Description

An initial spherical shape can be created by defining its center and a perimeter point. The provided handle can be dragged to change the radius of the shape under construction.

Draw Shapes Spheres
Drag the green handles to change the radius of the sphere.

The contents and functionality of the Entity Type, Grid Type, Mode and Point Placement frames do not dependent on the type of the shape under construction (a Sphere in this case). The first three frames are described in the Draw Shapes section; the last one is described in the Point Placement section.

On the other hand, the contents and functionality of the Enclosing Parameters, Shape Parameters, and Shape Options frames are dependent on the type of shape under construction. The Enclosing Parameters frame contains the commands needed to define the characteristics of the shape under construction in Enclosing mode with respect to a set of selected entities being enclosed by the new shape (refer to the Draw Shapes section for more details on the available modes). The Shape Parameters and Shape Options frames contain the commands needed to define the general characteristics of the shape under construction. Here we describe the contents of these three frames for the specific case of a shape of type Sphere.

Enclosing Parameters

Draw Shapes Enclosing Sphere
Use the Enclosing Parameters frame to define the characteristics of the shape being created with respect to the set of selected entities being enclosed by the new shape. This image shows the commands available for a spherical shape.

After a shape has been created in Enclosing mode, you can scale it by specified factors using the Scale Factor entry fields. For the case of a spherical shape, there is only one entry field for scaling the shape's Radius. Note that you can only scale the shape to a larger size; this means that the specified factor must be larger than 1.0.

There is also a Radius Margin entry field that allow you to specify a margins with respect to the set of selected entities being enclosed by the shape. This margin will effectively increase the size of the shape by the specified amount in each corresponding direction. Note that you can only increase the size of the shape; this means that the specified margin must be larger than 0.0.

The enclosing shape can be aligned in either one of the three coordinate directions using the corresponding radio button: X-Axis, Y-Axis, and Z-Axis. It can also be aligned to the current view if the To View option is selected. Note that the latter option is selected by default. You can also chose whether the enclosing shape is symmetric with respect to the X, Y, or Z direction by selecting the appropriate Symmetry option: In X, In Y, or In Z.

The last command in this frame is Align to Selection. When this button is clicked, Fidelity Pointwise will attempt to determine the primary direction of the enclosed entities and will align the enclosing shape with that direction.

Shape Parameters

Draw Shapes Params Sphere
Use the options in the Shape Parameters frame to define the characteristics of the shape being created. This image shows the commands available for a spherical shape.

In the Shape Parameters frame, the Radius text filed will allow you to precisely set the desired radius of the sphere.

The Base Angle and Top Angle options will allow you to set two angles used to truncate the sphere being constructed. As shown in the figure below, these angles are defined with respect to the local coordinate system associated with the sphere (green exes).

Note that you can display the axes for the local coordinate system by selecting the Translate mode (explained in the Draw Shapes section) either via the GUI or by using the T keyboard shortcut.

Shape Options

Draw Shapes Options Sphere
Use the options in the Shape Options frame to define the characteristics of the shape being created. This image shows the commands available for a spherical shape.

In the Shape Options frame, the Full, Half, and Quarter commands are used to specify whether the full, half, or a quarter of the spherical shape under construction should be preserved once the latter is finalized. If the Half option is selected, only the 0° - 180° half of the shape will be preserved. If the Quarter option is selected, only the 0° - 90° portion of the shape will be preserved. Note that the Angle Range command can be used to specify a precise angular range defining the portion of the sphere that should be preserved after the shape is finalized. Refer to the figure below to see how these angles are measured in reference to the local coordinate system.

Draw Shapes Sphere Base Top Angle
Use the Base Angle and Top Angle options to define a truncated sphere. These angles are measured with respect to the local coordinate system (green axes).

When only a portion of the geometry under construction is preserved, new sides will be exposed (see figure below). The Sides, Base, and Top commands are used to specify whether the sides, base, and top planar surfaces are to be preserved once the sphere is finalized. Note that the Sides option will become enabled once new sides are exposed.

Use the Full, Half, and Quarter commands to specify whether all or a portion of the sphere under construction should be preserved after the shape is finalized.

Demonstration

Drawing Spheres

Creating Grid Shapes

Quickly Create Shapes with Enclosing Mode