PowerSHAPE 5.0 Training Course

PowerSHAPE Training
Course
Delcam plc,
Talbot Way, Small Heath Business Park, Birmingham, B10 0HJ.
www.delcam.com
2
Important Notice
This document is supplied as part of a Delcam Training Course. It is not intended to be

distance learning material: rather as an aid for Tutors when presenting material to course
delegates and as a subsequent aid memoir to those delegates.
Delcam does not accept responsibility for any personal belongings / valuables whilst on the
premises. Delegates are advised to keep their belongings on their person at all times.
Delcam plc. has no control over the use of the software described in this document and
cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or damage howsoever caused as a result of using
the software. Users are advised that all results from the software are checked by a competent
person in accordance with good quality control procedures.
The software described in this document is furnished under a license agreement and may be
used only in accordance with the terms of such license.
Training Centre Customer Support

Tel: 0121 683 1050 Tel: 0121 683 1010
Fax 0121 7665511 Fax: 0121 7665542
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PowerSHAPE Contents
PowerSHAPE Contents
Chapters Page Number
Monday
1. Introduction 3 - 12
2. Wireframe Geometry 13 - 28
3. Workplanes 29 - 36
4. Extruded Surfaces 37 - 54
5. Surface of Revolution 55 - 63
6. Fill-in Surfaces 64
Tuesday
7. Primitives 65 - 74
8. Drive Curve Surfaces 75 - 80
9. Surfaces from Laterals 81 - 84
10. Surfaces from a Net 85 - 90
11. Surface from Two Rails 91 - 94
12. Shading 95 - 98
Wednesday
13. Limiting Surfaces 99 - 106
14. Levels 107 - 112
15. Filleting Surfaces 113 - 124
16. Basic Solid Modelling 125 - 148
Thursday
17. Editing Surfaces 149 - 158
18. Boundaries and Pcurves 159 - 174
19. Split and Draft Surfaces 175 - 192
Friday
20. Piston Example 193 - 202
21. Volumes 203 - 206
22. PS-Estimator 207 - 212
23. Exercises 213 - 216
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 1

PowerSHAPE 1. Introduction
1. Introduction
PowerSHAPE Introduction.
PowerSHAPE is a Modelling package, which comprises of a Core module, which covers all
of the basic functionality and several specialised modules; PS-Draft (for generating detailed
drawings), PS-Mold (for generating mould tools), PS-Moldmaker (a new approach to mould
design), PS-Electrode (a wizard for generating Electrode from a solid model), PS-Assembly
(generating assemblies of solid models) and PS-Render (produces a high quality image).
To load PowerSHAPE, double click on the PowerSHAPE icon.
Once loaded, the screen looks as shown.
Quick
Level
Menu
Quick
Views
Menu
Rotation
guide
Graphics Area
PowerSHAPE automatically loads up a New Model to work in. This model can be saved as a
new name or closed so a saved model can be opened up to work on. PowerSHAPE has the
ability to have several models open and data can be copied from one to another.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 3

1. Introduction PowerSHAPE
At the top there are a series of pull down menus.
Tapping the F1 key is a quick way of accessing Help.
Select the File menu, using the Left mouse button.
New, opens an empty model, Open, brings up a form of

available models to choose from, Open Drawing is
active in PS-Draft and Close, closes the model.
Save, saves the model, Save As, ask for a new model
name, Save Thumbnail takes a screenshot and saves as
Thumbnail picture and Properties lists the entities in the
model.
Examples, loads example models from a selected list.

Print, standard print options, Print Preview, displays
the print layout, Print Setup, standard printer set up
and Print to File allows rendered images and print files
to be saved.
Reset, returns model to last saved position and Delete,

deletes the model from a selected list.
Import, brings external model in from File Browser into

PowerSHAPE, Export, saves selected model in export
format. Wizards offer a step by step approach.
This area has the last four models used listed and by
picking them you can quickly open up the required
model.
Exit, Exit out of PowerSHAPE
Beneath the pull down menus are the icons which when pressed bring up a form or do an
action. The picture on the icon represents the action it will perform; for example the one with
the floppy disc will save your model.
If you leave the mouse over an icon for a second, a

description of the icon will appear.
4 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Next are the level and colour selectors, the layers icon (sheets of paper) names a level, the
next pull down icon moves selected items to a level and the last one changes the colour of the
selected item from a pull down list.
The next icons link to Product icons, which are PS-Draft, PowerMILL and CopyCAD
icons.
Selecting the PS-Draft icon will change all of the icons in PowerSHAPE
to reflect PS-Draft functionality. To return to PowerSHAPE, select the
icon again. With a selected model the PowerMILL icon will open
PowerMILL with the model loaded. With selected data the CopyCAD icon will open
CopyCAD with the selected items loaded into it.
The Information icon gives details about the selected objects.
The creation icons are selector, workplane, point, line, arc, curve, surface and solid.
The last icon contains a list of options for each of the creation types. This changes dependent
upon which option is selected.
Select the line creation menu icon.
The pull down menu on the right now contains

the following line command options by clicking
on the down arrow icon. When these are
selected they are loaded into the top of the menu
by the arrow for quick re-selection when line
mode is selected again.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 5

At the bottom of the screen is the Workplane Selector, Principal Plane selector, the grid
definition, the cursor position, the tolerance and the XYZ position input area.
Toolbars
All of the toolbars, such as the Views toolbar, can be switched on and off using the Show
and then selecting the relevant Toolbar or Window in the Tools pull down menu.
PowerSHAPE Options
The Tools Options page allows you to configure PowerSHAPE and change the settings.
6 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

There are four main Options; Objects (lines, arcs, etc.), Drafting (used in PS-Draft) Data
Exchange (for import and Export) and Assembly (for Solid Assemblies). Fields shown in
blue text are stored in the registry (PowerSHAPE default settings) and fields shown in black
text are stored within that model.
In the Properties area, you can change the default background to be solid_white_on_black,
and set the Restart so that every time you log in you have a black background, for example.
Help Contents and Index

PowerSHAPE has an extensive Help index that can be accessed by either selecting Help from
the top menu or by simply pressing F1 on the keyboard.
Press F1 on the keyboard.

From the Welcome page select the Show icon to bring up the Contents.
Four tabs become available allowing you to browse for the information required. The Show
icon has now become Hide.
Select the Hide icon to revert back to the Welcome page.

Close the window using the button in its top right hand corner.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 7

Mouse buttons
Each of the three mouse buttons performs a different operation in PowerSHAPE. By using
the ALT, Ctrl or Shift key, these operations can be extended as the following details explain.
Left Mouse button 1: Picking and selecting
This button is used for selecting items off the main pull down
menus, inputting and selecting parts of the model.
Middle Mouse button or wheel: Dynamics
Zooming: - Hold down the CTRL key and button/wheel and move
the mouse up and down to zoom in and out of the view. Hold down
the CTRL, Shift Key and button/wheel to select an area by box to
zoom into.
Panning: - Hold down the SHIFT key with the button/wheel and
move the mouse in the direction you want to see.
Rotating: Hold down button/wheel and move the mouse. A tracker
ball shows the rotation as does the view orientation axis in the
bottom left corner of the screen. If view spinning is on the view will
spin around until you click again.
The wheel can be used to scroll text, if your mouse has a wheel.
Mouse button 3: Special Menus
When this button is pressed it brings up a new menu based on

whatever the mouse is over. If nothing is selected, the View menu
appears. If a line is selected, for example then the Line menu
appears.
8 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Exercise 1: Dynamic mouse controls.

For this exercise you will be opening a stored model and then changing the views around and
using the dynamic option.
Click on File, select the option Open.

From the list that appears select the model GOLF_FIN.
When a model is opened it is shown in a view down

the Z-axis.
The view toolbar, on the right hand side of the

PowerSHAPE window, can be broken down into 3
main areas, standard views, dynamics and shading.
Standard views
The first 12 icons contain standard views, either looking into the axis or in the direction that
the axis is going, dependent upon the active Workplane or World orientation. When the icon
is pressed the model will be displayed in that orientation.
Right - Looking at the model into the X-axis

Front - Looking at model along the Y-axis.
Top - Looking at the model into the Z-axis
Left - Looking at model along the X-axis
Back - Looking at the model into the Y-axis
Bottom - Looking at model along the Z-axis
Iso 1 - showing standard Isometric View

Iso 2 - showing isometric view rotated 90 degrees around Z-axis.
Split view showing front, top, side and Isometric using 3rd angle projection
Split view showing front, top, side and Isometric using 1st angle projection
Select these standard view icons in turn.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 9

Select Views Single
The keyboard shortcut for the views are

listed, i.e. Alt + 1 for Iso 1. By switching
Num Lock on your keyboard, you can use
the number pad with the Alt key to change
the views.
There is also a Perspective Mode option,

which displays the model in any view as
in real life with the parts nearer the front
shown larger and the parts further away
seem smaller.
Variable Views
The next 10 view icons cover a variety of viewing options, including zooming and panning.
Resize View - fits the model fully inside the graphics window.
Zoom in - Model increases in size.
Zoom out - model gets smaller.
Zoom 1:1 - displays model in full size.
Zoom Centre - put zoom icon over model area for zoom in and zoom out.
Zoom Window - define a box over model area to zoom into
Pan - Moves the model around without changing scale or rotation.
Rotate Mode - when selected, moving the mouse will rotate the view.
Lock/Unlock View Rotation Centre
Last view - changes display to the last one selected.

Refresh - Refreshes the screen
10 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Model display options

The last icons control how the model is displayed.
Dynamic sectioning - move the slider to walk through the shaded model
Smoothness shading - shows model with laminated effect to show smoothness.

Undercut shading - shows model in red where undercut occurs, otherwise green.
Minimum Radius Shading - display areas red where radius is below specified rad.
Wireframe view - displays model as if it was made of wire.
Shaded view - Displays model as if it was made out of a solid material.
Transparent View - Displays model as if it was transparent.
Shaded Wire - Displays model as solid but also shows the nearest wireframe.
Hidden Wire - Display model in wire, without the inside wire showing.
Render View - Display a Rendered view, but view must be shaded first.
Toggle Inside Material - Show inside material when shaded or not
Experiment with these view options.
PowerSHAPE models
PowerSHAPE models can consist of a variety of different entities, which fall into three main
types, wireframe, surfaces, and solids.
Wireframe in PowerSHAPE
Wireframe items include lines, arcs, curves, points, text, dimensions etc. These can be 2D or
3D and are essential for drafting in addition to generating most types of surfaces or solids.
Surfaces in PowerSHAPE
Surfaces can be generated from wireframe, created directly as standard primitive shapes, or
by conversion from a solid model. A surface is a skin stretched across the 4 sided elements
of a wireframe network. A 3D model created as surfaces behaves as a hollow form.
Solids in PowerSHAPE
Solids are generated directly from wireframe, created directly as standard primitive shapes, or
by the conversion of a selection of surfaces. A 3D model created as a solid behaves as an
enclosed mass.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 11

Useful keyboard quick keys

To speed up the application of PowerSHAPE there are a variety of short cut keyboard
combinations. Once some, or all of these become familiar they are invariably quicker than
going through the menu structure.
Below is a table of some of the more frequently used Keyboard Short Cut functions.
Keyboard Quick Keys PowerSHAPE Function
CTRL + Numlock + Keypad 0 - 9 Different views

ALT + Left mouse button Create comp curve
CTRL + ALT + D Diameter Symbol
CTRL + ALT + S Degrees Symbol
CTRL + ALT + P Plus/Minus Symbol
CTRL A Select all
CTRL C Copy
CTRL E Paste special
CTRL J Blank selected
CTRL K Blank except
CTRL L Unblank
CTRL R Refresh
CTRL V Paste
CTRL Z Undo
F1 Help
F2 Wireframe view
F3 Shaded view
F4 Transparent Shaded view
F5 Zoom last
F6 Zoom full
ESC General cancel
Multiple ESC Halt program
12 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

PowerSHAPE 2. Generating Wireframe
2. Generating Wireframe
Introduction
PowerSHAPE can generate Points, Lines, Arcs, and Curves both in 2D and 3D space. These
are known as wireframe entities and are used to build up certain types of Surfaces and
Solids, geometry for use in PS-Draft, PS-Estimator or for Export to another software such
as Powermill.
Wireframe Example
The following tutorial will show the basic operation of the Wireframe Constructor by
recreating the 2D profile shown in the above drawing.
Single Lines
Close the golf_fin model and open a New Model.
In the Views Toolbar select View from Top followed by Zoom to
Actual size .
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 13

2. Generating Wireframe PowerSHAPE
In the Main Toolbar Select the Line icon, and ensure the Single lines
icon selected in the sub-menu (the down arrow will display the sub-menu).
Input the value 0 in the Command

input box to the lower right of the
graphics area and press Return.
The 0 value is the X coordinate for the start of the line and with no further data input
PowerSHAPE assumes 0 for both the Y and Z coordinates.
Input the values 0 40 in the Command input box and press Return.
A single line is created from xyz 0 to y 40. A continuous line can

now be generated.
In the Main Toolbar, from the Line icon, select Continuous lines option.
Use the mouse to position the cursor over the start point of the existing
line (xyz 0) and when the text End is displayed click the left mouse key to
snap the start point of the new line.
Input the value 60 (in the Command input box) followed by Return.
Input the values 40 40 followed by Return (which will continue the network
of lines incrementally from the last coordinate input).
Input the values 25 25 followed by Return to continue the network of
lines perpendicular to the last end point.
Cancel Line input by right mouse clicking in an empty area of the
graphics area or by left mouse clicking the Select icon.
14 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

To provide the correct position for the arc centre the last line needs to be modified to the
correct length.
Using the left mouse quickly double click the line to open the Line Editor
form and modify the length to 30 (arrowed) and Accept.
Note the above form provides a comprehensive range of options to modify the line. If any
PowerSHAPE entity is quickly double clicked with the left mouse key the relevant editor
will appear either as a Form or a Toolbar.
Take time to look at the above form to see what other options are available
for editing the line.
Create a full arc (circle)
In the Main Toolbar Select the Arc icon, and ensure that Create a full arc
is selected in the sub-menu (the down arrow will display the sub-menu).
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 15

