3D Modeler Tutorial. Topics: Tutorial: The 3D Modeler. Using the Keyboard. Go Back. Contents. Index. Tutorial: The 3D Modeler. Using the Keyboard

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1 This tutorial is designed to show you how to use many of the advanced features of the 3D Modeler to construct various objects in your model. The following examples will show you how to: Create a complex polyline object. Create a helix. Move an object to a new location in the model. Unite separate objects together. Use the Connect command to create a sheet object from two polyline objects. Sweep a polyline object to form a sheet object. Create a 2D outline from the face of a 3D solid object. Stitch faces of objects together to form new objects. Rotate an object. Mirror objects across a plane. Rotate the local coordinate system. Sweep a polyline around an axis. Remember that for each of these examples, you must start with a new window that is free of objects. Choose File/New to open a new window. Almost all values you enter for your model will be entered via the keyboard. The only exception to this is when you are specifying distances with a relative coordinate system. To enter a value for the model, type the value in the blank field that appears when you are prompted. You can use the TAB key to navigate between fields and enter values in each. When you are finished entering all the values for a given command, press Return or click on OK with the mouse. Maxwell Online Help 687 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

2 Selecting Objects with the Mouse The mouse is essential in creating the model. Clicking the left mouse button in a view window activates the window. Active windows are where you can draw the objects in the model. Clicking the left mouse button in the active view window allows you to specify points in the model. Clicking it in any blank field makes that field active, allowing you to enter data in the field. Clicking and holding the right mouse button in any view window displays the right mouse button menu. This menu allows you to select objects and change the active point of view. Selecting Objects with the Mouse You are expected to read and execute the examples in this tutorial in sequence. Because many of the objects you create will be identical, you may wish to save some time by using the Select and Edit/Copy commands to copy an item to the paste buffer then paste the object into new models. > To copy and paste an object: 1. Hold the right mouse button down in a view window to access the right mouse button menu. 2. Choose Select from the menu. A list of objects appears in the side window. 3. Select the item you wish to copy. 4. Choose OK. 5. Choose Edit/Copy from the menu bar. This automatically places the selected object into the paste buffer until it is either replaced by a new object or you exit the 3D Modeler. 6. Choose File/New from the menu bar to open a fresh window for a new model. 7. When you are ready to paste the object into a new model, select the window in which you wish to place the object. 8. Choose Edit/Paste from the menu bar. The object appears in the new project. Maxwell Online Help 688 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

3 When measuring distances becomes important in constructing your model, you can choose between an absolute or a relative coordinate system. Absolute Specifies the coordinates and distances from the origin (0,0,0). Relative Specifies the coordinates and distances from a cursor-defined point. Absolute This setting displays the coordinates relative to the origin (0,0,0). This is the default. Click on a point in any window to display its position. The coordinates appear in the coordinates fields in the side window. Relative This setting displays the distances and coordinates relative to the previous position of the 3D marker. > To choose the relative system: 1. Select a point in the view windows. 2. Choose Relative from the Abs. (units) pull-down menu. This displays the current type of coordinate system and the current units used by it. 3. Select a point in any view window. The coordinates and distance are given relative to the initial point. The distance appears in the Dst. field in the side window. > To move the current position marker prior to choosing relative coordinates: 1. Choose Relative from the Abs. [units] pull-down menu. This menu s label displays the current type of coordinates and the current units of the model. For this reason, the button heading this menu is referred to as the Coordinates Type/Unit button. When you choose Relative, the Move Marker button appears. 2. Enter the x, y, and z distance by which you wish to move the position marker from its current position. This point becomes the new origin of the relative coordinates. 3. Choose Move Marker. The current position marker moves to the new point. Maxwell Online Help 689 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

4 Modifying Coordinates > To change the coordinates in the side menu: 1. Choose between Absolute and Relative coordinates. Absolute coordinates set your point in reference to the origin. Relative coordinates give you the coordinates with respect to a previously defined point. 2. Select the field of the coordinate you wish to change. Make sure that the button of this coordinate is selected. If it is not, click on this button to make the field active. 3. Enter the new value of the coordinate. The point in the view window moves to the new location. The Rad and Ang fields display the new radius and angle values in an absolute coordinate system. The Dst and Ang fields display the distance and angle values between two points in a relative coordinate system. A snap is a location filter that allows you to set specific coordinates not given by the default grid and vertex settings. > To select the snap-to behavior: 1. Choose Other from the Snap to buttons. A window appears below the coordinates fields. 2. Select the type of Edge Snap you prefer. You may select from the following: Grid inters. Edge center Arc center Allows you to set the snap at the point where the grid intersects an axis. Allows you to set the snaps at the central points of the edges. Allows you to set the snap at the center of an arc. 3. Select the type of Face Snap that you prefer. You may select from the following: Axis inters. Face center Allows you to set the face snap at the point where an axis crosses the face of an object. Allows you to set the snap at the center of the face of an object. 4. Choose OK to accept the snap-to behavior. Maxwell Online Help 690 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

