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Basic concepts
Disclaimer
Delcam plc has no control over the use made of the software described in
this manual and cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage
howsoever caused as a result of using the software. Users are advised that
all the results from the software should be checked by a competent
person, in accordance with good quality control procedures.
Information contained in this manual is subject to change without notice
and does not represent a commitment by Delcam plc. The software
described in this manual is furnished under licence agreement and may be
used or copied in accordance with the terms of such licence. No part of
this manual may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording,
for any purpose without the express permission of Delcam plc.
PowerSHAPE 3
What is PowerSHAPE?....................................................................3
How do I run PowerSHAPE? ..........................................................6
User interface 7
What is each area of the screen? ......................................................7
What is a menu?...............................................................................7
How do I use the menus? .................................................................9
What is a toolbar? ..........................................................................11
How do I use the toolbars?.............................................................11
What is the Status bar?...................................................................12
How do I use the Status bar?..........................................................12
What is a dialogue box? .................................................................14
How do I use dialogue boxes? .......................................................14
How do I use the Arm? ..................................................................16
How do I use the mouse? ...............................................................17
How do I use the keyboard?...........................................................23
What is a graphics window? ..........................................................24
How do I use a graphics window? .................................................24
What is the Intelligent Cursor? ......................................................25
How do I use the Intelligent Cursor? .............................................25
Models 29
What is a model?............................................................................29
How do I create a model? ..............................................................29
How do I save a model?.................................................................30
How do I save a model with a new name? ....................................31
How do I save a model with a thumbnail?.....................................35
How do I close a model?................................................................36
How do I open a model? ................................................................36
How do I close and open zipped models?......................................41
How do I reset a model? ................................................................42
Objects 87
How do I create an object?.............................................................87
How do I edit an object? ................................................................88
Entering positions 91
What is a coordinate system?.........................................................91
How do I enter positions? ..............................................................92
What is a grid?................................................................................97
How do I use the grid? ...................................................................98
How do I use point-locking? ..........................................................99
What is the Position dialogue box?...................................................100
How do I use the Position dialogue box? ..........................................100
Parameters 137
What is a parameter?....................................................................137
Index 143
Introduction
This manual provides all the necessary operations such as selecting
objects and entering positions. You are also shown how to use the
interface.
You must be familiar with the operations in this manual in order to make
full use of the other manuals.
Training courses
Training courses are available. Please contact your Delcam Sales Partner
for further details.
What is PowerSHAPE?
PowerSHAPE is a powerful 3D modeller for designing complex shapes.
It is ideally suited to preparing models for manufacture; either from
scratch or by editing a part-complete model, imported from another CAD
system.
PowerSHAPE supports standard Microsoft Windows functionality such
as cut, copy and paste, drag and drop, and rubber-band editing of objects.
Any modelling object (such as line, arc, curve) can also be edited via
pop-up menu - easily raised by clicking the right mouse button. The
menus contain all the main operations available for the selected object.
Power Solution
PowerSHAPE is integrated with all the other Power Solution products.
For example: PowerMILL, which prepares NC data to cut PowerSHAPE
models on a CNC machine tool.
Over the years, DUCT has grown, from its roots at Cambridge University
in England, into the market leading software for the design and
manufacture of moulds, tools and dies around the world.
The Power Solution products retain the power and flexibility of Delcams
DUCT5 CAD/CAM system, but with a modern Microsoft Windows
style interface. The DUCT range of integrated CAD/CAM products have
been continuously developed for over 20 years.
Ease of use
Ease of use is central to the product; most objects can be created with one
or two mouse clicks only. The dimensions are dynamically dragged by
Surfacing tools
PowerSHAPE offers sophisticated surfacing tools, including surface
creation from curves and dynamic surface manipulation, allowing quick
and easy creation and subsequent modification of the CAD surfaces.
PowerSHAPE options
The PowerSHAPE product is sold as four main options:
PowerSHAPE
PowerSHAPE for Designers
PowerSHAPE for Toolmakers
PowerSHAPE for Design to manufacture
The PowerSHAPE option contains the core functionality.
