30 docs tagged with "sculpt"

A string of 1D elements can be created using the Sculpt > 1D element operations > Add string of 1D elements menu command. The procedure is as follows.

The most direct way of sculpting in individual new elements is to use the Add Elements Sculpt Tool. New elements can also be created in sculpt by copying and splitting existing elements. The Adding a string of 1D elements also allows for simple sculpting of elements.

Nodes may be created one at a time using the Add nodes sculpt tool, or a number of nodes can be created at once using the Sculpt > Add nodes menu command. The procedure is as follows.

Coincident nodes can be collapsed using the Sculpt > Collapse coincident nodes menu command. The procedure is as follows.

1D elements that intersect, within a defined tolerance, can be connected by being split at the point of intersection and joined to a common node using the Sculpt > 1D element operations > Connect 1D elements menu command.

The following element load types can be created using the respective commands in the Sculpt > Create entity loading menu:

Grid point, line and area loads can be created using the respective commands in the Sculpt > Create grid loading menu. The Create grid loading menu is also available on the right-click menu that is displayed when the cursor mode is set to Polyline. The procedure is broadly the same for creating each grid load type and is as follows.

The Set grid plane to this command and clicking on a node when forming a polyline will both offer the option to set up a new grid plane if an appropriate one is not available. Otherwise, new grid planes can be created using the Sculpt > Create grid plane menu command. The procedure is as follows.

Joints can be created using the Sculpt > Constraint operations > Create joints menu command. The procedure is as follows.

The following nodal load types can be created using the respective commands in the Sculpt > Create nodal loading menu:

Rigid constraints can be created using the Sculpt > Constraint operations > Create rigid constraint menu command. The procedure is as follows.

New axes can be created or existing axes overwritten using the Sculpt > create user axes menu command. Two methods are available, as follows:

Any loading applied to nodes or elements can be deleted using the Sculpt > Delete displayed loading menu command. The procedure is as follows.

Nodes and elements can be deleted using the Edit > Delete (Del) menu command.

Elements can be disconnected from the existing structure at a specified nodal position using the Sculpt > Disconnect elements menu command.

The sculpt extrude command generates nodes and elements by a specified number and length of increments. The extrusion is based on either a polyline or a set of nodes or elements and is generated along an axis of a specified axis set or along an alignment, if any exist.

The flex command flexes a set of nodes into a specified shape. Typically the nodes are originally in a line, though this need not necessarily be the case. One of the set of nodes is identified as being the one to be shifted explicitly and the new position of this node is specified. The flex shape can be specified as linear, circular, elliptical or parabolic. When flexing linearly any node can be selected as the shift node; otherwise, the nodes at the ends of the line of nodes may not be shifted. End nodes are not flexed except when an end node is explicitly shifted in a linear flex. The flex operation moves the nodes to result in the specified shape, anchored by the end nodes and the explicitly shifted node.

Flipping a 1D element has the effect of reversing the direction of the local x axis. Flipping a 2D element turns that element upside-down. The flip operation adjusts the position of any element releases or offsets with respect to the element topology to result in these remaining at the same position in space.

1D elements that form a linear string, within the straightness tolerance (ref. Preferences > Sculpting > Straightness tolerance), can be joined up into one element using the Sculpt > 1D element operations > Join string of 1D elements menu command. (This documentation is also applicable to the Sculpt > Geometric entity operations > Join string of lines menu command.)

The right-click menu that is displayed when the cursor is pointing at an element offers commands to view the current attributes of the element, to open the Element, Property and Material wizards for that element and to open the Elements, Property and Materials Table views at the record that relates to that element.

The coordinates of individual nodes may be changed using the Drag nodes sculpt tool and of multiple nodes using the move nodes command.

The sculpt move and copy commands operate similarly. Both can operate on nodes, elements or members. Both operate by shifting, rotating or reflecting the selected items. The amount of shift can be specified by a polyline.

Nodal coordinates can be rounded to the nearest specified length using the Sculpt > Node operations > Round coordinates menu command. The procedure is as follows.

There are several cursor modes available for sculpting the geometry of a model. New nodes and elements can be created, the attributes of existing nodes can be modified and existing nodes can be moved (resulting in elements attached to these moving). These operations are carried out by first selecting the appropriate sculpt tool cursor mode and then using the cursor on the graphical image. The sculpt tools may be selected from the Sculpt toolbar or the Sculpt > Sculpt geometry cursor modes menu.

This page handles preferences that relate to sculpting and to entity selection in Graphic Views.

Editing the model in a Graphic view is referred to as sculpting. Generally sculpting is done either by using the mouse directly on the image in one of the Sculpt geometry cursor modes or by executing a sculpt command on a selection set or polyline.

Spinning a 2D element has the effect of rotating the element about its z axis such that the second edge becomes the first etc. The spin operation adjusts the position of any element releases or offsets with respect to the element topology to result in these remaining at the same position in space.

1D and 2D elements can be split. Various methods are available for doing this, as described below.

Ragged lines of nodes can be straightened using the Sculpt > Node operations > Straighten spacing proportionally and Sculpt > Node operations > Straighten spacing evenly menu commands. The Straighten spacing proportionally command maintains the nodal positions as projected onto the line between the two extreme nodes; the Straighten spacing evenly spaces the nodes at equidistant positions along that line. The procedure is as follows.

The sculpt transform geometry command moves selected nodes to positions expressed as a function of the original positions of the nodes. Normal mathematical notation is used in expressions. For example: