3D Annotations and View/Annotation Planes

3D annotations are dimensions, tolerances, notes, text or symbols displayed in 3D according to the same type of 2D annotations defined by standards (ISO, ASME, ANSI, JIS, DIN...).
  • A 3D annotation is always linked to a User Surface or a Group of Surfaces.
  • A 3D annotation is displayed in 3D following the orientation of a particular plane called View/Annotation Plane.
    Two types of 3D annotation are available: Semantic 3D Annotation and Non-semantic 3D Annotation.
  • When a 3D annotation is created, it is displayed in the current View/Annotation Plane:
    • If no View/Annotation Plane exists in the current Tolerancing Set, a default View/Annotation Plane is created.
    • When the current View/Annotation Plane is not convenient to create and display the annotation, a warning message is displayed.
      In this case you have to select or create an adequate View/Annotation Plane before.
      See View/Annotation Planes.
    • When the View/Annotation Plane support is transferred on another geometry support, some of its 3D annotations can be unresolved (they are black-colored).
      This occurs when the 3D annotation geometries are not parallel to the new orientation of the View/Annotation Plane.
    • For semantic 3D annotations:
      • Using the Tolerancing Advisor command, the more convenient existing Annotation Plane is used, otherwise a new one is created according to the semantic 3D annotation.
        For example, a semantic diameter dimension can be created in Annotation Plane perpendicular to the cylinder axis or in a plane containing this axis.
      • Using the Dimension command and the Semantic Control options, warning is raised when the active Annotation Plane is not convenient.
      • The view/annotation planes are created following certain rules. See 3D Annotations and View/Annotation Planes.

Non-semantic 3D Annotations
3D annotations that are not defined in ISO or ASME/ANSI standards:
 
  • Text
  • Flag Note
  • Note Object Attribute (NOA)
3D annotations where only their graphical attributes are take into account.
There is no control on attribute values.
There is no control of consistency regarding the geometry on which it is applied and the other annotations.
There is no control of the syntax regarding the standard in use.
  • Roughness
  • Datum
  • Datum target
  • Geometrical tolerance
  • Dimension

Semantic 3D Annotations
3D annotations on which attribute values, consistency with geometry and syntax are controlled.
The annotation validity is warranted along the life cycle application to be re-used and well understood by other applications like tolerance analysis, inspection, manufacturing, assembly process etc.:
 
  • Datum
  • Datum target
  • Datum reference frame
  • Geometrical tolerance
  • Dimension
 

3D Annotations and View/Annotation Planes

  For semantic 3D annotations rules for convenient view/annotation planes are the following:
  • Circle: Diameter/radius dimension will be created in a view/annotation plane parallel with the circle.
  • Cylinder: Diameter/radius dimension will be created in a view/annotation plane perpendicular with the cylinder axis or containing the cylinder axis.
    For Body in White holes, the diameter/radius dimension can be created in a view/annotation plane, which is not exactly parallel nor perpendicular to the hole axis. This allows user to put dimensions on several holes in the same view/annotation plane.
  • Cone: Angle dimension will be created in a view/annotation plane containing the cone axis.
  • Sphere: Diameter/radius dimension will be created in a view/annotation plane containing the sphere center.
  • Torus:
    • Torus diameter/radius dimension will be created in a view/annotation plane containing the torus axis.
    • Tube diameter/radius dimension will be created in a view/annotation plane perpendicular with the torus axis.
  • Tab/slot: Dimension will be created in a view/annotation plane perpendicular with the planes.
  • Cylindrical Tab/slot: Dimension will be created in a view/annotation plane perpendicular with the axes or containing the axes.

User Surface
Depending the way the parts or products have been designed the surface the user wants to consider can be made of one or several geometrical elements.

Group of Surfaces
A group of surfaces is a set of user surface or group of surfaces. It is used to modelize Tab/Slot, Profile and Pattern features as defined in standards.

View/Annotation Planes
Annotation planes are the 3D equivalent of 2D views. They contain the 3D annotation or define their orientation.
Three types of Annotation planes are available: Front View, Section View and Section Cut.
 
  • In Front View Annotation Plane, 3D annotations may be:
    • Located in planes parallel to this annotation plane and in the background and foreground spaces bounded by this annotation plane.
    • Related to the geometry finding an intersection with this annotation plane.
    • Lying on/belonging to this annotation plane.
  • In Section View Annotation Plane, 3D annotations may be:
    • Located in planes parallel to this annotation plane and in the background space bounded by this annotation plane.
    • Related to the geometry finding an intersection with this annotation plane.
    • Lying on/belonging to this annotation plane.
  • In Section Cut Annotation Plane, 3D annotations may be:
    • Only related to the geometry finding an intersection with this annotation plane.
    • Only lying on/belonging to this annotation plane.