Customizing the sheet size and grid

Use the Sketcher Options dialog box to control the sheet size and the grid.

Related Topics
The Sketcher sheet and grid
Customizing the Sketcher
How Sketcher customization options are initialized and saved

Context:

You can customize the following:

Sheet size

The boundary of the sheet is always square, and its height and width are equal to the sheet size. If you find that the sheet size is too large or too small, you can use the Sketcher Options dialog box to change the size.

When you create a part or a stand-alone sketch, you define the approximate size of the new part or sketch; Abaqus/CAE bases the initial sheet size on the approximate size that you provide. The approximate size must be between 10–3 and 104 units for a part and between 10–3 and 105 units for a sketch. Abaqus/CAE does not use specific units, but the units must be consistent throughout the model. The Auto toggle next to the Sheet size field unlocks the field and controls whether or not Abaqus/CAE can automatically change the sheet size in the current sketch and in new sketches that you create.

Grid spacing

You can use this option to change the grid spacing for major gridlines using the same units that define the Sheet size. If Snap to grid is enabled, the cursor will snap to each grid point. The Auto toggle next to the Grid spacing field unlocks the field and controls whether or not Abaqus/CAE can automatically change the grid size in the current sketch and in new sketches that you create.

Minor intervals

Minor gridlines subdivide the space between major gridlines into intervals and enable you to position items in your sketch with greater precision when you have the Sketcher set to a high magnification level. You can use this option to change the number of minor intervals between each major gridline.

The display of minor gridlines is dynamic: Abaqus/CAE hides these lines at the default magnification level and reveals them as you zoom in.

Show gridlines

You can toggle the display of major gridlines and minor gridlines in the Sketcher. Minor gridlines can be displayed only when major gridlines are displayed as well.

The following figure shows the relationship between the grid spacing, major gridlines, and minor gridlines:

Sheet size and grid customization options apply to the current sketch and are stored along with the sketch. When you create a new sketch, Abaqus/CAE uses the most recent settings to determine whether or not to recalculate the sheet size and grid spacing and whether to display the grid.

  1. From the bottom of the Sketcher toolbox, select the Sketcher customization tool .

    The Sketcher Options dialog box appears.

  2. From the General tabbed page, toggle off Auto next to the Sheet size text box.

  3. In the text box, type the dimension of the square sheet that will contain the feature being created or edited.

    Specify the sheet size in units consistent with those used to describe the rest of the model.

  4. Toggle off Auto next to the Grid spacing text box.

  5. In the text box, type the desired spacing between grid points.

    Specify the grid spacing in the same units that you used to define the sheet size.

  6. Click the arrows to the right of the Minor intervals field to increase or decrease the number of minor grid intervals displayed between each major gridline.

  7. Toggle Major to show or hide the major gridlines.

    If major gridlines are displayed, you can also toggle Minor to show or hide the minor gridlines.

  8. After you have chosen the desired customization options, click OK to apply your changes and to close the Sketcher Options dialog box.