Appendix

G Transformations

Purpose
This lesson will discuss the fundamentals of transformations.

Objectives
Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

• Translate .

• Scale .

• Rotate about a point.

• Mirror through a line .

• Rotate about a line .

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Transformations

Transformations

The Edit→Transform option allows objects to be translated, rotated, and

scaled. Transformations may be used to create multiple copies of selected
objects, make multiple moves, scales, etc..

NOTE: Views, layouts, drawings, or the current WCS are not

translatable objects. There are separate options from the main
menu bar to deal with these items.

Transformation Procedure
 Choose Edit→Transform.
 Select the objects for transformation. The Class Selection Subfunction
dialog box may be used to select the objects.
 Choose a transformation type from the dialog box shown below.

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 Transformations

 Complete the additional selections and choices from dialog boxes. Then
complete the choices on the dialog box shown below, and choose OK.

Transformation Options Terminology

Destination Layer allows you to select a layer on which to place the transformed
objects. Choose one of the following options:
 Work Places the transformed objects on the current work layer.
 Orig Keeps the transformed objects on their original layer.
 Specify Moves the transformed objects to the specified layer.
Trace Status on creates connecting curves between the original objects end
points and their transformed copies. When trace status is off, connecting lines
are not created between the original object and the transformed copies.

Original object
Transformed Object
Trace Curves

Before After

Trace Status may be used with Translate, Scale, Rotate, Mirror, or Reposition
to create closed wireframe shapes. Trace Status is not applicable to solid
bodies, surfaces, or boundary objects. Trace curves are independent of the
Destination Layer setting, and are always created on the current Work layer.

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Transformations

Subdivisions allows the transformation distance to be divided into a number of

equal parts. The subdivision factor is equal to the number of these parts.

Use Subdivisions to translate, scale via uniform method, or rotate an object. In

translation, the distance is divided by the subdivision factor. In rotation, the
angle of rotation is divided by the subdivision factor. In scale, the subdivision
distance is the nth root of the transformation, where n is equal to the
subdivision factor.

NOTE: Subdivisions only divides the transformation distance into

equal parts. It does not display selected objects at each subdivided
segment.

After the number of subdivisions has been entered, the Transform Type dialog
box redisplays. Multiple Copies may be selected to enter a desired number of
copies.

Move allows transformation of an object from its original location to a new

location. The selection in this option is object based. A feature of a solid body
may not be selected for this operation.

When a solid body is moved, its positioning features and their associated
dimensions are moved. All associated datum planes and axes are also moved
with their solid body. All sketch features (when sketched on a face or datum
plane) are moved with the solid body as well.

When a solid body containing swept features is moved, the sweep outlines, or
paths, move as well. Other features or solid bodies sharing those sweep outlines
are also moved.

NOTE: A solid body cannot be moved with the transformation type

set to scale. Use the Scale operation to accomplish this.

Copy allows an object to be duplicated at a new location, while keeping the

original intact in its initial position.

Multiple Copies allows duplication of objects a specified number of times

during certain transform operations.

Undo Last cancels any immediately preceding transform operation. Use Undo
Last after a transformation via Move, Copy, or Multiple Copies. Undo Last
remains available until you choose Reselect Objects.

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 Transformations

Changes in Transform Type, Destination Layer, Trace Curves, or Subdivisions

made after a transformation, but before it is undone, occur during the next
transformation operation. They will not affect the execution of Undo Last.

Objects originally selected for transformation remain selected at the completion

of the Undo Last, and ready for the next transformation operation.

Move, Copy, or Multiple Copies selected immediately following Undo Last,

regenerates the objects in a state that preceded Undo Last.

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Transformations

Translate

Objects may be Translated (moved) to a point, or by a distance of delta.

Translated objects maintain the original orientation.

To a Point allows the selected objects to be translated by indicating a reference

and a destination point.

Delta allows the selected objects to be translated by specifying a new location in

terms of the work (delta XC, delta YC, and delta ZC) coordinates.

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 Transformations

Scale

This option affects the size of an object and the distance between the object
and its reference point. A nonĆuniform scale method may be specified with the
values relative to the WCS..

