4.2.12. Align faces (SuCri2AlignFace)

Overview

With Align faces, you bring a face of a component exactly into the plane of another face. You select, one after the other, the face that is to move and the base face that stays in place. SuCri then aligns the component so that both faces lie in one plane. There is no need to measure and move by hand.

Depending on the position of the faces, the component is either only moved, or first rotated and then moved. Which case applies is described in the section on how it works.

Where can I find the function?

The command has no button of its own in the ribbon and no field of its own in the Dashboard. You find it on the SuCri tool palette: on the SuCri tab, Module 2 group, open the Dashboard using the MPSS button and pin it with Pin to tool palette. On the Module 2 tab of the tool palette, the command is located in the collapsible MPSS section as Align Face. This section is only displayed while the MPSS design is active.

Alternatively, enter SuCri2AlignFace in the command line.

Plant 3D™ command

Video: Align faces in practice

How it works in detail

After the start, SuCri prompts Select face to move: in the command line. Click the face of the component that is to be moved. SuCri determines the face under the click point that faces the viewer and temporarily highlights it in color.

This is followed by Select base face:. Click the face of the component to which the alignment is made. This component remains unchanged.

SuCri then compares the directions of the two faces:

• The faces point exactly toward each other (for example the underside of a plate and the top of a flange): the component is only moved until the faces lie on top of each other.
• The faces do not point exactly toward each other: the component is first rotated about the center of the selected face until its face points in the same direction as the base face. It is then moved until both faces lie in one plane. If both faces already point in the same direction, the rotation is skipped and the faces are set flush.

The movement is always perpendicular to the face. The colored auxiliary faces are removed again at the end; confirming with the Enter key is not necessary.

Application examples

Example 1: Placing a component against a profile

A plate sits a few millimeters next to the flange of the beam. First select the plate face that is to make contact, and then the flange face. Since the faces point toward each other, the plate is only moved and then rests against the flange.

Example 2: Setting two top edges flush

Two components are to end at the same height. Select the top of the component to be moved and then the top of the component that stays in place. Both faces point in the same direction, and the component is brought into the same plane without rotation.

Tips and best practices

• Observe the order: First the face that is to move, then the base face. If they are swapped, the wrong component moves.
• Consider a possible rotation: If the faces neither point toward each other nor in the same direction, SuCri rotates the component. Therefore select the faces so that the desired result is achieved, and check the position afterward.
• Choose the view: SuCri takes the face that faces the viewer at the click point. Rotate the view so that the desired face is visible in front.
• Undo: You can reverse an unwanted result with Ctrl+Z.

Troubleshooting

• Nothing happens after the first click: SuCri could not determine a face of the component at the click point; the command then ends without a message. Click directly on a visible face of the component and start the command again.
• Canceling with Esc at the base face: The component remains unchanged and the temporary highlighting is removed.
• MPSS section missing in the tool palette: The section only appears if the Dashboard was opened using the MPSS button. You can start the command at any time via the command line.

Related articles

• Support, places supports automatically; you can rework their position with Align faces if necessary.
• Selection, highlights all components of an assembly so that you can check the result.

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