Basic_concepts POWER SHAPE

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(1)PowerSHAPE. Basic concepts.

(2) Disclaimer Delcam plc has no control over the use made of the software described in this manual and cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage howsoever caused as a result of using the software. Users are advised that all the results from the software should be checked by a competent person, in accordance with good quality control procedures. Information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice and does not represent a commitment by Delcam plc. The software described in this manual is furnished under licence agreement and may be used or copied in accordance with the terms of such licence. No part of this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, for any purpose without the express permission of Delcam plc.. Copyright © 1999-2004 Delcam plc. All rights reserved. Delcam plc Talbot Way Small Heath Business Park Birmingham B10 OHJ England Tel:. (UK) 0121-766-5544 (Int) +44 (0) 121-766-5544. Version number 5.7 - 02/12/04.

(3) Contents Basic concepts. 1. Introduction......................................................................................1. PowerSHAPE. 3. What is PowerSHAPE?....................................................................3 How do I run PowerSHAPE? ..........................................................6. User interface. 7. What is each area of the screen? ......................................................7 What is a menu?...............................................................................7 How do I use the menus? .................................................................9 What is a toolbar? ..........................................................................11 How do I use the toolbars?.............................................................11 What is the Status bar?...................................................................12 How do I use the Status bar?..........................................................12 What is a dialogue box? .................................................................14 How do I use dialogue boxes? .......................................................14 How do I use the Arm? ..................................................................16 How do I use the mouse? ...............................................................17 How do I use the keyboard?...........................................................23 What is a graphics window? ..........................................................24 How do I use a graphics window? .................................................24 What is the Intelligent Cursor? ......................................................25 How do I use the Intelligent Cursor? .............................................25. Models. 29 What is a model?............................................................................29 How do I create a model? ..............................................................29 How do I save a model?.................................................................30 How do I save a model with a new name? ....................................31 How do I save a model with a thumbnail?.....................................35 How do I close a model?................................................................36 How do I open a model? ................................................................36 How do I close and open zipped models?......................................41 How do I reset a model? ................................................................42. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Contents • i.

(4) How do I create a template model?................................................43 How do I change the description or password of a model? ...........43 How do I delete a model?...............................................................45 How do I keep track of changes made to a model? .......................47 How do I find out what a model contains? ....................................48 How do I find out information about a model?..............................49 How do I compare two models? ....................................................51 How do I find duplicate objects in a model? .................................53 How do I import data into a model? ..............................................55 How do I Import Materials?...........................................................63 How do I export data from a model? .............................................64 How do I use PS-Exchange to translate data? ...............................73 How do I export DXF files?...........................................................80 How do I export materials? ............................................................81 How do I create a .csv file for materials? ......................................83 How do I change the view of a model?..........................................85. Objects. 87. How do I create an object?.............................................................87 How do I edit an object? ................................................................88. Entering positions. 91. What is a coordinate system?.........................................................91 How do I enter positions? ..............................................................92 What is a grid?................................................................................97 How do I use the grid? ...................................................................98 How do I use point-locking? ..........................................................99 What is the Position dialogue box?...................................................100 How do I use the Position dialogue box? ..........................................100. Selecting objects. 111. How do I select objects? ..............................................................111. Calculator and measuring. 119. What is the calculator? .................................................................119 How do I use the calculator?........................................................119 How do I measure using the calculator? ......................................125. Parameters. 137. What is a parameter?....................................................................137. ii • Index. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(5) How do I create a parameter? ......................................................138 How do I edit a parameter?..........................................................140 How do I use a parameter?...........................................................140 How do I find out if a value uses parameters?.............................141. Index. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. 143. Contents • iii.

(6) iv • Index. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(7) Basic concepts. Introduction This manual provides all the necessary operations such as selecting objects and entering positions. You are also shown how to use the interface. You must be familiar with the operations in this manual in order to make full use of the other manuals.. Other manuals available Getting started To get you quickly familiar with the operations of PowerSHAPE, we strongly recommend that you work through the tutorials in the Getting started Manual. The tutorials are designed to introduce you to the concepts of PowerSHAPE. PowerSHAPE introduces many new ways of working with complex surfaces. Even if you are familiar with other Delcam products such as DUCT5, you can also benefit from investing some time in working through the examples. Wireframe modelling Wireframe objects (points, workplanes, lines, arcs and curves) are described in terms of how to create and edit them. Menus and toolbars This manual describes the menus and toolbars available within PowerSHAPE and how the various functions work. Solid and surface modelling This manual covers:. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. • 1.

(8) • Solid creation and editing • Surface creation and editing • Preparation for manufacture Drafting This manual covers the creation and editing of: • Drawings • Drawing views • Text • Dimensions • Hatching • Balloons • Symbols Managing your PowerSHAPE system This shows you how to manage PowerSHAPE and its data. Topics include: • installing PowerSHAPE • setting up new users • model database areas • backing up data • archiving models • workgroups • trouble shooting. Training courses Training courses are available. Please contact your Delcam Sales Partner for further details.. 2 • Basic concepts. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(9) PowerSHAPE What is PowerSHAPE? PowerSHAPE is a powerful 3D modeller for designing complex shapes. It is ideally suited to preparing models for manufacture; either from scratch or by editing a part-complete model, imported from another CAD system. PowerSHAPE supports standard Microsoft Windows functionality such as cut, copy and paste, drag and drop, and rubber-band editing of objects. Any modelling object (such as line, arc, curve) can also be edited via pop-up menu - easily raised by clicking the right mouse button. The menus contain all the main operations available for the selected object.. Power Solution PowerSHAPE is integrated with all the other Power Solution products. For example: PowerMILL, which prepares NC data to cut PowerSHAPE models on a CNC machine tool. Over the years, DUCT has grown, from its roots at Cambridge University in England, into the market leading software for the design and manufacture of moulds, tools and dies around the world. The Power Solution products retain the power and flexibility of Delcam’s DUCT5 CAD/CAM system, but with a modern Microsoft Windows style interface. The DUCT range of integrated CAD/CAM products have been continuously developed for over 20 years.. Ease of use Ease of use is central to the product; most objects can be created with one or two mouse clicks only. The dimensions are dynamically dragged by. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. PowerSHAPE • 3.

(10) using the object's editing handles to create the desired size and shape. Discrete values can also be entered using dialogue boxes. At the heart of the uncluttered user interface lies the Intelligent Cursor. This generates construction lines and highlights objects’ snap points and tangencies as the cursor passes over.. Modelling for manufacture PowerSHAPE simplifies the adding of manufacturing features such as chamfers, fillets, split surfaces and draft surfaces. It is designed to handle components with complex surface geometry, making it an excellent tool for designing moulds, dies, electrodes and patterns.. Surfacing tools PowerSHAPE offers sophisticated surfacing tools, including surface creation from curves and dynamic surface manipulation, allowing quick and easy creation and subsequent modification of the CAD surfaces.. PowerSHAPE options The PowerSHAPE product is sold as four main options: • PowerSHAPE • PowerSHAPE for Designers • PowerSHAPE for Toolmakers • PowerSHAPE for Design to manufacture The PowerSHAPE option contains the core functionality. PowerSHAPE for Designers contains: • Core functionality • PS-Assembly • PS-Render • Global surface editing • Solid bulge feature • B-spline sketching • PS-Draft. 4 • PowerSHAPE. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(11) PowerSHAPE for Toolmakers contains: • Core functionality • PS-Assembly • PS-Moldmaker • PS-Electrode and electrode set up sheets • PS-Draft PowerSHAPE for Design to manufacture contains: • PowerSHAPE for Designers • PowerSHAPE for Toolmakers Please note: If you have not purchased a licence for any option, you can still try the functionality using the evaluation licence (Tools Evaluation Mode). The following shortcuts start the modules of PowerSHAPE. PS-Estimator -estimator or -e PS-Draft -draft or -df PowerSHAPE for Designers -design or -de PowerSHAPE for Toolmakers -toolmakers or -t PowerSHAPE for Design to manufacture -manufacture or -m PowerSHAPE No argument For example, the following starts PowerSHAPE for Design to manufacture: powershape -m. When you start PowerSHAPE, the shortcut determines which licences you can use. If there is a problem accessing any licence, a message will appear stating which licence is not available.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. PowerSHAPE • 5.

(12) How do I run PowerSHAPE? 1. Log in to a user account. 2. Double click the PowerSHAPE icon. on your desktop.. You can also start up PowerSHAPE by typing in an operating system window: powershape You can start up PowerSHAPE and open an existing model at the same time by typing: powershape model_name After a brief wait, the program starts up. A new large window appears on the screen. This is PowerSHAPE. To get you quickly familiar with PowerSHAPE, a tutorial introduction is provided in the Getting started Manual.. 6 • PowerSHAPE. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(13) User interface. What is each area of the screen? The PowerSHAPE display uses a Windows™ style interface with pulldown menus and toolbars.. Each area of the screen and how to use the various components are described next.. What is a menu? Virtually every function within PowerSHAPE can be controlled from a menu. These drop down from the main menu bar, which is permanently displayed across the top of the PowerSHAPE window.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 7.

(14) The following provides brief details, but for full information, refer to “How do I use the menus?” and the individual menu chapters which describe the tools and functions available. • File menu - This controls model file related tasks such as Open, Save, Close, and Delete. • Edit menu - This provides the Undo/Redo commands and tools for handling the clipboard such as Cut, Copy and Paste. It also provides general editing tools applicable to most object types, such as Mirror and Rotate. There is also a button which raises the Edit Toolbar, providing one click shortcuts to the editing options. • View menu - This controls how the model(s) appear in the graphics window(s), providing a range of pre-set views. Using View Layout will display the View Edit dialogue box, which allows you to customise the view. • Object menu - This provides tools for creating all the available object types. These include Workplanes, Surfaces, Lines, and so on. The menu option for each type “walks through” to a submenu showing the available creation methods for each one. • Format menu - This provides options to change line types, colours and to assign display levels. Levels are used to reduce screen clutter on complex models. • Tools menu - This provides miscellaneous tools, including macro recording, surface splitting and trim region editing. It also allows you to set the PowerSHAPE options (your preferences on how PowerSHAPE operates). • Application menu - The Application menu lists all applications you can run whilst using PowerSHAPE. • Window menu - The Window menu lists all the graphics windows and allows you to manage them. • Help menu - This controls the dynamic help (pop-up tool tips) and the online help system. It also contains the software version and release details. • Pop-up menus - These are raised by clicking the right mouse button over an object. A menu appears under the cursor containing commands appropriate for editing the object. Right clicking within a graphics window, but away from any objects raises a view menu.. 8 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(15) How do I use the menus? The PowerSHAPE main menu is fixed at the top of the program window. Using the mouse to click on a menu option opens the menu that can contain commands, sub-menus and/or dialogue boxes. Options are dimmed when not available. If you hold the mouse button down and drag the cursor over the menus, the sub-menus open and close as the mouse passes over. The item under the cursor is selected when you release the button. If you decide to not select anything, move the cursor away from a menu before releasing the button. A similar effect is achieved by holding the Alt key down and pressing an appropriate underlined character. For example Alt e opens the Edit menu. You can also navigate around the menus with the arrow keys pre-select items. Enter ↵ selects an item and Esc closes the menus.. to. Some menus contain “walk through” options, indicated by the button at the right of the option. To use these, click the menu option and click again on the button. The walk-through expands and you can now select an option in the usual way. The arrow keys also work with “walkthroughs”. Just press the arrow when the option is highlighted. You can then arrow up and down the walk-through list.. Pop-up menus Pop-up menus are raised by clicking the right mouse button in the graphics window. The menu options vary according to what you click over. If you right click over an object, a pop-up menu is raised and displays the common edit options for that object. At the top of the menu, the type and name of the object are displayed. The name of the level on which the object lies is in brackets.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 9.

(16) A click of the right mouse button in the graphics window, but not over an object, raises the View pop-up menu. This pop-up menu provides the shading options from the View menu and other common options.. If a mixture of objects is selected and you click the right mouse button on one of the selected objects, the Selection pop-up menu is displayed. This pop-up menu provides some common edit commands.. Object dialogue boxes and toolbars Double clicking over an object raises an object related dialogue box or a toolbar. The options vary according to the object type. 10 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(17) Refer to: • "How do I edit an arc?" in the Wireframe modelling Manual • "How do I edit a curve?" in the Wireframe modelling Manual • "How do I edit a line?" in the Wireframe modelling Manual • "How do I edit a power surface?" in the Surface modelling Manual. • "How do I edit a primitive surface?" in the Surface modelling Manual. • "How do I edit a workplane?" in the Wireframe modelling Manual. Option menus Option menus are buttons used in dialogue boxes and toolbars. They show the current selection and expand when clicked to show all the options in the menu. Refer to "Option menus” in “How do I use dialogue boxes?".. What is a toolbar?. The toolbars contain buttons with graphical images (icons) to indicate their operation. In most cases, these provide shortcuts to options that you can reach from the menus. The Main Toolbar shown across the top of the above example picture is always visible. Other toolbars are displayed or hidden according to the functions in use. The image above also shows the Edit Toolbar displaying the Limit Selection tools.. How do I use the toolbars? The toolbars contain many of the features used in dialogue boxes. Typically: command buttons, text boxes and option menus. To use a toolbar, position the mouse pointer over a button and click the left-hand. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 11.

