Grid

Source file: create-a-grid.htm

The Grid tool allows you to fit a grid pattern to a surface. You can generate a regular grid pattern either as points , which can be useful for indicating spot heights, or as lines , which can provide a simplified representation of a surface.

• To create a grid, follow these steps:

  1. On the Create tab, in the Create group, click Grid.

     

  2. Enter a Grid spacing appropriate to the data.

  3. Select the required grid type as Points or Lines.

     Expand if you selected Points

     1. To restrict the grid to a specific area, select Polygon and define a polygon around that area. There are two ways of drawing a polygon for this tool. Do one of the following:

        • Select By Polygon drag a polygon into the Polygon field.

          Note:  If a suitable polygon doesn’t exist, create on with the Polygon tool. See Polygons or 2D Polygon.

        • Select By Points then create a polygon by selecting points in the view window or entering coordinates in the Grid tool panel. The polygon will be completed when you click Apply or OK.

        If you leave Polygon unselected, points will be generated to cover the entire object.

     2. Adjust the Projection direction as required, using one of the drop-down list methods.

        	Two points Define the direction by specifying two points.
        	Facet Make the direction perpendicular to a selected facet.
        	Axis aligned Define the direction by an axis of the view window.
        	Bearing and inclination Define the direction by a bearing and inclination angles.
        	Action plane axis Define the direction by an axis of the action plane.
        	Polygon best-fit plane normal Define the direction as the normal to a plane-of-best-fit to a polygon.

     3. Select which Points to generate in the grid from All points fitted to the surface, the Lowest points, or the Highest points.

     

     A representation of points that would be selected if there is overhanging data, depending on the chosen Points to generate option. Selecting All will generate all points in the projection direction.

     4. Select the surface to be fitted with the grid.

        

     Expand if you selected Lines

     Adjust the Alignment as required.

     

     	Two points Define the direction by specifying two points.
     	Facet Make the direction perpendicular to a selected facet.
     	Axis aligned Define the direction by an axis of the view window.
     	Bearing and inclination Define the direction by a bearing and inclination angles.
     	Action plane axis Define the direction by an axis of the action plane.

     Note:  Only the X and Y components are used in creating the grid. The grid is always projected in the Z direction. If no X or Y alignment is provided, the grid will automatically align with the axes.

     

  4. Click OK or Apply.

The grid is saved in the cad container.