Offset Ref Plane @Pt needs...???

I have a curly pipe that starts from the origin and winds around to be
completely removed from the original reference planes.

Now I need to offset one original refernce plane to intersect a point
on the end of my pipe. This should be cakewalk, but I enter the
Insert-->Ref Geo-->Plane command, and select the typ of plane, and then
my plane (Top) and the point. They both show up in the items selected
window. I do an OK and SWx gripes that I need both a plane and a point
selected to continue.

Am I missing something, or is an otherwise nominally functioning
installation (I reinstalled SWx yesterday, just to be sure) completely
whacked out?

 

My guess is that the point isn't valid. Try creating a 3D point
coincident with the point you think you have and try again.

 

Well,....fiddlesticks! A point is a one-dimensional object in space.
I can only describe my point creation method as the obvious one
available, so I gotta ask:

either, What is the difference between a reference geometry point and a
"3-D point"?

or, How can a point be created such that it is not a 3-D point?

(both versions are the same Q, maybe?)

 

Okay, now I see the difference between a reference geometry point and a
"3-D point" -- the "3-D point has everything the sketch point has,
which is very little, and much more.

That is, the sketch point is useless except for simple prismatics and
the initial stages of a part where sketches always start on the
built-in UCS.
So it looks like nothing human-form-fitting can be made without
extensive 3-D Sketching. Are there any serious restrictions to using
the 3-D sketch mode? (Can it screw up mass or other solids definition
data that might be needed for Cosmos, or maybe references or parametric
relationships needed for manufacturing....)

 

I've seen similar problems when making spring heix models...

The bug I encountered was that once a helix was used for a sweep, the
helix endpoints were not available for further references (like datum
planes and sketch reference).

The solution to this was not to use the helix for the sweep. Instead,
I copy the helix in a 3D sketch using "Convert Entities" and use the 2D
sketch for the sweep. The 3D sketch points remain available for future
feature references.

If you are using a composite curve for your pipe, you might have a
similar issue.

 

I've never seen any such problems with 3-D sketches. My only problems with
them have been the clumsy user interface and dimensioning difficulties. I
think some of that is supposed to be fixed in SW05.

Jerry Steiger
Tripod Data Systems
"take the garbage out, dear"