Basic User Interface > Grid and 3-D Cursor > 3-D Cursor

 

3-D cursor

VisualFEA has a special inputting aid called 3-D cursor. The 3-D cursor is useful in defining a position in 3-dimensional space in conjunction with grid or other points like nodes or control points. The 3-D cursor consists of 3 lines and is always displayed in relation with grid planes. Each line ends on one of the grid planes. These ends are the called 3-D cursor foot. The other ends of the lines meet at one point, which forms the 3-D cursor point. Coordinates in 3-dimensional space can be entered conveniently by clicking this 3-D cursor point.

> Turning 3-D cursor on and off

The 3-D cursor is initially off and not shown on the screen. The 3-D cursor button is shaped in off state. Clicking the button toggle 3-D cursor. The button is shaped if the 3-D cursor is on. The 3-D cursor can be turned on only in input or modification mode. Therefore, the 3-D cursor works only when one of the input tool buttons, or modification tool buttons is pressed.

> Moving the 3-D cursor point

In order to enter coordinates using the 3-D cursor point, the point should first be moved to a desired position by the following steps.

 

1) Move the screen cursor over one of the 3-D cursor foot.
  2) Press the control key .
  The input mode is temporarily suppressed by pressing the control key.
  3) Press the mouse button.
  4) Drag the 3-D cursor foot to the desired position by keeping the mouse button and control key pressed, while moving the screen cursor.
  The 3-D cursor foot moves along with the movement of the screen cursor, and accordingly the 3-D cursor point moves.
 

5) Release the mouse button.
  Releasing the mouse button terminates the movement of 3-D cursor foot.
  6) Move the screen cursor over to another 3-D cursor foot, and repeat 1)-5) until the 3-D cursor point settles at the desired position.
"Stick to Grid", "Stick to Curve End", "Stick to Node" and "Stick to Control Point" options in menu are also applied to positioning the 3-D cursor. For example, if "Stick to Node" item is checked, the 3-D cursor foot can be laid on a node point.

< Composition of 3-D cursor >

< Moving 3-D cursor point >