point filters in ACAD

[MJL Imaging]

does anybody know how to use point filters for modeling in CAD?

[Jeff Mottle]

Yeah I use them all the time. Do you just not know how to use them or is there something specfic you wanted to know?

 

They are basically used to specify where a point shold be placed based upon a position relative to another.

[Kerry Thompson]

I do use them but not a lot. A point filter allows you to override the co-ordinate entries as you enter a point. – eg. moving an object from one position to another based on existing geometry, - say a line from the from the point 234,345,200 (p1) to 567,234,678, (p2) select the object, turn your end osnap on, select command “move” enter .xy select p1 then enter 0 for the requested z value, enter .xy, select p2 and then enter 0 for the requested z value. The object will have moved from the co-ordinates 234,345,0 to 567,234,0. Have a look at the AutoCAD help - search for “point filters” for an in depth explanation.

 

Cheers

 

 

 

Kerry

[MJL Imaging]

yeah, I've never used point filters and it's come up in the office, so I thought I'd ask here. I'll take a lookat it in the help file, thanks!

[Spongebob]

Point filters are one of the most useful tools which i have recently discovered. When someone tried to explain them to me I just glazed over and nodded because the concept is difficult to understand at first. However, stick with it and you will not be sorry.

 

I will try to briefly describe a few uses of point filters and I hope I do better than the cold, unforgiving and frankly boring help files. However, if you glaze over I appologize.

 

1.

 

When inserting details into a detail sheet it looks muck nicer and more professional to have the details lined up horizontally, vertically or both. To do this I begin the 'insert' command and then type '.y' at the insert location prompt and select the insert point of another existing detail on the sheet. This will limit your on-screen movement to only one direction (x) in line with the other detail.

 

2.

 

When working with 3D models sometimes it becomes necessary to cut up a solid using the 'slice' command. A common slice which I use is one which is parallel to the current UCS. To do this I type 'SL' and select the object. Then I type 'XY' (the dot is not required in this command because the point filters are so useful here that Autodesk made them as a permanent option) Then all I need to do is select one 3D point in lieu of three to select the slicing plane.

 

3.

 

When attempting to move a rectangle to a specific location sometimes it is necessary to find and select the center of that rectangle. If the rectangle is aligned to the current UCS the easiest way to do it is to use point filters. Here are the steps. Type "m" for move and select the rectangle. When prompted for the base point type '.x' and select the midpoint of the bottom chord of the rectangle. Then you will be prompted for the 'y' and 'z' - select the midpoint of one of the side chords and it will pick the center of the rectangle.

 

Many of the useful traits of using point filters can also be accomplished by drawing temporary reference lines to find these points. However, I consider this as sloppy drafting practice because I find that these reference line are sometimes forgotten and make it to the final drawings. Once you become proficient with point filters I think you will prefer using them.

 

Good Luck

Jeffrey K. Ries