Construction Geometry

You can create several types of Construction geometry. You draw construction geometry normal to the
screen or the working grid, if you turned it on.

Creating Points
To create a point:
1. From the Geometric Modeling Palette and Tool Stack, select the Point Tool .
2. In the settings container, specify the following:
• Whether you want the point added to ground or to another part in your model.
• Whether you want to attach nearby objects to the point. For information on attaching
objects, see Parameterization.
3. If you selected to add the point to another part in your model, select the part.
4. Place the cursor where you want the point to be located and click the left mouse button.

Tip: If you want to place the point at the location of another object, as you create the point, right-
click near the object. Adams/View displays a list of objects near the cursor. Select the
object at whose location you want to place the point. Adams/View creates the point at that
location.

If you want to specify precise coordinates, right-click away from the object. A dialog box
for entering the location of the point appears. For information on using the dialog box, see
Entering Precise Location Coordinates.

Creating Markers
To create a marker:
1. From the Geometric Modeling Palette and Tool Stack, select the Marker Tool .
2. In the settings container, specify the following:
• Whether you want the marker added to: (a) Ground (b) Another part in your model (including
a flexible body); or (c) Curve (only available with Adams/Solver (C++)) (Learn about
switching solvers with Solver Settings - Executable dialog box help.)
• How you want to orient the marker. Set Orientation to the desired orientation method. When
adding a marker to a curve, the orientation is prescribed implicitly.
3. Do one of the following:
• If you selected to add the marker to a part, select the part to which you want to add the marker.
• If you selected to add the marker to a curve, select the spline curve onto which you want to
add the marker (splines and data-element curves are all considered curves).
2 Adams/View
Construction Geometry

4. Place the cursor where you want the marker to be located and click.
5. If you selected to orient the marker to anything other than the global or view coordinate system,
select the directions along which you want to align the marker’s axes. Do this for each axis that
you selected to specify.
Adams/View draws the marker, aligning its axes as specified.

Tip: To reorient the marker, use the Align & Rotate tool from the Move tool stack, select Align
One Axis, and then follow the prompts:

1. Select the object to align (the first marker)

2. Select the axis on object to align (z-axis on first marker)
3. Select the direction for the axis:
• Select the center of the first marker
• Select the center of the second marker

Creating Lines and Polylines

To draw a single line:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Polyline Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• Set the type of line to be drawn to One Line.
• If desired, set the length and angle of the line.
3. Position the cursor where you want the line to begin, and click the left mouse button.
4. Move the cursor in the direction you want to draw the line.
5. When the line is the desired length and orientation, click again to end the line.

To draw an open or closed polyline:

1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Polyline Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• Set the type of line to be drawn to Polyline.
• If desired, set the length of the line segments.
3. Select whether you want a closed polyline (polygon) by selecting Closed.
4. Position the cursor where you want the polyline to begin, and click the left mouse button.
 3
Construction Geometry

5. To create the first line segment, drag the cursor and click to select its endpoint.
6. To add line segments to the polyline, continue dragging the cursor and clicking.
7. To stop drawing and create the open or closed polyline, right-click. If you selected to create a
closed polyline, Adams/View automatically draws a line segment between the last and first points
to close the polyline. Note that clicking the right mouse button does not create another point.

Tip: While creating the polyline, you can remove the last line segment that you created by
clicking its endpoint. You can continue removing line segments in the reverse order that
you created them.

Creating Arcs and Circles

To draw an arc:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Arc Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground. By default, Adams/View creates a new part.
• If desired, set the radius of the arc.
• Specify the starting and ending angles of the arc. The default is to create a 90-degree arc
from a starting angle of 0 degrees.
3. Click where you want the center of the arc and then drag the mouse to define the radius of the arc
and the orientation of the x-axis. Adams/View displays a line on the screen to indicate the x-axis.
If you specified the radius of the arc in the settings container, Adams/View maintains that radius
regardless of how you drag the mouse.
4. When the radius is the desired size, click.