Scale allows the selected objects to be proportionately resized. Care must be

exercised in choosing a reference point for the scale operation because the
scale factor is applied to the geometry equally relative to the reference point.

The results of different reference point positions are illustrated below.

Reference
Point
Reference
Point

Reference
Point
Reference
Point

Scale Factor=1/2

NOTE: A solid body may not be scaled by copying it without losing

its parametric information.

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Transformations

NonĆUniform Scale allows objects to be resized independently with respect to

the XC, YC, and ZC axes. An example of where this option might be useful is
to incorporate variable shrinkage factors in mold design.

The figure below illustrates an example of NonĆUniform Scale.

ZC ZC

YC YC

XC Scale Factors
XC
Before XC Scale = .75
YC Scale = .5 After
ZC Scale = 1.25

NOTE: NonĆUniform Scale will not allow a Move operation on a

solid body. Use Copy instead. However, analytic face geometry (for
example, a block feature) cannot be nonĆuniform scaled via Copy.

If you wish to nonĆuniform scale a solid body containing analytic surfaces, first
convert those sheet bodies into bĆsurfaces using the Convert function, then sew
them together into a new solid body valid for nonĆuniform scaling.

With the NonĆUniform Scale method, Undo Last is available even if the
rescaled object had been converted to a different kind of object.

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 Transformations

NOTE: Once an arc is converted into a spline, it can no longer be

restored to its original object type.(See figure below)

Arc Spline

ÉÉÉÉÉÉ ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ
ÉÉÉÉÉÉ ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ
YC
ÉÉÉÉÉÉ
ÉÉÉÉÉÉ
YC ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ
ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ
ZC XC Scale Factors XC
ZC
Before After
XC Scale = 1.35
YC Scale = 1.02
ZC Scale = 1.00

When an object is transformed into a different type, some or all of the original
object data may be lost (for example, attributes, view modifications, drafting
objects, dimensions, tool paths, and offset sheet bodies). Subdivisions may not
be used in NonĆUniform Scale.

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Transformations

Rotate About a Point

Use this option to move objects around a line parallel to the ZC axis, and
passing through a specified reference point. A positive rotation direction is
counterclockwise. After the reference point for rotation has been selected, a
rotation and angle dialog box displays.

The figure below illustrates Rotation About a Point, with multiple copies.

Original Object Number of Copies: 3

Subdiv Factor: 4
Rotation Angle: 270

Reference Point

ZC

YC

XC
Line Parallel To ZC

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 Transformations

Mirror Through a Line

A mirror image of an object may be created on the opposite side of a reference

line. Three options are available for line selection.

The figure below illustrates an example of Mirror Through a Line.

Transformed Object

YC

ZC XC

Original Object Reference Line

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Transformations

Rotate About a Line

This option allows objects to be moved around a reference line which is not
necessarily parallel to the ZC axis. Three options are available for line
selection: Two Points, Existing Line, and Point and Vector.

A positive rotation direction is counterclockwise.

The figure below illustrates an example of Rotate About a Line, multiple copies.

Original Hole

Reference
Point

Y
Number Of Copies: 7
Rotation Angle: 315
Reference Point: Arc Center X

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 Transformations

Using Transformations for Symmetrical Geometry

For swept solids using explicit curves that have common geometrical subsets,
the use of Mirror Through a Line and Mirror Through a Plane can save users
considerable creation time.

Consider the example below, which shows a combination of Offset Curves and
curves Mirrored Through a Line:

Associative Offset
Curves

No Associativity

Parent Curves Mirrored Curves

(Not Mirrored)

TIP Careful consideration of the curves used as parents for the Offset
Curves is necessary. Remember, except for the offset distance, editing
of the Offset Curves is accomplished only by editing the parents. The
Offset Curves are handled as a complete set. Also, note that the circle
and arc at the bottom were not mirrored, but the lines at the top
were.

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Transformations

Summary
The Transform dialog is very usefull when you are working with
curves.
This lesson introduced:
• Translating .

• Scaling.

• Rotating.

• Mirroring .

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