Input the value r 15 in the Command input box to the lower right of the
graphics area and press Return (This will temporarily change the default
radius (20).
Use the mouse to position the cursor over the open end of the line running
from 0 to y40 when the text End is displayed click the left mouse key to
snap the circle centre position. Press Select to end.
If it is required to modify the Circle, quickly double click it with the left mouse key and the
relevant Arc editor Form will appear.
Create a swept arc
Select the Arc icon, and ensure that Create a swept arc is selected.
Use the mouse to position the cursor over the open end of the line running
from x100 y40 a distance of 30 to the specified circle centre. When the
text End is displayed click the left mouse key to snap the circle centre
position (See diagram below 1st mouse click).
Move the mouse to the start of the line (X100 y40) left mouse click to snap
the start of the swept arc (2nd mouse click). Release the mouse and
move the cursor anti-clockwise and left click again (3rd mouse click) when
an angle in excess of 250 Degrees is displayed.
1st mouse click (Arc centre)
2nd mouse click (Start of Swept Arc)
3rd mouse click (End of Swept Arc)
16 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Create a fitted arc
Select the Arc icon, and ensure Create a fitted arc is selected.
Use the mouse to move the cursor along the Rad30 - Arc and Snap the
arc only when Tangent is displayed to define the first point.
Repeat the last instruction this time snapping to the Rad15 - Circle to
define the second point (note; the snapping positions will influence the
initial shape of the fitted arc).
The third point will be defined by specifying the required radius. This is
best achieved by typing the value 60 into the following form (it could also
be obtained dynamically by dragging the arc into position until the correct
radius is displayed).
The Next Solution tab allows the user to toggle through all possible
combinations of tangency to the specified radius (once the form is closed
(OK) this form will no longer be available for this curve). Try it out until the
correct geometric solution below is obtained (again) and then press OK.
Fitted Arc provides for all

possible combinations of
the Arc passing through the
3 defined points.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 17

Create a fillet arc
Select the Arc icon, and ensure Create a fillet arc is selected.
graphics area and press Return (This will change the default value for the
fillet radius to 10).
Snap onto the line running from 0 to y40 (Fillet 1st Item) to define the first
tangency.
Snap along the left side of the rad15 circle (Fillet 2nd Item) to define the
2nd tangency (Note the adjacent geometry is automatically trimmed back
to the fillet).
The next stage is to create a composite curve around the required contour as shown in the
original drawing. This can be achieved and controlled in a variety of ways from within the
Create Composite Curve toolbar. If the user prefers any surplus wireframes can be deleted
or trimmed using tools from the general Edit Toolbar (This is covered later on in the
following section).
18 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Create a Composite Curve
Select the Curve icon, and ensure Create a Composite Curve is selected
Once the toolbar has appeared Snap on one of the geometry items along
the required profile. The Composite Curve will generate along the route
until it hits a branch point where all alternative directions will be arrowed
and change colour to pink for the user to select the correct route.
Snap on the final span and once the Composite Curve forms a closed
loop (identified by a small, blue circle marking the start/finish) click on the
Save button in the toolbar.
Close the toolbar by clicking on the Eject icon .
Finally Select and Delete the line not used as part of the Composite
Curve creation (Main Toolbar Black Cross icon).
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 19

The example shows the basics of the wireframe and provides the confidence to investigate
other options not used in this example.
The general Edit Toolbar
From the Main Toolbar Select the Edit Toolbar icon .
The Editing toolbar appears and contains the editing commands as listed below (only 2 of the
more regularly used options relating to wireframe will be covered at this stage).
Apply edits to item components e.g. surface curves
Limit selected item/s

Point limit
Cut Selected item
Interactively Limit wireframe
Move selected item/s with/without copy

Rotate selected item/s with/without copy
Mirror selected item/s with/without copy
Offset selected item/s with/without copy
Scale selected item/s with/without copy
Stretch selected item/s with/without copy
Project selected items onto a plane
20 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Point Limiting
Point limiting is used to dynamically extend or shorten individual PowerSHAPE entities. It
can also be used to accurately trim items to each other when used in conjunction with the
intelligent cursor.
Create two wireframe lines that cross as shown below.
Select the one of the lines, and then the Point Limit icon from the
edit toolbar (the cursor changes into a magnet as you move it over the
model).
Move the magnet to the end of the selected line and click and hold down
the Left mouse button when it locks onto the end (when the word End
appears).
Move the mouse along the line or along the unselected line and release
the mouse once the required length or Key point has been obtained.
Interactive Limiting
Interactive Limiting allows the removal of geometry elements up to or between intersection
points within a wireframe. To create an example of this a series of overlapping rectangular
networks of lines will first be created.
Select the Rectangle icon in the Line menu.

Select the position of the bottom left hand corner of the rectangle by typing
the value 0 in the Command input box to the lower right of the graphics
area and press Return.

Define the position of the top right hand corner of the rectangle by typing
the XY coordinates 50 50 in the above Command input box and press
Return.
Rectangular networks of lines can also be created dynamically by firstly applying a left
mouse click in the graphics area to lock the first corner. The rectangle is then stretched to
position along any 4 diagonal directions to left mouse click the second corner (The
dimensions are displayed during the process as the rectangular form is expanded or
contracted).
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 21

Complete the remaining (smaller) rectangles dynamically (using suitable

dimensions) to represent geometry similar to that shown below.
This shape will now be trimmed back using

Interactively limit wireframe, which is found in
the Edit Toolbar.
Select the Interactively Limit icon

and using the Left mouse button,
click on the parts of the line network
to be removed.
Apply the Interactive Limit tool to remove excess

geometry leaving the model as shown.
Cancel the Interactively Limit operation by right mouse clicking in an

empty area of the graphics area or by left mouse clicking the Select icon
in the Main Toolbar.
The above network of lines requires a common fillet radii (Rad 2) on all sharp corners which
as shown in the following section can be directly applied if the network of Lines are
converted into a single Composite Curve.
Filleting Composite Curves

Create a Composite Curve around the network of lines either using the
method described earlier in the chapter or by simply holding the Alt key
down while left mouse clicking a point along the route.
22 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select the Arc icon, and ensure Create a fillet arc is selected
graphics area and press Return (This will change the default value for the
fillet radius to 2).
Move the mouse over the Composite Curve and observe the specified
fillet radius ghosted on all sharp corners. Left mouse click to accept.
Note if any of the corners require a different radius these would have to be applied separately
between adjacent lines or arcs before conversion to a Composite Curve.
Wireframe Arc Example

Arcs are generated by default on the Z plane and are planar by default. To enable Arcs to be
constructed on X or Y plane the appropriate setting can be selected from the icons found
directly below the graphics area.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 23

Cam example
The following example demonstrates the use of arcs to create the cam shape shown below.
Open a New model by clicking the new model icon .

Select a view down the Z-axis and set the current plane to be Z.
Select the Create Arc icon and select the Full Arc icon.
Full arc (circle)

Fitted arc
Swept arc
Fillet arc
Fillet arc untrimmed
In the Command Input box enter 0 for the circle centre.
A circle has been generated with a radius based on the default

value. Once a circle has been created the radius can be changed
dynamically to suit or by double clicking it to open the edit form.
24 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select the Arrow icon or right mouse click in the graphics area to
exit circle creation mode.
Rest the cursor over the newly created circle so a hand icon appears.
With the circle selected, click and hold the handles (arrows) and
dynamically move the mouse to drag a new radius of 35.
The circle now has the correct radius. This method can be used
35 to create the second circle at the same centre position, using the
Intelligent cursor.
Select the Circle icon and position the cursor over the centre of the first
circle so the word Centre appears.
Click the Left mouse button to position the centre of the new circle.
This new circle is exactly the same initial radius as the first
Centre circle. To temporarily change the default radius you can enter a
new radius value into the Command Input window i.e. R 25.
Exit out of circle creation and drag the second circle to a radius of 20mm.
The two basic circles are completed. Further circles are

required for this model.
Create a circle at centre 100 20 0 with a radius of 50mm

Create a circle at centre 100 20 0 with a radius to 35mm.
Create a circle at centre 200 -40 0 with a radius of 20mm.
Create a circle at centre 200 -40 0 with a radius of 10mm.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 25

The default option when creating tangent arcs is to trim back the associated geometry. In this
case we do not wish to do this, so the flag (Trim tangent items) is switched off. This is found
in the Options form under Tools at the top of the screen.
Select Tools Options, select Objects then Arcs.
Switch off Trim Tangent Items (shown ticked in the form).

For the tangent arcs, the fitted arc option is the most suitable as it provides full dynamic
control through all possible combinations.
Select the Create Fitted Arcs icon from the arcs menu.
Position the cursor on the outer left circle until the word Tangent appears
and press the Left mouse button.
Tangent
26 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Position the cursor over the middle outer circle so the word Tangent
appears and press the left mouse button.
128
Moving the cursor will dynamically stretch

a radius between those two points.
Move the cursor until an arc of radius 75 is displayed and press the Left
mouse button.
The Arc Confirm form appears, which allows the user to

directly input a radius value and if required to toggle Next
Solution for all variations of the tangency options.
Select OK with a radius of 75 and the tangent option as shown.
Create a fitted arc tangent from the large centre circle tangent to the right
outer circle.
Set the radius at 225 and use Next solution to get the convex solution
shown.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 27

Create a fitted arc between the left outer circle and the middle outer
surface with a radius of 225mm.
Create a fitted arc between the right outer circle and the middle outer
surface with a radius of 75mm.
Important*
Select Options from the Tools pull down menu.
In the Arcs area, click on the Trim Tangent Items and Accept the form to
put PowerSHAPE back to its default mode.
28 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

PowerSHAPE 3. Workplanes
3. Workplanes
Workplanes
Workplanes are additional XYZ datums that can be activated or deactivated as required. A
Workplane can be snapped to entities, rotated, copied, moved and aligned to existing
geometry or key points. Working on large complex models is easy as you can create your
own workplanes and work in 2D on the XY plane.
Example
Create the wireframe shape from 0, (shown as a circle) with a base length
100, width of 75, back height of 150 and a front height of 125.
Create a workplane and snap it into position at the rear corner point, as
shown (by default a newly created workplane becomes the active datum).
Move the cursor over one of the arrowheads and using the left mouse key
dynamically rotate the workplane in 3D (all axes move).
This is used in cases where an initial alignment is required (to fix one of the main axes).
Undo the command .
In this case it is required to dynamically rotate the workplane in 2D locally about the Z-axis.
When selected, the Workplane borders

contain yellow and blue lines. The
yellow lines are used to control
dynamic rotation about X or Y and the
blue lines rotation about Z. Accurate
alignment is achieved by dragging
and snapping the coloured lines to key
points on other entities.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 29

3. Workplanes PowerSHAPE
Move the mouse to the small blue line just beyond the X arrow.
Note for rotation about

the Z Axis the blue
lines also include the
corners for quick
alignment at 45 degrees.
Drag the workplane blue line (rotating around the Z-axis) to line up as
shown below.
The intelligent cursor will

find end points of lines,
mid points and other
location as the mouse is
moved. When a suitable
position is found, releasing
the mouse will fix the X-
axis.
Release the left mouse button. The X and Y axes are now modified.
To re-orientate the Y (and Z) axes

without changing the X-axis one of
the yellow lines parallel to the X
arrow is selected. The workplane
is then dynamically rotated around
the X-axis the intelligent cursor
being used to fix the rotation.
Select one of the yellow lines beyond the Y arrow and drag the
workplane to the top of vertical line (along Z) and release.
30 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

The modified workplane being active is the dimensional

datum until such time that it is deactivated or different
workplane is activated.
Deselect the workplane by on a blank area of the screen.

Create a square of side length 10, with a start position of 20 20.
Double click on the workplane to access the editing form for non-dynamic
modifications.
Within the Workplane Editing form direct values can be

entered for position, rotation, etc. Tick boxes are available
to Activate/De-activate or to nominate as the Master
Workplane. When a workplane is Active it is displayed in
red and is appears larger on the screen. When a workplane
is de-actived it is displayed in grey and appears smaller in
size. The Master workplane, if nominated is the default
datum if another Workplane is deactivated.
Select the Active button (so it becomes unticked) and then press Accept
Create a small square of side length 10, starting at 20 20.
The second square appears relative to the world origin. If a

workplane is deactived, then the datum of the model will
default to world origin (unless a Master workplane has been
specified).
Create a new workplane and snap it to the front corner of the slope.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 31

Select a yellow line by parallel with the X arrow and dynamically rotate the
workplane into place as shown below.
The new workplane is active. The View menus will

operate relative to the active workplane.
Select an isometric view.

Create a square of side length 40 from 20 20 0.
Generate a composite curve and create an extruded surface of height
30.
By default all extrusions occur normal to

the planar base. As the new workplane is
already aligned to the plane, the extrusion
occurs along the workplane Z-axis.
This mode can be switched off such that

extrusions can be forced to occur along one
of the main axes, by switching off Extrude
normal to planar base. This is found in
Tools - Options Objects Surfaces.
Click on the workplane icon and then the position icon.
32 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select the Between tab from the position form.
The between option positions the

workplane midway between two
specified key points on the model. These
can be defined either dynamically or by
typed input.
Select the two corners of the top extruded square surface as shown.
The form will mark with an asterisk the

position of each point as they are selected.
Accept the form.
The workplane appears exactly at the mid-point between the two selected points.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 33

Modification of Workplanes
The Workplane editing form enables changes in rotation, realignment, repositioning, etc. As
the form operates on the local datum it is not important whether the Workplane is Active or
not but it must be selected. (For modifications relative to an alternative active datum use the
options in the general Edit toolbar (Swiss Army Knife)).
ROTATION (Twist)
Create a workplane at 30 0 and double click the workplane to bring up the
editing form.
Select X-twist.
Enter 30 into the calculator form as shown.
The workplane has rotated about itself

by 30 degrees. At this stage it is
possible to select AC and enter a
different angle.
Select Accept on the Calculator Form.