5 Editing the Polyline Object Polylines are used to create unique, irregular objects that cannot be easily created with other menu commands. In this example, you will create and edit a complex polyline object. > To create the polyline object: 1. Select the XY window to be the active one. 2. Choose Lines/Polyline from the menu bar. A list of existing polylines appear. 3. Enter Redline in the Edit/create field. 4. Choose OK. The Creating field appears in the side window. 5. Click on the color block. A palette of colors appears. 6. Select red for the line color. 7. Accept the default settings of Add Vert and Straight. These tell the modeler to add vertices to the end of each straight line. 8. Click on the origin in the XY window. The coordinates fields should show values of zero for X and Y. 9. Choose Enter to define the origin as the first vertex in the polyline object. Do not choose Done. Done ends the polyline command. 10.Enter 100 in the Y coordinates field in the side window. The marker moves to the appropriate coordinates after each entry in the field. 11. Choose Enter. This marks the second vertex point. 12.Enter 50 in both the X and Y coordinates fields. 13.Choose Enter to accept this point as a vertex. 14.Enter 100 in both the X and Y coordinates fields. 15.Choose Enter to accept this point as a vertex. 16.Enter 0 in the Y coordinate field. 17.Choose Enter to accept this point as a vertex. 18.Choose Close. This connects the last point with the first point, closing the object. Notice that the Covered checkbox becomes enabled. This allows you to turn the wireframe object you just created into a 2D sheet object. Covered is selected by default. 19. Deselect Covered. The object remains a polyline. 20.Choose Done to stop adding vertices to the object. The polyline object is now complete. Maxwell Online Help 691 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

6 Editing the Polyline Object Editing the Polyline Object Now that you have created the polyline object, you can edit it. > To edit this polyline object: 1. Choose Lines/Polyline from the menu bar. A list of objects appears in the side window. 2. Select Redline from the list. 3. Choose OK. You can now edit the selected polyline. 4. Click and hold Ins Vert. A menu appears, offering you options on how to modify the vertices in your polyline object. 5. Select Move Vert. This allows you to move the polyline vertex. 6. Select the vertex located at (50,50) in the XY window. 7. Enter 100 in the Y coordinate field. The marker moves to the appropriate coordinates. 8. Choose Enter to accept the new value and move the vertex to its new position. 9. Deselect Covered. The object remains a polyline. 10.Choose Done to exit the command. The polyline object is now a perfect square with dimensions of 100 units per side. Maxwell Online Help 692 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

7 Create the Rectangle Create the Helix Moving Objs. to a New Loc. an Axis More Helices are three-dimensional spiraling objects. In this example, you will create and sweep a rectangle along a path to create a helix. Create the Rectangle > Create a base profile to sweep: 1. Select the XY window to make it active. 2. Choose Lines/Rectangle from the menu bar. Fields appear in the side window. 3. Enter 50 in both the X and Y coordinates fields. This is the base point for the rectangle. 4. Choose Enter. New fields appear in the side window. 5. Select XY as the Rectangle plane. 6. Under Size, enter 50 for the X dimension and 50 for the Y dimension. 7. Enter square in the Name field. 8. Click on the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 9. Deselect Covered. This makes the object a wireframe instead of a 2D sheet. Sweeping a wireframe creates a hollow 3D object, sweeping a sheet creates a solid 3D object. 10. Choose Enter. Your square changes from the default color to red. Create the Helix > To sweep the rectangle to form the helix: 1. Choose Solids/Helix. A list of profiles appear in the side window. These profiles are the objects which can be swept along a path. 2. Select square from the list. The name appears in the Helix profile field. 3. Choose OK. The Helix Parameters window appears. 4. Select Y as the Helix Axis. This will make your helix spiral along the Y axis. 5. Leave the Turn direction set to Right Hand. 6. Enter 100 for the Helix pitch. This makes the end-to-end length of the helix 100 mm. 7. Enter 8 for the Number of turns. This creates 8 revolutions about the y-axis. 8. Enter 16 for the Segments per turn. 9. Leave Radius change per turn set to 0. This keeps the radius of the helix constant. 10.Enter redhelix for the Name of the new object. Maxwell Online Help 693 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

