Mastering the TriBall tool

IRONCAD includes a patented tool for 3D positioning of objects, called TriBall. Hailed by some as "The most useful tool in CAD history". TriBall is incredibly useful in many different situations but is primarily used for positioning objects in the 3D scene. It is important to remember that TriBall can be used for much more in IRONCAD:

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Positioning of:

• Details (Part)
• Summaries (Assembly)
• IntelliShapes (Feature)
• Ski plan(Cross-Section/Sketch)
• 3D curve points
• SectionTool
• Drop angle reference plan (Draft Faces)
• Textures/Decals
• Cameras
• Spotlights, spotlights and other light sources/lamps
• Anchor point
• AttachmentPoints
• Additional coordinate system and date plane, points and axes
• Objects in MechanismMode

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Edit:

• Animations and animation tracks
• Lofted and swept extrusion plane
• Ytor's 3D curves
• Dynamic modeling by dragging surfaces(Direct Face Modeling)

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Create:

• Copies and geometrically linked copies
• Mirrored copies and geometrically linked copies
• Linear, rectangular, and circular patterns(Pattern)
• AttachmentPoints

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It is possible to position several different objects in the same moment with TriBall. Combined with keyboard shortcuts for selection, you can mix parts, features (e.g. holes) and assemblies and move them all at the same time, without any link between them being defined beforehand - this is unique to IRONCAD!

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TriBall - Anatomy

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A) Centre handle - This handle is primarily used to perform a "point-to-point" movement. Left drag directly to another point or right click on the handle and choose from the options displayed. Also works in combination with locking an axis first.

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B) The outer handles - These are primarily used for simple movements along an axis, or to specify an axis of rotation.

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C) Inside the big circle - Drag inside this empty area to rotate, when an axis is locked. Left-click to deselect locked axes or right-click to display a menu of settings.

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D) 2D plane - Drag here to move freely within this particular plane that the square represents. Right-click to get options to snap to the height of geometric points or left-click once to lock the plane and then "direct-position" with the center handle.

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E) Orientation handles - These handles are used to orient objects with the TriBall center as the center of rotation.

There are four different ways to use these;

1. Left-click to lock a rotation axis.

2. Left pull on a handle and snap on any point.

3. Right-click and select the desired option from the menu.

4. Right-drag a handle and snap to any item to select from a menu to create copies or linked copies.

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F) Outer Circle - Drag to rotate perpendicular to the current "screen view", around the TriBall center.

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G) TriBall settings - Right-clicking in the background when TriBall is active displays this menu of settings.

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TriBall - using mouse and keyboard

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Mouse

Both left and right mouse buttons are used in different ways and can have up to four (4) different functions, depending on where in TriBall you click.

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The left mouse button is mainly used to get a "direct effect". This means that you are not given any options and that what you do has an immediate effect. The right mouse button is used when you want to get an option, e.g. move or copy. There is usually a difference in the menus that appear when you either right-click or hold down the right mouse button and drag.

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Ordinary quick keys for TriBall:

[Q] or [F10] - Enables TriBall for selected objects.

[Intermediate] - Releases/attaches the TriBall from/to the object.

[Ctrl] - Enables step-by-step snapping when moving or rotating objects with the outer handles. The settings are available via right-click in the background when TriBall is active.

[Shift] - Find centre points of circles/arcs or mid and end points of edge lines with the centre handle or when rotating with the inner orientation handles.

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Activate the TriBall tool

The icon for switching the TriBall on and off can be found in several places in IRONCAD. For example, in the Quick Access Toolbar and under the Home tab. TriBall is also available via right-click, and as an icon at the Anchor Point, on Intellishapes, Parts and Assemblies, as shown in the image below.

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TriBall - handles and menus

Centre handle

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Different snap points

Thecentre handle can be dragged to different snap points on geometry in the 3D scene, which then light up with a green colour. However, the center handle has no effect when dragged around in the "air". It requires geometry to reference.

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Right click

Right-clicking on the center handle brings up this menu, in which you can choose to reposition the TriBall in different ways.

To find the centre point of:

a) a side

b) between 2 points

c) between 2 surfaces (or point/surface) use one of the three To Midpoint... -options.

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Right-click menu

A) The right-click menu allows you to create multiple copies/linked copies in one go, via Create Multiple.

B) For Copies and Links - use the [P] key on the keyboard to create points where the TriBall center is located and then execute with [Enter].

C) Copy to Point/Center Point and Link to Point/Center Point - use the mouse pointer and left-click directly on green snap points to place the copies!

D) The Edit Distance from Point and ...from Center Point options are two quick ways to easily set a measurement directly from a known point. Remember that the distance from the center handle is the direct/shortest distance in space.

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TriBall - handles and menus

Orientation handles

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Twisting and orienting

The three inner blue Orientation Handles are used to turn and reorient the direction of the TriBall by snapping to different points on the geometry.

A) Drag the left mouse button to snap directly to geometry.

B) Drag the right mouse button towards geometry to get options to move or copy/link.

