Pro Engineer/Definitions

A

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Accuracy.

The smallest item that can be recognised by pro/engineer. Usually defined as ratio of the longest diagonal through the model. Typically 0.0012.

Active Model

Title bar has stars on each side of the name. Will accept menu commands from the side menu. Use CTRL+A or the tick icon to make the window active.

Active Window

Window with the blue bar, will accept spinning and rendering commands. Plus some info menu picks. Other commands are restricted for use with the active model.

Alpha

The optional fourth-channel in an RGB image file, typically used for compositing.

Ambient Light

A light that equally affects all portions of all objects in the rendering scene.

Appearance

A set of attributes that determine the appearance of a surface. These attributes include color, reflecting ability, transparency, texture, and so forth.

Area Offset

Offsets a whole or part surface, similar to form. Side walls are added to join the offset area to main surface.

Associative Topology Bus

A method for transferring data between applications whilst retaining associativity.

Axis

See datum axis.

ATB

See Associative Topology Bus

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BMP

Bitmap

BMX

Behavioural Modelling Extension

Both Sides

When creating extruded features the feature is created on both sides of the sketch plane.

Boundary Influence

Controls how far the boundary condition propagates across a boundary surface.

Boundary Conditions

Property of surface at edges e.g. tangent/normal to adjacent surfaces or tangent normal to sketch plane

Boundary Surface

A surface defined using two or more curves.

Briefcase

A method in Pro/Intralinkcommonspace to collect objects together.

Brightness

The property of an appearance that determines its intensity after the hue is chosen.

Bump Map

A one-channel texture map that creates the illusion of surface roughness.

Bump Height

The height or depression of the bump map features.

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C0 continuity

example

Position continuity only. Curves have a kink at the C0 point and surfaces have a sharp crease along the C0 seam. Abutting curves and surfaces touch one another, but they have no curvature similarities.

C1 continuity

example

Position and tangent continuity. The edges between a ball fillet and its adjacent faces are examples of C1 continuity.

C2 continuity

example

Position, tangent, and curvature continuity. Curves and surfaces are perfectly smooth, and the curvature at the joint between two abutting curves or surfaces is equal. Consequently, the joint is seamless and invisible.

CAD

Computer Aided Design Computer Aided Drafting

CADD

Computer Aided Design And Drafting

CAE

Computer Aided Engineering

CAM

Computer Aided Manufacture

Capped Ends

Creates a surface with ends closed off forming an enclosed volume e.g. a sketch of circle with closed ends will form a cylinder instead of a tube. Requires the sketch to be closed.

CEP

Certified Engineering Provider

CGM

Computer Graphics Metafile

Chamfer

Removes the corner or edge of a solid by a specified amount.

Check In

Process of moving objects from workspace to commonspace.

Check Out

Process of moving objects from commonspace to workspace to view or modify.

Clip

A graphical method for cutting the model through a plane parallel to the view screen at a user definable depth.

Closed Loop

Sketch entities that enclose an area without intersection or overlap

Closed Sketch

The sketched entities form a continuous loop with no gaps or overlapping entities.

Color Blender

A part of the color editor that provides a continuous range of colors. Blend colors between the blender's four color chips.

Color Box

A part of the color editor that allows you to define colors along two axes based on red, green, and blue values of colors.

Color Pallette

A part of the color editor that provides an array of colors.

Color Texture

A three-channel texture map that consists of red, green, and blue values.

Color Wheel

A part of the color editor that allows you to select colors based on hue, saturation, and brightness.

Commonspace

Vault area of Pro/Intralink where pro/engineer models can be stored and shared.

Component

A component is a part or sub-assembly assembled into an assembly

Component Interface

A method by which the preferred assembly references can be denoted at part level.

Control Points

Used in Boundary Surfaces to determine how surfaces are sub-divided.

Coordinate system

See datum coordinate system

Copy Geometry

A feature that can copy geometry references from on model to another. References can be made to all feature types. It should be noted solids cannot be copied but the surface information of a solid can be copied to the target model. See publish geometry.