PowerSHAPE for Designers contains:
Core functionality
PS-Assembly
PS-Render
Global surface editing
Solid bulge feature
B-spline sketching
PS-Draft
Each area of the screen and how to use the various components are
described next.
What is a menu?
Pop-up menus
Pop-up menus are raised by clicking the right mouse button in the
graphics window. The menu options vary according to what you click
over.
If you right click over an object, a pop-up menu is raised and displays the
common edit options for that object. At the top of the menu, the type and
name of the object are displayed. The name of the level on which the
object lies is in brackets.
If a mixture of objects is selected and you click the right mouse button on
one of the selected objects, the Selection pop-up menu is displayed.
This pop-up menu provides some common edit commands.
Option menus
Option menus are buttons used in dialogue boxes and toolbars. They
show the current selection and expand when clicked to show all the
options in the menu.
Refer to "Option menus in How do I use dialogue boxes?".
What is a toolbar?
These allow you to enter text or numbers. Click in the box, keeping the
mouse cursor inside the box, then type the characters. The data is entered
when you press return.
As for Text boxes, click in the box and type in your data. Clicking the
arrow button causes the box to expand showing any previous entries.
You can then click on the one you want.
Option menus
These appear as drop down lists which expand when clicked to show a
menu list.
To use an option menu click on the button, then either click on or drag to
the option you want. The menu shrinks back to the button which always
shows the selected option.
Tabs
Tabs are used in dialogue boxes to show a different work page for each
tab.
Radio buttons
These are small buttons placed next to their options. When one button is
clicked, a dot appears in the button and the other previously clicked
button pops out. Only one radio button can be ON at any time and its not
possible to have them all off.
Toggle buttons
Buttons
Accept button
This causes PowerSHAPE to make the changes required and close the
dialogue box. Note that pressing Enter also accepts a dialogue box.
Apply button
This causes PowerSHAPE to make the changes required, but to leave the
dialogue box displayed.
Cancel button
This removes the dialogue box from the screen, discarding any edits
carried out on the model while it was displayed.
Over a menu
Single clicking highlights and selects menu options.
Double clicking has no particular effect over menus.
PowerSHAPE assumes you intended to single click.
Dragging moves the cursor over the different options,
highlighting the ones that are available. When you
release the button over a highlighted option, it is selected.
On an object
Single clicking over an unselected object, selects it and
the object turns yellow with its key points shown as
graphical handles. The selected objects key point
closest to the cursor when selected becomes its anchor
point.
Any other objects already selected become deselected.
If the Intelligent Cursor is ON, the cursor changes as you
move over objects and current selections.
Double clicking selects the object, but also sends the
command Edit-Modify. This raises a dialogue box or
toolbar allowing you to edit the objects properties.
When entering a series of points (for example, for a
series of lines or a curve), a double click finishes the
series. A subsequent single click starts a new series.
Dragging on a selected object picks it and while the
button is pressed, the object follows the mouse. The
object is held when picked and placed when you release
the button.
When selected, objects are displayed with additional edit handles. For
example:
Lines have key points at each end.
In a dialogue box
Single clicking selects options and presses buttons.
Note: On slider controls, clicks on the track cause the
slider to step towards the cursor.
After a Cut/Copy...
Ctrl-Alt-clicking (holding down the Control and Alt
keys while clicking) inputs an anchor point for Paste
Special. See "Edit - Paste Special" in the Menus and
toolbars Manual for further details.
In a text box...
In a numeric text box, this opens the calculator. The
calculation results appear automatically in the text box
when you press the enter key or move the mouse outside
the numeric text box.
In a text box, this displays a pop up menu with options
undo, cut, copy, paste, delete and select all. You can use
these options on the data in the box.
In a numeric text box, this displays a pop up menu with
options undo, cut, copy, paste, delete and select all. You
can use these options on the data in the box.
Multi-window mode
When the graphics window is filling the graphics area, clicking
Windows fix/float causes each window to be displayed in their own
Object highlighting
This is active when selecting objects. Objects that can be selected are
highlighted when the cursor travels over them.