Select Accept on the Workplane form and the Workplane is rotated.
REALIGNMENT (Axis)
Double click on the workplane and select Align X-Axis.
34 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select the Align Z icon in the direction form.
Select Accept on the Direction Form.

Select Accept on the Workplane form.
The X-Axis is now re-aligned to the World Z direction.
Workplane toolbar
Below the graphics area in the bottom left hand corner is the workplane toolbar, which
includes an icon for creating temporary workplanes as well as a table as an alternative means
to control the naming and activation of workplanes.
Select the down arrow to select another workplane.
If workplane 1 is selected in the form it becomes active. A

workplane can be renamed by clicking on the current name and
typing over it with the new name followed by the return key.
Click on the Temporary Workplane icon.

Snap to some existing geometry (or anywhere in the graphics area).
The red and black temporary workplane appears. This

workplane does not have access to a local editing form, but
can be modified using the Edit toolbar options (Swiss Army
Knife). It is automatically called Temporary and can be
deleted from using the local menu or by pressing the
Temporary Workplane icon.
Click on the Temporary Workplane icon.
The Temporary workplane is removed from the model.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 35

Master Workplane
In a PowerSHAPE model you can designate a workplane as the Master Workplane. This
master workplane is shown with thicker lines to distinguish it from the others.
If another active workplane is deactivated, instead of PowerSHAPE returning to the World

co-ordinate system it activates the Master Workplane.
Example
Open the model golf_fin.
There are two Workplanes on this model called 1 and 2.These are situated
above the World Co-ordinate system in the workplane menu.
Select Workplane 1 and click the right mouse button to

bring up the menu.
Select the option Master (this becomes ticked).
Deselect the workplane to display the master

status.
The workplane also appears below the World in the Workplane selector, so
it is easy to find.
Activate workplane 2 and then deactivate it.
The master workplane becomes active, instead of the world origin. This
is a must for users handling imported data in the car industry where
traditionally every component part has a common datum (Car Line).
This World datum could be metres away as well as being in an
unsuitable orientation for tooling purposes. It must however be retained
in case a copy of the data is to be returned to the supplier (in Car Line).
36 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

PowerSHAPE 4. Extruded Surfaces
4. Extruded Surfaces
Introduction to SURFACES in PowerSHAPE
A surface is effectively a skin stretched across a wireframe network (minimum 4 sides) and
generally is easily modified should the design specification change. The curves on a
PowerSHAPE surface are called longitudinals (along the surface) and laterals (across the
surface). In some cases another (optional) curve exists called a spine. This generally runs
along the longitudinal direction, often in free space controlling the orientation of the laterals.
Laterals
This surface contains the minimum,
two laterals.
Longitudinals
This surface contains a total of 7
longitudinals flowing from
corresponding points from the first
to the second lateral
Spine (Drive Curve)

The spine (shown dotted) is used to
control the orientation of the
laterals. A spine is not mandatory
and can be created or deleted as
required without changing the
surface shape. It occurs
automatically such as during the
creation of Fillet surfaces or as part
of the controlled geometry of a
Drive Curve surface.
The Cato mark identifies the start point for Laterals and Longitudinals on a POWER surface.
It is positioned a short distance from point 1 along lateral 1 with a short line pointing from it
representing the Longitudinal direction.
PowerSHAPE supports a variety of different Surface types that may during the course of
programming require conversion to the most versatile form, the POWER surface.
PRIMITIVES or Imported, NURBS Surfaces have very limited editing capability. If full
surface editing is required they must first be converted to POWER surfaces. Most of the
surface creation options directly create POWER surfaces (This will be covered in more
detail later on during the course notes)
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 37

4. Extruded Surfaces PowerSHAPE
Extruded Surfaces
A surface (or solid) can be extruded along one of the 3 principle axes or normal to the
selected wireframe. A separate surface will be created for each wireframe entity in the
selection. An Extrusion surface has limited editing capabilities unless it is converted to a
POWER surface.
Octagonal Extrusion example

This example demonstrates the creation of an octagonal extrusion with a side length of 50
and a length of 100. Further wireframe options are also covered during the chapter.
Open PowerSHAPE so that you are in a New Model or close the golf_fin
model.
Select the Line icon, and ensure that the Continuous Line option is
selected in the sub-menu (the down arrow will display the sub-menu).
Single Line Mode

Continuous Line Mode
Rectangle Mode
Automatic 3D box around selected items
Chamfer with trim
Chamfer without trim.
Move your mouse into the new model area.
A temporary line is attached to the

cursor. As the cursor is moved the co-
ordinates of the position are tracked in
the XYZ co-ordinate area at the bottom
of the screen, depending upon which
plane you are in.
38 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Enter the start co-ordinate of 0 (for X0 Y0 Z0) and press Return.
This has now fixed one end of the line. As you

move the cursor around the screen, an
indication of the line length and angle is given.
This is using the Intelligent Cursor.
A: 35 L: 49 is an angle of 35 and a line length

of 49.
Move the mouse around until you get an angle of 0 (east on a compass).
(The angle indicator will disappear at this point).
Stretch the line until it gives a line length of 50, and click with the Left
mouse button.
The line will turn yellow, indicating that it is now complete. The next line automatically
continues on from the end of the previous line.
Move the mouse around to select an angle of 45, and click the Left mouse
button to finish off the line with any length.
Exit out of creation mode by selecting the Select icon.
The finished line turns yellow and has an arrow showing its direction. This line needs to be
modified to be exactly 50mm long.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 39

Select the line with the Right mouse button. As you get nearer
the line, the cursor should change into a grabbing hand.
This menu is a line menu and highlights the options available. The
title indicates that the item is a line and it is on the level called
General, which is level 0.
The line can be Cut, Copied or Deleted from the model.
Next selection, allows picks the item underneath the line.
Blank will blank the line and Blank Except will blank everything
apart from the line.
Undo, will undo the last PowerSHAPE command. Selection

information will print details of the line.
Modify brings up the edit form or toolbar.
Select the Modify option and the line editor form appears.
Change the Length to 50 and Accept the form.
Alternatively, once an object is selected, double click using the left mouse button and the
relevant edit form will appear.
40 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select the Line icon.

Move the mouse towards the end of the last line. When the Intelligent
cursor finds the end point the word End appears.
Click the Left mouse button.

Move the mouse vertically upwards until you get a distance of 50 and press
the left mouse button.
The next few lines will be entered directly using the Position
form.
Select the XYZ button at the bottom of the screen.
The Position form appears, with the

Cartesian tab selected to show Cartesian
options i.e. moves in X, Y and Z.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 41

Select the Polar tab and fill in the values of Angle 135 and Distance 50.
The polar tab allows angles to be

defined on the current plane either
from the selected position (relative) or
from the world X0 Y0 Z0 position.
The Angle is the angle measured

around the point, the distance is the
length of the line and the Elevation is
the angle that the line lifts up from the
plane. If this is left as 0 a flat 2D
angle is produced.
Other ways of defining a distance are

covered by the other tab options.
Apply the form and the line is drawn and the position form remains
available.
Select the Cartesian tab in the form.
Enter a distance of -50 in the X.
Apply the form and the line is drawn and the position form remains
available.
Select the Polar tab in the form
Enter an Angle of 225 and a distance of 50.
42 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Apply the form, the line is drawn and the position form remains available.
Select the Cartesian tab and enter a distance of -50 in the Y.
Accept the form to enter the line and remove the form.
Move the cursor to the end of the first line, until the word End appears
and click the Left mouse button to accept that position.
Exit out of line creation by selecting the Select icon.
The wireframe of an octagon is now complete.
This octagon must be turned into a composite curve. A

composite curve is a string of geometry or surfaces edges
linked together to form a complete unit.
Select the Curve Creation icon and the Composite Curve icon.
Bezier Curve
B-Spline Curve
Composite curve
Draft Curve
Oblique Curve
Surface/Solid Intersection
Projected Curve
The Create Composite Curve tool bar appears.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 43

Select any line of the octagon with the Left mouse button and the
composite curve will run around the simple shape.
The octagon changes colour to show which areas have been

selected and a circle appears to show that the proposed composite
curve is a closed shape.
Select the Save button off the toolbar to save the composite
curve and the Eject button to exit composite curves.
Change to an isometric view. Select the composite curve.

Select the Surface icon and the Extrusion option.
Extruded Surface
44 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

This extrudes the selected composite curve up the Z-axis by a

default value.
Select an isometric view on the model to see the selected extruded

surface.
This default surface can be dynamically sized by extrusion

length or can be given an actual size.
Press and hold down the Left mouse button on the double (blue)
arrows.
Moving the mouse up and down extends and shortens the extrusion length of the surface.
Release the mouse button at an extrusion length of around 50.

Edit the extrusion length to a particular value, by double clicking on the
arrows to bring up the Primitive Surface form.
The primitive extrusion can be given an exact length by

entering in the value required. The extrusion can be given a
positive or negative draft angle. The Keep option will keep
the original wireframe used to generate the extrusion.
The origin of the extrusion can be moved and complete

extrusion can be twisted or aligned to an Axis.
Primitive extrusions can be modified until they are

converted into Power surfaces. They are then altered in a
different way.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 45

Enter an extrusion length of 100 in the Set extrusion in the Dimensions

field.
Accept the form and the octagon is now complete.
Click away from the octagon with the left mouse button to de-select it.
Now is a good time to save the model with a new name.
Select the File - Save As menu option.
The Save Model As form

appears. Existing model
names can be checked by
using the down arrow.
Enter the Model Name project1.

Press Save and the model is saved.
Extruding several shapes

PowerSHAPE can extrude several wireframes at once to a common length. After extrusion
they can be individually modified if required.
Example
For this example a new workplane is generated away from the original octagon shape.
Select the Create Workplane icon.
This generates a ghost workplane attached to the mouse.

This is fixed by snapping to some geometry or by entering the
workplane origin position for the workplane in the position box.
46 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select a top view and enter the value of X 200 and Y 75.
Click to the side to deselect it. The new workplane is immediately active
(red) and is now the new 0 0 0 position.
Generate the following 8 lines around the new workplane.
Each individual line selected would make an individual extrusion, making 8 surfaces, if all of
the geometry was selected. By making a composite curve of the rectangle and 'c' shape before
selecting the geometry, PowerSHAPE will only make three surfaces.
Select the composite curve icon.

Select a line on the box and then save to store the composite curve.
Immediately select a line of the 'c' shape and then press save.
Press eject to exit the command.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 47

There are now two composite

curves in the model, one open
and one closed. The single
line does not need to be made
into a composite curve, as it is
a single entity.
Select all of the geometry by dragging a box over all the geometry.
Select surface extrusion icon.
For multiple wireframe selection a different form appears

which requires common input for the Length and Draft Angle
of all the extrusions. These can later be modified individually
if required.
Apply the form with a Length of 70 and then press Dismiss.
PowerSHAPE has created 3 surfaces, as you move you mouse

over them they change colour in turn. When an object goes
purple it will become selected if the left mouse key is clicked.
Once selected an entity will be coloured yellow.
Blanking
Blanking is a very useful facility in PowerSHAPE. When you blank one or a number of items
it removes them from the screen, without deleting them. To bring all blanked object back on
the screen, the Unblank option is used. This is used to temporarily filter away parts of a
complex model from the screen providing easier visibility and access.
48 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Pull down the Views menu.
The two options for blanking are Blank Selected

and Blank Except. Blank Selected will hide all
of the selected objects. Blank Except will hide
everything else EXCEPT from the selected
objects. This shows the keyboard shortcuts.
Save the model using the Save icon.

Resize the view and experiment with the blanking options.
Deleting Surfaces
Select the surfaces by dragging a box around them.
Click the Right mouse button over a surface edge, to bring up the
Surface menu.
Select Delete off the menu.
The surfaces are now deleted. Alternatively, once selected you can use the Delete key on
your keyboard to delete the selected surfaces.
Deleting Lines
Delete any surfaces left and create a few lines as shown.
To delete a line, select the line shown using the Left mouse button.
Hold down the Right mouse button until the Line Edit menu appears.
Select Delete from the menu and the line disappears.
If you have made a mistake you can go to the Edit menu and select Undo, or select the Undo
icon on the top toolbar.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 49

Once the Undo icon has been used the Redo icon to the right of it becomes activated, so you
can redo the command that was undo.
This allows you to go forwards and backwards within PowerSHAPE. You can also use the
Delete key on the keyboard or the Delete icon on the top toolbar to delete selected items.
If you already have a line selected and wish to select another one to delete, hold down the
Shift key and pick the other line. Both lines are now selected.
Stretch a box over the geometry using the Left mouse button.
The default command is to select everything that goes through or is within the area. If you
press delete now, you would delete all of these lines. The whole box command selects only
the whole items within the area.
Select the selector icon and pick the whole box icon.
Select items partially in box

Select whole items in box
Selection Filter
Quick Select all wireframe
Quick Select all surfaces and
solids
Quick Filter for wireframe
Quick Filter for surfaces and
solids
50 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Stretch a box over the geometry using the Left mouse button.
Only the two lines completely inside the box are selected.
3D geometry
Composite curves do not have to be made up of flat ' 2D' geometry but can also be made
using 3D geometry. The 3D composite curves can then be used to make surfaces.
3D Geometry Example
The following triangular form will be extruded from a 3D network of lines.
Create a continuous line entering 3 sets of incremental coordinates from

0 to 100 to 50 50 10.
Create the last line by snapping on the start of the first line or by typing in
abs 0 (for an absolute co-ordinate of 0).
Create a Composite Curve and create an extruded surface of length 50.
Rotating the model will show that the

extrusion has taken place normal to the 3D
wireframe (not along the Z axis)
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 51

Select Undo (Main toolbar) the command.

From the main pull down menus select Tools Options Objects
Surfaces.
Untick the box Create extrusions normal to planar base.

Select the Composite Curve and generate an extruded surface by
50mm in the Z-axis.
Rotating the model will show that the extrusion has

now been applied along the Z axis.
Select Close from the File Menu to close this model.
52 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Pump Project Example

In this example an IGES file containing wireframe data is Imported into PowerSHAPE and
the Surface Model will be created in stages to compliment the remaining chapters.
This stage will include the creation of an extrusion surface from a composite curve.
Generate a new model by selecting the New Model icon.

Select File and then Import.
Import the IGES file pump.iges from PowerSHAPE_data\iges.
Many different types of Cad data formats can be imported into PowerSHAPE depending on
the customer having purchased the relevant translators. Data translations can also be carried
out on the Internet on a pay as you go basis through our Technical Support department.
The multi-coloured wireframe

appears
Turn the base profile into a composite curve.

In this case as it is a single profile, you can use Alt and mouse button 1 for a quick shortcut
for the creation of this composite curve.
Create a 40 mm surface of extrusion up the Z-axis.
The above model will be SAVED for further use later during the training course.
In the main pull down menus select File Save and in the form enter the
name pump-project2.
Close the model.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 53

Exercise
Produce the knight shown. The top half is an extrusion and the bottom a circular base.
------------------------
(PARALLEL)
54 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

PowerSHAPE 5. Surfaces of Revolution
5. Surfaces of Revolution.
Surfaces of Revolution.
A surface of revolution, or a solid revolution is creating by revolving single geometry or a
composite curve around a specified principle plane.
Example
Create a Workplane at 0 and create the bottle section geometry.
This shape will be connected together with a

composite curve. This curve will be revolved by 360
degrees around the workplane generating a surface.
When a surface of revolution is generated it is

produced around the Principle Plane, which by
default is set to the Z-axis.
Create a composite curve of the section geometry.

Select the composite curve and select the Surface icon.
Select the Revolution option from the Surfaces pull down menu.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 55

5, Surfaces of Revolution PowerSHAPE
The surface that has been produced lies flat on the

XY plane and is more of a flat disc shape, rather
than the desired bottle shape.
By default PowerSHAPE will always produce a

revolution of 360 degrees. This can be changed by
modifying the surface by double clicking on it and
changing the angle.
Select the undo icon to return back to the original state.
Select the X plane.

Select the surface of revolution icon again.
This surface is now rotated about the X-axis.
Select the undo icon.

Change the principle plane to Y.
Select the composite curve and generate a surface from revolution.
The desired bottle shape is produced.
56 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Click the surface using the right mouse key and select Convert Surface
from the local menu options. The surface is now a Power Surface and will
now possess full editing capabilities. It cannot subsequently be changed
back to a primitive style, surface of revolution.
Select the surface using the left mouse key and it will appear as shown
below.
When an individual surface is selected, more detail is

displayed by grey lines, which highlight the surface
shape. This is only for a single surface.
The top of the bottle surface is open. A flat surface for

the top can be generated, using the top surface curve
and the fill-in surface command. The fill-in surface
command works from a composite curve.
Select the composite curve icon and click on the top part of the bottle.
The composite curve command traces all around the edge of

the lateral and becomes closed.
Click on Save and then Eject on the composite curve menu.

From the Surface menu select the fill-in icon.
The fill-in surface form pops up and shows what the finished surface will look like.
Accept the form to generate the surface.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 57

Wheel Example
Create the following wheel shape. This will then be altered using various commands.
Generate the basic wireframe shape.
Generate a composite curve from the wireframe.

Select the Y plane and generate a Surface of revolution.
The surface is generated.
To widen the gap in the middle of the wheel, the

original wireframe can be stretched and a new
surface of revolution made.
Click on Undo to return back to the original wireframe.

Select the stretch icon from the edit toolbar.
Select the top half of the shape, by dragging a box over it as shown.
58 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Enter 0 50 which will only move the selected parts 50mm in the Y,
stretching the back and inner wall.
Using this new extended shape a new

surface of revolution could be made of only
the inner feature using the start and stop
feature of composite curves. This start and
stop feature will define where the
composite curve is allowed to be
generated, giving more control over the
selection.
Select the composite curve icon.

Select the start point icon from the toolbar.
The cursor changes into two vertical bars like the Define start point
icon. A circle will mark the selected start point.
Snap this to the bottom right corner end of the model shown below.
Select the end point icon.
The cursor changes into two vertical bars, like the Define End point icon.
A circle will marks the selected end point.
Snap this to the top right corner end of the model for the start point for
the composite curve.
Select anywhere between the start and end points to make the
composite curve.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 59

Select between the two circles to generate the inner composite curve.
Save the composite curve.
Generate a new surface or revolution around the Y-axis.
The inner surface only is produced.
NB. The wireframe can be edited by double-clicking the

surface and selecting Edit Wireframe. This puts
PowerSHAPE into a special Editing Mode, with the
relevant toolbar activated, such as curve edit. When the
editing is complete, press the Edit button to update the
surface and return PowerSHAPE to normal.
Double click the surface to bring up the form.

Select the Edit wireframe button.
The surface will disappear from view leaving only the wireframe. The Curve Edits toolbar
will also appear allowing further editing of the wireframe points.
Hold down the Shift key and select these two points.
In the Command window type 5 then Enter.
The wireframe points have moved 5 in X modifying the shape.
Select the Finish button to see the modified surface.

Accept the form.
Further editing of the wireframe will be done using the Set active dimension function found
on the Curve Edits toolbar. This function will give you the ability to actively change the
wireframe dimensions that PowerSHAPE provides.
60 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Double click the surface and select the Edit wireframe button.
From the Curve Edits toolbar select the Set active dimensions icon
PowerSHAPE will dimension the

wireframe
allowing you to individually select
one at a time
and modify the values where
necessary.
Double click the Top 15 dimension to raise the Dimension Value form.
Modify the value to be 20 and press Accept.

Double click the 100 dimension, change the value to 95 and Accept.
Select the Finish button and Accept the form.
The surface is modified to suit the wireframe changes.
The Set active dimension function can be used on most Composite curves created in
PowerSHAPE and is ideal when minor design changes are required.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 61

Bottle Example
Using arcs, generate a bottle shape starting with the base.
In a new model, create a workplane at 0.

Generate two circles of radius 15 at 50 0 and -50 0
Generate two circles of radius 25 at 0 20 and 0 -20.
Select the Line option and select the single line mode.
Move the mouse over each circle until it says 'Tangent' and click to form
the tangent lines.
Generate a composite curve and a surface of extrusion to a length of

200mm (Note the default options cause the curve to be deleted).
The sidewalls of this bottle have now been generated. The next
stage is the creation of fill-in surfaces across the top and base of
the bottle form.
Create Composite curves and apply the Create Fill-in Surface from
wireframe on both the top and bottom edges (Fill-in surfaces are covered
in more detail later on in the course notes).
Create a workplane at 0 0 200 and select the Y plane.
62 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select a view down the Y-axis and Blank the surface.

Create a line from 10 0 0 to 0 0 15 and then to 10 0 0, to produce the given
shape.
Select the Swept arc icon and enter a position of 0 0 15.

Drag the circle out until the Intelligent cursor displays End.
The swept arc is used when the centre point is known along with
a defined start point and/or the radius value. An angular end
position can be swept around from a start point and snapped in
the graphics area or to existing geometry elements.
Arcs can be modified dynamically by moving the ends around

the centre with the left mouse key.
Drag a span Anticlockwise and left click when 90 degrees is displayed.

Create a composite curve of the cap section.
Change the principal plane back to Z and generate a surface of revolution.
Do not close the model yet as it is required for the next example.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 63

6. Fill-in Surfaces.
A Fill in surface visually appears to break the rule that a surface must consist of 4-sided
wireframe networks. This is not the case as the surface is trimmed back to the boundary
defined by the original curves the remaining areas being made effectively, invisible.
The Fill-in surface created earlier, at the top of the bottle does not include a hole at the
intersection with the cap form.
Delete the existing Fill-in surface at the top of the bottle.

Generate a composite curve around the base of the neck form.
Select the new curve in addition to the original composite curve defining
the top of the bottle sidewalls.
Blank all other entities except the above 2 composite curves.
Make a Fill-in surface using the 2 selected composite curves.
Pump Project Example.continued

Using the pump example we can make a flat base for the extruded side.
Open the model pump-project2.

Generate a composite curve around the base of the extrusion.
Make a Fill-in surface using the selected composite curve.
Shade the model to view the surfaces. Save and then Close the model.
64 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

PowerSHAPE 7. Primitives
7. Primitives
Primitives
There are two types of primitives in PowerSHAPE, surfaces and solids. They are made in
exactly the same manner. The solid primitive menu is found from the solids pull down menu.
Primitive Surfaces
There are 6 primitive surfaces in PowerSHAPE, a Plane, a Box, a Sphere, a
Cylinder, a Cone and a Torus. These primitive surfaces are generated
automatically and can be a good starting point for many models. Primitives are
coloured turquoise in the pull down menu to distinguish them from other surface
options.
Each primitive, when created is given a size dependent upon the zoom of the
screen. These sizes can be changed to your own values. These primitives can be
moved, copied, rotated, intersected and filleted in this format. However if you want
to alter the shape of a primitive surface by moving a point or adding in extra
sections, it has to be converted to a Power Surface first.
With all primitives they are created in the direction of the Principle Axis. By
default this is the Z-axis, so the cylinder, cone and box will stand up the Z-axis.
The number of laterals generated with a primitive depends upon the current tolerance value.
For a tolerance of 0.1, a cylinder has 4 laterals and 8 with a tolerance of 0.01.
Plane
Select the Surface icon and then pick the Plane icon.
A moveable plane is attached to the cursor. The centre of the plane is this Primitive surface
origin. This can be placed by picking on an item using the intelligent cursor or by typing in a
co-ordinate value.
Enter 0 to fix the centre position.
The plane primitive surface is displayed with it's own coloured temporary workplane.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 65

7. Primitives PowerSHAPE
This primitive workplane is very useful and can be

used to align the surface with other geometry. On this
workplane the Z axis arrow is blue. By snapping onto
the blue arrow we can then snap to any point on the
model and the plane will move around so the Z-axis is
aligned with that point.
Generate a line from 50 10 0 to 0 0 70.

Select the primitive plane to display the primitive workplane.
Click the Z-axis arrow and move the mouse to the top end of the line.
Click on the position to align the Z-axis with the End point of the line.
Select undo to return the plane back to its original orientation.
By selecting the X or Y arrow we can align the X or Y-axis in the same manner. Around the
coloured workplane is a coloured box, which has blue corners, yellow sides with a small blue
portion in the middle. If any of the blue parts are selected on the box and then the mouse
moved the workplane would twist around the blue Z-axis.
Select the blue part in the middle of the side nearest the X-arrow of the
temporary coloured square and move the mouse to the midpoint of the
geometry line.
The plane will twist around the Z-axis to line

up with the mid-point of the line. To rotate
about the X or Y-axis then select the yellow
part of the coloured square on the side you
want to rotate around.
The main features can also be altered and

these are shown in blue. For a plane this is
the width and length and is shown as a blue
square.
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Select undo to return the plane primitive back to its original state.
Select the blue edge at the top of the square and dynamically pull it out
to a suitable length.
The width can also be modified at this

point using this method. If you want to
be able to alter the orientation and the
main features in a form then you can
double click on the selected primitive to
bring up the form for that primitive.
Double click on the plane to bring up the edit form for the plane.
This form allows you to name the surface, alter the

main features, width and length, reverse the
surface, specify a different origin, change the
orientation (Axis) and change the angle of the
plane (Twist).
Modify the plane to have a width of 60 and a length of 25 and press

Accept.
Once the primitive is in it's final shape and rotation we can leave it as a primitive until we
want to edit the shape in a different way, such as adding in a curved section. To convert the
primitive plane to a Power Surface, use the right mouse button over the surface and select
convert.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 67

Move the mouse over the selected plane and then hold down the right
mouse button and select Convert.
The surface immediately looks different and is

shown as a net, when selected. Double clicking on
this will not bring up the primitive edit form but
bring up a sophisticated toolbar to allow complex
surface shape changes under easy to use icons.
Box
The main features of a box are its origin (which is in the bottom centre of the box) its
length, width and height.
Select the surface icon and pick the box icon.
A moveable blue box appears, and the origin of the Box needs to be set
Enter 0.
A blue and yellow box appears alongside with the coloured

workplane.
The primitive can be rotated and aligned in the same

manner as the plane and can also be edited by it's own edit
form.
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Modify the box to a length, height and width of 150.

Accept the form and the modification is complete.
Select the shaded view option off the view menu.
This view shows clearly that the base primitive surface lies
around the edge and is hollow in the middle.
Sphere
The main features of a sphere are its origin (which is in the centre of the sphere) and its
radius.
Select the Surface icon and pick the Sphere icon.

Modify the sphere to have a radius of 100.5
Select the Wireframe View icon.
This sphere can be modified by centre position and radius until it is

converted into a Power Surface.
Cylinder
The main features of a cylinder are its origin (which is in the base centre of the cylinder) its
radius and length.
Select the Surface and Cylinder icon and enter 0 0 -20.

Modify the cylinder to have a radius of 50 and a length of 120.
This cylinder can be modified by centre position, radius and length

until it is converted into a Power Surface.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 69

Cone
The main features of a Cone are its origin (which is in the base centre of the cone) its base
radius, top radius and length.
Select the Surface icon and the Cone icon and enter 0 0 0.
Modify the cone to have a base radius of 50, top radius of 30 and a
length of 40.
This cone can be modified by centre position, base radius, top

radius and length until it is converted into a Power Surface.
Torus
The main features of a Torus are its origin (which is in the centre of the torus) its minor
radius and major radius.
Select the Surface icon and pick the Torus icon.

Modify the torus to have a major radius of 150 and a minor radius of 75.
This torus can be modified by centre position, major

radius and minor radius until it is converted into a Power
Surface.
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Gear Stick Example

This gear stick is made up of simple primitive surfaces. This example also makes use of the
edit toolbar, which can be applied to wireframe and surfaces in any number.
Create a workplane at 0 and a box primitive of size X 70, Y 70 and Z 40.

Generate a plane primitive at 0 0 40 of size X 70 and Y 70.
Generate a cone primitive at 0 0 40 and change the base radius to be
27.5, the top radius to be 5 and the length to be 50.
Generate a cylinder primitive at 0 0 90 and change the length to 60 and
the radius to 5.
Generate a sphere primitive at 0 0 160 and change the radius to 15.
Create a workplane at -25 25 40. Select a view down the Z-axis.

Generate a torus at the new workplane and change it's major radius to be
5 and it's minor radius to be 1.
This torus will be edited before it is copied and mirrored

around the four corners of the top surface.
Open the edit toolbar.

Select the torus and then the Scale option from the toolbar.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 71

This option will take the selected item and allow you to scale it as a factor, along one Axis
only or by 3 different values for each Axis. You can scale the original or scale a copy. The
object is scaled form the active workplane, or by a selected position using the target icon.
Click on the Y and Z lock icons on the Scale toolbar to fix the scale of 1.
Enter a value of 1.25 and press enter to scale the original torus by 1.25 in
the X-axis.
This has automatically changed the primitive torus into a Power

surface.
Select the rotate icon from the edit toolbar.

Enter an angle of 45.
The torus has been rotated around the workplane by 45 degrees.
Select the move icon from the edit toolbar.
Click the keep original icon to change to number of copies

icon.
Enter a value of 0 -50 0 to move the copy -50 in the Y.
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For, the design, a mirror image of the two changed Torii is

required.
Activate the original workplane (centre of the base); select both Torii (Use
the Shift key to multi-select).
Select the Mirror icon and YZ plane option.
The surfaces are automatically copied and mirrored about

the workplane.
The final design change is to reduce the diameter of the

gear stick by 0.5mm, giving the gaiter a relaxed fit. You
can use the offset command for this, if the surface is no
longer a primitive.
Select an isometric view.

Select the primitive cylinder.
Select the offset icon on the edit toolbar.
Click on Copies to select Original and enter a distance of -0.5 from the
Offset toolbar.
The offset command will offset the selected object in the direction
that it is showing. For a surface that is the outside. As we wanted it
smaller we entered a negative value.
You can see the difference in size around the top of the gaiter.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 73

Exercise
Generate the basic gear stick using solid primitives.
Blank all of the surfaces.

Select workplane 1 and generate a solid block primitive of size X 70, Y 70
and Z 40.
Generate a solid cone primitive at 0 0 40 and change the base radius to
be 27.5, the top radius to be 5 and the length to be 50.
Generate a solid cylinder primitive at 0 0 90 and change the length to 60
and the radius to 5.
Generate a solid sphere primitive at 0 0 160 and change the radius to 15.
The only difference is that the solid block has a base and top to it so there is no requirement
for an extra solid to cap it off.
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PowerSHAPE 8. Drive Curve Surfaces
8. Drive Curve Surfaces

Drive curves and Sections
spine
A Drive curve can be defined as a spine running through
a surface upon which the sections hang perpendicular.
The illustration shows a single circular section being
section used along the whole drive curve.
Drive curve
A single section or a variety of different size

sections sections can be used along the drive curve to
generate the surface. All sections must be
either open or closed.
Racket Example
A model will now be created to generate surfaces made up of sections at different points
along a Drive Curve. The first step is to create the wireframe for the drive curve of the tennis
racket.
Create a workplane at 0 and the following wireframe (shown on next

page).
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8. Drive Curve Surfaces PowerSHAPE
This shape will form the drive curve to generate the

surface.
The sections on a drive curve are generally

perpendicular to the curve and can also be generated
from wireframe. Workplanes are useful as you can snap
to the drive curve geometry and twist them to be
perpendicular so the section can be generated easily.
Create a workplane and position it at the midpoint at the top of the racket.
Zoom into the new workplane area (use the ALT key and drag a box with
the Right mouse button to zoom to that area).
Select the X principle plane.
Generate the section as shown.
This will be the main centre section of the

racket.
The other sections are circles and they can be

placed directly at the grip end, without the
need for another workplane.
76 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select the Y principal plane.

Generate two circles of radius 10 with their centres snapped to the end
of the lines.
The drive curve and each cross section

have to be turned into composite curves
before a drive curve surface can be
produced.
Create a composite curve for each cross section and the drive curve.
Deselect all items by clicking on the background and select all three
sections (hold down shift on the keyboard).
Select the Create drive curve surfaces icon.
The Drive curve form appears.
This shows that you have some wireframe selected

for the section/s for the surface.
Click onto the Drive Curve text.

Select the drive curve using the Left mouse button.
The drive curve will be displayed in Pink, and a Green tick will appear.
Click the Accept button to generate the surface.
This generates a surface with a changing

section from a circle to the defined section
and then back to the circle.
To maintain a particular section on the drive

curve then extra sections need to be added.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 77

Delete the surface to leave the original drive curves.

Select the top composite curve and change the principle plane to Z.
Select the Rotate icon from the Edit Toolbar and select the reposition
rotation axis icon .
Drag the blue rotate arrow now visible over the active Workplane to the
centre of the racket.
Generate two incremental, copy, rotations by 90 degrees and 180 degrees
(as shown below).
Between these three shaped cross sections the

surface shape will remain the same.
Generate a surface from drive curve using all five sections.
You can also use just one section; one of the

circles, placed anywhere along the drive
curve to generate a surface.
Note: If you have many composite curves to generate you can select all of the required
geometry and from the Edit pull down area select Convert Wireframe to Composite
Curve.
For every distinct area a composite curve

is generated.
78 Issue PSHAPE 5.0


Using the pump example we can use the round and arc geometry to make a dome surface and
the other handle shaped geometry to make the ribs.

Select the dome geometry and use Blank Except.
Section
Drive Curve
Create two Composite Curves, the first to represent the Drive Curve and
the second to represent the Section.
Generate a Drive curve surface.
Unblank and blank all of the geometry except the handle shaped geometry and the small arcs.
Drive Curves
Sections
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 79

Create composite curves for each of the six drive curves and sections.
Create Drive Curve Surfaces.
Unblank and Save the Model.
80 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

PowerSHAPE 9. Surface from Curves
9. Surface from Curves

Curves
A curve can be defined as a continuous profile of lines, arcs or curves that contains at least
two points. They can be 2 or 3D as the following illustrations show, and they can be open or
closed.
Once a surface is generated, the curves used are called laterals. A closed lateral has a curve
from the last point to the first point. A surface must contain 2 or more laterals. Once the
laterals are defined, the surface is filled in between the laterals. Each point number on each
lateral is joined up together by the smoothest curve, which means that each lateral should
have the same number of points on it.
The curve that joins each point on the laterals together to create the surface is known as a
longitudinal.
Example
Create the following surface with 5 curves.
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9. Surface from Curves PowerSHAPE
Create a workplane at 0 0 0.
Create a line from the workplane, 10mm in Y, 10mm in X, and 10mm in -Y
to produce the 'n-shape'
This section will be the basic for the other sections so it will be
copied up the Z-axis as individual lines.
Select the three lines and then the Copy icon.

Enter 2 for the number of copies and the value of 0 0 5 in the position
window, giving you three laterals.
Each set of lines will be filleted by a

different radius.
Create a fillet radius of 1mm on the bottom lines, at each corner.

Create a fillet radius of 2mm on the middle lateral, at each corner.
Create a fillet radius of 3mm on the top lateral, at each corner.
Each shape needs to be turned into a composite curve before a

surface can be made.
Select create a composite curve icon.

Select the bottom lines and then the Save button.
Select the middle lines and then the Save button.
Select the top lines, and then the Save button and the Eject button to
finish.
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PowerSHAPE 9. Surface from Curves
Select the lower composite curve and copy it up the Z-axis by 20mm.
Select the second from bottom composite curve and copy it up the Z-axis
by 10mm.
All of the shapes have been turned into composite curves, ready for
surface generation. Each of the composite curves will be turned into a
lateral on the surface.
Select all of the composite curves.

Select the surface from separate curves icon.
This form allows you to try different options of

joining the laterals together with a very useful
Preview setting. The default option gives a
smooth result, but if a different surface is
required other options can be tried.
Accept the form and the surface is complete.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 83

9. Surface from Curves PowerSHAPE

Using the pump example we can use the two curves to make a surface from laterals.

Blank all apart from the two long curves either side of the model.
With these curves selected apply Create surface from separate curves.
Save the model.
84 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

PowerSHAPE 10. Surface from Net
10. Surface from Net

Surface from Net
A surface from net is one that lies on a network of curves that are transformed into laterals
and longitudinals. A network of any number of curves with at least four sides can be used,
and the curves may also extend beyond the outer edge of the surface, provided they do not
cross outside this range.
Edge of surface
to be created
No cross overs outside

surface edge, therefore Curves cross over outside
surface can be created surface edge, therefore it
can not be created
PowerSHAPE sorts the curves into laterals and longitudinals, reversing or renumbering them
as required. However PowerSHAPE will not recognise gaps therefore you should ensure that
the curves could be made into whole laterals or longitudinals.
Surface Gap Example

The following example shows a way of generating geometry from the surface data to fill in a
missing gap.
Close any models that may be open and generate a new model if needed.
Select File > Import, and then select the model network example.dgk
from the area E:\users\training\PowerSHAPE_data\psmodels_n_dgk.
Surface 2
Gap to be filled using a Network

Surface.
Surface 1
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10. Surface from Net PowerSHAPE
To fill the gap with a smooth surface additional geometry must be generated. All
characteristics of the original curves are taken by running a tangential composite curve along
and across the bottom edges (shown below).
To create a Network Surface 3 more curves will need to be generated, along each of surfaces
1 and 2 gap edges and one more along the edge of the fillet across the top.
Select a view down in Z.
Create a Single Line starting at the

Keypoint shown at a distance of -5mm.
This line has been added to create an intersection at

which the composite curve will have to stop.
From the Curves menu select the Create Composite Curve icon.
Define Start Point Define End Point
86 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select the Define Start Point

button then click on the key-point
on the corner of surface 1 as
shown.
Select this edge with the left mouse button to start the Composite curve.
The composite curve will track along this edge

until it reaches the intersection where the Single
Line is attached to the corner of Surface 1.
Click on the opposite corner Key-point of

Surface 2 with the left mouse button as
shown.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 87

Remove the tick in the Use a straight curve box by selecting it.
Select Yes on the form.
The composite curve jumps to the selected point

whilst maintaining the tangencies from the edge of
Surface 1.
Select the Define End Point button on

the Composite Curve form and pick the
top key-point corner of Surface 2
shown.
Select the pink line with the left mouse

button to continue the comp curve until
it reaches the end point.
Select the Save button on the Composite Curve form.
Create a new composite curve along the three

remaining edges as shown using Start and End
points described earlier.
Close the Composite Curve form.
88 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

There should now be 2 curves generated which will allow a Network surface to be created. It
is important to remember that the curves should cross or intersect within the General
Tolerance, in normal circumstances 0.01mm.
Hold the Shift key down and select the two curves in turn by clicking the
left mouse button on them.
Select the Create surface from network of curves icon from the
Surfaces menu.
Accept the form and view the surfaces shaded.
Close the model without saving.
Example
This example creates curves from the manually inputted points, which is then used to
generate a surface from a network of curves.
Generate a primitive cylinder of radius 7.5 at 0 0 20 with a length of 10.

Select the point creation icon.
Enter 5 points.
12 0 12
-12 0 12
0 15 15
0 -15 15
8 0 18
The first four points need to be connected by a single closed curve.
Select the curve icon and create a Bezier curve by selecting all four
points and double click the first point again to close the curve.
It might be helpful to select a view down the Z-

axis to pick the points which are the 4 outer most
ones.
Each of the 4 points need to be connected to the
primitive and the additional 5th point needs to be
included.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 89

Create a new curve from the point at position 12 0 12 to the extra point to
the key point on the cylinder.
Create 3 lines from each of the 3 points to the complimentary point on the
cylinder to build up a network for the surface.
Create a composite curve around the bottom curve of the cylinder and
then blank the cylinder.
Select all of this (including the points) and generate a surface from a
network of curves.
A defined surface is generated.
90 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

PowerSHAPE 11. Surface from Two Rails
11. Surface from Two Rails

Surface from Two Rails
A surface can be generated from a section, which is scaled along two drive rails, defining
the edge of the surface.
The section is scaled across corresponding points along the drive rails to generate the
surface. Each drive rail must contain the same number of points and flow in the same
direction from the defined section. Drive rail pairs can either open or closed. The section is
always open. Both the section and the drive rails must be in the form of composite curves.
Example
Open a New Model.
Import the file two_rail_data.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0

91
11. Surface from Two Rails PowerSHAPE
Double click on one of the drive rail curves to bring up the curve toolbar.
Shift-select the other composite curve.
Select the show point labels icon.
At present it is possible, but not be acceptable to create a surface due to incorrect distribution
of points around the drive rails. Each drive rail must flow in the same direction and have the
same number of points with the section positioned on point one. The positioning of points on
the drive rails control the orientation of new sections (which appear along the imaginary line
between corresponding points).
Add intermediate points and reverse the lower curve to create

the following curve - point, distribution.
Now the curve points

are numerically equal
and correctly aligned,
the surface can be
generated.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 92

PowerSHAPE 11. Surface from Two Rails
Select the section, composite curve and select the two rail surface icon.
This form allows you to pick which composite curve

is the section and which are the drive rails.
Click the box Drive Rails and use the shift key to multi-select both Drive
rails curves.
Press Accept.
The surface shown left is

produced.
Note: The height has
increased in proportion to
the increased width of the
original section.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0

93
PowerSHAPE 12. Shading
12. Shading
Basic Shading
Basic shading is displayed by clicking the various icons in the View Toolbar. It will shade all
of the surfaces that are displayed in the same material. As surfaces have an inside and outside
the outside is displayed as a golden colour and the inside as red.
Open the model golf-fin. Activate workplane 2 and select view Iso 4.
Blank the wireframe.
Select the wireframe view icon.
The model is displayed as if it was made of wire, showing the trimmed

portions of each surface and the internal laterals and longitudinals
within. This is a good view for surface editing.
Select the Shaded view icon.
The model is displayed as shaded, which makes it look solid, with the
outer side of the surfaces shown in gold and the inner side as red. This
is a good view for visualisation, as internal details are not shown.
Select the Transparent wire view icon.
This view shows the model partially shaded at the rear with the front
details shown as transparent so inner details can be seen.
Select the Shaded wire view icon.
This view is a shaded view, with the outer edges shown in wire mode to
allow them to be picked easily for surface editing.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 95

12. Shading PowerSHAPE
Select the Hidden wire view icon.
The model is displayed in wire mode, with all the internal wire removed
or hidden. This is a visual option to aid the user to see the model clearly.
This special view mode needs to be turned off for surface manipulation.
Select toggle inside colour view icon.
This view turns on or off the mode, which will display inside/out surfaces
as red. This is good to quickly visualise the model, but it does not
actually reverse the surfaces.
With the model shaded, select the Render view icon.
This shows the model as if it was photographed, using the default

light settings and render options.
This rendered view is within another window. To return to the

main model you will need to go to the Windows pull down menu
and select the normal window.
Shading Materials
Shadings materials are accessed from Format -Materials pull down menu.
By default all surfaces are painted or shaded

in the same material. There are a range of
Material types available, such as metallic,
neon, etc.
Each surface can have a different material

defined, and these materials can be different
colours. This allows you to shade the model
in different colours.
When the model is saved the material

attributes will also be saved so that next time
the model is opened and shaded, it will look
the same.
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PowerSHAPE 12. Shading
To change the material of a selected surface(s):

1. Ensure that shaded images are displayed
2. Select a surface or group of surfaces.
3. Raise the Materials dialogue box and select a new material.
To change the default material:

1. Ensure that no surface is selected.
2. Raise the Materials dialogue box and select a new material.
3. Click Accept and the new material will be used for subsequent surface colour shading.
Change the materials on each surface of your model to different colours.
Customising Materials
Each material can be altered to your own specifications.
Select Format -Materials form, select Spring and pick Spring13.

Select the option Custom.
The materials Editor form appears. This form

allows the appearance of the shading effect to be
altered using various sliders.
Select New. Leave the name as Unnamed1.

Alter the slides to see the effect at the top. Apply the form.
Select any surface and the material is changed to the new one.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 97

12. Shading PowerSHAPE
Shading Tolerance
When models are shaded, the whole surface is covered in a triangular mesh, which is set at a
certain tolerance i.e. the smaller the value, the finer the mesh. These values are found under
the Shading Option, found under options in the Tools pull down menu.
Tolerance to current view is a quick

way of entering the ideal value for
your particular screen resolution and
current zoom. PowerSHAPE will use
the new tolerance the next time the
shading is regenerated. If you want to
see it immediately, click the button,
Force regeneration of triangles.
Set the Tolerance for Shading to 5

Press Force Regeneration of the triangles. Press Accept
The model is shown very faceted. Although, if you change to

wireframe view the model still looks normal. For small models the
shading tolerance should be reduced.
Open the Options form and set the shading tolerance to 0.1.
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PowerSHAPE 13. Limiting Surfaces
13. Limiting Surfaces

Limiting Surfaces
When surfaces are limited together PowerSHAPE automatically trims back the surfaces. If it
trims back the surfaces in the wrong place you can use the next solution option to go through
the options to find the required solution.
When a surface is limited back it automatically generates a boundary and only the part of the
surface inside that boundary is displayed. Several surfaces can be limited with a single cutter
surface.
Limiting Surfaces Example

Create a workplane at 0.
Create a plane at the workplane of size X 50, Y 50.
Create a torus at the workplane of size minor radius 5, major radius 15.
Select the plane surface (this will be the limiting surface). Open the Edit
Toolbar.
Select the Limit icon.
The limit toolbar appears.
Pick the torus.

The plane is automatically trimmed to the torus
and the torus is also trimmed back.
However this is only one trimming option, to go

through the options available use the next
solution icon. When your desired option appears,
exit the limit command by pressing the select
icon.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 99

13. Limiting Surfaces PowerSHAPE
Select the Next Solution icon.
This solution shows the plane limited to a small circle, with the
same bottom part of the torus.
Select the Next Solution icon again.
This solution shows the plane limited to a small circle, with the
top part of the torus.
Select the Next Solution icon again.
This solution shows the plane with a circular

ring limited out and the top part of the torus.
In between pressing the Next solution icon

you can rotate and shade the model to see
what option you have been given.
Exit out of limiting and press Undo several times to return back to the
complete torus and plane.
Select the plane as the cutting object and then the limit icon .
Select the keep both icon.
This single side icon now changes into the keep both icon.
When the keep both icon shows both halves it saves the top and bottom part of the surface it
has limited back. This is a useful command to use when you need to keep both halves of a
surface for the cavity and the die.
100 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Select the torus.
The torus has now been split into two

separate surfaces, with the plane
remaining as one limited surface.
A simple copy of the plane can be

produced using copy and paste if an
additional one was required.
Exit out of limiting. Delete all surfaces.
Example 2
This example shows how multiple surfaces can be limited by a single surface.
Create a surface plane at the workplane of size X 75 and Y 50.

Create a cylinder at 25 15 -10 with a radius of 5 and a length of 20.
Create a cone at -25 -15 -10 with a base radius of 5, top radius of 2.5
and a length of 20.
Select the plane and pick the Limit icon.
Pick the cylinder and cone only using the cursor to make a box.
Rotate the model so only the surfaces

can be picked cleanly and no part of the
plane is selected.
All of the three surfaces are trimmed

together.
Selecting the Next Solution icon will
only work on the group. To change the
trimming of a single surface, select the
surface and use the trimming options.
Exit out of trimming.

Select only the cone
Issue PSHAPE 5.0

101
When a surface is limited a

boundary is generated. Part of the
surface inside the boundary is
displayed. Boundaries are edited in
the Trim Region Editor.
Double clicking on this surface will bring up only the primitive options to change the basic
values on this surface. To be able to modify the surface's trimming the surface must be
converted to a Power surface. Once converted, double-clicking will bring up new toolbars at
the top of the screen.
Convert the Cone and then double click it.

Select the Trim Region Editing icon.
The Boundary Editing toolbar appears.
Select the boundary selector icon.
The boundary form appears which lists all of the available

boundaries in the selected surface.
Select boundary 1.

Pick the Reverse Boundary icon.
The boundary on the cone has been

reversed giving the other trimming
option, which shows the bottom part
of the surface.
Note: When trimming mode is on, the surface is always displayed in full when selected.
When it is de-selected only the boundary portion/s are displayed.
Exit out of trimming mode by removing the trimming toolbar.
Sub Example
Surfaces do not have to be limited back to other surfaces; they can be limited back to
intersection curves, Workplanes and geometry as this example shows.
Create a workplane at 0
Generate a sphere of radius 30 at the workplane.
Select the sphere and the Scale icon from the Editing toolbar.
Select the Non-Uniform option.
A form appears allowing the X, Y and Z values to be given separately.

These can be input as decimal numbers i.e. 1.5 or as fractions i.e. 15/10.
The form converts fractions to decimal numbers.
Enter 50/30 for X, 20/30 for Y and 0.75 for Z.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0

103
Create a cone of base radius 20, top radius 10 and a length of 40 at the
workplane origin.
Select both surfaces.

Select the Surface Intersection icon from the Curve submenu.
The Surface Intersection form appears

where you can enter a value for an Offset
intersection, if desired.
Accept the value of 0.
The curves of intersection are now calculated, and are composite curves displayed in red
when completed.
De-select the surfaces and select the composite curve.
Select the Limit icon.

Select the cone.

The cone is limited to the curve, but is the wrong part.
Reverse the trimming with the Next Solution icon.
The trimming option is now reversed.
Limit the scaled sphere to the curve.

Using the pump example we can limit the surfaces, apart from the ribs, together.

From the selection list, select Quick Select all wireframe objects.
Blank the selected wireframe, leaving the surfaces on display.
Limit the curved top surface to the side extrusion.
Limit the dome surface to the top.
Save the model.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0

105
PowerSHAPE 14. Levels
14. Levels
Levels
Levels allow you to put different objects on different levels, which can de displayed or
hidden to manage complex models. There are 1000 Levels in PowerSHAPE so it is a good
idea to give them useful names. Levels 998 and 999 are reserved for Admin. It is good
practise to generate a levels standard so no matter whose job you pick up within the company
you will still be able to easily find the required data.
Example
Create a new model. Create a workplane at 0.

Import the file Corner_Bowl.dgk from
E:\Users\Training\PowerSHAPE_data\psmodels_n_dgk.
Select an ISO1 view.
This model contains a mixture of wireframe and

surfaces.
The model may also contain duplicate entities that
could either be wireframe, surfaces or a mixture of
both. It is advisable to either move these items to a
level or delete them.
Drag a window around all of the visible surfaces and wireframe.
From the Tools menu select Find duplicates.
Check the box Find duplicates in current selection then Accept the
form.
Issue PSHAPE 5.0 107

14. Levels PowerSHAPE
There are a number of ways to see if PowerSHAPE has detected any duplicates.
Firstly they will be highlighted yellow on the screen, the Delete icon at the top of the
screen will become active or clicking the Selection Information icon will list any
items found.
PowerSHAPE has detected some duplicates within the model so for this exercise they will be
transferred to a level. Note There is a problem with PowerSHAPE being able to detect
Duplicate solids. The work around for the moment is to convert solids into surfaces before
running Find Duplicates. If no duplicates are found then Undo to return back to Solids again.
Select the level icon.
This brings up the levels form. This form is used to name

levels and to switch levels on and off.
By default, levels 0 to 4 are switched on as shown by ticks

on the left and have also been given names. Level 999 is a
special level, which is not to be used.
Place the cursor in level 5 and type in Duplicates to give the level a name.
Dismiss the levels form.

There is a levels toolbar, which displays the used levels of the model by number on the left of
the screen. These can then be switched on and off.
To place the duplicate items on to level 5, position the mouse pointer over
the level number in the Levels Toolbar, and press the middle mouse
button.
The level toolbar can be seen on the left hand side of the screen. It displays the first 5
levels and then any other levels you have created.
Levels are switched on and off by clicking on the level number.
Click on the level 0 (General) to switch it off, and then click on level 5
(Duplicates) to turn the level on.
Turning off level 0 (General), will remove the complete model from the screen so that when
level 5 (Duplicates) is switched on, the items on that level can be viewed clearly.
Selecting the active level to work on can be achieved using the

current level pull down form (top of screen). By choosing a level
it will make it active. Be careful when doing this that nothing is
selected otherwise the item will be moved to that level.
Select level 0 (General) from the pull down form (seen above).
A warning will appear explaining that the level selected is switched off.
Alternatively select the level number, 0 on the levels toolbar to switch the General level on.
Select Yes to activate the General level.

Turn off level 5 (Duplicates) if not already off.

Open the Levels form and create two further levels, 6 as Core and 7 as
Cavity.
Dismiss the form.
Select the bottom solid and press the middle mouse button over level
number 6 in the levels toolbar.
Select the top solid and repeat the above process for level 7.
Both items are now assigned to there own levels and can be switched on individually at any
time. The component solid and construction wireframe remain on level 0 (General).
PowerSHAPE has the ability to allow Grouping of levels. By grouping items together the
user can manage parts of the model more efficiently and effectively.
For this next exercise we are going to group together the remaining wireframe and
component solid.
Select the level icon.
In level 8 type the following, Component : Wireframe and in level 9 type

Component : Surfaces.
The word Component represents the Group name

and the word Wireframe or Surfaces the level
name.
Dismiss the Levels form.
The two levels now belong to the group called Component.

On the Levels toolbar, the following changes can be seen:
A new button appears representing the group of levels.
The buttons of the two levels have changed to the same colour (Blue).
The colour of the group button matches that of the two levels.

Levels can be turned on and off using the group button. If you right-click on a button on the
level toolbar, a pop up menu is displayed. This menu is used to turn on a single button using
the Solo option or blank and unblank objects. In the case of a group button, when you select
Solo, all the levels in that group are turned on. If further Groups are created then a new colour
will be assigned to that Group making it easily distinguishable from others.
To easily separate the wireframe from the surfaces select the

Quick select all wireframes icon from the Select menu.
Place the wireframe on to level 8 using the middle mouse button over the
level number in the levels toolbar.
Drag a box around the remaining component solid and place it onto level
9.
It is important to remember that whatever level is displayed in the Levels pull down menu at
the top of the screen, any further wireframe or surface creation added will be assigned to that
level.
From the Levels pull down menu select the General Level.
In some instances it is advisable to make safe copies of surface or wireframe entities to save
time having to recreate them later on if required. For this exercise we will copy the core solid
and paste it onto the General level 0.
Turn on Level 6 to display the Core solid.

Drag a box around the solid to select it. The solid will turn yellow.
Select the Copy icon from the top menu
Select the Paste icon next to the Copy icon that has now become
active.
It may appear as though nothing has actually happened, but the surfaces that are displayed
yellow are the new copies of the original. Care needs to be taken that multiple copies are not
created accidentally when using the Copy/Paste functions. This could cause problems later on
when Limiting or Filleting etc.
Move the new copy of the Core solid to the General level 0 using the
middle mouse button technique.
Switch off level 6.
Toggle on and off Level 0 (General) to check if the new copy has been
successfully transferred.


Using the pump example we can put the blanked wireframe onto a named level.

Name level 5 as geometry, Quick select all wireframes and apply blank
except (Ctrl K).
Move the selected wireframe to level 5 and switch the level off.
Save the model.

PowerSHAPE 15. Filleting Surfaces
15. Filleting Surfaces

Filleting Surfaces
PowerSHAPE allows you to fillet one or a number of surfaces together with a specified
radius. The shape of a fillet surface may be imagined as the path produced by rolling a ball of
the same radius along the surfaces. Where the ball makes contact a fillet is produced and the
original surfaces are trimmed back to the new fillet surfaces.
Before Filleting After Filleting
PowerSHAPE can either create a concave fillet or a convex fillet. A concave fillet is
produced with all of the surfaces to be filleted facing outwards i.e. all shaded in gold. A
convex fillet is the negative or reverse fillet that is produced on the inside region with the
surfaces to be filleted facing outwards as before.
During the filleting operation it shows the current direction of each surface by arrows. These
arrows always highlight the male or gold side to the surface. These arrows can be clicked on
to reverse the surface for filleting.

15. Filleting Surfaces PowerSHAPE
Cone Example
This example goes through the basic filleting options.
Create a Plane Primitive of length 100 and width 100 at 0 0 0.
Create a Cone Primitive of base radius 30, top radius 15 and length 50 at
0 0 0.
Right click over the cone and select Convert Surface.
A selected Power Surface

shows more detail.
The small brown arrow
points outwards,
indicating that this is the
outside edge of the
surface. The larger
brown arrow indicates
the direction the surface
flows and is not used in
filleting.
Another way to show the inside and outside of the surface is to shade the model.
By default PowerSHAPE displays the outside of surfaces as gold and the inside as red.
Select the Shaded icon.
Both surfaces should be shaded gold on the

outside. If not then you can right click on any
red surfaces and select Reverse from the
available menu.
Select both surfaces by dragging a window around them.
Revert to a normal view by selecting the Wireframe View icon.
Select the Filleting option from the Surfaces submenu.

Once this option has been selected, the Filleting form appears with a suggested concave fillet
of radius 5mm.
The surface direction arrows are displayed and these can be clicked on to change the
direction, if required i.e. gold to red. Arrows pointing out mean gold surface outside.
Select Preview on the Fillet Surface form.
In purple or brown it displays the fillet track.

This is the centreline of the rolling ball as it
runs along the surfaces. If that is not what
you wanted then you can change the values
and surfaces and hit preview again. If it is
okay then select Accept.
Select Accept on the form.
The Fillet Route form appears.
The preview curve now turns yellow to show that

it is selected. As there is only one track available,
pick Accept. When you have several independent
fillet tracks, you will have to select one and then
Apply and then select another track and so on
until you have finished and hit Accept.

Select Accept off the form.
The fillet surface is produced and the cone and

plane trimmed back to the fillet.
Create a Plane Primitive at 0 0 40 with a length and width of 80.

Double click on the plane and in the plane form select a Y-Twist angle of
10 degrees.
Convert the plane into a Power Surface.
This top surface will be filleted to the cone, but this

time the fillet will be on the inside of the cone.
Select the Cone and the angled plane surface.

Select the Fillet icon.
Preview a 3mm Convex fillet.
Accept the preview and the Select Fillet Route form to produce the new
surface.

The fillet is produced trimming back the top of the

cone and the plane.
Fillets can also be produced with several surfaces.
Create a Cylinder Primitive at 30 0 20 along the X PRINCIPLE PLANE.

Change the radius to 6, length to 60 and rotate it with an X-Twist of 15.
Right click over the Cylinder Primitive and select Reverse.
Select all of the surfaces apart from the lower fillet and plane.
Select the fillet icon.
Set a 2mm Convex radius and then Preview.
Select Accept.
In this case, PowerSHAPE has identifeied two complete

fillet tracks and a few other possibilities. As
PowerSHAPE allows you to specify which track you
want to use you can use as little or as many tracks as
required.

Select the first fillet track nearest the plane (lowest one), which turns
yellow.
Select Apply to produce the first fillet.
The first fillet is produced and PowerSHAPE waits for

another fillet track to be selected.
Select the second track nearest the top.

Select Apply and Accept to generate the last fillet.
All of the other tracks are ignored.
Do not delete the model.
Filleting using Secondary Surfaces

Normal filleting will check every selected surface against each other to find the fillet path
required. On a large job, this can take some time and it may be awkward to pick the actual
fillet path out.
By using the Secondary surface option, this allows to identify two sets of surfaces that the
fillet will run between. With this option, you select the first set of surfaces as your primary
surfaces, select the fillet icon and then pick your second set of surfaces, which automatically
become the Secondary set. PowerSHAPE now knows where to generate the fillet.

Example
Continue with the filleting example.
Delete the lower plane and fillet.

Create a Plane Primitive on the YZ plane (X Principle Plane) at 0 0 20
with a width of 110 and a length of 60.
Convert the plane to a Power Surface and change the direction if required
so the gold surface is on the X+ direction as shown.
Drag a box over the surfaces on the left as indicated.

Select the fillet icon. Set a radius of 2mm and Convex.
Select the Plane surface.
The selected surface turns pink and the secondary surface option is ticked.
Select Accept.

Select the first track and then select the Apply button.
Select the last track and then select the Apply button.
The fillets are produced and most of the other surfaces

have been trimmed back.
Delete this remaining surface.
Limit the bottom of the plane back to

complete the job. Hint: use wireframe to
Limit to.
Tap Example
Create the following kitchen tap shape.
Generate the following wireframe.
Create a surface of revolution from this shape.

Create a workplane at 0 0 44
Generate a Sphere Primitive of radius 7.5 at the new workplane.
Select the Workplane then select limit under the Edit toolbar and then the
sphere.

The sphere is then limited to the workplane and the top half
should be kept. This will only work if the correct Principle
Plane is set.
Generate the following geometry for the tap arm shape around the
workplane.
Create a surface of revolution around X Principle Plane.

Rotate and copy this surface 3 times by 90 degrees around the Z
Principle Plane to make the four arms.
The four arms need to be filleted to the central section. Make sure that when shaded, all of the
surfaces are gold. We do not want to fillet each arm to each other or waste time generating
the route so we are going to use the Secondary surfaces option.

Select the central section (the revolved surface and the sphere).
Select the fillet icon. Select the four arms.
On the form the option secondary

surfaces becomes ticked.
Enter a concave radius of 2

Accept the form.
Select the fillet tracks in turn and Accept to finish the model.
Variable filleting
Variable fillets are easily created along the fillet track using the mouse to identify KEY
points or using functionality within the form to position the fillet arcs either by Parametric,
Relative or Absolute values.
Example
Create a new model and a Workplane at 0.

Create two circles with radius 8.5 at 30 and 30 in X.
Create a Fitted arc of radius 50 either side of the two circles to form the
following shape.

Create a composite curve from the wireframe.

Generate a Surface Extrusion.
Double click the extrusion and in the form change the Length to 60 and
select the Keep button.
The composite curve is needed to

enable a Fill in surface to be created at
the end of the extrusion.
Accept the form.

Select the composite curve and create a Fill in surface from wireframe
Delete the composite curve.
Drag a box around both surfaces and select the Fillet surface icon.
Input a fillet radius of 3 select Convex and press Accept.
View the model down in Z.
If you place the mouse pointer at strategic points around the fillet route the word KEY will
appear. Clicking the left mouse button at these KEY points creates an arc of the size specified
in the first fillet form. The value can be modified in the Arc Radius area of the form.
Create 6 arcs at the KEY points around the fillet route starting at the top
working your way around clockwise as shown on the next page.

Six KEY points were found but noticeably none were found at the very ends of the surfaces
where they will be required. The fillet size needs to increase at the ends to 5mm. Options in
the form allow fillet arcs to be added accurately between existing arcs using the Parametric
method.
Change the Current Arc to 1 by selecting it from the pull down menu.
Change the arc position type from ABS (Absolute) to PAR (Parametric)
and in the Distance for selected arc area type in 1.5 then Return on the
keyboard.
A new arc has been generated accurately between existing arcs allowing the fillet size to be
modified. PowerSHAPE has also automatically renumbered the Current Arc to be 2.
With Current Arc 2 selected change the Arc Radius to 5.

Create another arc at PAR 5.5 and change its radius also to 5.
Change the Arc Radius to 5 for arcs 1, 3, 5 and 7.
Apply the form.
The variable fillet is applied successfully.

PowerSHAPE 17. Editing Surfaces
17. Editing Surfaces

Editing Surfaces
Surfaces can be edited in many ways. Closed surfaces can be opened, closed and renumbered.
Open/Close Example
Create a torus of major radius 40 and minor radius 15.
Convert the torus into a Power surface.
A torus is closed both longitudinally and laterally and is

a good example to show the difference between laterals
and longitudinals with the open and close command.
The surface orientation marker always lies on lateral 1

near to point 1. This line shows the direction the
longitudinals flows along.
Switch on the Surface Orientation Marker in the Options form by

selecting Tools Options and under Objects select Surfaces.
Open the surface edit toolbar by double clicking the surface.

Select longitudinal on the surface curve toolbar.
Open the selected surface by clicking on the Open icon.
This has opened the surface longitudinally; i.e. has

removed the link between the first and last points of the
longitudinal.

17. Editing Surfaces PowerSHAPE
Close the surface by selecting the Close icon.

Change the Surface Direction to Lateral and then open the surface.
Every lateral has now been opened up. The surface can be
returned to its original state by selecting the Close icon.
The surface only opens and closes between the end points
and start points commonly termed the closure. This is not
always the desired place; therefore renumbering the
laterals and longitudinals means that you can open the
surface at a different point.
Close the surface.

Select the select curve icon.
This brings up the Select Curve Form with all of the

laterals and longitudinals listed for the selected surface.
Select lateral 5.
Pick the Renumber Surface icon to make the selected lateral number 1.
The Surface Marker moves to where lateral 5 was as the surface has been renumbered.

Open the surface longitudinally.
The surface is now open in another part, as you have

moved the closure around. Surfaces can also be
renumbered longitudinally.
Editing Points on a Lateral/Longitudinal

Points on laterals and longitudinals can be moved around to change the shape of the surface.
Example
Create a torus around 0 0 0 with a major diameter of 75 and a minor
diameter of 15.
Convert the surface.
Double click on a longitudinal to bring up the Surface Editing and Curve
Editing toolbars.
Select the Turn Point Labels On/Off icon on the Curve Editing toolbar.
Turning the point numbers on is a useful visualisation

aid, especially when generating intermediate curves.
The icon changes to display numbers. By switching the

icon, the point numbers will no longer be displayed.
Click on lateral 1.
This labels the points on the lateral of the surface.

With lateral direction set, Select point number 2 with the mouse. This point
can now be edited.
The model is then updated to show the angle and magnitude of

the curve passing through point 2, in blue/pink. Each of these
components can be dynamically grabbed to alter the surface
shape.
The round circles at the end of these

blue/pink lines can be pulled around using
the mouse to achieve the desired magnitude.
If you select the blue part of this line, it can be pulled around to
change the angle of the curve flowing through the point.
Once the point is selected, typing in the x, y and z values can move it.
Enter 0 0 20.
This moves the point up by 20mm in the z direction,

altering the shape of the surface
To move the point to an absolute position then the

position form is used.

Select point 3 at the Curve Point icon , and then pick the xyz icon.
Select Workplane co-ordinates and enter a value of 20 0 0.

Accept the form
The surface is given a new shape as the curve point 3

is exactly on the position 20 0 0.
Select lateral 5 point 1.

Select the Edit Tangent Angles icon.
The Tangent Editor form

appears. This form allows
you to set defined angles
travelling through the curve
at the selected point/s. It
will also straighten or free
the curve.
Select the Tangent Direction icon.

The Direction form appears. The current

angles are filled in. In this case you have a
YZ angle of 90 degrees, going through the
point.
Change the YZ angle to 45 degrees.

Accept the form to change the angle flowing through the point.
The angle flowing through the point has changed, giving a slight
indent to the surface.
A discontinuity can be defined by setting the options before and after

the point to different values. The before and after depend upon the
way the points are flowing along the lateral.
Select point 1 on lateral 4 and select the Edit Tangent Angles icon as
before.
Select the Before option.
Click on the Tangent Direction icon and enter a YZ angle of 30 degrees.
Accept the form
The angle has now been changed going into or before the
point, giving a discontinuity in the surface.
The angle after the point can also be changed in the same
manner.

Adding and deleting Laterals and Longitudinals

As surfaces are altered by the points on the laterals or longitudinals it is often necessary to
add extra curves into the surface. Also these laterals or longitudinals can also be deleted,
when it will not affect the shape of the surface adversely.
Surfaces can also be defined by parameters. Each position on the surface has a parametric
value defined in terms of T and U, and every laTeral (T) or longitUdinal (U) is given a
whole number. So at any position on lateral 1, the parametric value of T would be 1. At any
position on longitudinal 4, the U Value would be 4. A position on a surface halfway between
lateral 3 and 4 and halfway between longitudinal 5 and 6 would be T3.5 and U5.5.
Example
Create a cylinder of radius 10 and length 100 up the Z-axis.
Convert the surface and move point 3 on lateral 2 by -20 in the X
direction.
Move point 1 by 5 in the X and 10 in the Z.
This is the basic shape to which additional laterals are going to be added.
Add in a new lateral halfway from lateral 1 to lateral 2. In parameter

terms this is described as 1.5.
Select the Add Curve icon.

Select Lateral, enter the Parameter Value of 1.5 in the form.

Apply and the Dismiss the form.
A new lateral is added to the surface.
The new lateral; which has become lateral 2, lies completely in the
middle of the surface. The top lateral, which was lateral 2, is
automatically renumbered to 3.
To dynamically add an additional lateral within the defined surface use

CTRL and the Left mouse button.
Click a point on lateral 1 to select it.

Holding down the CTRL key and the Left mouse button, drag the point up
the surface and a temporary purple lateral appears.
Moving the mouse around will show a purple construction line. (Keeping along the
longitudinal will ensure that only a lateral is created, and vice versa).
Release the mouse button when the purple lateral is somewhere between
lateral 1 and 2 to produce a lateral similar to that shown.
A new lateral has been created.
Dynamically add a new lateral 30mm above lateral 4 (the top

lateral).
Select lateral 4 and the point limit icon, found in the Edit toolbar.
Using the Left mouse button, select this lateral at a key point with
the magnet and drag the top lateral up the construction line until it says 30.
This action creates a new lateral, extending the surface in the same
direction.
New laterals can also be added at the intersection with a workplane.

Enter a workplane at 0 0 112.5.

Select the surface and the Add Curve icon.
Select the Workplane Intersection tab and an offset of 0.
A temporary plane appears to allow

you to visually confirm the new
lateral position.
Press Apply, and then Dismiss.
A planar lateral is fitted into the surface. Whole curves (laterals

and longitudinals) can be deleted.
Delete the workplane.

Select Lateral 5 and select the delete curve icon.
Laterals or longitudinals made from wireframe can be added into

surfaces. Note: the composite curve must have the same number of
points in that the surface has. The points need to be aligned and
flowing the same way to ensure the surface is not twisted.
Create a circle at 0 0 10 with a radius of 10 and create a composite

curve of the circle.
Select the surface and the Insert curve from wireframe icon.
The form pops up.

Select the wireframe and change the number of curve to be After 1 so

that the new curve comes in after lateral 1.
Accept the form.
The surface now has a new lateral in. The wireframe must have the same
number of points as the surface to be fitted in.
All of these commands can be applied to longitudinals, and work in exactly the same manner.
Editing laterals
Laterals can be edited as a complete object by using the edit toolbar.
Select the bottom lateral (lateral 1). Open the edit toolbar.
Even though a lateral is selected all of the edit operations work on the complete surface. To
work on the selected curve, press in the object icon and note the change in the toolbar.
Select (Switch on) the object icon.
Select offset and enter a value of 5.
The bottom lateral is now offset by 5 mm all around.

PowerSHAPE 18. Boundaries and Pcurves
18. Boundaries and Pcurves

Parameter Curves and Boundaries
Parameter curves (p-curves) are defined along points (ppoints) that lie on a surface. They
are created automatically, by default during surface limiting or filleting. They can also be
generated manually by projection of wireframe entities onto a surface. As moves between
ppoints are linear, any curvature is controlled by the proximity of adjacent ppoints within
the tolerance setting.
Boundaries are generated along the pcurve network to define trimmed areas on a surface.
Individual pcurves and boundaries are unique to a Surface and can only be accessed by
opening the Trim Region Editing, toolbar (Right click on a surface for menu options or
alternatively access directly from the Surface Edits toolbar).
Definition of Boundaries
Import the model m0_switch_housing
Select the upper surface (as shown below) and apply Blank Except.
Double click the surface to open the Surface Edits toolbar.
There is an overall trim button (scissors), which can display all of the surfaces trimmed or
untrimmed and is switched on (red dot) by default on for all models.
Click the Trim button to switch off (grey dot) trimming on the
selected surface.

18. Boundaries and Pcurves PowerSHAPE
The surface is now displayed without trimming. It is possible on occasions for an imported
surface to enter the model with the trimming switched off making it apparent that the
information is missing. If this is the case, switching the icon will correctly display the
trimmed surface.
Click the Trim button again to switch the trimming back on (red dot).
Select the Trim Editing icon (to the left) in the Surface Edits toolbar.
The Trim Editing toolbar appears. This has two modes, Boundary Edits and Pcurve Edits.
Depending on the selection, different toolbar options appear and the surface displays either
the boundaries or the pcurves.
Select Boundary Edits.
The whole surface is displayed with the trimmed area

identifiable by a mesh of grey detail lines. All existing
boundaries are displayed marking the edge of the
surface area that is trimmed. The pcurves are not
displayed in this mode.
If a boundary is deleted from a surface the associated

pcurves remain but are no longer involved in the
trimming process.
Select Pcurve Edits.
The pcurves are shown along with trimmed areas.

The actual Boundaries are not displayed in this
mode.
If a pcurve is deleted from a surface any associated

boundary will also be removed.
Note: not all routes defined by pcurves are

necessarily included in the boundary definition.

Select Boundary Edits and click the Boundary Selector icon.
If a boundary is selected it will change colour.
The boundaries used to define the trimming of the selected

surface are listed here. A boundary can be selected by
highlighting it's number. Several boundaries can be multi-
selected by holding down the shift key.
The use of the Crtl key will enable listed boundaries to be

individually selected or deselected.
A boundary can also be directly selected from within the

graphics area with a left mouse click.
Note: Trimming will only occur if a boundary forms a closed

loop.
Select both boundaries by selecting with the

shift key depressed.
Dismiss the above form and select the Explode icon.
With the boundaries deleted the trimming is removed, exposing the full surface area. The
pcurves remain intact but are simply no longer in use as part of a boundary definition.
The pcurves still exist and can be made

visible by toggling into Pcurve Edits.

Select Autocreate and observe the partially trimmed model to appear

as shown below.
Part of the required boundary has failed

to appear. This is due to there being a
branch point along the network of
pcurves making it impossible for the
software to determine which route to
take.
The easiest way to create the required
trim option is to manually define the
route around the pcurve network as
shown in the next section.
Select Recreate to open the following form and display all unused
pcurves on the surface.
Define a route around the network of pcurves by clicking on one of the

pcurves along the required route selecting the appropriate direction at
branch points until a closed loop is achieved. The method is exactly the
same as for generating composite curves covered earlier in the course.

When the required closed loop is defined click the Accept icon and
Close the form to produce the original trimmed surface.
The next stage is basically a repeat of the above, but this time removing excess pcurve data
to enable Autocreate to create the required boundaries automatically.

Select and Explode all boundaries on the surface.

Select Pcurve Edits, zoom in and select the pcurve along the route not
required for boundary definition. Multi-select all ppoints along the
unwanted part of the curve (click ppoints with CTRL key pressed).
Click the Delete Point icon .
Select Boundary Edits followed by Autocreate and this time the

surface will trim automatically to the required limits.
As a result of removing the unused

ppoints future automatic, trimming
operations will immediately produce the
desired results and not stray along a path
defined by redundant pcurve data.

Fixing Incorrectly Trimmed Surfaces
Import the model locationlug.
The imported model shown left includes several incorrectly trimmed surfaces requiring a
combination of Pcurve and Boundary editing to correct the faults.
The more complex the network of pcurves on a surface, the less likely are the chances of
obtaining the desired trim options automatically. The following worked example takes the
user through typical stages of pcurve and boundary editing to produce the correctly trimmed
model shown above right.
Right click the curved, base surface and from the local menu select Blank
Except followed by Trim Region Editing to open the relevant toolbar.
Select the option Boundary Edits on the toolbar and click the Boundary
Selector icon to open the Boundaries form.
In the form select the boundary labelled 1 and click the Explode icon
to delete it.
Toggle from Boundary Edits to Pcurve Edits to display all existing
pcurves on the surface.

The surface contains two pcurves. One is correctly

defining the intersection with the vertical face of the
location lug. The other is defining the path of an old
fillet prior to an amendment, and needs to be deleted.
Left click the 'U' shaped pcurve and select the Delete a p-curve icon .
Unblank all surfaces. Create a composite curve by holding the ALT key
down and click on the lower side of the fillet surface.
Blank all data except the composite curve and the lower curved surface.
Right click the lower curved surface and open the Trim Region Editing
toolbar.
Select P-curve Edits followed by the make pcurves from projecting
wireframe icon to open the following form.
Select the option Projected and click on the composite curve to create a
copy as a pcurve on the surface.
Dismiss the form and delete the composite curve used to create the new
pcurve.

Select the lower curved surface and open Pcurve Edits.
Select the linear pcurve followed by the Extend p-curve icon to open
the following form.
Click the other pcurve as the item to extend to, and Accept the form.
As no further trimming is envisaged on the

surface, the boundary will be manually created
using Recreate based on the current pcurve
network.
Toggle into Boundary Edits and select the Recreate icon .

With the Create Boundary form open Click anywhere along the required
route, following the arrows until the closed boundary is complete (blue
circle).

Once the boundary is complete eject the form by clicking .

If the trimmed surface appears within the 'D' shape, select Reverse the
Boundary icon to create the result shown, above right.
Unblank ( CTRL L) all data
Blank all data apart from the front vertical and fillet surfaces.
Right click the vertical surface and select Trim Region Editing from the
local menu.
Toggle into Boundary Edits and open the Boundary Selector form.
Select and Explode the only boundary.
Open the Edits Toolbar and Select the fillet surface as the cutting
object.
Select Limit selection , followed by the vertical surface and toggle,

next solution until the fillet is trimmed correctly.

The correct trimming option for

the fillet is achievable using
Next Solution, but not for the
vertical surface due to the
complexity of it's pcurve
network.
Select and Blank Except (CTRL K) the vertical surface.

Toggle into Boundary Edits and open the Boundary Selector form.
Select and Explode the only boundary.
Toggle into P-curve Edits to display all existing pcurves on the surface.
Zoom into the lower left corner and Select (use CTRL) and Delete all
ppoints except one beyond the branch point with the curved path.
Label ppoints by clicking the Turn point labelling on/off icon .
Select the end, ppoint (24) and then the icon, Edit parametric value at
ppoint to open the following form.

Click the branch point situated before the last ppoint (24) and note the
updating of the values in the above form (zoom in as close as possible).
Click Accept and the position of the last ppoint (24) will update to the new
parametric values.
Repeat the above process on the lower right corner of the surface
Select and Delete the redundant pcurve running horizontally from the
above branch point.
Select the remaining pcurves in turn and delete all ppoints not required
in the actual boundary (it is important to zoom in very close to be able to
identify and delete all close proximity, redundant ppoints).
Toggle into Boundary Edits and apply Autocreate. If the pcurve network
is free of any branches or gaps the boundary will be created
automatically.
If the boundary creation fails, recheck the ends of pcurves for excess
ppoints or gaps and fix accordingly.

Unblank (CTRL L) to display all data.

The vertical 'D' section surface shown below is the final surface that
requires re-trimming.
Blank all surfaces apart from the fillet and the vertical 'D' section.
Select the vertical 'D' section, surface and Delete it's Boundary.
Toggle into P-curve Edits and delete all pcurves except the 2 running
vertically from the ends of the fillet surface (shown dotted below).
Create a composite curve by holding the ALT key down and click on the
upper side of the fillet surface.

Blank the fillet from the view and select the vertical 'D' section surface.
Select P-curve Edits followed by the make pcurves from projecting

wireframe icon to open the following form.
Select the option Projected and click on the composite curve to create a
copy as a pcurve on the surface.
Dismiss the form and delete the composite curve.
Select the vertical 'D' section surface followed by Trim region editing
with the toolbar set to Boundary Edits.
Select the icon Recreate and manually generate the boundary to
create the correctly trimmed, surface shown below.

Exercise
In this example an IGES file is imported that contains a badly trimmed split surface. With the
help of the following suggestions, re-trim the surface.
In Tools - Options, under Data Exchange/PS-Exchange, uncheck IGES

in the Import section.
Import the file jug_split_surfaces.ige
To bring in unused pcurves

PowerSHAPE IGES is used,
not PS-Exchange.
From the model, you can see
that the split surface has a
couple of gaps in it.
The first process is to select

only the split surface and
explode the bad boundary.
Blank all surfaces except the split surface.

Open the Trim Region Editing toolbar and select Boundary Edits.
Delete Boundary 1.
Select the P-curve Edits menu.
The surface contains a complex network

of p-curves. The network is to be
simplified by using a combination of
options including delete p-curve, delete
ppoint, extend p-curve, etc.
Pcurves need to be perfectly trimmed to
enable automatic pcurve generation.
When defining a boundary manually the
pcurves do not have to be trimmed back
as the required route is defined using the
cursor.

Modify all the necessary P-Curves until the surface looks like this:
The next step is to create the Boundaries.

Although an automatic boundary could have
been made, trace the boundary around using
the re-create boundary button.
Use the recreate boundary icon and trace the outer boundary.
Press Save, trace the inner boundary and then Save and Eject.
The surface should now be trimmed correctly

otherwise Reverse the Boundary.

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Issue PSHAPE 5.0 1

To load PowerSHAPE, double click on the PowerSHAPE icon.

Once loaded, the screen looks as shown.

Issue PSHAPE 5.0 3

At the top there are a series of pull down menus.

Tapping the F1 key is a quick way of accessing Help.

Select the File menu, using the Left mouse button.

New, opens an empty model, Open, brings up a form of

Examples, loads example models from a selected list.

Reset, returns model to last saved position and Delete,

Import, brings external model in from File Browser into

Exit, Exit out of PowerSHAPE

If you leave the mouse over an icon for a second, a

4 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

The Information icon gives details about the selected objects.

Select the line creation menu icon.

The pull down menu on the right now contains

Issue PSHAPE 5.0 5

6 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Help Contents and Index

Press F1 on the keyboard.

Select the Hide icon to revert back to the Welcome page.

Issue PSHAPE 5.0 7

Left Mouse button 1: Picking and selecting

Middle Mouse button or wheel: Dynamics

Mouse button 3: Special Menus

When this button is pressed it brings up a new menu based on

8 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Exercise 1: Dynamic mouse controls.

Click on File, select the option Open.

When a model is opened it is shown in a view down

The view toolbar, on the right hand side of the

Right - Looking at the model into the X-axis

Iso 1 - showing standard Isometric View

Select these standard view icons in turn.

Issue PSHAPE 5.0 9

Select Views Single

The keyboard shortcut for the views are

There is also a Perspective Mode option,

Last view - changes display to the last one selected.

10 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Model display options

Smoothness shading - shows model with laminated effect to show smoothness.

Experiment with these view options.

Issue PSHAPE 5.0 11

Useful keyboard quick keys

Keyboard Quick Keys PowerSHAPE Function

CTRL + Numlock + Keypad 0 - 9 Different views

12 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Issue PSHAPE 5.0 13

Input the value 0 in the Command

A single line is created from xyz 0 to y 40. A continuous line can

14 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Create a full arc (circle)

Issue PSHAPE 5.0 15

Create a swept arc

1st mouse click (Arc centre)

2nd mouse click (Start of Swept Arc)

3rd mouse click (End of Swept Arc)

16 Issue PSHAPE 5.0

Create a fitted arc