Coordinate system - default orientation?

This is probably a historical question, but does anybody know why the
default global coordinate system orientation is set such that the XZ plane
is the floor? [I have a simliar question for the ProE environment as well]

This orientation is more aligned to a graphics environment rather than an
engineering environment where the XY plane is generally the floor - simple 3
axis machinetools have the spindle as the vertical Z axis.

Just wondering

Sean


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sean Kerslake
Dept. Design & Technology
Loughborough University
Loughborough
LE11 3TU

01509 228317

 

I would suppose that sitting on your seat in front of your drawing board, or
your computer screen, you see the XY plane in front of you, vertical.

In the real world, Z is the vertical axis from a math point of view.

My wild guess. Anyone has anything better?

 

I agree. Think of the view names Front, Top, Right, Left So when you use
the top view you are building up from the ground in the Z axis and drawing
in the XY. The front is the front of your model. So on and so forth.

Corey