Refer to "Selection using the Intelligent Cursor" under "How do I select
objects?".
Construction lines
Construction lines are automatically drawn on all models, appearing on
the Construction Level. This level is switched off by default, but the lines
are selectively displayed by the Intelligent Cursor. It shows only the lines
relevant to a particular key point, hiding them again when moved away
from the point.
When adding or editing objects, you can wake up lines by hovering the
cursor over a key point. The lines appear (helping you to correctly align
your object) and disappear when you move away.
Note: You can turn off these construction lines temporarily by holding
down the Shift key.
If you really want to see all the lines as you work, set the Format -
Levels option to show the Construction level (refer to Levels in the
Format Menu chapter in the Menus and toolbars Manual). However,
the construction level is not intended to be visible and the screen will
soon become very cluttered. We strongly recommend that you normally
work with this level switched off.
What is a model?
A PowerSHAPE model is a representation of a real life (usually
engineering) component, built on the computer. You build models from a
set of geometric objects (lines, arcs, curves and surfaces) which together
represent the components.
A PowerSHAPE model can be viewed from any angle and can be colour
shaded to look very similar to the real component. It can also model other
properties such as weight and volume.
2. Use the dialogue box to save your model using a new name.
See "Save Model As dialogue box" for further details.
Note: If your models are single files and stored outside the database, you
can always display the Save As dialogue box instead of the Save
Model As dialogue box.
To do this, turn on the Always save and open from outside the
database option on the Model page of the Options dialogue box.
Use this dialogue box to define the folder for storing the vault model.
Select the folder and then click OK.
Cancel - This removes the dialogue box from the screen without saving
the model.
Note: On a new or read-only model, File - Save raises the Save
Model As dialogue box.
To do this, turn on the Always save and open from outside the
database option on the Model page of the Options dialogue box.
Filter - When the list of model names becomes very long, it can be
difficult to find the model you want. Entering a filter reduces the list to
only those models which match the filter pattern, for example, entering a
filter of *.rg will list only those models which have the extension .rg.
We suggest that you use a designers initials for model name extensions.
For example, mymodel.vnl.
The filter is not case sensitive. Entering a filter of *.rg will list models
that have the extension .RG as well as those with the extension .rg.
Further detail is contained in "Filter options" under the "Tools - Options"
menu in the Menus and toolbars Manual.
Clear - This clears the text in the Filter box.
Password - If the model is protected by a password, enter it in the text
box.
Read Only - If you want to open the model, but prevent it from being
overwritten, click the Read Only box until it shows a tick.
If you decide to save any changes, you will need to save the model under
a new name using File - Save As. See "How do I save a model with a
new name?" for further details.
Check & Fix - When ON, File Doctor examines the selected model and
corrects any errors before opening the model. Refer to "Tools - File
Doctor" in "Tools menu" in the Menus and toolbars Manual.
Preview Picture and Properties - If a thumbnail of the model has
been saved, it is displayed in the top window. Information about the
model appears in the bottom window, including file dates, size and
description.
Browse - This opens models stored as single files and not in the
database. Click the Browse button to display the standard Windows
Open Model dialogue box. Use this dialogue box to select and open a
model.
Creates a filter in the Open Model dialogue box to search for temporary
and vault models.
Each option on the dialogue box is discussed below.
Get the Latest from the Vault - This finds the vault models with the
highest revision numbers, which match the Filter in the Open Model
dialogue box.
Note that you can open any one of the copies of a vault model.
If you want to lose the edits, click YES and the model is reset.
If you do not want to lose them, click NO and the reset command is
ignored.
Filter - When the list of model names becomes very long, it can be
difficult to find the model you want. Entering a filter reduces the list to
only those models which match the filter pattern, for example, entering a
filter of *.rg will list only those models which have the extension .rg.
The filter is not case sensitive. Entering a filter of *.rg will list models
that have the extension .RG as well as those with the extension .rg.
