Viewing a model with the clip cube

The Clip Cube command allows you to temporarily clip away portions of a 3D model to see and work inside of the model. Only objects inside the cube are visible and snappable. Less clutter makes it easier to locate snap points or to view a specific region of interest in a large 3D model.

The clip cube feature works in Wireframe, Shaded, and Renderworks rendering modes. Select objects in the area to view, and then select the Clip Cube command to create a cube that bounds those objects. Once the cube is created, use the Selection tool to push or pull the cube faces to adjust the size. Use the cube’s editing frame to rotate it or drag it to another location.

To align the working plane with the highlighted face of a clip cube, right-click a highlighted horizontal or vertical face of the clip cube and select Set Working Plane from the context menu.

To use the clip cube feature:

In a 3D view, select the objects to be visible inside the cube. (If no objects are selected, the cube will bound all currently visible objects.)

Set the rendering mode to Wireframe or Shaded.

Select the command.

Alternatively, add the Clip Cube shortcut button to the Tool bar; see Setting quick preferences.

The view is clipped to show only the area of the model that contains the selected objects; the objects are surrounded by a transparent cube. By default, cross-section areas of solid objects are displayed in red, along the plane where the clip cube cuts.

To modify the clip cube, click an edge on the cube with the Selection tool. An editing frame with X, Y, and Z axes displays on its bottom face. During editing, the view changes to show the objects within the cube at any given time.

Edit the objects within the clip cube. Keep in mind the following:

If you edit a symbol, the clip cube will be reset to the symbol boundary; when you exit the symbol editing mode, the cube returns to its original boundary.

While push/pulling the face of clip cube, the Data bar always shows the relative distance from the original clip cube location.

To save the current clip cube view for later use, select View > Save View, and select the option to Save View Orientation (see Creating saved views).

Select the Clip Cube command again to disable the clip cube and return to a full model view on all design layers.

(A check mark next to the Clip Cube command indicates that the feature is activated.)

If you hold down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Control key (Mac) the next time you select the Clip Cube command, the last clip cube you had on this design layer is restored.

 

 

 

Creating a sheet layer viewport from a clip cube

To create a sheet layer viewport from a clip cube:

After you create the clip cube, select the command. The Create Viewport dialog box opens.

Create the sheet layer viewport as described in Creating a sheet layer viewport from a design layer. Select Display with Clip Cube to associate the active clip cube with the viewport. The clip cube displays in the viewport, and you can change its dimensions when editing the viewport’s design layer.

Each viewport created with this option is saved with its own, editable, clip cube configuration.

 

Creating a section viewport from a clip cube

To create a section viewport from a clip cube:

After you create a clip cube, select the Selection tool, and then right-click a highlighted horizontal or vertical face of the clip cube.

Select the command. The Create Section Viewport dialog box or Create Horizontal Section Viewport dialog box opens, depending on the selected clip cube face.

Create the viewport either on a sheet layer or design layer, as described in the following topics:

Creating a vertical section viewport

Creating a horizontal section viewport

To display the cross section areas with the original objects and attributes, from the Object Info palette, access the viewport’s Advanced Properties. From the Attributes tab, select Separate Cross Sections and Use Attributes of Original Objects.

 

 

X-ray Select mode

Exporting a VGX 3D model