To draw a circle:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Arc Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part or add the geometry to an existing part. By
default, Adams/View creates a new part.
• If desired, set the radius of the circle.
• Select Circle.
3. Click where you want the center of the circle and then drag the mouse to define the radius of the
circle. If you specified the radius of the circle in the settings container, Adams/View maintains
that radius regardless of how you drag the mouse.
4. When the radius is the desired size, click.
4 Adams/View
Construction Geometry

Creating Splines
To create a spline by selecting points on the screen:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Spline Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• Select whether you want the spline to be closed or open.
3. Set Create by Picking to Curve or Edge.
4. Place the cursor where you want to begin drawing the spline, and click.
5. Click the locations where you want the spline to pass through. You must specify at least eight
locations for a closed spline and four locations for an open spline.
6. To stop drawing the spline, right-click.

Tip: If you make a mistake, click the last location you defined. You can continue removing
locations by clicking on each location in the reverse order that you defined them.

To create a spline by selecting an existing curve or edge:

1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Spline Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• Select whether you want the spline to be closed or open.
3. Set Create by Picking to Curve or Edge.
4. In the # Points text box, set how many points you want used to define the curve or edge or clear
the selection of Spread Points and let Adams/View calculate the number of points needed.
5. Select the curve.
 5
Creating Solid Geometry

Creating Solid Geometry

You can create several types of Solid geometry. In addition, you can combine solid geometry into more
complex geometry or modify the geometry by adding features, such as fillets or chamfers.

Creating a Box
To create a box:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Box Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• If desired, set any of length, height, or depth dimensions of the box.
3. Place the cursor where you want a corner of the box and click and hold down the left mouse
button.
4. Drag the mouse to define the size of the box. If you specified any of the length, height, or depth
dimensions of the box in the settings container, Adams/View maintains those dimensions
regardless of how you drag the mouse.
5. Release the mouse button when the box is the desired size.

Creating Two-Dimensional Plane

To create a plane:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Plane Tool .
2. In the settings container, specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry
or add the geometry to an existing part or ground.
3. Place the cursor where you want a corner of the box and click and hold down the left mouse
button.
4. Drag the mouse to define the size of the box.
5. Release the mouse button when the box is the desired size.

Creating a Cylinder
To create a cylinder:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Cylinder Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground. By default, Adams/View creates a new part.
6 Adams/View
Creating Solid Geometry

• If desired, set the length or radius dimensions of the cylinder in the settings container.
3. Click and hold down the mouse where you want to begin drawing the cylinder.
4. Drag the mouse to size the cylinder. If you specified any of the length and radius dimensions of
the cylinder in the settings container, Adams/View maintains those dimensions regardless of how
you drag the mouse.
5. When the cylinder is the desired size, click.

Creating a Sphere
To create a sphere:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Sphere Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground. By default, Adams/View creates a new part.
• If desired, set the radius of the sphere.
3. Click where you want the center of the sphere.
4. Drag the mouse to size the sphere. If you specified a radius dimension for the sphere in the settings
container, Adams/View maintains that dimension regardless of how you drag the mouse.
5. When the sphere is the desired size, click.

Creating a Frustum
To create a frustum:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Frustum Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• If desired, set the length or radii of the frustum.
3. Click where you want to begin drawing the frustum.
4. Drag the mouse to size the frustum. If you specified the length or radii of the frustum in the
settings container, Adams/View maintains those dimensions regardless of how you drag the
mouse.
5. When the frustum is the desired size, click.
 7
Creating Solid Geometry

Creating a Torus
To create a torus:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Torus Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground. By default, Adams/View creates a new part.
• If desired, set the minor and major radii of the torus.
3. Place the cursor where you want the center of the torus and click.
4. Drag the mouse to define the radius of the torus. If you specified the radii of the torus in the
settings container, Adams/View maintains those dimensions regardless of how you drag the
mouse.
5. When the torus is the desired size, click.

Creating a Link
To create a link:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Link Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• If desired, set any of the length, width, or depth dimensions of the link.
3. Place the cursor where you want to begin drawing the link, and click.
4. Drag the mouse until the link is the desired size and then release the mouse button. If you specified
the length, width, and depth of the link in the settings container, Adams/View maintains those
dimensions regardless of how you drag the mouse.

