Drawing Objects

You can draw one-, two-, or three-dimensional objects using the Draw commands. You can alter objects individually or together to create the geometry of your structure. In the Tools > Modeler Options, Drawing tab, you can set a default to either draw objects directly with the mouse or by invoking a Properties dialog in which you can enter the values for the object dimensions. The Dialog mode drawing feature works with the equation based curve, equation based surface, and all two and three dimensional objects. You can toggle to Point mode via the F3 function key and to Dialog mode via the F4 function key. When you use the Dialog mode for drawing objects the Edit property of new primitives setting is ignored.

One-dimensional (1D) objects in the modeler include straight line, arc line, center-point arc, and spline segments, or a combination of these - called polylines. One-dimensional objects are open objects; their boundaries do not enclose a region, unless you connect their endpoints. They have length, but no surface or volume. Generally they are used as temporary objects from which to create 2D objects.

Two-dimensional (2D) objects in the modeler include objects such as equation based surfaces, rectangles, ellipses, circles, and regular polygons. Two-dimensional objects are closed sheet objects; their boundaries enclose a region. You can create 2D sheet objects by covering the enclosed region. In many applications (FSS, antennas) it is essential to calculate net power flow through a surface.

You can also edit the properties of a polyline from the history tree to assign it a Cross Section property as line or rectangular. If you then assign it either a height or a width, the polyline becomes a sheet object.

By default, the history tree organizes sheet objects according to their boundary assignments. To change this, select the Sheets icon, and right-click to display the Group Sheets by Assignment check box. Within the calculator sheet objects are listed under surface.

Three-dimensional (3D) objects in the modeler include objects such as boxes, cylinders, regular polyhedra, cones, spheres, torii, and helices. These objects have boundaries that enclose a region with volume.

You can create 3D objects by manipulating 2D objects along a plane or by using the appropriate Draw commands. You can also edit the properties of a polyline from the history tree to assign it a Cross Section property as circle rectangular. If you then assign it an appropriate diameter or both height or a width, the polyline becomes a 3D object.

You can access the Draw commands via icons on the Draw tab ribbon:

By default, the history tree organizes 3D objects by material. To change this, select the Objects icon, and right-click to display the shortcut menu to see History Tree Layout commands. You can also use Group Commands for Modeler Objects.

While you draw objects you can also:

• Select Movement Mode as 3D, In Plane, Out of Plane, Along X, Y or Z axis.
• Select Grid Plane as XY, YZ, or XZ.
• Set the Drawing Plane
• Select the Coordinate System and choose Cartesian, Cylindrical or Spherical coordinates.
• Change Snap Settings
• Set Reference Point for the movement mode
• Adjust the View

After you draw an object in the 3D Modeler window, you can modify the object's properties, such as its position, dimensions, or color, in the Properties dialog box. Most model object properties can be assigned as Design variables when can then be manipulated during the solve to test their effect on the solution. For non-model objects, you can use Post Processing variables (default and Design variables,.