Normal Cutout command bar (Sheet Metal Environment)

Main Steps

Plane or Sketch Step

Specifies whether you construct the feature by drawing a new profile on a reference plane or by using an existing sketch. To construct the feature by drawing a new profile, on the Create-From Options List, select the reference plane option you want. To construct the feature using an existing sketch, select the Select From Sketch option.

Draw Profile Step

Edits the profile for an existing feature. A profile is a 2D curve that defines the shape and location of the feature. To create a base feature by protrusion, the profile must be closed. This step is available only when you are editing an existing feature.

Side Step

Defines the side of the profile to which material should be added or from which material should be removed to construct the feature.

The side step is not used for protrusions when the profile is closed.

Extent Step

Defines the depth of the feature or the distance to extend the profile to construct the feature. The extent options are: Through All, Through Next, From/To Extent, and Finite Extent.

Finish/Cancel

This button changes function as you move through the feature construction process. The Finish button constructs the feature using input provided in the other steps. Once you construct the feature, you can edit it by re-selecting the appropriate step on the command bar. The Cancel button discards any input and exits the command.

Plane or Sketch Step Options

Create-From Options

Sets the method of defining the profile plane or specifies that you want to construct the feature using an existing sketch. Depending on the model you are constructing, some of the options listed may not be available. For example, if no sketches exist in the model, the Select From Sketch option is not displayed.

  • Select From Sketch—Specifies that you want to define the profile for the feature using an existing sketch.

  • Coincident Plane—Specifies that you want to define a plane that is coincident to an existing reference plane or a planar face on the part. When you set this option, a default X-axis and direction is applied to the new reference plane. You can use keyboard accelerators to define a different X-axis and direction for the new reference plane.

  • Parallel Plane—Specifies that you want to define a plane that is parallel to an existing reference plane or a planar face on the part. When you set this option, you can specify the parallel offset distance. When you set this option, a default X-axis and direction is applied to the new reference plane. You can use keyboard accelerators to define a different X-axis and direction for the new reference plane.

  • Angled Plane—Specifies that you want to define a plane that is at an angle to an existing reference plane or planar face on the part. When you set this option, you can specify the angle value you want.

  • Perpendicular Plane—Specifies that you want to define a plane that is perpendicular to an existing reference plane or planar face on the part.

  • Coincident Plane By Axis—Specifies that you want to define a plane that is coincident to an existing reference plane or a planar face on the part. When you set this option, you define the X-axis and direction for the new reference plane using a linear edge, a planar face, or another reference plane.

  • Plane Normal to Curve—Specifies that you want to define a plane that is perpendicular to a curve you select. This is the default option when constructing a helix using the Perpendicular option.

  • Plane By 3 Points—Specifies that you want to define a plane by three keypoints you select.

  • Feature's Plane—Specifies that you want to define a plane that is coincident to a reference plane used to define an earlier feature. You can select the feature you want using Feature PathFinder or in the graphic window. This option is not available when constructing the base feature.

  • Last Plane—Automatically selects the reference plane used for the previous feature. This option is not available if the last feature was a pattern or when constructing the base feature.

Select From Sketch Options

Select

Sets the method of selecting a sketch element.

  • Single—Selects one or more individual elements.

  • Chain—Selects an endpoint connected set of elements by selecting one of the elements in the chain.

Deselect (x)

Clears the selection.

Accept (check mark)

Accepts the selection.

Extent Step Options

Thickness Cut

Specifies that the cutout will compensate for the material thickness of the part.

Mid-Plane Cut

Specifies that the cutout is created based on the mid-plane of the part. With this option, the cutout does not cut both sides of the part, rather, it projects the profile onto the mid-plane of the sheet metal part, thickens the resulting surface, and removes it from the part.

Nearest Face Cut

Specifies that the cutout is based on the nearest face of the part.

Through All

Sets the feature extent so that the profile is extruded through all faces of the part, starting at the profile plane. You can extrude the profile to either side of the profile plane, or to both sides.

Through Next

Sets the feature extent so that the profile is extruded through only the next closed intersection with the part on the selected side. You can extrude the profile to either side of the profile plane, or to both sides.

From/To Extent

Sets the feature extent so that the profile is projected from a specified face or reference plane to another specified face or reference plane. You can use the profile plane as one of the extents select the profile plane handle, or click the right mouse button.

Finite Extent

Sets the feature extent so that the profile is projected a finite distance to either side of the profile plane, or symmetrically to both sides of the profile plane. To set the distance, type the distance into the Distance box on the command bar.

Keypoints

Sets the type of keypoint you can select to define a feature extent or to position a new reference plane. This option is available on the command bar during the extent step of feature construction, and when you are defining the position of an angled, parallel, or perpendicular plane. The available keypoint options are specific to the command you are using.

Selects any keypoint.

Selects an end point.

Selects a midpoint.

Selects the center point of a circle or arc.

Selects a tangency point on an analytic curved face such as a cylinder, sphere, torus, or cone.

Selects a silhouette point.

Selects an edit point on a curve.

Distance

Sets the distance to extend the feature when the Finite Extent option is set.

Step

Sets the distance value to increase or decrease in set increments when you move the cursor. For example, typing a step value of 0.25 and moving the cursor away from the from point would increment the distance from 0.25 to 0.5, then to 0.75, and so forth.

Symmetric

Sets the feature extent to be applied symmetrically about the profile plane.

Other command bar Options

Name

Displays the feature name. Feature names are assigned automatically. You can edit the name by typing a new name in the box on the command bar or by selecting the feature and using the Rename command on the shortcut menu.

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