CPC

Collaborative Product Commerce

Cross-section

See X-section

Create

Accesses the feature creation menu

Curvature

example

Curvature is defined as 1/r. A curvature plot measures the curvature at points on a curve. A line is plotted at that point normal to the curve. The length is proportional to 1/r. The line is scaled up to make it easier to see.

Cut

A feature to remove material from a model.

Curve

See datum curve

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Datum Axis

Datum axes are infinitely thin lines that extend indefinitely in both directions. There are usually shown truncated around the parent feature. Axes can be created manually. They are also created automatically when adding hole features, revolved features.

They can be defined in intent manger when defining closed sketches.

Datum Plane

Datum Planes represent infinitely thin flat planes that extend infinitely in two perpendicular directions.

For display purpose a rectangular outline is shown. By default datum planes resize to the size of the model. They can be redefined to a specific size or linked to the size of a feature.

Datum planes can be used in as surfaces in some surface operations.

One side of the datum is coloured yellow and the other side is red.

Datum Curve

Datum curves represent curves (inc. straight) that exist in space as 2D or 3D entities. They can curve in more than one direction at a time.

Datum curves are orange (they appear brown to a lot of users)

Datum Coordinate Systems

Coordinate systems represent an origin in space with an X, Y and Z defined.

The main uses are for offsetting points, creating datum curves from equations and assembling sub assemblies.

Datum Point

A datum point represents a point in space usually defined relative to a coordinate system

Decal

A four-channel texture map that consists of a standard color texture map and a transparency (or alpha) channel. See Alpha.

Declare

Use to link models and layouts.

Delete

Permanently remove a feature or entity from Pro/Engineer. When used on patterns the original feature is deleted.

Del Pattern

Deletes a pattern but leaves the original feature.

Density

Sets the model density. The density is used by mass property calculations.

Depth Cue

Visual setting to dim lines that are furthest away from the view plane.

Designate

Parameters can be designated so the can be 'seen' by PDM systems.

Dihedral Angle

The angle between two adjacent surfaces. Usually the maximum and minimum are returned.

Dim Bound

The ability to regenerate dimensions to upper, lower, mid or nominal tolerance value.

Direction Light

A type of light that creates parallel light rays, which simulates the sun.

Draft

Used to add angled sides to solids and surfaces. Typically used in parts that are cast, molded or forged.

Draft Offset

Similar to area offset but the angle of area's offset can be specified.

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EAI

Enterprise Application Integration

Edge

Where two faces meet or the perimeter of a face.

EPS

Encapsulated PostScript

Erase

In the context of Pro/Engineer Erase means suppressed or blanked. Erased features can be resumed or shown to restore them.

ERP

Enterprise Resource Planning

ERM

Enterprise Resource Management

Extend

Grows additional surfaces from existing surface edges

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Family Table

A method for creating a 'family' of related parts. This is achieved by varying dimensions, including and excluding features.

Face

Feature

Most operations in Pro/Engineer create features

-Solids

-Surfaces

-Datums

-Cosmetic

-CopyGeom

-UDF's

This includes

Protrusions, tweaks, cuts, holes, trims, axes, surface merges, bends, unbends.

The following are not features

-Parameters

-Colours

-Tolerances

-Layers

All features appear in the model tree if they don't then they are not features

Feature Name

Assigned automatically when the feature is created using the feature type and feature id. The feature name can be modified by the user.

Feature Number

Sequential number assigned to each feature based on the features place in the model's history. A feature's feature number will change when the model's history is modified.

Feature ID

A unique number assigned when a feature is created. This number doesn't change. This number is not reused within a model if a feature is deleted.

Family Table

Use to create families of parts. A part created by family table is called an instance. The table can be used to vary dimensions, suppress/ resume features and substitute components. A containing a family table is called a 'generic' part.

FEA

Finite Element Analysis

Frames

Method by which actions in a Pro/Intralink workspace can be undone.

Free Form

A feature that stretches and pulls existing surfaces.

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Gamma

An inherently non-linear reproduction of intensities by a display device (monitor).

Gamma Correction

Correcting image data such that linear changes in image data will produce linear changes in the displayed image.

Generic

A model that contains a family table.