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Right-click menu

A) Right-clicking on any of the blue Orientation handles brings up this menu. As a new user, it is usually easiest to use the right-click menu to see what options are available.

B) The top three "To" options in the right-click menu are different snap functions against geometric points, center points or midpoints.

C) Parallel to Edge/Axis is often used and aligns the inner handle parallel along an edge or axis. Perpendicular to Face is used to point the handle perpendicular to the surface being clicked.

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Mirror

To reflect marked objects, it is important to think about "in which direction" to reflect and not "around which axis". The TriBall represents the plane itself and the inner handle is perpendicular to that plane. You can choose to move, copy or link.

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TriBall - handles and menus

Outer position handles

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Moving the TriBall

A) Pull one of the outer red handles to move the TriBall in the direction pointed by the outer handle.

B) When dragging with the left mouse button, a measurement text will light up where you can directly enter the distance.

C) The right mouse button gives several choices. Keep in mind that clicking or dragging will give you different menus.

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Temporarily locking rotation axis

Click once with the left mouse button on one of the outer red handles to temporarily lock a rotation axis. NOTE! This also works when clicking with the left mouse button on one of the inner orientation handles.

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A) To rotate around the locked yellow marked axis, make sure the mouse arrow is placed inside the TriBall and shaped like a clenched hand. Drag with the left mouse button.

B) Use the right mouse button to display a menu where you can choose to move, copy, link or create a radial pattern(Create Radial Pattern)

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Right click

A) Right-click on one of the outer handles to change its position in its direction or to create a linear pattern.

B) The Edit Distance from Point and ...from Center Point options are two quick ways to easily set a measurement directly from a known point in the direction of the selected handle.

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Drag with the right mouse button

Drag the right mouse button on one of the outer handles to bring up this menu. There you can choose to move or create copies/links in the direction of the handle. Here you can also create a linear pattern.

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TriBall - handles and menus

2D Plan position handles

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Move in the corresponding plane

These 2D Plan handles move the TriBall in the corresponding plane as the square. You can also think of moving in the two "length-and-width" directions simultaneously.

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Right-click menu

The square's right-click menu allows you to position the TriBall in the plane relative to snap points in the 3D scene. The TriBall then remains in the plane when snapping to a point in the 3D scene. It is also possible to create multiple copies/links via the places where you place the TriBall and press [P], ending with [Enter].

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Drag with the right mouse button

Drag the right mouse button to display this menu. Options are displayed to move or copy/link in that direction, as well as the option to create a rectangular pattern(Rectangular Pattern).

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Left-click on a plane

By first left-clicking on a plane, to temporarily lock the plane, you can then drag the center handle to snap to points, at the height of the plane, without the TriBall changing "height". Note that you can also right-click to bring up the various snap options for the Center Handle.

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Drag with the right mouse button

Drag the right mouse button on one of the outer handles to bring up this menu. There you can choose to move or create copies/links in the direction of the handle. Here you can also create a linear pattern.

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TriBall outer circle

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Great outer circle

With the mouse arrow above the large outer circle you can rotate the TriBall around an imaginary axis "perpendicular to the camera/screen". This is a feature that is rarely used.

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TriBall - Background menu and settings

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Right-click menu

Right-click in the background when TriBall is active to bring up this menu. Make sure not to click anywhere on the TriBall itself. This controls many of the basic settings for how TriBall should look and be handled, which are global settings (affects all files). The first three options control what is moved when the TriBall handles are pulled

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Move Shape and Anchor - moves the TriBall along with the object(s) that are marked and its anchor points follow. Uses a blue color on the TriBall and can be called the "default mode".

Move Shape Only - only moves the TriBall with the object, while the anchor point remains in space. Used, for example, when working with AttachmentPoints. Uses a green color on the TriBall.

Position TriBall Only ([SPACE] key) - moves the TriBall only to position it relative to the object(s) you want to move/orientate about, same function as [Space]. Uses a white color on the TriBall.

Position TriBall Center - used to quickly position the TriBall at any snap point if the TriBall is in the "wrong" location or "off-screen".

Reset TriBall to Anchor - resets the TriBall to the position where the anchor point of the object is located.

Orient TriBall to Global - restores the TriBall's orientation/rotation according to the global coordinate system.

Orient TriBall to Active Coordinate - used to rotate the TriBall towards the active coordinate system (you can have multiple coordinate systems in the 3D scene).

Create Attachment Point Based on TriBall Orientation - creates an attachment point at the position of the center handle. The same option is available on the Center Handle.

The different Show options control the display of the different handles and pitches in TriBall.

Allow Unconstrained Rotation - allows rotation freely in all directions around the Centre Handle.

Change Snap Increments - sets the snap increments used when dragging the red outer position handles while holding down the [Ctrl] key.

TriBall Size - choose from three different sizes of TriBall;

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TriBall Style - control which style setting you want to use, the more graphic Stylized or the traditional Original setting, without the shading and with thinner contour lines.

Stylized:

Original: