Creating two construction planes perpendicular to each other

[engineer1984]

From what I've read, you have to work around (create a body) to get two construction planes to be perpendicular to each other.

What's the technical reason?  Is there some coding reason why this 'seemingly' simple thing can't be done?  I can't imagine I'm the only person to run into this problem.

I build things with slopes (roofs, railings, etc) and it's a pain to draw the cross section of steel tubing or a 2x4, etc at an angle that is arbitrary, but parametrically locked to the geometry (i.e. angle auto changes with changes to the post locations, etc).  The method I use is to first find the arbitrary angle of the slope using the location of the posts / locations the rail and the posts meet, draw a line connecting the two in a construction plane.  Then draw a new construction plane using the line and keeping the construction plane parallel to the ground in one direction.  Next?  Next I have to force the perpendicularity by either manually inputting the angle (NOT the correct way to model) or I have to extrude a body from the new plane and then use that body's faces & midplane for perpendicularity (another NOT correct way to seemingly draw, but better since the angle is still arbitrary +90).

Am I missing something?  Does the angle have to drive the rest of the drawing instead of the drawing dictating the angle?

cheers,

[engineer1984]

Also, this time around (different project.. and I'm a little bit wiser?) I'm going to make the phantom body and all it's construction planes a separate component (rafter_construction) and when then extrude the body in another component (rafter)...

We'll see if that makes sense.

[ritste20]

There's a lot of information to digest in your description above. Any chance you could record a screencast of your initial setup to illustrate the problem or create an example file with some of the geometry that requires these workarounds for us to analyze and provide feedback?

Regards,

[g-andresen]

Hi,

please share a design additional to the Screencasts that @ritste20 ask for.

günther

[davebYYPCU]

Short answer - Plane on Angle, Select your inclined line.  Make two planes at Zero and 90 deg, or values that suit.

Might help....

[engineer1984]

Right.  Unfortunately, that only works when you know the first plane angle.  

I'm trying to create a plane that is arbitrary angle + 90 degrees.  I can do a screenshare, but that's the essence of the question.  How do you reference a new plane's angle to a known plane (at an arbritrary anlge)?  

When I draw an arbritary line and I use that line to draw a plane, that plane isn't automatically a reference of 0.  At least as far as I can tell.

[davebYYPCU]

Rafters in a roof, side, front, or top view of this pic,  - when side and top views doesn't make sense.

All done on a vertical front origin plane, so sorry, don't understand the question,

Plane on Angle on any edge of any body / sketch line, at the time of selection you are given a compass at zero, to set your angle, I think your saying you don't know what angle.

Might help....

[jhackney1972 · Accepted solution]

I think if you follow the Screencast, you will be able to do what you desire.

[engineer1984]

Okay... I never used the measure function...   So I'll have to try this later, but then if you changed the original plane from 56 degrees to XYZ degrees, would the two planes move together?

[jhackney1972]

No, it is just a measurement to give you a reference to enter a new angle, it is not a parameter.  You could create a parameter if you like but that is not what I showed. 

[engineer1984]

Right... A parameter would solve the issue and keep the model 'parametric' so that I could change the height of rise over run of the roofline by changing the center post height and the rafter angle would change automatically.

Thanks.  I'll try this out when I get a chance.

Thanks much

[ritste20]

Are you trying to solve for the angle on the birdsmouth based on the rise/run? Or is this a generic problem that you want to be able to use/reuse for stair railings/hip(valley) rafters etc.?

[engineer1984]

I think of it as a generic problem for anyone, really.  

Connecting two objects (posts, uprights, etc) with an angular object (2x4, steel part, etc).  You are always going to draw the cross section of the runner first and then connect it to the two posts, etc.

I'll have to do a screenshare.  Maybe there's a way to do this so that the plane can be any angle and the 3D object can be manipulated with joints to go where ever it needs.  I'll try this next time too.  Maybe that would allow me to change the post location and the runner would automatically stretch to the correct size.

cheers,

[engineer1984]

Regardless, is there a reason it isn't an option in the construction plane menu to just simply make a 'perpendicular to' construction plane?

We obviously have a 'parallel to' option.

[ritste20]

"Plane along path" will place a construction plane perpendicular to an edge or sketch element. If you want it at the end of a path just use 1 or 0 proportional distance.

Regards,

[jlarsonLP454]

Once again, this is basic functionality IMHO that should be included in Fusion. Making a perpendicular plane is a very common task, and I shouldn't have to make a sketch, draw a line, do a plane at angle, then calculate or measure the angle in order to achieve it. 

The better workflow would be to have an option for "Perpendicular Plane", then select a line to be normal or parallel to, or two points to define said line. No sketching required unless I need a line that isn't part of my existing geometry

[jhackney1972]

Take a look at the attached video for a process to create a perpendicular construction plane to a surface or another plane.

[MichaelT_123]

Hi Frustrates, ... and Smoothers,

The problem is just iteration of the one I just replied. I even copied&pasted the headline. 

https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/fusion-design-validate-document/is-there-really-no-way-to-rotate-a-co...

In your circumstance the natural and structural way of approaching the task is:

• create new component
• it will have an origin and the full set of perpendicular planes.
• align origin/axes of this component with other element of your design   

Regards

MichaelT