Element Orientation

Modifies the coordinate system of individual solid and shell elements.

Additional Related Information

Object Properties

The Details properties for this object include the following.

Category	Properties/Options/Descriptions
Scope	Scoping, options include: Geometry Selection: Default setting, indicating that you apply the feature to one or more bodies, which are chosen using graphical selection tools. Geometry: Visible when the Scoping property is set to Geometry Selection. Geometry scoping supports Body selection and direct element selection (mesh required). Displays the type of geometry (Body or Element) and the number of geometric entities (for example: 1 Body, 2 Elements) to which you have scoped the geometry. Named Selection: Indicates that the geometry selection is defined by a Named Selection. Named Selection: Visible when the Scoping property is set to Named Selection. This field provides a drop-down list of the available geometry-based or element-based Named Selections.
Definition	Defined By: Defines how the orientation is specified. Options include Surface and Edge Guide (default) and Coordinate System. Suppressed Coordinate System: Becomes available when you set the Defined By property to Coordinate System. Use this property to specify the desired coordinate system.
Surface Guide (Surface and Edge Guide option only)	Scoping – Geometry Selection or Named Selection. Geometry: Face selection, either geometry or named selection. Axis: Specify the axis (+/- X, +/- Y, or +/- Z) that aligns with the Surface Guide normal.
Edge Guide (Surface and Edge Guide option only)	Scoping – Geometry Selection or Named Selection. Geometry: Edge selection, either geometry or named selection. Axis: Specify the axis (+/- X, +/- Y, or +/- Z) that aligns tangentially with the Edge Guide.

Category

Properties/Options/Descriptions

Scope

Scoping, options include:

Geometry Selection: Default setting, indicating that you apply the feature to one or more bodies, which are chosen using graphical selection tools.
- Geometry: Visible when the Scoping property is set to Geometry Selection. Geometry scoping supports Body selection and direct element selection (mesh required). Displays the type of geometry (Body or Element) and the number of geometric entities (for example: 1 Body, 2 Elements) to which you have scoped the geometry.
Named Selection: Indicates that the geometry selection is defined by a Named Selection.
- Named Selection: Visible when the Scoping property is set to Named Selection. This field provides a drop-down list of the available geometry-based or element-based Named Selections.

Definition

Defined By: Defines how the orientation is specified. Options include Surface and Edge Guide (default) and Coordinate System.

Suppressed

Coordinate System: Becomes available when you set the Defined By property to Coordinate System. Use this property to specify the desired coordinate system.

Surface Guide

(Surface and Edge Guide option only)

Scoping – Geometry Selection or Named Selection.

Geometry: Face selection, either geometry or named selection.

Axis: Specify the axis (+/- X, +/- Y, or +/- Z) that aligns with the Surface Guide normal.

Edge Guide

(Surface and Edge Guide option only)

Scoping – Geometry Selection or Named Selection.

Geometry: Edge selection, either geometry or named selection.

Axis: Specify the axis (+/- X, +/- Y, or +/- Z) that aligns tangentially with the Edge Guide.

Tree Dependencies

Valid Parent Tree Object: Geometry.
Valid Child Tree Objects: Comment, Figure, and Image.

Insertion Methods

Use any of the following methods after highlighting the Geometry object:

Click Element Orientation option on the Geometry Context tab.
Right-click the Geometry object or in the Geometry window and select Insert > Element Orientation.

Right-click Options

In addition to common right-click options, relevant right-click options for this object include:

Insert > Element Orientation
Generate Orientations
Suppress
Clear Generated Data

API Reference

See the Element Orientation section of the ACT API Reference Guide for specific scripting information.

Additional Related Information

See the following sections for more information: