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CAD tip CAD tip # 9357:

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If you want to display (create a point, get XYZ coordinates, trim curve) an intersection of a 3D curve or line and a 3D plane or surface, you can use the following procedure.

When you have got a simple 3D line and a 3D face, you can use the ilp function in AutoCAD geometric calculator - see Tip 4201.

For more complex cases, use an auxiliar construction with projected curve on the given plane or surface.

  1. If the plane is defined by a 3DFACE, convert it to a region using the REGION command. If the surface is defined by a 3D mesh or similar object, convert it first to a surface with CONVTOSURFACE.
  2. Switch to a user coordinate system (UCS) defined by the surface plane - on curved surfaces use an approximate projection near the expected intersection point. See e.g. the command UCS with the option obJect.
  3. Use the PROJECTGEOMETRY command to project the 3D line (polyline, curve) onto the selected surface. If needed, select the view/project direction: "Ucs".
  4. Now the 3D intersection of the original and the projected curves is the requested intersection point - you can use it to create a point (POINT), get its coordinates (ID), etc. - use the osnap INTerstection to acquire exact coordinates.

NB: in case of a 3D spline, the intersection may not appear - this is a result of different interpolation procedures for 2D (projected) and 3D splines

ACAD
100% *CAD
24.7.2013    40077×  
applies to: AutoCAD ·

See also:
Tip 13944:Intersection of a 3D spline with a plane in Fusion 360.
Tip 13087:3DintCurves - intersections of curves with 3D solids.
Tip 12771:Simplification of an assembly in Fusion 360 - the shrinkwrap function
Tip 12766:Lines with a single grip, incorrect osnaps, intersections, offsets, hatches - CheckLarge
Tip 12710:Boolean subtraction of 3D mesh objects in Meshmixer.


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