PRIME MOTIONConstruction planes, axes and points
The origin gives every design three planes (XY, XZ, YZ), three axes and a point. Construction geometry adds more: a plane 6 mm above the top of a part to sketch a pocket on, an axis through a hole to revolve about, a point at the middle of an edge. Construction geometry is never machined and never part of a body; it is listed under Construction in the design tree, in Planes, Axes and Points.
Make one
The Plane, Axis and Point families are in the Construct group of the Design rail. Every entry opens the same Construction Geometry drawer, set to that method.
- Long-press Plane, Axis or Point and choose the method, or tap to use the first one.
- Tap the geometry the method asks for. Each pick slot names what it wants, such as Pick a plane or face or Pick point 1.
- Set the value if the method has one: Offset in millimetres, Angle in degrees, or Distance along a path as a fraction from 0 to 1. Drag the handle, or tap the value and type.
- Tap Create.
Type at the top of the drawer switches between Plane, Axis and Point without going back to the rail.
Planes
| Rail entry | Method | Picks | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Offset Plane | Offset | A plane or flat face | Offset (mm) |
| Plane at Angle | From an Edge | A plane or face, and an edge to hinge on | Angle (°) |
| Midplane | Midplane | Two parallel planes or faces | — |
| Tangent Plane | Tangent | A curved face | — |
| Plane Through Three Points | Through | Three points | — |
| Plane Along Path | Along Path | A curve | Distance (0–1) |
| Plane Through Two Edges | Two Edges | Two edges in one plane | — |
Axes
| Rail entry | Method | Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Axis Through Cylinder/Cone | Through Cylinder | A cylindrical or conical face |
| Axis Perpendicular To Face | Normal to Face | A face, and where on it |
| Axis Through Two Planes | Two Planes | Two planes that cross |
| Axis Through Edge | From an Edge | A straight edge |
| Axis Through Two Points | Two Points | Two points |
Points
| Rail entry | Method | Picks |
|---|---|---|
| Point At Vertex | At Vertex | A vertex |
| Point At Center | At Center | A circular edge or face |
| Point Through Two Edges | Intersection | Two edges that cross |
| Point Along Path | Along Path | A curve, with Distance (0–1) and Chaining: Tangent chain or This curve only |
Change or remove one
Double-tap a construction plane in the tree, or use its ⋮ → Edit, to reopen the drawer; its header reads Edit ‹method› Plane and Create becomes Save. ⋮ → Delete removes it. A plane with sketches built on it asks first, and lists what goes with it.
The eye on Construction, and on Planes, Axes and Points inside it, hides each kind. The Plane chip at the bottom of the view hides all planes at once.