Shift the work plane

Tekla Structures
2020
Tekla Structures

Shift the work plane

You can set the work plane to any position by picking points or by selecting a plane. This makes it easier to place parts accurately when modeling sloped parts.

For example, you can shift the work plane to the slope of the roof to make it easier to model horizontal bracing and purlins in a sloped roof.

Set work plane to any part plane

Use the Work plane tool command to set the work plane to any part plane.

  1. On the View tab, click Work plane > Work plane tool.

  2. Pick a point.

Set work plane parallel to xyz plane

You can set the work plane parallel to the xy, xz, or zy plane.

  1. On the View tab, click Work plane and select Parallel to XY(Z) plane.

  2. In the Plane list box, select the plane parallel to the work plane.
  3. Enter the depth coordinate.

    The depth coordinate defines the distance of the work plane from the global origin along a line perpendicular to the plane parallel to the third axis.

  4. Click Change.

Set work plane using one point

You can set the work plane using one picked point. The work plane stays parallel to the current work plane, but moves it to a new position. The x and y directions are unchanged.

  1. On the View tab, click Work plane and select Using one point.

  2. Pick the new position of the work plane.

Set work plane using two points

You can set the work plane using two picked points. The first point you pick is the origin, the second defines the x direction of the work plane. The y direction remains the same as the previous work plane.

  1. On the View tab, click Work plane and select Using two points.

  2. Pick the origin of the work plane.
  3. Pick a point in the work plane, in the positive x direction.

Set work plane using three points

You can set the work plane using three picked points. The first point you pick is the origin, the second defines the x direction, and the third defines the y direction of the work plane. Tekla Structures fixes the z direction according to the right-hand rule.

  1. On the View tab, click Work plane and select Using three points.

  2. Pick the origin for the work plane.
  3. Pick a point in the positive x direction.
  4. Pick a point in the positive y direction.

Set work plane parallel to view plane

You can set the work plane to be the same as the view plane of a selected view.

  1. On the View tab, click Work plane and select Parallel to view plane.

  2. Select the view.

Restore the default work plane

Remember to change back to the default work plane when you have finished modeling sloped structures.

  1. On the View tab, click Work plane > Parallel to XY(Z) plane.

  2. In the Plane list, select XY.
  3. In the Depth coordinate box, enter 0.
  4. Click Change.
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