(18) mouse button. The button appears to press in and the function is activated. Most of the toolbar buttons are labelled with an icon to represent its function. Some have a text description. Many buttons provide shortcuts to main menu items. A few buttons raise secondary toolbars, for example, Surface Edits. Other toolbars change according to the function selected, this occurs on the Edit Toolbar. These have specific purposes and do not necessarily duplicate main menu options. If you are not sure what a button does, hover the mouse pointer over it. After a few seconds, a dynamic help text appears to describe the button’s purpose. Toolbars become fixed once they are displayed. To remove a toolbar from the screen, click the Cross button on the left of the toolbar.. What is the Status bar? This is the area at the bottom of the PowerSHAPE screen. It allows you to set the default drawing plane, enter point co-ordinates and open the Position dialogue box.. How do I use the Status bar? The Status bar is fixed at the bottom of the PowerSHAPE window. The picture below shows all the features in the Status bar.. Temporary workplane button - This allows you to create or remove a temporary workplane. See "Creating a temporary workplane" in the. 12 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(19) "Workplanes" section in the Wireframe modelling Manual for further details. Workplane drop down list - This allows you to activate and de-activate workplanes. You can also use it to change the name of the selected workplane. See "Workplane combo box" in the "Workplanes" section in the Wireframe modelling Manual for further details. Origin of the active workplane - This is three boxes, which contain the X, Y, Z coordinates (in red) of the origin of the workplane. Principal plane buttons - These allows you to set the principal plane of the current workspace. Each button displays the label of the axis that is normal to the principal plane. For example, the button with label Z represents the XY principal plane. Select one of the buttons to change the principal plane. Point lock button - Turns on point-locking, for entering positions using the mouse. See "How do I use point-locking?" for further details. Grid on/off button. - Turns on and off the grid.. Grid scale - Displays the scale of the grid when it is switched on. See "What is a grid?" for further details. Coordinates box - This is three boxes, which contain the X, Y, Z coordinates of the cursor. Position button - When you are in object creation mode (such as, creating lines), this button is available. When you click on this, it displays the Position dialogue box which gives you various ways of entering positions. Refer to "How do I use the Position dialogue box?". Calculator button - Start the PowerSHAPE calculator. Refer to "How do I use the calculator?" in the Basic concepts Manual. Connect/Disconnect the Arm button - Connects or disconnects the Arm. To connect to the Arm, you need to have a PS-ARM licence file installed on your computer. See "How do I use the arm?" for further details. Tol - This displays the value of the general tolerance. You can use this text box to change the value. Data entry box - This is used to enter data or to view previously entered data. To enter data, either:. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 13.

(20) • Move the mouse cursor into the Data entry box and click in the box. Type in the data and press return. Or • Move the mouse cursor into the graphics window and type in the data. The data will appear in the Data entry box. Press return to enter the data. To view previously entered data: 1. Move the cursor into the Data entry box and click in the box. 2. Use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to display the previously entered data. The up arrow key will display previously entered data upwards from the last entry. The down arrow key will display previously entered data downwards from the first entry. If you want to enter any of the data again, press return when it is displayed in the Data entry box.. What is a dialogue box? These are movable data input boxes which are raised by PowerSHAPE when it needs you to provide information. Dialogue boxes contain various data entry boxes and buttons. Clicking the Accept button causes PowerSHAPE to use the new information and close the box.. How do I use dialogue boxes? Most PowerSHAPE operations are controlled by pointing and clicking or via the menus. Some raise dialogue boxes. For example, when you want to open a particular model, PowerSHAPE provides a dialogue box for you to select one from a list. This topic covers the features that can be found on most dialogue boxes.. Text boxes and data boxes These allow you to enter text or numbers. Click in the box, keeping the mouse cursor inside the box, then type the characters. The data is entered when you press return.. 14 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(21) Drop Down Lists As for Text boxes, click in the box and type in your data. Clicking the arrow button causes the box to expand showing any previous entries. You can then click on the one you want.. Option menus These appear as drop down lists which expand when clicked to show a menu list. To use an option menu click on the button, then either click on or drag to the option you want. The menu shrinks back to the button which always shows the selected option.. Tabs. Tabs are used in dialogue boxes to show a different work page for each tab.. Radio buttons. These are small buttons placed next to their options. When one button is clicked, a dot appears in the button and the other previously clicked button pops out. Only one radio button can be ON at any time and it’s not possible to have them all off.. Toggle buttons. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 15.

(22) These are fully independent. A group of these can be any combination of ON and OFF. Just click a button to set ON and click again to set OFF.. Buttons Each button displays a unique image or text to represent a command. When clicked, the button appears to press-in and the associated command is activated. When the command is not available, the icon image or text appears grey and the button will not press-in when clicked.. Accept button This causes PowerSHAPE to make the changes required and close the dialogue box. Note that pressing Enter also accepts a dialogue box.. Apply button This causes PowerSHAPE to make the changes required, but to leave the dialogue box displayed.. Cancel button This removes the dialogue box from the screen, discarding any edits carried out on the model while it was displayed.. How do I use the Arm? There is an Arm button on the status bar that connects or disconnects the Arm. To connect to the Arm, you need to have a PS-ARM licence file installed on your computer. If the Arm button is selected, you are connected to the ARM, and PowerSHAPE is ready to accept the digitised components of the probe. Using the probe To digitise any physical geometry, you need to 1. Select a creation option, for example, line or bezier curve.. 16 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(23) You can digitise a surface using the arm with Surface Creation from Patches. 2. Use the probe to pick a point. Picking a point with the probe is the same as picking a point with the mouse. The coordinates picked by the probe are in World workspace. When using the probe, the following should be noted: • The small green box shows the current X, Y and Z coordinates of arm probe. • Pressing the right button on the arm paddle, enters the point selected by the probe. • Pressing the left button finishes entering the command. • Pressing both the buttons simultaneously, cancels the current command.. How do I use the mouse? The mouse is the main device for controlling PowerSHAPE. Clicking buttons or objects with or without certain keyboard “modifier” keys alters the way you can create, select, move, edit or view models on the screen. For simplicity we have used specific instruction conventions within this manual: • Click means press and release the Left mouse button. • Double click means rapidly click the left mouse button twice. • Drag means hold down the left mouse button and move the mouse while holding the button down. When other mouse buttons are to be used we specify the required button e.g. middle-click, middle-drag or right-click. The mouse controls such as double click speed and hit radius are set to default values, but can be controlled from the Mouse page of the Options dialogue box.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 17.

