot. The Automatic Working plane is faster except when it doesn't work and grabs adjacent planes when I'm trying to do something near the intersection of other objects, hence the question is there a way to temporarily 'lock' or 'fix' the desired plane. The clip cube does most of what I'm needing but is bit slower: I'm often trying to reference other geometry when adding a feature. My preference would be tool that projects certain geometry onto a surface or plane that I can then reference but I don't think VW does that. So my next approach is to look at a surface/plane in normal orthogonal view. If I set a working plane on the inside face of the the left side of one of the steel doors I'm making (see attached screenshot) and then invoke Look At Working Plane, I do get a nice normal orthogonal view but all other objects between me and the selected surface/plane are in the way of seeing that particular plane. I just tried using the X-ray mode and maybe that's a way to do what I'm trying to do. Or using the Clip Cube. Is there a better work flow that I should be using? Quote Link to comment
zoomer Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 7 minutes ago, pclary said: Thanks Wes for the reply. I basically understand the use of the Working Plane and end up using it a lot. The Automatic Working plane is faster except when it doesn't work and grabs adjacent planes when I'm trying to do something near the intersection of other objects, hence the question is there a way to temporarily 'lock' or 'fix' the desired plane. I tried that. The trick is to not direct cursor near the potential snapping point as you would normally but to hover the cursor over the suited face to get correct Auto Plane's Orientation. Somehow the Snap will prefer the wanted corner point although it displays a snap option at an edge that is much less far away from cursor. Also you can set a workplane in second mode by simply clicking on a face and that plane will stay there. You can even draw elements by snapping to any point at any Z distance to that plane, and the 1st creation point will be projected onto that plane. Quote Link to comment
pclary Posted November 16, 2016 Author Share Posted November 16, 2016 I'll try that. Thanks! Quote Link to comment
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