Using the Tangent features on the command bar

The Tangent command bar features are used to define a Tangent relationship between sphere, cylinder, cone, or torus of two parts, a part and a subassembly, or two subassemblies in an assembly (for more information, see About the Tangent relationship).

The following image shows the Tangent relationships using the horizontal toolbar form of the Command User Interface. The features displayed for the vertical docking window interface form are similar. The version that is displayed is user-selected using the Command User Interface options on the Helpers tab in the QY CAD Options dialog box. For more information, see Helpers tab (QY CAD Options dialog box).

The Tangent command bar:

has the same features as the Assemble command bar:

when a Tangent relationship type is selected. For more information, see Assemble command bar.

Access the Tangent command bar (Home tab→Assembly group→Tangent) to apply a Tangent relationship between two parts already in the assembly workspace. The Assemble command bar for a Tangent relationship is displayed when a new part is dragged into the assembly workspace from the Parts Library and the Tangent relationship type is selected (for more information, see Using the Tangent command).

The command bars have the following features:

Command Bar Icon

The icon displayed is determined by how the command was accessed. The Tangent icon is displayed if the Tangent command is selected from the ribbon (Home tab→Assembly group→Tangent) when defining or modifying a relationship for parts that are already in the assembly workspace. The Assemble icon is displayed after dragging a new part into the assembly workspace and a Tangent relationship type is selected.

Occurrence Properties

Select this option to open the Occurrence Properties dialog (for more information about the selected part, see Occurrence Properties command). This option is only available after you select a part.

Construction Display

This feature is only displayed when a part is selected. When visible, this option opens the Construction Display dialog box that is used to show or hide the selected reference elements for the part. The visible reference elements (the ones that have been turned on) can then be selected to form the Tangent relationship. The reference items include:

• show/hide coordinate systems

• show/hide reference planes

• show/hide sketches

• show/hide references axes

• show/hide construction surfaces

• show/hide construction curves

• use designed or simplified part

Relationship List

On the Tangent command bar, the relationship identifier for the next relationship is displayed. This is for reference only and cannot be changed. On the Assemble command bar the relationship identifier for the next relationship to be formed is also displayed but any previously defined relationships are displayed in the drop-down list and can be selected. This allows previously defined relationships to be modified directly from the Assemble command bar.

Relationship Type

On the Tangent command bar, this option is locked and cannot be changed. On the Assemble command bar the type of relation to be formed can be selected from the list. Changing the relationship type from Tangent to some other relationship type also changes the options that appear on the command bar.

Command Bar Options

Select this feature to open the Options dialog box for the command bar (see Assemble command bar Options dialog for more information about using the options in this dialog box).

Placement Part

Specifies which part is to be positioned in the assembly. This button is active when adding a relationship to a part that already exists in the assembly, or when placing a subassembly. This button is inactive when placing a new part in an assembly as the new part that is dragged into the assembly workspace is automatically selected as the placement part.

Placement Element

Use this feature to specify which element is to be used on the part being positioned in the assembly.

Target Part

Use this feature to specify the target part to be used to form the relationship.

Target Part Element

Use this feature to specify the target element to be used to form the relationship.

OK

Orients the part in the assembly using the relationship that has just been defined.

Offset Value

Use this box to enter an offset value to be applied to the Tangent relationship. Zero, positive, or negative values can be entered.

• Fixed—When a fixed tangent is defined, the value for the fixed Tangent between the selected features is specified to constrain the relationship.

• Range—When a range is defined, both minimum and maximum values are specified to allow a defined range of movement.

---