(24) Left-hand mouse button This is the main mouse button for selecting menu options, clicking buttons on toolbars and dialogue boxes and for editing model objects. It has different effects according to where the cursor is within the PowerSHAPE window.. Over a menu Single clicking highlights and selects menu options. Double clicking has no particular effect over menus. PowerSHAPE assumes you intended to single click. Dragging moves the cursor over the different options, highlighting the ones that are available. When you release the button over a highlighted option, it is selected.. Over a non-active graphics window… Single clicking in a non-active graphics window activates the window. The title of the active window is highlighted.. Over an active graphics window… Single clicking in an active graphics window usually signifies an attempt to select an object or to enter a position (see Single clicking in "On an object..." below). When selecting objects, clicking away from any object clears the current selection. When entering positions, clicking away from any object inputs a position on the principal plane of the active workplane. Double clicking has no effect unless you are pointing at an object. Refer to “On an object…” below. Dragging draws a rubber band box. Objects within the box are selected. This is indicated by their yellow highlight colour and handles. See "Selecting multiple objects" for further details. Any other objects already selected and not within the box become deselected. If the box contains no objects, the current selection is cleared.. 18 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(25) Note: When more than one object is selected, the graphical handles are not displayed. Shift-Dragging (holding down the Shift key while dragging) draws a rubber band box. Objects within the box are added to the current selection. Control-Dragging (holding down the Control key while dragging) draws a rubber band box. Objects within the box are added to the current selection or deselected if they are already selected. Ctrl-Shift-Dragging (holding down both the Control and Shift keys while dragging) draws a rubber band box. Objects within the box are deselected from the current selection. Shift -Alt-Dragging (holding down the Shift and Alt keys while dragging) rotates the view around the X axis.. On an object… Single clicking over an unselected object, selects it and the object turns yellow with its key points shown as graphical “handles”. The selected object’s key point closest to the cursor when selected becomes its anchor point. Any other objects already selected become deselected. If the Intelligent Cursor is ON, the cursor changes as you move over objects and current selections. Double clicking selects the object, but also sends the command Edit-Modify. This raises a dialogue box or toolbar allowing you to edit the object’s properties. When entering a series of points (for example, for a series of lines or a curve), a double click finishes the series. A subsequent single click starts a new series. Dragging on a selected object picks it and while the button is pressed, the object follows the mouse. The object is held when picked and placed when you release the button. When selected, objects are displayed with additional edit handles. For example: • Lines have key points at each end. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 19.

(26) • Curves have key points on arms extending from the selected control point on the curve. • Arcs have key points at the centre and at the start and end of the arc sector. • Workplanes have a “control rectangle” and origin. If you drag a key point, only the aspect of the object controlled by the point will move. To move the whole object, be careful to click on the object itself, but away from any of its key points. Shift-clicking (holding down the Shift key while clicking) allows you to add objects to the current selection. Toggles the Patch snapping option on the Mouse page of the Options dialogue box. Patch snapping allows you to click a position inside a surface patch or a solid face. Ctrl-clicking (holding down the Control key while clicking) allows you to add objects to the current selection or deselect those already selected. Alt-clicking (holding down the Alt key while clicking) allows you to create composite curves. See "Creating a composite curve" in the Wireframe modelling Manual for further details. Ctrl-Shift-clicking (holding down both the Control and Shift keys while clicking) allows you to deselect objects from the current selection. Control-Dragging (holding down the Control key while dragging) copies the selected objects. The copy is dropped when you release the mouse button. Note: This copy does not over-write data already on the Cut/Copy clipboard.. In a dialogue box… Single clicking selects options and presses buttons. Note: On slider controls, clicks on the track cause the slider to step towards the cursor.. 20 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(27) Double clicking is not effective on all dialogues. You can double click in a text box to select all the text. If you then type new text, the selected text is replaced by the new text. You can also double click on items in lists it selects the item and accepts the dialogue box. For example, double clicking a file name in the Open Model dialogue box, accepts the dialogue box and opens the model. Dragging is used on slider controls to move the slider button. Shift-clicking (holding down the Shift key while clicking) is used to select multiple items in a list. All items between the last item selected and the current item clicked become selected.. After a Cut/Copy... Ctrl-Alt-clicking (holding down the Control and Alt keys while clicking) inputs an anchor point for Paste Special. See "Edit - Paste Special" in the Menus and toolbars Manual for further details.. Middle mouse button This button with keyboard “modifier” keys, controls the view of your model. It is not used within the dialogue boxes and does not alter a model’s design. Note that if you have a two button mouse, operations using the middle mouse button are available using the other two buttons. See "Right-hand mouse button" and "Left and right mouse buttons" for further details. To rotate the view, hold down the middle button and move the mouse. The model turns as if the cursor is pushing and pulling on the outer surface of a ball and a ball graphic appears over the centre of rotation to show what is happening. To Pan a particular point to the centre of the view, hold down the Shift key and click the point in the model you want to appear in the middle of the view.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 21.

(28) To Pan a particular point to the centre of the view, hold down the Control key and click the point in the model you want to appear in the middle of the view. To Pan the view, hold down the Shift key and drag the middle button. The view follows the mouse movements. To Zoom the view, hold down the Control key and drag the middle button. Moving up the screen magnifies the view. Moving down the screen reduces the view To Zoom to a box, hold down the Shift and Control keys and drag the middle button. A rubber-band box appears. When you release the mouse button, the view zooms to the box size. Shift -Alt-Dragging (holding down both the Shift and Alt keys while dragging) rotates the view around the Y axis.. Right-hand mouse button Over an object... Right mouse clicks in the active model window raise a pop-up menu, containing a number of options including Cut, Copy, Paste and Delete. Clicks over different object types or blank space cause the pop-up menu to show options relevant to the object type. Refer to "Pop-up menus".. In a text box... In a numeric text box, this opens the calculator. The calculation results appear automatically in the text box when you press the enter key or move the mouse outside the numeric text box. In a text box, this displays a pop up menu with options undo, cut, copy, paste, delete and select all. You can use these options on the data in the box. In a numeric text box, this displays a pop up menu with options undo, cut, copy, paste, delete and select all. You can use these options on the data in the box.. 22 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(29) Over an active graphics window... To Pan a particular point to the centre of the view, hold down the Shift key and click the point in the model you want to appear in the middle of the view. To Pan a particular point to the centre of the view, hold down the Control key and click the point in the model you want to appear in the middle of the view. To Pan the view, hold down the Shift key and drag the right button. The view follows the mouse movements. To Zoom the view, hold down the Control key and drag the right button. Moving up the screen magnifies the view. Moving down the screen reduces the view To Zoom to a box, hold down the Alt key and drag the right button. A rubber-band box appears. When you release the mouse button, the view zooms to the box size. Ctrl-Shift-Dragging (holding down both the Control and Shift keys while dragging the right mouse) rotates the view. The model turns as if the cursor is pushing and pulling on the outer surface of a ball and a ball graphic appears over the centre of rotation to show what is happening. Shift -Alt-Dragging (holding down the Shift and Alt keys while dragging) rotates the view around the Z axis.. Left and right mouse buttons Shift -Alt-Dragging (holding down the Shift and Alt keys while dragging) rotates the view around the Y axis. To rotate the view, hold down both the left and right buttons and move the mouse. The model turns as if the cursor is pushing and pulling on the outer surface of a ball and a ball graphic appears over the centre of rotation to show what is happening.. How do I use the keyboard? The keyboard is usually used to enter information into a dialogue box. This might be when you want to create or edit an object to a specific size and position.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 23.