GIF

Graphics Interchange Format

Grid

Grids can be displayed in models, sketcher and details

Graph

A 2D curve or graph that can be used to control features such as variable section sweeps or used to extract a 'y' value based on an x value.

Groups

A collection of features

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History

Sequence of features in a model. The sequence of features affects the model geometry. The history is displayed graphically in the model tree. The feature number defines the sequence of the feature.

HPGL

Hewlett Packard graphics Language

Hue

The basic shade, or tint, which defines a color.

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IGES

International Graphics Exchange Specification

Insert Mode

Used to add features at an earlier point in the model's history

Instance

A part created by a generic model's family table.

Integrate

Use to merge two different versions of the same model.

Intent Manager

Replaced Sketcher at version 20. Used in the creation of most features. Used to create sketch geometry and add design intent

Interchange

A method swapping models in assembly. Useful when the alternate model is unrelated to the original model.

ISDX

Interactive Surface Design Extension

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JPG, JPEG

Joint Photographic Experts Group

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L

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Layers

Used to blank/display components, datums, and surfaces. Features cannot be blanked using layers. Layers can also be used as a selection criteria.

Light

Necessary for all renderings, lights have position, color and brightness. Some lights also have direction, spread or concentration. There are four types of lights: ambient, direction, point, and spotlight.

Light Room

A rendering option that determines whether the room is lit by user-defined lights or by a standard ambient lighting.

LM

Licence Management

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Mapkey

A method of recording and replaying a series of actions (macro). Excellent way for speeding up common tasks.

Material Side

Sets on which side of open sketch entity material is added.

MDX

Mechanism Design Extension

Mechanica

PTC's FEA and simulation tool

Merge

A feature that joins two surfaces together.

MDO

Mechanism Dynamics Option

Mirror Geom

Mirror whole model

Model Tree

Graphical display of the model's history and structure

MPEG, MPG

Moving Picture Experts Group

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Nastran

NASA Structural Analysis System

Note

Notes are added to drawings and models to aid documentation. 3D notes can be linked to features with the option of having a web page link.

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Object

An object can be a Feature, Component, Note or an other item that appear in the model tree

Offset Edge

Used in Intent Manager to construct sketch entities from existing geometry.

One Side

When creating extruded features the feature is created on one side of the sketch plane. The direction can be changed with redefine and selecting Direction.

Open Ends

Creates a surface feature without ends, e.g. a tube

Open Sketch

A sketch where the two ends do not meet, or there is a gap in the sketch. Open sketches also occur when the sketch entities form a closed loop, but there are additional sketch entities coincident with the closed loop.

Open Loop

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Palette

A collection of rendering objects that are displayed together in an editor. There are palettes for appearances and lights.

Part

Solid model representing a component

PDM

Product Data Management Parametric Data Manager (PTC)

Photorender

A rendering utility that creates photorealistic images of a scene.

PIV

Product Item Version - this represents the combination of the object name version and revision.

Pixel

A single dot of an image, displayed by the combination of three primary colors: red, green, and blue.

Plane

See datum plane

PLM

Product Lifecycle Management

PLM

Product Line Manager (PTC)

Point

See Datum point

Point Light

A type of light where the illumination radiates from the center of the bulb.

Program

Program is used to create intelligent parts that change based on user input.

Protrusion

Generic terms for any solid feature.

Pro/Intralink

Data manager for Pro/Engineer

PS

Postscript

Publish Geometry

Group geometry you want other users to reference

Program

Facility to modify the model design with the option to add conditional statements to control the model design.

Q

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Quilt

A group of surfaces joined together.

R

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Reference Control

Limits what references can be made.

Reference Dimension

Reference Dimensions can be added in models and drawings. They are driven dimensions and cannot be used to modify the model.

Reference Entity

Reference entities in Intent Manager are created by :-

Specify Refs, Entities picked to create dimensions Entities pick during Use Edge and Offset Edge.

Redefine

Used to change a features definition. Sketch planes, the section sketch, depth etc.

Reflection

The degree to which a model reflects its surroundings.

Regenerate

Incorporates changes made to the model since the last regeneration

Relations

Facility to drive dimension values by equation. Dimensions values can be related to other dimensions, parameters or graph features.

