Elements

Elements refer to a new component systems introduced in GEM 5.0. The system use the same component bank and allow populating the components while controlling the component orientation, position and size.

This way components can be placed over the mesh faces and maintain their original size, and parametrically scale the component bounding box. Each population step can be saved as a part, allowing batch population of components.

The new system allows to save scenes based on bookmarks from your design session, and use different facemaps for the components population.

Steps

1. From the component's menu select Elements'

Command Activation Methods and Options

Interface (GUI)

Options

Scale

Scale values controls the size factors for x,y,z of the component bounding box.

The values entered reflects a multiplier value, and if the component bounding box size is 1x1x1 units, it becomes a metric size for the bounding box. To convert a component bounding box to 1x1x1 simply rotate it within the bounding box using the FLIP XY or FLIP YZ buttons.

When two values are entered (with comma separator) the values will be used as minimum and maximum relative to proximity to target points if exists.

Positioning

The population of elements is based on selecting an orientation method, a datum reference point on the component bounding box and a target position on the mesh cell populated.

Orientation

Select the orientation method from the list:

Normal: The component is placed normal to face populated. The rotation of the component is following the direction arrow of the face.

Vertical: The component is placed vertical to face populated. The rotation of the component is following the direction arrow of the face

Original: The component maintains its original direction and simply placed relative to the datum selected and target position.

Axis: The component is stretched along the axis selected as the position points. the component maintains its section based on the scale factors.

Wrap: The component fills the entire cell (similar to the simple component population).

Datum

The datum is the reference points on the component bounding box.

You can select:

Ref Center

Main Center

Side Center

Top Center

Box Center

0,0,0 of the original component space.

Position

The position point within the cell you populate. The datum point of the component is located on this position and oriented according to the selected orientation.

For Normal,Vertical and Original orientations, the first position point is used for placement of the component. If a value other than 0 is set to the "At" parameter the component will shift towards the second position point specified, based on the At value.

Choosing position points based on this list:

Main Center

Cell Center

Ref Center

Side Center

M-1

M-2

M-3

M-4

R-1

R-2

R-3

R-4

At / Ground

'At' value represent the shift of the component positioning point from the first position point towards the second position point. The values are proportional or scalar (when the Metric toggle is selected).

When 'Ground' is selected as a target end point, the component is stretched as an Axis element from the first position point to the Ground value entered.

Save Scene

Save the current facemap and generate a bookmark.

Parts List

Editing

Press the right-click mouse button and choose Edit Cell to alter any of the part parameters.

Save / Load

Save the part data to a file. Loading previous parts from .cmp files allowing to use the saved data.

New List

Clear the Part List

Preview and Population to File

Preview Current

Preview the current selected part from the list

Preview All

Preview all parts from the list

Export

Export the entire part list to a file. Create DXF, OBJ, STL or DAE (Collada) files to use with your favorite CAD tool.

Components > Elements

Command Line

Elements

Keyboard