Quick Grid Lines Form

A Cartesian (rectangular) or cylindrical grid system is a uniform system and is called a regular system. A system comprised of arbitrarily defined grid lines is a non-uniform system and is called a general system.

The Quick Grid Lines form can be used to define a regular system using the following tabs and edit boxes:

Cartesian or Cylindrical tab. Click the appropriate tab to select the type of grid system being defined:
- A Cartesian system has grid lines parallel to the X, Y, and Z axes of the grid coordinate system.
- A cylindrical system has radial, circumferential, and axial grid lines. The radial and circumferential grid lines are parallel to the X-Y plane of the grid coordinate system. The axial grid lines are parallel to the Z axis of the grid coordinate system.
System Name edit box. Enter the name of the grid system being defined. For a new model (i.e., Method 1 above for accessing the form), the grid system is being defined for the Global coordinate system, and the name cannot be changed.
Number of Grid Lines edit boxes. Enter the number of grid lines in each of the three directions.
Grid Spacing edit boxes. Enter the distance between grid lines in each of the three directions. Length units are used for all directions except for theta in cylindrical grids, which uses angles measured in degrees. The total length (or angle) in each direction is the product of the number of grid spaces and the distance between grid lines. A zero distance (or angle) is not allowed.
First Grid Line Location edit boxes. Specify the X, Y and Z coordinates for the first grid lines in the X direction, Y direction and Z direction.

Access the Quick Grid Lines form as follows:

Method 1:

Click the File menu > New Model command to display the New Model form to start a new model.
Select the Grid Only button.

Method 2:

Access the Define Grid Data form, as follows:

Method A

1. Click the File menu > New Model command or the Edit menu > Add to Model from Template command to display the New Model form.
2. Choose a template to display the {Template} form.
3. Check the Use Custom Grid Spacing and Locate Origin check box and click the Edit Grid button.

Method B

1. Click the Define menu > Coordinate Systems/Grids command, or right click in a blank area of a display window showing an undeformed shape and select the Edit Grid Data command from the resulting pop-up menu, to display the Coordinate/Grid Systems form. Then do one of the following:
- - Click the Add New System button to access the Coord System Location and Orientation form; make any necessary adjustments. Click the OK button to access the Define Grid Data form.
  - Highlight the name of a previously defined Regular system in the Systems display area on the Coordinate/Grid Systems form and click the Add Copy of System or Modify/Show System button to access the Define Grid Data form.

Click the Quick Start button.