Render

To create a shaded image in order to give the model a more realistic appearance

Reorder

Moves a feature before or after other features in the model's history.

Reroute

Changes the references used to construct a feature. Or used to swap and old feature for a new feature.

Resume

Restores / unsuppresses suppressed features

RGB

The red, green, and blue values of a color.

RHO

See tutorial

Round

A feature that creates a fillet along an edge or between two surfaces.

RUG

Regional User Group

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Saturation

The purity of the hue in a color. An "unsaturated" color is gray.

Self Shadows

A rendering option that causes shadows from a model to be cast onto itself.

Skeleton

Model used to define geometry that is shared between parts in an assembly. Often used to to create mechanism frameworks, define global datums.

Shell

A feature that removes a specified surface and hollows the solid to a specified wall thickness.

Simplified Rep

A subset of the main model with components blanked or substituted with simple alternatives. Part simplified reps can be used to cut models into sub sections.

The principal use is to speed up rendering, and to make easier to work on complex models.

Solid

A volume fully enclosed by surfaces where the any point in space can be analysed to know whether it is inside or outside the enclosed area.

Spline

A curve that passes through a number of points. Can be defined in sketcher on a 2D plane or in 3D through a series of points or vertices.

Spot Angle

The diameter of a spotlight's circle of light.

Spot Light

A type of light whose light rays are confined within a cone.

Spot Focus

The sharpness of a spotlight's beam.

STEP

Standard For The Exchange Of Product Model Data

Specify Refs

Used to specify which entities you want intent manager to use for dimensions and constraints.

STL

Stereo Lithography

Style

Feature created by ISDX

Surface

A face bounded by at least three edges

Suppress

Same as Delete except feature can be restored (resume (d)) at a later date

Sweep

Geometry formed by a profile dragged (swept) along a trajectory

Swept Blend

Geometry formed by different profiles positioned on a trajectory

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TAN

Technical Application Note

Texture

An image that is used to determine the color or appearance of a surface. See Appearance.

TIFF

Tagged Image File Format

TPI

Technical Point of Interest

Trail

The trail or trail file records all actions made during a session. It is possible to replay trail files to rebuild models lost due to crashes or as a presentation method.

Trajectories

Used to create sweeps, variable section sweeps, and swept blends. Trajectories can be defined by sketching or selecting existing geometry.

Transform

Translate or move a surface with the option to create a copy. (can be used on datum curves)

Transparency

The degree to which you can see through a surface.

Trim

Type of cut specifically for surfaces.

Tweak

A feature that transforms an existing feature.

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Units

Units of measure for length mass and force. Custom units can be defined. Models can be converted from one type of unit to another.

UPR

Universal Product Representation

Use Edge

Used in Intent Manager to construct sketch entities from existing geometry.

User Defined Feature UDF

UDF's allow collections or features to be used. UDF's are a special type of group.

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Var Sec Swp

See Variable Section Sweep

Vertex (vertices)

Ends of edges, curves typically found where a number of edges join. Also found where sub-entities of a ketch join.

Variable Section Sweep

A sweep where the section changes in size. Requires at least two trajectories.

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WMF

Windows Metafile

Workspace

Models are checked out from commonspace to workspace for modification. The workspace is a database and folder area located in the users network directory.

X

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X-section

(Cross-Section) A slice through either a solid or quilt.

Y

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Yellow Side

One side of datum, system will assume the yellow side to be positive first. The positive side

Z

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Product Acronyms

AAX

Advanced Assembly Extension

APX

Assembly Performance Extension

ARX

Advanced Rendering Extension

ASX

Advanced Surfacing Extension

BMX

Behavioural Modelling Extension

CDRS

Conceptual Design & Rendering Software

DAO

Design Animation Option

DDO

(Import) Data Doctor Option

EMO

Expert Machinist Option

IDX

Industrial Design Extension

ISDX

Interactive Surface Design Extension

MDO

Mechanical Dynamics Option

MDX

Mechanical Design Extension

MSO

Machine Simulation Option

NOO

NC Optimisation Option

RSD

Routed System Designer