Further detail is contained in "Filters options" under the "Tools -
Options" menu in the Menus and toolbars Manual.
We suggest that you use a designers initials for model name extensions.
For example, mymodel.lal.
Password - If the model is protected by a password, enter it in the text
box.
Click Yes to remove the model from the database and return to the
Delete Model dialogue box. If the Use Recycle Bin option is selected
on the Model page of the Options dialogue box, the model is sent to the
Recycle Bin (providing the bin is not full). Otherwise, the model is
permanently removed from the system.
Click No to do nothing and return to the dialogue box.
Close - When you have finished deleting models, click Close to remove
the Delete Model dialogue box from the screen.
This dialogue box contains information about levels and objects for the
current model in PowerSHAPE.
On this dialogue box, the following are stored whenever a model is saved
as a psmodel:
Date of creation
Company
Application name
The name of the model and its description
The names of the drawings (contained in the model) and their
descriptions
When saving a psmodel for the first time (with a save as), the following
are stored on the Windows Explorer's Properties dialogue box:
Current user as the Author (on the Summary page)
Version of PowerSHAPE in the Comments section (on the
Summary page)
Revision is set to 0 (on the Statistics page)
When opening a psmodel, the following will be read from the Windows
Explorer's File - Properties dialogue box and stored by PowerSHAPE:
title
subject
Note that objects that are in the secondary model but not in the primary
model are not shown. To show these objects, simply carry out the above
steps with the secondary model as the primary model and the primary
model as the secondary.
Warning: Models are compared on the basis of positional information
(XYZ coordinates) only. Differences, for example, in tangent direction,
colour and level, are not picked up. This is done for reasons of speed.
This command can be a useful tool to aid comparison of models, but you
must use it with care and check manually for small differences that the
command may not pick up.
Note: For above commands to work, you must have FILE OPEN
IFNONE in your login macro. For further details on the login macro, see
"What is the login macro?" in the "PowerSHAPE users" section of the
Managing your PowerSHAPE system Manual for further details.
This dialogue box allows you to select the target system and settings for
exporting files.
Target - Select a target system for exporting files from the list. The
settings for the target system selected are set automatically on the Data
Exchange pages of the Options dialogue box.
Export using settings for - Select this option, then select a
target system from the list. Unknown is the default export setting.
AutoCAD
Cadkey
Camax
CamtexPeps
Catia
Cimatron
Cimlink
This dialogue box is used to enter the header data for the VDA-FS file.
Fill in the text boxes on the dialogue box.
If you don't have a PS-Exchange licence for a given file type, you must
purchase a voucher for each file you translate. Once you have purchased
a voucher, you can translate the same file as many times as you like
(providing its contents have not changed).
1. Click the link https://www.delcam.com/ps-
exchange/PSX10gen.html to display the application form on the
web page.
4. Copy the text between ----cut here--- from the web page and paste
it into the Translation Voucher section of the Voucher
Required dialogue box.
5. Click Accept to import the data.
Tip: PS-Viewer (the free version of PowerSHAPE) uses PS-Exchange to
import data. You can use PS-Viewer to import the data and check it. If
you are happy with the data, you can get a voucher to import it into
PowerSHAPE.
You can create a model while working entirely within the global
workspace, selecting the default drawing plane (also known as the
principal plane) and entering co-ordinate values when necessary.
However, models can contain many angled faces and it is often easier to
specify co-ordinates relative to a face rather than to the model as a whole.
Workplanes allow you to do this. For further information on workplanes,
look in the Wireframe modelling Manual.
Construction lines
If you hover the cursor over an important key point (one which raises any
of the construction labels), construction lines are created from that key
point. You can now drag the cursor along a construction line and see the
appropriate labels appear. Clicking causes the position to snap to that
point. For example, to draw a box:
1. Select Lines and choose Continuous line mode .
2. Click to start a line
4. Drag along a 90 degree construction line and click. The line snaps
to give a square intersection.
5. Drag the cursor down to the original start point and hover. The
cursor shows End and the construction lines appear.
7. Snap to the start and finish with one more click when End is
displayed.
You can enter a position as three co-ordinate values or for more complex
constructions, raise the Position dialogue box. To enter position co-
ordinate values, click in the first box to select it, enter the value and then
either press the tab key to select the next box or click in it. The values
are stored when you accept the dialogue box.
What is a grid?
A grid is an array of points joined by lines. You can use the grid as a
guide to quickly enter positions by snapping to its points.
On the grid, you will see the name of the current workspace and the
principal plane. You may also see an arrow at the origin of the current
workspace. This shows the axis normal to the principal plane.
You can snap to the intersections of grid lines as if they are key points.
You can view the grid as either ruled or dotted lines by changing the
Grid type option on the View page of the Options dialogue box.
In the Status bar, you can see a text box which shows the scale of the
current grid. You can change the scale of the grid by zooming in and out.
To increase the scale, zoom out, and to decrease the scale, zoom in. The
scale is locked by default to a value of 10. To unlock the scale, deselect
the Lock Grid Scale option on the Views page of the Options
dialogue box.
To set your own grid scale, type your value into the grid scale text box.
The grid scale is automatically locked to that value.
If you change the principal plane, the grid automatically redraws on the
new plane.
To turn the grid off:
From the Status bar, click the Grid on/off button to remove the
grid from the screen.
When you hover the intelligent cursor over such a key point, it changes to
show that clicking the key point will project any new position onto the
principal plane.
To turn point-locking off:
From the Status bar, click the Point lock button (which changes to
an open lock ).
The above shows the default page of the Position dialogue box. It
actually has several pages that can be accessed by selecting the relevant
tabs. Pages for each tab are discussed later.
Current Plane - This menu allows you to select one of the three
principal planes. The current plane is relative to the selected Workspace
option.
Many of the Position dialogue box options contain a button to fix (or
lock) the component value. This button can be switched between
Locked and Unlocked . Locking a value ensures that it remains
fixed regardless of what happens to other components. The lock remains
ON until you click the button again to unlock it. Dialogue box editing
fields affected by a lock are greyed out.
Many tools available from the Position dialogue box involve using the
mouse to select objects in the model. You make these selections in the
normal way.
All the Position dialogue box functions show the current position as an
icon in the model. When you adjust the position controls (such as the
slider in Along and Between) you can see the icon move in the model.
This allows you to confirm the position is where you want it before
accepting the dialogue box.
Become Origin - If you click this button, then the coordinates of the
position defined by the dialogue box become the origin. Any relative
coordinates are measured from this origin.
Cartesian page
This page provides separate fields for each axis. Each can be
individually locked using the appropriate lock button.
Usually you can enter a value into a field without affecting the other
values. However if you have locked some components using the polar
page, then the values of the other fields may change to comply with the
constraints created by the locks.
If you click a position in the graphics window, its Cartesian coordinates
are read into the dialogue box.
This operates in the same way as Along, but instead of using points at
the ends of an object, you select the start and end points which need not
be on the same object. This allows accurate placement of a position
between two connected or unconnected positions.
Click two positions in the model.
First point - This displays the coordinates of the first click.
Second point - This displays the coordinates of the second click.
Resultant point - This displays the coordinates of the between value as
defined by the dialogue box.
Option menu displaying Proportion - When Proportion is shown on
the menu, the number in the adjacent text box refers to the proportional
distance from the first point towards the second. In this case, 0.5 indicates
half way along. 0.25 would mean a quarter (or 25%) along. When
Distance is shown on the menu, you can enter a measurement from the
first point.
You can either type in a value in the text box next to the option menu or
use the slider below it. The slider indicates the portion from the first
point. By default, the slider has 10 graduations. You can change the
number of graduation on the slider, either by using the and
buttons or by typing a value into the box.
Normal page
4. Release the mouse to select all of the objects that are partially or
completely enclosed in the box.
In our example all the lines are selected as they are partially or
completely enclosed by the box.
4. Release the mouse to select all of the objects that are completely
enclosed in the box.