(30) Certain “modifier” keys are also used with the mouse to change the way the mouse behaves. These are covered in “How do I use the mouse?”. There are also a number of keyboard shortcuts that allow you to do a variety of operations such as open and close models. For a full list of the shortcuts available in PowerSHAPE, see "Shortcuts" in the Menus and toolbars Manual.. What is a graphics window? PowerSHAPE runs within its own program window, which contains the Menu bar, Toolbar, Status bar and a large graphics area. The graphics area can contain a single graphics window (filling the area) or several independent graphics windows which overlay each other and the graphics area. These can be placed anywhere on the screen, not necessarily within the PowerSHAPE graphics area. Each graphics window displays views of a single PowerSHAPE model. You can open as many windows for each model as you like, but closing a model’s last window also closes the model.. How do I use a graphics window? Creating windows, deleting windows and swapping between windows is achieved via the Window menu. Changing the view shown within a window is done via the View menu and/or with the mouse middle button. You can set the graphics area to show a single working window (filling the whole area) or you can have many overlapping windows. Only one window is active at any time, being indicated by its highlighted title. To make a different window active, click in it or select it from the Window menu.. Single window mode Clicking the Windows fix/float button causes the active graphics window to fill the graphics area of the PowerSHAPE program window. To display a different window, select it from the list on the Window menu.. Multi-window mode When the graphics window is filling the graphics area, clicking Windows fix/float causes each window to be displayed in their own 24 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(31) moveable/resizable frames. Each has a banner across the top which show the window name. Clicking on the banner (or the border) pops the window to the top above the other windows. Dragging the banner moves the window around the screen. The top left corner of each window contains a button which, when clicked, closes the window. Windows also have resize handles at the corners and borders. When dragged, these change the window size. For more information, refer to your operating system documentation.. What is the Intelligent Cursor? The Intelligent Cursor provides dynamic assistance when you are selecting existing objects or positioning new objects. It draws construction lines and the cursor icon will change to assist you when selecting and editing objects.. How do I use the Intelligent Cursor? Turning on or off the Intelligent cursor 1. From the Tools menu, select Options to display the Options dialogue box. 2. Click the Mouse option.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 25.

(32) 1. In the Intelligent Cursor section, turn on Active (on by default) to switch the intelligent cursor ON. Turn off Active to switch OFF the intelligent cursor. The intelligent cursor provides the various cursor types, construction lines, construction labels and construction distances in the graphics window. Keypoints on a curve are displayed as small circles when the intelligent cursor is moved over them. This is to help you find them more easily and quickly. The keypoint markers display in creation and edit modes.. 26 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(33) For further details on the other options on this page of the dialogue box, see "Mouse options" in the "Tools - Options" section in the Menus and toolbars Manual. 2. When you have set the option, click Accept and PowerSHAPE will use the new Intelligent Cursor settings. You can also turn on or off the intelligent cursor by right clicking in an empty space in the graphics window to display the View pop up menu. From the menu, select Intelligent Cursor.. Object highlighting This is active when selecting objects. Objects that can be selected are highlighted when the cursor travels over them. Refer to "Selection using the Intelligent Cursor" under "How do I select objects?".. Construction lines Construction lines are automatically drawn on all models, appearing on the Construction Level. This level is switched off by default, but the lines are selectively displayed by the Intelligent Cursor. It shows only the lines relevant to a particular key point, hiding them again when moved away from the point. When adding or editing objects, you can “wake up” lines by hovering the cursor over a key point. The lines appear (helping you to correctly align your object) and disappear when you move away. Note: You can turn off these construction lines temporarily by holding down the Shift key. If you really want to see all the lines as you work, set the Format Levels option to show the Construction level (refer to “Levels” in the “Format Menu” chapter in the Menus and toolbars Manual). However, the construction level is not intended to be visible and the screen will soon become very cluttered. We strongly recommend that you normally work with this level switched off.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. User interface • 27.

(34) Construction labels Construction labels are generated by the Intelligent Cursor to show when objects’ key points are within snap range of key positions in the model. They appear and disappear as the cursor passes over, but are not drawn on the construction level. The labels mean that you do not have to be totally precise with the cursor. Clicking when a label is shown causes the cursor to snap to the labelled position. Here is the list of labels: • End indicates the key point at the end of a line or an arc. • Mid-point indicates the mid point of a line or an arc between the start and end key points. • On indicates the cursor is on a line, but is not within snap range of an end or mid point. • In indicates a position on the inside of a surface patch or a solid face (not one of the key points or positions along a curve). • Centre indicates the centre of an arc or circle. • Intersection shows where two objects cross. • Tangent shows when a tangent to an arc can be made. It works whether you are placing a line to an arc, an arc to a line or an arc to an arc. • Key-point shows the key points on curves and surfaces. That is, where they can be manipulated. It can also show the origin of a workplane. • End sign shows when clicking will complete a curve or continuous series of lines. You can set the fonts of the labels using the Proportional Font option on the Properties page of the Options dialogue box (which is displayed using the Tools - Options command).. 28 • User interface. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(35) Models. What is a model? A PowerSHAPE model is a representation of a “real life” (usually engineering) component, built on the computer. You build models from a set of geometric objects (lines, arcs, curves and surfaces) which together represent the components. A PowerSHAPE model can be viewed from any angle and can be colour shaded to look very similar to the real component. It can also model other properties such as weight and volume.. How do I create a model? From the File menu, select New. This is the same as clicking the New model button toolbar.. on the Main. This creates a new model and opens a new graphics window for it. The new window automatically becomes the active window. The window title shows the model name (in this case New_Model) and a sequential number. The first time you save this model, the Save Model As dialogue box will appear prompting you to enter a name for your model. Refer to “How do I save a model with a new name?” for further details.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 29.

(36) How do I save a model? When you want to keep your work: From the File menu, select Save. This is the same as clicking the Save button. on the Main toolbar.. If a model was originally opened with write access, it is automatically saved, overwriting the stored version. For a new or read-only model, the Save Model As dialogue box is displayed allowing you to enter a new model name. Read-only models cannot be saved using the same name.. Checking for corruption To spot any corruption as soon as possible after it has occurred, the File Doctor is run whenever you save a model. For further details on the File Doctor, see "Tools - File Doctor" in the Menus and toolbars Manual for further details. If the File Doctor finds any problems, you are asked to save the model under a new name or run the File Doctor in fix mode to correct the problem. To stop running the File Doctor on every save, turn off the Check Model Before Save option on the Model page of the Options dialogue box (this dialogue box is displayed using the Tools - Options command). A set of options is available from the Model page of the Options dialogue box. You can select which ones to use when using the File Doctor. For further details, see "Model options" in the "Tools - Options" section in the Menus and toolbars Manual for further details.. 30 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(37) How do I save a model with a new name? When you want to keep your work but don’t want to overwrite an existing model, you can save the model using a new name. 1. From the File menu, select Save As to display the Save Model As dialogue box.. 2. Use the dialogue box to save your model using a new name. See "Save Model As dialogue box" for further details. Note: If your models are single files and stored outside the database, you can always display the Save As dialogue box instead of the Save Model As dialogue box. To do this, turn on the Always save and open from outside the database option on the Model page of the Options dialogue box.. Save Model As dialogue box. This dialogue box is used to save a model using a new name.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 31.