Creating a Plate
To create a plate:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Plate Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• If desired, set the thickness or radius of the corners of the plate.
3. Place the cursor where you want the first corner of the plate and click the left mouse button.
4. Click at each corner of the plate. You must specify at least three locations.
8 Adams/View
Creating Solid Geometry

5. Continue selecting locations or right-click to close the plate.

Note: If the distance between any two adjacent points is less than two times the radius of the
corner, Adams/View cannot create the plate.

Creating an Extrusion
To create an extrusion based on an existing curve profile:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Extrusion Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• Set Create profile by to Curve.
• If desired, set the length (depth) of the extrusion.
• Specify the direction you want the profile to be extruded from the current Working grid.
Learn about directions.
• Select Analytical to create the revolution using the Analytical Method. Clear to use the Non-
analytical Method.
3. Select the curve profile.

To create an extrusion based on selected points:

1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Extrusion Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the geometry or add the
geometry to an existing part or ground.
• Set Create profile by to Points.
• Specify whether or not you want to create a closed extrusion.
• If desired, set the length of the extrusion.
• Specify the direction you want the profile to be extruded from the current Working grid.
Learn about directions.
• Select Analytical to create the revolution using the Analytical Method. Clear to use the Non-
analytical Method.
3. Place the cursor where you want to begin drawing the profile of the extrusion and click.
4. Click at each vertex in the profile; then right-click to finish drawing the profile.
Learn to extrude existing construction geometry along a path.
 9
Creating Solid Geometry

Creating a Revolution
To create a revolution by selecting points to define the profile:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Revolution Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part or add the geometry to an existing part or
ground.
• Set Create by Picking to Points.
• Specify whether or not you want to create a closed revolution.
• Select Analytical to create the revolution using the Analytical Method. Clear to use the Non-
analytical Method.
3. Click at two points that define the axis about which Adams/View revolves the profile.
4. Click at the location of each vertex in the profile; then right-click to finish drawing the profile.

Tip: Be sure to draw the profile so that it does not intersect the line you drew to define
the axis of revolution.

To create a revolution by selecting a profile curve:

1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Revolution Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• Specify whether you want to create a new part or add the geometry to an existing part or
ground.
• Set Create by Picking to Curve.
• Select Analytical to create the revolution using the analytical method. Clear to use the non-
analytical method.
3. Click two points that define the axis about which Adams/View revolves the profile.
4. Select construction geometry defining the profile curve.
10 Adams/View
Creating Complex Geometry

Creating Complex Geometry

Adams/View provides you with many ways in which you can take simple geometry and create complex
geometry from it. You can create solid geometry that has mass from wire geometry or create complex,
open geometry that has no mass.

Chaining Wire Geometry

To chain wire Construction geometry together:
1. If necessary, create the wire geometry.
2. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Chain Tool .
3. Click each piece of the wire geometry to be chained. As you move the cursor around the main
window, Adams/View highlights those objects in your model that can be chained.
4. After selecting the geometry to be chained, right-click to create the chained geometry.

Extruding Construction Geometry Along a Path

You can add thickness to Construction geometry by extruding it to create three-dimensional geometry.
You can extrude lines, polylines, polygons, and wire geometry that you have chained together. You
cannot extrude points. If the geometry you extrude is closed, Adams/View creates solid geometry that
has mass. Adams/View centers the extruded geometry about the z-axis of the view screen or working
grid, if it is turned on.
When you extrude geometry, you select the geometry that you want to extrude, called the profile
geometry, and then you select the wire geometry that defines the path along which you want to extrude
the profile. See an Example of Extrusion.
The geometry you extrude can be a new part or belong to another part, which you specify when you
extrude the geometry.

Extrusion Limits
You can only select to extrude a profile whose extrusion would have the following properties:
• Same dimensions. For example, you cannot extrude a profile that would have mixed dimensions.
See an Example of Mixed Dimensions.
• Edge or face shared by only one face. See an Example of Objects with Shared edges and faces.
• No intersecting lines.

