The BricsCAD Manipulator

The BricsCAD Manipulator

The BricsCAD Manipulator is a 3D modeling tool that allows entities to be smoothly and swiftly moved, rotated, scaled and mirrored. By default, the Manipulator copies selected entities when using any of its functions while holding the CTRL key. Multiple entities can be selected and modified using the Manipulator, with the tool appearing in the geometric center of the group. If multiple entities are selected one-by-one, the location of the Manipulator remains static. The tool can be moved to anywhere within model space freely using any of its arrows, bars, or arcs. 
If dynamic dimensions are enabled, dynamic entry fields are available to set distance, angle or scale factor.

Adaptive snap step


The Manipulator works in tandem with the Adaptive Grid Snap feature, which allows users to precisely manipulate entities to specific values without the need to type a value. Setting the Snap Type variable to Adaptive Grid Snap (value 2) allows you to then modify the adaptive grid step size variable, which controls the snap spacing in pixels. The value entered in this variable will then translate directly into the use of the Manipulator’s ruler. 
Notes
Note: The step size of the ruler also depends on the zoom factor. Zoom in to decrease the step size, zoom out to increase.

 

Manipulator Structure


The layout of the Manipulator can be divided into 6 general parts:
  1. Manipulator handle 
  2. Plane Swatch
  3. Axis Handle 
  4. Rotation Arc
  5. Arrowhead
  6. Axis 

Using the Manipulator

By default, the Manipulator displays when selecting an entity by a long click (keeping the left mouse button down a bit longer).
The anchor point of the Manipulator is located at the closest grip point, with respect to the selection point.
Place the cursor over one of the trigger zones, to start an action:
Manipulator Action
Image
Copying: Hold the CTRL button while rotating, moving, mirroring, or scaling an entity. 

Move: Click on one of the Axes (bars), to move along the X, Y, or Z axis.

Rotate: Click one of the arcs to rotate the entity. 

Free Move: Click on one of the plane swatches (squares at the anchor point), to move freely in the XY, XZ, or YZ plane.

Mirror: Click on one of the arrow heads at the ends of the Manipulator to mirror entities. 

Move Manipulator: Click on the Manipulator Handle to manually move the Manipulator. This motion is freehand by default but can be done along any axis.


Manipulator Settings

The manipulator settings can be found in the Settings dialog box under Program Options > Manipulator.
When the Manipulator is displayed, select Manipulator Settings in the right-click context menu.
The settings for the Manipulator allow for the modification of multiple default values:

  1. Manipulator: Select whether the Manipulator appears with a long left-click on the mouse or when an entity is selected. 
  2. Manipulator Duration: Set the delay before the manipulator is displayed (in milliseconds) on either a long left-click or entity being selected. 
  3. Size of Manipulator: Set a size scale for the Manipulator in a value between 0.5 and 2. 
  4. Manipulator Handle: Control whether the anchor handles (the bars) of the Manipulator move the Manipulator or only the entity selected. 
  5. Color theme of Manipulator: Select the color theme of the manipulator. 
  6. Ruler Display: Control whether a ruler will appear when entities are being modified by the Manipulator. 
  7. Ruler Text Color: Set the RGB text color of the Manipulator’s ruler. This setting only applies if the ruler is set to display. 
  8. Adaptive Grid Step Size: Controls the snap spacing for ‘Adaptive Grid Snap’ mode of SNAPTYPE system variable, in pixels. Also, it controls the step size of the manipulator ruler.

The Manipulator and Toolbox Products

The Manipulator’s ability to copy, move, or alter entities does not result in lasting changes to Toolbox products, due to the products being data driven and having their own suite of Microvellum Commands to change their position, scale, or orientation. For more information on the difference between CAD commands and Microvellum commands, visit this article. 

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