Control Point Command - Intergraph Smart 3D - Help

Intergraph Smart 3D Common

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Smart 3D Version
13.1

Inserts a control point on an object in the model. The software translates the control point on volume and composed drawings and depicts its own symbol and coordinate callout. If part of an assembly, the control point controls the location of the drawing leader line for that assembly. When a control point is inserted, it is added to the System hierarchy in the Workspace Explorer beneath the system and object to which it is associated.

The Drawings and Reports task uses control points for the following reasons:

  • To drive coordinate and label locations.

  • To generate notes on volume and composed drawings, isometric drawings, and reports.

  • To use as a reference for dimensioning schemes based on a monument, or coordinate system, and to give directions for the dimensions. You can define coordinate systems and monuments in the Grids task.

You define the location of a control point with the Insert > Control Point command. You designate the control point relative to a parent object, such as along a centerline or on a surface. Examples of parent objects are route objects, equipment, structures, grids, and coordinate systems. If you delete the parent object, the software also deletes the control point.

The parent object drives the relationship of the control point as part of an assembly. That is, the control point and its parent object share the same relationships. The control point and parent object also are in the same permission group and have the same approval status. While you can assign multiple control points to a parent object, each control point has only one parent object.

You can use the SmartSketch relationship indicators or commands like Measure , PinPoint , and Point Along to define an associative position, setting the control point as a child object to the associative point constraint that locates the exact position. For example, you can place a control point two meters from a key point along a pipe. During a move or modification, the software maintains the control point location at the same distance from the key point. Therefore, if you modify the pipe length, the control point remains at two meters from the key point. If you modify the pipe length to equal less than two meters, the software automatically deletes the point.

Definitions for drawing filters and rules control the symbolization of control points. The location of the control point symbol corresponds to the 3D control point.

The following graphic depicts five control points that are positioned near labels in a P&ID:

  • The control point is not a physical object and does not support interference checking.

  • A control point is a 3D graphic object with properties that represents a point in the model. The software translates the object on volume and composed drawings and depicts its own symbol and coordinate callout. If part of an assembly, the control point controls the location of the drawing leader line for that assembly.

  • A monument is an object, such as a post or stone, fixed in the ground to mark a boundary or position. A coordinate system defines a monument to provide measurement directions.

  • A key point is any point that you can locate on a symbol or an object.

  • If a control point is not defined for a symbol, the default control point is the center of the symbol.

  • Each piece of equipment must have at least one control point.

  • When you insert a control point, you can specify a control point subtype to provide a further breakdown for the type of control point. To customize subtypes, you can use the functionality in the Catalog task. Possible subtypes are Process Equipment, Mechanical Equipment, Foundation, Structure, Pipe Mfg Limit Point, Spool Break, Duct Break Point, WBS Pipe Break - Fabrication, WBS Break Point Type 1, WBS Break Point Type 2, WBS Break Point Type 3, WBS Break Point Type 4, WBS Pipe Break - Stress, WBS Break Point Type 5, WBS Pipe Break - Tracing, WBS Pipe Break - Generic, WBS Pipe Break - System, Elevation Callout, Ad Hoc Note, CAD Detail, Key Plan Callout, Support Notes, Isometric Reference Dimension, Isometric Start Point, and Pipe Stress Delimiter. You can use the control point subtypes to classify the control point for use in the Drawings and Reports task. For more information, see Control Point Subtype Sheet in the Reference Data Guide available from the Help > Printable Guides command in the software.

  • The Control Point placement allows you to select a parent object and a placement point. The placement point can be defined on an existing geometric object that creates a physical constrain (Assoc Point) to that object. For best results, make sure that the selected geometric object is a child of the selected control point parent object. If this practice is not followed, you might experience unexpected results when control point parent or that geometry is independently modified. This unexpected behavior can be caused by Move, Copy/Paste, Model Data Reuse or the Model Data Transform commands. If these objects are moved or copied, the control point might get disconnected from the selected geometric object or disappear if parent is deleted.

  • By default, the size of a control point is 100 mm. You can change the size using the Control Points Properties dialog box, if required.

  • To insert control points having different diameters, modify the properties when inserting the control point. In these cases, the inserted control point within the session gets the changed diameter until it is again changed for the insertion of another control point.

  • If you select an object (for example, Equipment) before inserting a control point, then the selected object becomes the parent of control point, and the software prompts you for positioning the control point.

  • The control points are inserted in the Reference Geometry aspect.

SHARED Tip Click Format > View > Display > Selected Aspects > Reference Geometry aspect to view the control point in different session.

Control Point Ribbon (Placement)

Control Point Ribbon (Edit)

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