Objects with these properties are called manifold. If the object extruded did not have these properties, it
would be non-manifold.
If the result of an extrusion is an object that is non-manifold, you receive the following error message
when you try to create the extrusion:
 11
Creating Complex Geometry

! ERROR: Creation of the feature failed

! ERROR: The body created is non-manifold.
Remake the profile so that it does not result in a non-manifold
extrusion.

To extrude construction geometry:

1. If necessary, create the construction geometry.
2. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Extrusion Tool .
3. In the settings container, do the following (you can ignore all other settings):
• Specify whether you want to create a new part composed of the extruded geometry or add
the geometry to an existing part or ground.
• Select Along Path.
• Select Analytical to create the revolution using the Analytical Method. Clear to use the Non-
analytical Method.
4. Select the construction geometry to be extruded.
5. Select the construction geometry defining the path along which you want to extrude the geometry.
12 Adams/View
Combining Geometry

Combining Geometry
Once you have created individual parts of Solid geometry, you can combine them into one part to create
complex, solid geometry, referred to as constructive, solid geometry or CSG. Adams/View creates the
solid geometry using Boolean operations, such as union and intersection.

Creating One Part from the Intersection of Two Solids

To create a part from the intersection of two overlapping solids:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Intersect Tool .
2. Select the solid geometry to be combined. As you move the cursor, Adams/View highlights those
objects that can be combined. The second part you select is combined into the first part.

Creating One Part from the Union of Two Solids

To create a part from the union of two solids:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Unite Tool .
2. Select the solid geometry to be combined. As you move the cursor, Adams/View highlights those
objects that can be combined. The second part you select is combined into the first part.

Cutting a Solid
To create a part from the difference of two solids:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette, select the Cut Tool .
2. Select the solid geometry to be cut. As you move the cursor, Adams/View highlights those objects
that can be cut. The second part you select is cut from the first part.

Splitting a Solid
To split a complex solid:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Split Tool .
2. Select the solid geometry to be split. Adams/View highlights those objects in your model that can
be split.
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Adding Features to Geometry

Adding Features to Geometry

You can add features to the solid geometry that you create, including chamfering the edges of the
geometry, adding holes and bosses, and hollowing out solids.

Chamfering and Filleting Objects

To create a chamfered or fillet edge:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select either of the following tools:
• To create a chamfered edge or corner, select the Chamfer Tool .
• To create a fillet edge or corner, select the Fillet Tool .
2. In the settings container, do one of the following:
• If desired, for chamfers, specify the width of the bevel.
• If desired, for fillets, specify the radius. To create a variable fillet, also select End Radius and
enter the end radius. Adams/View uses the value you enter for radius as the starting radius of
the variable fillet.
3. Select the edges or vertices to be chamfered or filleted. The edges and vertices must be on the
same rigid body.
4. Right-click.

Creating a Hole or Boss

To create a hole or boss:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select either of the following tools:
• To create a hole, select the Hole Tool .
• To create a knob, select the Boss Tool .
2. In the settings container, do one of the following:
• If desired, forholes, specify the radius and depth of the hole. You cannot specify the radius and
depth of a hole so that it splits the current geometry into two separate geometries.
• If desired, for bosses, specify the radius and height.
3. Select the face of the body on which you want to create the hole or boss.
4. Click the location where you want to center the hole or boss.

Tip: To create a hole or boss at a specific location, create a temporary marker at the desired
location for the hole or boss, and select it in Step 4.
14 Adams/View
Adding Features to Geometry

Hollowing Out a Solid

To hollow an object:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Hollow Tool .
2. In the settings container, do the following:
• If desired, specify the thickness of the remaining shell after you hollow the object.
• If you want to add the shell to the outside of the object, clear the Inside check box.
3. Select the solid body that you want to hollow.
4. Select the faces of the body that you want to hollow. Adams/View highlights those faces that can
be selected.
5. Click the right mouse button to hollow the selected faces.

Merging Geometry
To merge two rigid body geometry:
1. From the Geometric Modeling palette or tool stack, select the Merge Tool .
2. Select the geometry to be merged. Adams/View highlights those objects in your model that can
be merged as you move the cursor around the modeling window. The second geometry that you
select is combined into the first.
Adams/View combines the selected geometry and deletes the second.