Deselecting objects
To deselect all objects, either:
click in space away from any objects, or
from the Edit menu, choose Select followed by Clear
selection.
Selection filter
Complex models can become cluttered with objects making it difficult to
select the ones you want. The selection filter is an aid which helps you to
choose the type of object you want to select. You can also select styles of
objects and levels on which objects are kept.
Using the selection filter:
1. Click (selection menu).
2. Use the Selection Filter dialogue box to filter the selections.
This dialogue box is used to choose which objects, styles and levels are
selected.
Each item on the dialogue box is discussed below.
You can select an object on the screen and the lists will update to show
the type, style and level of that object.
You can enter complex expressions. It can also measure objects in the
model.
It also interacts with dialogue boxes, automatically entering the result into
the selected boxes.
Options page
Logical page
Parameters page
Memory page
Functions page
Each function button is discussed below. Note that when you click a
function button, the current expression is enclosed in brackets and the
function is performed on the value of the current expression.
Sin - This calculates the sine of the current expression.
Cos - This calculates the cosine of the current expression.
Tan - This calculates the tan of the current expression.
Asin - This calculates the angle whose sine is equal to value of the
current expression.
Acos - This calculates the angle whose cosine is equal to value of the
current expression.
Atan - This calculates the angle whose tangent is equal to value of the
current expression.
Sqrt - This calculates the square root of the current expression.
Measuring automatically
This intelligently measures lines and arcs. It also measures the radius
of curvature on arcs, curves and surface curves.
Click .
Hover the mouse over an object.
If the object is a line or an arc, the intelligent cursor displays the
intelligent measurement of that object. The intelligent measurement of
lines and arcs are:
Line - length
Arc - radius
Measuring angles
and measure angles. measures minor angle and major angle.
To measure an angle, click the button for the angle required. You can
now select the following items:
One line. If you hover the mouse over the line, the minor and
major angles are both displayed, where the type not required is in
brackets.
Double-click the line in exactly the same position to enter the value
into the expressions box.
Two lines. The minor and major angles are measured between the
two lines as shown below.
Select one line and then select the other line. The angle between
the two lines is entered the value into the expressions box.
Suppose you have two lines that don't lie on the same XY, YZ or
ZX plane, but intersect in space. PowerSHAPE measures the angle
on the plane that is defined by the intersection point and the end
points of the lines that lay away from the intersection point.
When you hover the mouse over an arc, both the minor and major
angles are displayed, where the type not required is in brackets.
One line and one position. Select a line. Depending on which end
of the line is selected, you will see a rubber-banded angle from the
line to intelligent cursor.
This helps you to choose the second position. Once you enter the
second position, a rubber-banded angle is displayed as shown
below.
You can measure three values from the projection: its length and its
length along either of the axes of the principal plane.
To measure the length of the projection, hover the mouse over the line
until a value displays and then double click the line to enter the value into
the expressions box.
What is a parameter?
A parameter is a user-defined variable, which is used to store numbers
and expressions.
For example, parameters pi and radius are defined as follows:
pi = 3.141592654
radius = 56
A third parameter circumference can be defined using parameters pi and
radius:
circumference = 2*pi*radius
When you update the radius, circumference is automatically updated.
Parameters can be used to automatically update your model when
their definitions are updated. For this to work, you must create your
model using relational geometry and define its objects using
parameters.
Parameters can be used anywhere you need to enter numbers.
Parameter names are now case sensitive. So,
FRED
Fred
fred
are three different parameters
You can now create a parameter in a text box on a dialogue box or
toolbar by typing
param_name=expression
where param_name is the name of the parameter and expression is
an expression representing the numeric value of the parameter.
All the parameters are listed on the right in the calculator. If you
click a parameter, its value is displayed in the box below the list of
parameter.
1. Choose the parameter by double clicking on the parameter's name
in the list.
The name of the parameter is entered into the calculation indicating
that the parameter's value is entered into the calculation.
2. Once you have completed your calculation, press Accept and the
resulting value is entered into the dialogue box or toolbar.