Creating Construction Lines

Construction lines are temporary reference lines which you can use as guidelines while drawing more complex models and structures.

Construction lines help in creating accurate geometry, ensuring that entities are correctly placed and aligned.

Examples:

Construction lines can serve various purposes

• Reference axes for revolving entities

• Reference axes for mirroring entities

• Boundary of a surface

• Auxiliary axes for determining the center of rectangles and triangles

You can add construction lines manually and automatically.

• AM_ConstLines

  Use AM_ConstLines to draw various construction lines. The command opens the Construction Lines dialog box, where you can select ….. the necessary construction line. Alternatively, you can use special command for each type of construction lines.

• AM_AutoClines

  Automatically creates horizontal and vertical construction lines at contours or end points of specified entities. The command opens the Automatic Construction Line Creation dialog box.

Construction Lines Representation

Construction lines extend indefinitely in both directions from an origin.

In CAD applications, construction lines are visible continuous lines for which it is possible to change the representation properties. However, they are not part of the final drawing and are often represented in a faint color. Also, many times, they should not be visible in the final drawing.

By default, construction lines are placed on a specific layer named AM_CL. The separate layer lets you turn off all construction lines before printing and delete them when the drawing is complete.

To change the appearance of construction lines, change the AM_CL layer properties, such as color, transparency, line weight.

To draw a construction line:

1. Do one of the following:

   • On the ribbon, click Home > Construction Lines > Construction Lines.

   • On the Mechanical toolbar, click Construction Lines .

   • Type AM_ConstLines.

2. If necessary, in the Construction line mode drop-down list, specify whether to draw rays or xlines:

   • Ray. Creates construction lines that extend indefinitely in one direction.

   • Xline. Creates construction lines that extend indefinitely in both directions.

3. Click the icon corresponding to the type of construction line to draw.

   Note: Construction line icons in the dialog box display change to reflect the active mode. The table below contains icons for the Ray mode.

4. Follow the steps to create the construction line.

Icon	Construction Line Type	Alternative Command	Description
	Horizontal construction line	AM_ConstHor	Creates horizontal construction lines
	Vertical construction line	AM_ConstVer	Creates vertical construction lines
	Construction line cross	AM_ConstCrs	Creates construction line crosses
	Construction line starting from one point	AM_ConstXRay	Creates construction lines that start from a point and extend indefinitely in one direction
	Construction line starting from one point in both directions	AM_ConstXLine	Creates multiple construction lines that extend indefinitely in both directions through a single point
	Construction line in Z direction	AM_ConstZ	Creates construction lines in the Z direction
	Construction line that bisects an angle	AM_ConstHm	Creates a construction line along the bisector of an angle
	Parallel construction line with full distance	AM_ConstPar	Creates construction lines that are parallel to a specified linear entity at a specified distance
	Parallel construction line with half distance	AM_ConstPar2	Creates construction lines that are parallel to a specified linear entity at half of the specified distance
	Construction line perpendicular to a line	AM_ConstLot	Creates construction lines that are perpendicular to a specified linear entity
	Construction line perpendicular to the direction specified by two points	AM_ConstLot2	Creates construction lines through a specified point that are perpendicular to the direction specified by another point or angle
	Construction line with a relative angle from a line	AM_ConstHw	Creates construction lines through a single point, by using an angle relative to an apparent line that goes through the specified point
	Construction line by defining two points or an angle	AM_ConstHb	Creates construction lines using two specified points or a specified point and an angle
	Two construction lines tangential to a circle	AM_ConstTan	Creates construction lines that are tangent to a specified circle
	Circular Construction line	AM_Const_Circle	Creates circular construction lines
	Concentric Construction line	AM_ConstCC	Creates circular construction lines that are concentric to a specified circle or arc
	Circular construction line tangent to a line	AM_ConstC2	Creates circular construction lines that use a specified linear entity as a tangent
	Circular construction line tangent to two lines	AM_ConstKr	Creates circular construction lines that are tangent to two specified lines or circles
	Circle to the end of a shaft	AM_ConstCCRea	Creates circular construction lines to represent the top of a shaft or hole
	Rectangular construction line around a circle	AM_ConstCircLI	Creates a rectangular construction line around a specified circle or arc
	Construction line tangent to two circles	AM_ConstTC	Creates construction lines that are tangent to two specified circles or arcs

Additional Commands for Working with Construction Lines

Command	Description
AM_AutoCLines	Locks or unlocks the construction lines layer
AM_CLineL	Locks or unlocks the construction lines layer
AM_CLineO	Freezes or thaws the construction lines layer
AM_ConstSwi	Switches between the Ray and XLine modes for construction lines
AM_ConstSwiRay	Switches the construction line mode Ray on. When the Ray mode is on, construction lines extend to infinity in one direction.
AM_ConstSwiXLine	Switches the construction line mode XLine on. When the XLine mode is off, construction lines extend to infinity in both directions.
AM_EraseAllCL	Deletes all construction lines from the graphic area
AM_EraseCL	Deletes multiple construction lines using a selection window

Access

Ribbon: Home > Construction Lines > Construction Lines

Command: AM_ConstLines

Related Topics

Creating Construction Lines

Parent Topic

Working with Construction Lines