8 Create the Box Move the Box an Axis 11.Click on the color block and select red as the color of the helix. 12.Choose OK. The helix appears as a red wire frame outline. 13.Choose View/Render/Smooth Shaded to change the view of the helix from a wireframe to a solid color. The helix fills in with color and appears solid; however, it is a hollow object. In this example, you will create and move a simple box to a new position. Create the Box > To create the box: 1. Choose the XY window as the active window. 2. Choose Solids/Box from the menu bar. The Box base vertex buttons appear in the side window. 3. Click on the origin in the XY window. The coordinates fields should both show zeroes for the X and Y coordinates fields. 4. Choose Enter to set the origin as the base vertex for the box. The Enter box size fields appear. 5. Enter 100 in the X, Y, and Z fields under Enter box size. This defines your box as a perfect cube with each side having a length of 100 units. 6. Enter redbox in the Name field. 7. Click on the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 8. Choose Enter. The box changes from the default color to red. Move the Box > To move the box: 1. Choose Edit/Select from the menu bar. A list of objects appears in the side window. 2. Select redbox from the side window and choose OK. 3. Choose Arrange/Move. New fields appear in the side window. 4. Enter 150 in the X, Y, and Z fields under Enter Vector. These represent the vector by which the box gets moved. The Vector length shows when you are finished. 5. Choose Enter. The box moves to its new location with its base vertex at (150, 150, 150). Maxwell Online Help 694 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

9 Uniting objects is one of two methods in which to eliminate the overlapping of objects. Because overlapping objects make a model invalid, you must either unite the objects or subtract them from each other. When you unite two objects, the common space shared by the objects becomes the region at which they are joined. Conversely, when you subtract one object from another, any common space they share becomes empty space, and the object you subtracted vanishes. In this example, you will unite two overlapping cubes. Create the First Cube > To create the first cube: 1. Select the 3D view window as the active window. 2. Select any inactive coordinate fields to make them active. 3. Choose Solids/Box from the menu bar. The Box base vertex buttons appear. 4. Select the origin in the 3D view window or enter 0 in the X, Y, and Z fields. 5. Choose Enter. The Enter box size fields appear. 6. Enter 100 in the X, Y, and Z size fields under Enter box size. This defines your box as a perfect cube with each side having a length of 100 units. 7. Enter redbox in the Name field. 8. Click on the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 9. Choose Enter. The box changes from the default color to red. Create the Second Cube > To create the second cube: 1. Choose Solids/Box from the menu bar. 2. Enter 80 in the X coordinate field. 3. Enter 60 in the Y and Z coordinates field. 4. Choose Enter. The Enter box size fields appear. 5. Enter 100 in the X, Y, and Z size fields. 6. Enter bluebox in the Name field. 7. Click on the color block and select blue as the color of this box. 8. Choose Enter. The box changes from the default color to blue. Maxwell Online Help 695 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

10 an Axis More Unite the Two Cubes > To unite the two cubes: 1. Choose Solids/Unite from the menu bar. 2. Select bluebox and redbox from the Existing solids list. 3. Choose OK. The cubes unite to become a single, solid object. In this example, use the Surfaces/Connect command to connect two polyline objects to form a single sheet object. Create the Object > To create the object: 1. Choose the YZ window as the active one. 2. Choose Lines/Polyline. The Plines/sheets list appears, listing any existing objects in the model. 3. Enter Redline in the Edit/create field. 4. Choose Enter. This accepts Redline as the name of the polyline object. 5. Click on the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 6. Leave Add Vert and Straight selected as the mode and type. 7. Enter 0 in the X, Y, and Z coordinates fields to mark the origin as your starting vertex for the polyline object. 8. Choose Enter. An X appears over the origin in each view window. This defines the origin as the first vertex in the object. 9. Enter 100 in the Z coordinate field and choose Enter to accept this point as the second vertex in the object. The marker in the view window moves accordingly. 10.Enter -100 in the Y coordinate field and choose Enter to accept this point as the next vertex in the object. 11.Enter -100 in the Z coordinate field and choose Enter. 12.Enter 100 in the Y coordinate field and choose Enter. 13.Enter 0 in the Z coordinate field and choose Enter. 14.Choose Close from the side window. This command closes the polyline object by connecting the final vertex with the first one. 15.Deselect Covered. This will make the object a wireframe instead of a 2D sheet. 16.Choose Done from the side window to exit the Lines/Polyline command. Maxwell Online Help 696 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

11 Copy the Polyline Object > To copy and move the object: 1. Choose Edit/Select. A list of objects appears. 2. Select Redline from the list. 3. Choose OK. 4. Choose Edit/Copy to copy the object to the paste buffer. 5. Choose Arrange/Scale to rescale the selected object. The object copied to the paste buffer remains its original size. The Scaling factor field appears. 6. Enter 3 in the Scaling factor field. 7. Choose Enter to accept the scaling. This makes the new polyline object three times larger than the original object. 8. Choose Edit/Paste. The object copied into the paste buffer is pasted into the view windows. 9. Choose Edit/Fit All. The objects appear in the active view window. 10. Choose Arrange/Move from the menu bar. New fields appear in the side window. 11.Enter 400 in the X field under Enter Vector. This moves the object 400 mm in the positive x direction. 12.Choose Enter to move the object. Unite the Two Objects > To unite the two objects: 1. Choose Surfaces/Connect from the menu bar. A list of Existing wires appears. 2. Select Redline and Redline1 from the list. 3. Choose OK. The objects are connected with a sheet object. 4. Select the 3D view window to make it active. 5. Choose View/Render/Smooth Shaded from the menu bar. The objects are clearly outlined. Note that Connect joins the polylines with a sheet object. Maxwell Online Help 697 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

12 an Axis More When you sweep an uncovered polyline object across a specified distance, the remaining object becomes a sheet object. Specifically, a sheet object is any 2D or 3D object that has no volume. To visualize this, think of a wire ring. The ring represents the polyline object. It has a definite circular shape, but it s open because of the hollow center. Now imagine sweeping the ring, lengthwise, across a six-inch path, so that the ring forms a hollow tube. This tube is the sheet object. It has no volume, because of its open ends. To make this tube a solid object, you must cover both ends. In the 3D Modeler, this is done with the Solids/Cover Surfaces command. Another way to create a solid by sweeping a polyline is to cover the polyline object prior to the sweep. To visualize this, imagine sweeping a coin instead of a hollow ring. The space that the coin sweeps out is a solid object. To cover a polyline object, select the Covered checkbox when creating the polyline or use the Surfaces/Cover Outline command. In this example, you will create a circle and sweep it along a polyline. Create the Circle > To create the polyline object: 1. Select the origin in the XY window. 2. Choose Lines/Circle from the menu bar. 3. Choose Enter to accept the origin as the circle center. New fields appear in the side window. 4. Select Z as the Circle Axis. This places the circle in the XY plane. 5. Enter 50 in the Radius field. 6. Leave Num Segments selected and the number of segments set to 8. This creates a circle that is approximated by 8 straight line segments. If Num Segments is deselected, the circle is a true curve. 7. Deselect Covered. This makes the object a wireframe instead of a 2D sheet. 8. Enter redcircle in the Name field. 9. Click on the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 10.Choose Enter. The circle changes from the default color to red. Maxwell Online Help 698 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

13 Create the Path > To create the polyline along which you will sweep the circle: 1. Choose Lines/Polyline. A list of objects appears. 2. Enter line in the Edit/create field. 3. Choose OK. 4. Select the origin in the XY window. 5. Choose Enter. This places the first vertex of the polyline object at the origin. 6. Enter 100 in the Z coordinates field. If necessary, select the Z coordinate checkbox to make the field active. 7. Choose Enter. A polyline appears pointing in the positive Z direction. 8. Choose Done. Sweep the Circle Along the Polyline > To sweep the circle along the polyline: 1. Choose Solids/Sweep/Along Path from the menu bar. The Profiles list appears. 2. Select redcircle from the list. This is the object you will sweep. 3. Choose OK. The Polylines list appears. 4. Select line from the list. This is the object you will sweep the circle along. 5. Choose OK. The Draft Angle field appears. 6. Choose Enter to leave the draft angle set to zero. The circle sweeps along the line to become a cylinder. This cylinder is a sheet object and retains the name of the circle. 7. Choose Solids/Cover Surfaces from the menu bar. The Sheet objects list appears. 8. Select redcircle from the list. 9. Choose OK. The open cylinder becomes covered to form a solid. Maxwell Online Help 699 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

14 Create the Cylinder Slice the Cylinder At times you will need to isolate one face or section of an object. You can use the Surfaces/Section command to identify those sections. In this example, you will create a cylinder and use the section command to isolate one vertical slice of the object. Create the Cylinder > To create the cylinder: 1. Select the origin in the XY window. 2. Choose Solids/Cylinder. The Base center buttons appear in the side window. 3. Choose Enter to define the base cylinder at the origin. 4. Select Z as the Cylinder Axis. This places the base of the cylinder in the XY plane. 5. Enter 50 in the R field. This represents the radius of the cylinder. 6. Enter 100 in the H field. This represents the height of the cylinder. 7. Leave Num Segments selected and the number of segments set to 8. This creates a cylinder that is approximated by 8 straight line segments. If Num Segments is deselected, the cylinder is a true surface. 8. Enter redcyl in the Name field. 9. Click on the color block and select red from the color palette that appears. 10.Choose Enter. The cylinder changes from the default color to red. Slice the Cylinder > To isolate a section of the cylinder: 1. Choose Surfaces/Section. The Section plane buttons appear. 2. Select XZ as the Section plane. 3. Choose Enter. The Existing solids list appears. 4. Select redcyl from the list. 5. Choose OK. The cylinder is sliced along the XZ plane. 6. Choose Edit/Select. Notice that a new object named slice has appeared. 7. Select redcyl from the list. 8. Choose OK to accept the selection. 9. Choose Edit/Visibility/Hide Selection. The slice of the cylinder remains visible while redcyl vanishes. Maxwell Online Help 700 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

15 When multiple profiles of objects must be joined to formed new objects, stitching them together is often more effective than uniting the objects the profiles are connected to. In this example, you will create and stitch two rectangles together to form a new object. Create the First Rectangle > To create the first rectangle: 1. Select the origin in the XY window. 2. Choose Lines/Rectangle from the menu bar. The First point buttons appear. 3. Choose Enter to set the first vertex at the origin. New fields appear. 4. Select XY as the Rectangle plane. 5. Enter 60 In the X field. 6. Enter 100 in the Y field. 7. Leave Covered selected. This makes the rectangle a sheet object. 8. Enter redrec in the Name field. 9. Click on the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 10. Choose Enter. The rectangle changes from the default color to red. Create the Second Rectangle > To create the second rectangle: 1. Choose Lines/Rectangle from the menu bar. 2. Select the origin in the XY window and choose Enter. This defines the origin as the first vertex of the new rectangle. 3. Select YZ as the Rectangle plane. 4. Enter 100 In the Y field. 5. Enter 60 in the Z field. 6. Leave Covered selected. 7. Enter bluerec in the Name field. 8. Click on the color block and select blue from the palette of colors that appears. 9. Choose Enter. The rectangle changes from the default color to blue. Maxwell Online Help 701 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

16 Stitch the Rectangles Together > To stitch the two rectangles together: 1. Choose Surfaces/Stitch from the menu bar. A list of sheet objects appears. 2. Select bluerec and redrec from the list. 3. Choose OK. The objects are stitched together to form a new sheet object. The new object retains the name of the item you first selected in the stitching process. Maxwell Online Help 702 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

17 Create the Box Rotate the Box You will often need to rotate objects around a specific point in order to place them into a more suitable location. In this example, you will create and rotate a small cube around an axis that leads away from the origin in the direction of the positive axes. Create the Box > To create the box: 1. Select the origin in the XY window. 2. Choose Solids/Box from the menu bar. 3. Choose Enter. This defines the origin as the base vertex of the box. The Enter box size fields appear. 4. Enter 100 in the X field. 5. Enter 100 in the Y field. 6. Enter 100 in the Z field. 7. Enter redbox in the Name field. 8. Choose the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 9. Choose Enter. The box changes from the default color to red. Rotate the Box > To rotate the box: 1. Choose Edit/Select from the menu bar. 2. Select redbox from the list. 3. Choose OK. 4. Choose Arrange/Rotate. 5. Select X as the Axis. 6. Enter 15 in the Angle field. 7. Choose Enter. The box rotates about the x-axis at an angle of 15 degrees. Maxwell Online Help 703 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

18 Create the Box Mirror the Box In this example, you will create a simple box and mirror it across a plane. Create the Box > To create and mirror the box: 1. Select the XY window as the active window. 2. Choose Solids/Box from the menu bar. 3. Select the origin in the XY window. Make sure the coordinates fields contain zeroes. 4. Choose Enter. The Enter box size fields appear. 5. Enter 100 in the X field. 6. Enter 100 in the Y field. 7. Enter 100 in the Z field. 8. Enter redbox in the Name field. 9. Click on the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 10.Choose Enter. The box changes from the default color to red. Mirror the Box > To mirror the box: 1. Choose Edit/Select from the menu bar. A list of objects appears in the side window. 2. Select redbox from the side window. 3. Choose OK. 4. Choose Arrange/MIrror from the menu bar. 5. Enter 0 in the X, Y, and Z coordinates fields. This will be the first point in the vector across which you will mirror the object. If one of the coordinate fields is disabled, enable it by selecting the checkbox next to the coordinate. 6. Choose Enter. 7. Enter 200 in the Z coordinates field. This marks the point on the normal of the mirror plane, which in this case is the XY plane. 8. Choose Enter. The box is mirrored across the XY plane. Maxwell Online Help 704 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

19 Rotating the Local Coordinate Among the most complex features of the 3D Modeler is the ability to align your local coordinate system with a newly defined axis. In this example, you will rotate the coordinate system to create a simple box at a complex angle. The creation of the object is not necessary for the rotation, but it will aid you in visualizing the change in the local coordinate system. Rotate the Coordinate > To rotate the local coordinate system: 1. Select the origin in the XY window. 2. Enter 100 in the X coordinate field. 3. Enter 150 in the Y coordinate field. 4. Enter 0 in the Z coordinate field. 5. Choose Coordinates/Rotate X from the menu bar. The x-axis rotates toward the new point in all the view windows. Note that the entire coordinate system changes with this rotation. Create the Box in the New Coordinate > To create the box: 1. Enter 0 in the X coordinate field. 2. Enter 0 in the Y coordinate field. 3. Enter 0 in the Z coordinate field. 4. Choose Solids/Box from the menu bar. 5. Choose Enter. This defines the origin as the base vertex of the box. The Enter box size fields appear. 6. Enter 50 in the X field. 7. Enter 50 in the Y field. 8. Enter 50 in the Z field. 9. Enter redbox in the name field. 10.Click on the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 11. Choose Enter. The rectangle changes from the default color to red. The box appears in the tilted local coordinate system. Choose Coordinates/Unrotated to restore the original coordinate system. Maxwell Online Help 705 Copyright Ansoft Corporation

20 Create the Rectangle Sweep the Rectangle When sweeping an open polyline object about an axis, the edge along the axis remains a polyline while the opposite edge sweeps into a sheet object. In this example, you will sweep a simple rectangle into an object with three sheet faces. Create the Rectangle > To create the rectangle: 1. Select the origin in the YZ window. 2. Choose Lines/Rectangles. The First Point buttons appear in the side window. 3. Choose Enter. This defines the first point in the rectangle as the origin. 4. Select YZ as the Rectangle plane. 5. Enter 100 in the Y field under Size. 6. Enter 50 in the Z field under Size. 7. Deselect Covered. This makes the object a wireframe instead of a 2D sheet. 8. Enter redrec in the Name field. 9. Click on the color block and select red from the palette of colors that appears. 10. Choose Enter. The rectangle changes from the default color to red. Sweep the Rectangle > To sweep the rectangle: 1. Choose Solids/Sweep/Around Axis. The Profiles field appears. 2. Select redrec from the list. 3. Choose OK. New fields appear in the side window. 4. Select Z as the Sweep Axis. 5. Enter 30 for the Angle of sweep. This sweeps the rectangle thirty degrees around the axis. 6. Enter 5 for the Number of steps. The higher the number of steps, the smoother the sweep. 7. Enter 0 for the Draft angle. 8. Choose Enter. Notice how only the polylines were swept into forming the faces. To form a solid wedge, rather than an open one similar to the one created here, the polyline object must be converted into a sheet object prior to sweeping. Maxwell Online Help 706 Copyright Ansoft Corporation