(38) Each item on the dialogue box is discussed below. Model Name - Type a suitable name for your model. If there is already a model with the name that you enter, a warning message is displayed, to avoid you accidentally overwriting an existing model. You can choose to continue saving your new model to an existing filename, in which case the existing model will be overwritten. If you import files into a new model, the name of the last one imported minus its extension is automatically displayed as the Model Name when you save the model. For example, if the name of the last file imported is handle.igs, the Model Name is handle. Named - This determines how you name the model. It is only available if you have a naming_convention.mac file in your shareddb folder. The naming_convention.mac file allows you to save vault and temporary models. See "Defining your naming scheme" in the Managing your PowerSHAPE system Manual for further details. Explicit - With this option, you must type in the name of the model in the Model Name text box. By fields - If you select this option, the Location and Saving by Fields sections appear on the dialogue box. These make it easier to name the model as a temporary or vault model. If you use the Explicit option and the name matches the pattern of a temporary or vault model, it is saved as one of those models.. Location - Use this option to select whether the model is saved as a temporary or vault model.. 32 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(39) Saving by Fields - These fields are used to name temporary and vault models. When you change the Location option, different fields are greyed and ungreyed, depending on how you define them in the naming_conventions.mac file. You can change these fields for temporary and vault models by changing your naming_conventions.mac file. Note: If you save the model as a vault and a model using that name already exists, the revision number field automatically displays the next available number. Description - Type a suitable descriptive message. This is to help you find specific models that might have similar names. You can leave this box blank if you do not need a description. Password - If you want to protect the model, enter a password. However, don’t forget it, because you may not be able to open the model when you need to. Store outside Database - This allows you to store models anywhere on the local disk or network. Click the button to display the Save As dialogue box. Use the Save As dialogue box to select where to save the model and then click Save to store the model. If models are stored in the database, PowerSHAPE saves and organises models on the local disk or network. When you want to open the model, you only need to remember the model name and PowerSHAPE will find the appropriate files.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 33.

(40) Save - This saves the model and removes the dialogue box from the screen. The model is saved in the default format. See "Changing the default format for saving models" for further details. Temporary models are saved in the same folder as any other model. Vault models are saved in the same folder if their database field is the same. In our dialogue box, the ProjectNumber is the database field. Models with the same ProjectNumber are stored in the same folder. The database field is specified in the naming_convention.mac file. If you saved a vault model with a new name in the database field, the following dialogue box appears, prompting you to provide a path.. Use this dialogue box to define the folder for storing the vault model. Select the folder and then click OK. Cancel - This removes the dialogue box from the screen without saving the model. Note: On a new or read-only model, File - Save raises the Save Model As dialogue box.. Changing the default format for saving models When you install PowerSHAPE, you can select the default format for storing models as follows: • a single file (psmodel). • a set of files in a folder.. 34 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(41) In the current session of PowerSHAPE, you can change the default format for storing models. 1. From the Tools menu, select Options to display the Options dialogue box. 2. Select the Model option. 3. In the Model Save As Format section, select the default method for storing models. Directory - Stores your model using the directory structure. Single - Stores your model as a single file. 4. Click Accept. Note: With the File Save command, a model is always saved using the same structure regardless of the Model Save As Format option.. How do I save a model with a thumbnail? By default, a new thumbnail of your model is automatically created whenever you save your model. You can choose to save the thumbnail when you want by changing the settings as follows: 1. Open the model. 2. From the Tools menu, select Options to display the Options dialogue box. 3. Click the Model option to display the Model page of the Options dialogue box. 4. Change the Save Mode setting to Manual. 5. Click on Accept. To save the thumbnail, 1. Change the view of the model to the one you want to appear in your thumbnail. 2. From the File menu, select Save Thumbnail. 3. From the File menu, select Save or Save As to save the model and the thumbnail. The Save mode setting is also saved so whenever you open the model you can manually update the thumbnail. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 35.

(42) How do I close a model? Close a model as follows: 1. If you have more than one model open, make active the model you want to close by clicking in its graphics window or selecting the model from the Window menu. 2. From the File menu, select Close and the active graphics window closes. If the model contains unsaved edits, you will be prompted that you are about to lose those edits. Clicking Yes on the dialogue box closes the file and unsaved edits are lost. Clicking No on the dialogue box stops the close routine. You can then save the model and repeat the close routine when ready. See "How do I save a model?" for details on how to save a model.. Other ways to close a model • Close the last open graphics window of the model (by selecting Close from the Window menu). • Exit PowerSHAPE. • Using the File - Close and Zip command.. How do I open a model? Each model you open is displayed in a separate graphics window on the screen. You can also show each model in a number of windows and can have up to 20 models open at the same time. You can open a model and select its read/write status. 1. From the File menu, select Open to display the Open Model dialogue box. This is the same as clicking the Open model button Main toolbar.. 36 • Models. on the. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(43) 2. Use the dialogue box to open a model. See "Open Model dialogue box" for further details. Note: If your models are single files and stored outside the database, you can always display the standard Windows Open Model dialogue box instead of PowerSHAPE's Open Model dialogue box. To do this, turn on the Always save and open from outside the database option on the Model page of the Options dialogue box.. Open Model dialogue box. This dialogue box is used to open models.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 37.

(44) Each item on the dialogue box is discussed below. Models - Select a model name from the list. If you select any item, you can use the keyboard arrow keys to the next model.. to move. Note: Models of the form NEW_MODEL_<number> are created when File - New is selected. These only appear in the Models list if you have system administrator security. Filter - When the list of model names becomes very long, it can be difficult to find the model you want. Entering a filter reduces the list to only those models which match the filter pattern, for example, entering a filter of *.rg will list only those models which have the extension .rg. We suggest that you use a designer’s initials for model name extensions. For example, mymodel.vnl. The filter is not case sensitive. Entering a filter of *.rg will list models that have the extension .RG as well as those with the extension .rg. Further detail is contained in "Filter options" under the "Tools - Options" menu in the Menus and toolbars Manual. Clear - This clears the text in the Filter box. Password - If the model is protected by a password, enter it in the text box. Read Only - If you want to open the model, but prevent it from being overwritten, click the Read Only box until it shows a tick. If you decide to save any changes, you will need to save the model under a new name using File - Save As. See "How do I save a model with a new name?" for further details. Check & Fix - When ON, File Doctor examines the selected model and corrects any errors before opening the model. Refer to "Tools - File Doctor" in "Tools menu" in the Menus and toolbars Manual. Preview Picture and Properties - If a thumbnail of the model has been saved, it is displayed in the top window. Information about the model appears in the bottom window, including file dates, size and description. Browse - This opens models stored as single files and not in the database. Click the Browse button to display the standard Windows Open Model dialogue box. Use this dialogue box to select and open a model.. 38 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(45) Models stored in the directory format and not in the database must be imported. Search - This allows you to create a filter based on the fields used for temporary and vault models. It is only available if you have a naming_convention.mac file in your shareddb folder. The naming_convention.mac file allows you to save vault and temporary models. See "Defining your naming scheme" in the Managing your PowerSHAPE system Manual for further details. Click the Search button to display the Search for files dialogue box. See "Search for files dialogue box" for further details. Recover - This button only appears if you select a model that was not closed properly, for example, if there was a power failure while working on the model. Recover opens the model and restores it back to its state before the failure. Open - The selected model is opened. If the model you are opening is shaded, you can open the model in wireframe mode by pressing the button next to the progress bar on the status bar. Cancel - Removes the dialogue box from the screen without opening a model.. Search for files dialogue box. Creates a filter in the Open Model dialogue box to search for temporary and vault models. Each option on the dialogue box is discussed below. Get the Latest from the Vault - This finds the vault models with the highest revision numbers, which match the Filter in the Open Model dialogue box. Note that you can open any one of the copies of a vault model.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 39.

(46) All the fields - These fields are those used to name temporary and vault models. In one or more of the fields, type in the text of the model you are searching for. As you type in strings in the fields, the Open Model dialogue box changes: • A filter appears in the Filter text box. • Only models, which match that filter, are displayed in the Models list. Dismiss - Removes the dialogue box.. Starting up PowerSHAPE and opening a model When you start up PowerSHAPE at the command prompt, you can open an existing model at the same time by typing: powershape model_name See also "Other ways of opening psmodels in PowerSHAPE". Note: For the above commands to work, you must have FILE OPEN IFNONE in your login macro. For further details on the login macro, see "What is the login macro?" in the "PowerSHAPE users" section of the Managing your PowerSHAPE system Manual.. Other ways of opening psmodels in PowerSHAPE As well as using the File Open command to open models in the single file format (psmodel), you can also: • Double-click a psmodel file. If PowerSHAPE is not running, it will start up and then open the model. • Right click the .psmodel file in Windows Explorer and select Open. You can open a selection of models in this way. • Drag and drop one or more .psmodel files into the PowerSHAPE window. • Double-click a PowerSHAPE.EXE shortcut. • Double-click a .psmodel shortcut.. 40 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(47) • In a web browser, click on a URL to a psmodel, for example, file://pshape/models/bottle_example.psmodel. You can either open the model immediately or download it and open it later.. Recently opened models Up to four recently opened models are listed at the bottom of the File menu. The read or write status when they were opened is also shown. To open a recently opened model, select the File menu and click the model name you want. It will open with the same read or write status as last time. If the model is not listed or you want a different read/write status, use the File - Open option. Refer to “How do I open a model?” for further details.. How do I close and open zipped models? Files in windows can be compressed to make them take less disk space. This is known as zipping a file. By zipping a model, you can save about 60% of disk space, but it takes longer to open as it needs time to unzip. 1. Save the model if you haven't already done so. 2. From the File menu, select Close and Zip. The model file is stored in a zip file and the original file of the model is deleted. To open a zipped model: 1. From the File menu, select Open to display the Open Model dialogue box. 2. Select the model using the dialogue box. If the model is stored outside the model database, click the Browse button to display the Open dialogue box. Use this dialogue box to select and open the zipped model. You may need to select Zip from the Files of type menu. 3. Click Open.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 41.

(48) A copy of the model is extracted from the zip file and stored in the same folder as the zip file. While the model is open, PowerSHAPE saves changes to the copy. Note that zipped directory models are opened using File Import. When you finish working on the model, you can close it using: • File - Close - This saves the copy you are working on and deletes the zip file. • File - Close and Zip - This adds the copy to the zip file and then deletes the copy.. How do I reset a model? You can delete all the changes you have made to a model since you last saved it. Caution: Reset permanently removes all unsaved edits from the active model. It raises a warning, but once accepted, it can’t be undone. From the File menu, select Reset. PowerSHAPE raises a warning dialogue.. If you want to lose the edits, click YES and the model is reset. If you do not want to lose them, click NO and the reset command is ignored.. 42 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(49) How do I create a template model? You can create a model from which all new models are created. This model is called: NEW_MODEL_MASTER_10 This model is known as the template model. Each time you create a new model using the File - New command, if the template model exists, a copy of the template model is created, ready for you to use. In your template model, you can store all your company defaults for model dependent options on the Options dialogue box such as tolerance. It can contain your standard level settings and names, and/or line styles. Even standard geometry (such as symbols) can be included in this model. Note: You must have system administrator security to create and edit the template model. To create a template model: 1. Make sure no one else is using PowerSHAPE. You must have system administrator security. 2. Create a model containing all the required settings. 3. Save the model with the name NEW_MODEL_MASTER_10. 4. Delete all existing models with names of the form NEW_MODEL_<number>_10, for example NEW_MODEL_1_10. You can edit the template model as you would any other model.. How do I change the description or password of a model? You can change the description and password of a model as follows: 1. Open the model with read-write permissions. 2. In a graphics window of the model, click in an empty space to make sure nothing is selected. 3. From the Edit menu, select Modify to display the Edit Model dialogue box.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 43.

(50) 4. Use this dialogue box to edit the description and password of the model. See "Edit Model dialogue box" for further details.. Edit Model dialogue box. This dialogue box is used to edit the description and password of a model. Each item on the dialogue box is discussed below. Description - This gives the current description of the model. You can change the description. Current Password - You must enter the current password here if one exists. If you don't, you cannot make any changes using this dialogue box. The password is not displayed as you type in the characters. New Password - Type in a new password here. The new password will not be displayed as you type in the characters. To remove a password from a model, put a space character in this textbox. Accept - Checks if the Current Password matches the model. If it does, then changes as defined on the dialogue box are made and the dialogue box is removed from the screen. Cancel - No changes are made to the model and the dialogue box is removed from the screen.. 44 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(51) How do I delete a model? You can delete unwanted models, which are stored in the database. Models stored outside the database can be deleted like any other file using Windows Explorer. 1. From the File menu, select Delete to display the Delete Model dialogue box.. 2. Use the dialogue box to delete the model. WARNING: Deleted models are permanently removed and cannot be recovered.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 45.

(52) Delete Model dialogue box. This dialogue box is used to delete models. Each item on the dialogue box is discussed below. Models - Click on a listed model name (to select it) and the item is highlighted. If you select any item, you can use the keyboard arrow keys the highlight and scroll the list.. to move. Note: Models of the form NEW_MODEL_<number> are created when File - New is selected. These only appear in the Models list if you have system administrator security. Filter - When the list of model names becomes very long, it can be difficult to find the model you want. Entering a filter reduces the list to only those models which match the filter pattern, for example, entering a filter of *.rg will list only those models which have the extension .rg. The filter is not case sensitive. Entering a filter of *.rg will list models that have the extension .RG as well as those with the extension .rg. Further detail is contained in "Filters options" under the "Tools Options" menu in the Menus and toolbars Manual. We suggest that you use a designer’s initials for model name extensions. For example, mymodel.lal. Password - If the model is protected by a password, enter it in the text box. 46 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(53) Delete - When you click this button, the following warning dialogue box appears:. Click Yes to remove the model from the database and return to the Delete Model dialogue box. If the Use Recycle Bin option is selected on the Model page of the Options dialogue box, the model is sent to the Recycle Bin (providing the bin is not full). Otherwise, the model is permanently removed from the system. Click No to do nothing and return to the dialogue box. Close - When you have finished deleting models, click Close to remove the Delete Model dialogue box from the screen.. How do I keep track of changes made to a model? If PS-Team is installed on a server and visible from your PC, you can set up a topic to keep track of the changes made to your models. On the PS-Team page of the Options dialogue box, you can specify the names of the topics to use for models named explicitly or by fields. We refer to vault and temporary models as models named 'by fields' and all other models as 'explicitly'. You can also specify the server and the URL for PS-Team. PS-Team is an Internet-based software tool, provided by Delcam, to support communication between teams of people. To start PS-Team, select PS-Team from the Application menu to display PS-Team in the browser window. If the server and URL for PSTeam are not set up on the PS-Team page of the Options dialogue box, a dialogue box appears asking for them. If the browser window is displayed, you can click: • the PS-Team tab • the History tab current model.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. to display the PS-Team page to display the task associated with the. Models • 47.

(54) When a model is saved with a new name, a new task is automatically created in PS-Team. In the task for the model, you can manually add information to the task associated with a model to record any changes. When you import and export data, the task is automatically updated giving details of the import and export files. If you delete a model, the status of the task is changed to complete. For further details on how to use PS-Team, click Help in the PS-Team window.. How do I find out what a model contains? You can find out how many objects are stored, details of current levels and levels of objects in the selected model. From the File menu, click Properties to display the File Properties dialogue box.. File Properties dialogue box. This dialogue box contains information about levels and objects for the current model in PowerSHAPE. 48 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(55) This dialogue box tells you the following: • Which levels are turned on and off. • The current creation levels for objects. • The number of objects of a particular type in the model. • The levels on which particular types of objects lie. • Totals for objects if they lie on more than one level, • Details about when the model was created, last modified and last accessed. • Path of the model. Close - This removes the dialogue box from the screen. Note: To print the information that is displayed, right click in the dialogue box and select Print. To save the information that is displayed, right click in the dialogue box and select Save To File. When you right click in the dialogue box, a pop up menu appears with various options to copy, print and save the information given.. How do I find out information about a model? You can find certain information about a model, without opening it in PowerSHAPE. 1. In Windows Explorer, select a psmodel.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 49.

(56) 2. From the File menu, select Properties to display the File Properties dialogue box for the model.. On this dialogue box, the following are stored whenever a model is saved as a psmodel: • Date of creation • Company • Application name • The name of the model and its description • The names of the drawings (contained in the model) and their descriptions When saving a psmodel for the first time (with a save as), the following are stored on the Windows Explorer's Properties dialogue box: • Current user as the Author (on the Summary page) • Version of PowerSHAPE in the Comments section (on the Summary page) • Revision is set to 0 (on the Statistics page) When opening a psmodel, the following will be read from the Windows Explorer's File - Properties dialogue box and stored by PowerSHAPE: • title • subject 50 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(57) • author • keywords • comments • last saved by • revision number • manager • company information This information can be used when creating text. See "How do I insert strings from the File Properties?" in the Drafting Manual for further information.. How do I compare two models? You may have two models of the same component and want to see what the differences are between the two models. 1. Open the two models you wish to compare. Suppose we have the following two models.. 2. Click in the graphics window of the model in which you want to display the differences. This makes the graphics window active. In our example, we made Model_1 the active model.. 3. From the Tools menu, select Model Compare to display the Model Compare dialogue box.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 51.

(58) 4. Use the dialogue box. See "Model Compare dialogue box" for further details.. Model Compare dialogue box. This dialogue box is used to compare models. Each item on the dialogue box is discussed below. Primary selection - This is used to choose the model in which the differences are shown. On the right of this, the name of the model is displayed. When you first display this dialogue box, the Primary selection is the model of the active graphics window. You can change the Primary selection if you want. Do this by pressing down the button on the left of Primary, if it not already pressed down, and then clicking in another graphics window. The name of the model of the new selection is displayed. We will call this model the primary model. Secondary selection - This is used to choose the second model in the comparison. On the right of this, you can see a cross. This indicates that no model is selected yet. To select the second model, press the button to the left of the Secondary button and click in the graphics window of the model you want to compare. We will call this model the secondary model. Surface Trimming Comparison - You can choose how to compare surfaces with trim boundaries and p-curves. There are three options:. 52 • Models. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts.

(59) Exact - This option finds surfaces with exactly the same pcurves and trim boundaries. Boundaries - This option finds surfaces with exactly the same trim boundaries. Any p-curve not part of a trim boundary is ignored in the comparison. None - This option treats two surfaces as the same if the untrimmed surfaces are the same - even if they have different trimmed regions. Accept - Compares the two models. All objects, which are in the primary model and not in the secondary model, are highlighted as selected in the primary model.. Note that objects that are in the secondary model but not in the primary model are not shown. To show these objects, simply carry out the above steps with the secondary model as the primary model and the primary model as the secondary. Warning: Models are compared on the basis of positional information (XYZ coordinates) only. Differences, for example, in tangent direction, colour and level, are not picked up. This is done for reasons of speed. This command can be a useful tool to aid comparison of models, but you must use it with care and check manually for small differences that the command may not pick up.. How do I find duplicate objects in a model? Sometimes, you may have a copy of an object on top of itself. This command allows you to check if you have any duplicate objects by highlighting them in the model. 1. Click in the graphics window of the model in which you wish to check for duplicate objects. This makes the graphics window active.. PowerSHAPE Basic concepts. Models • 53.

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