Project Points to Closest Point on Object

Projecting a point to the closest point on an object is equivalent to creating points on the object where that object’s surface normal intersects with the point.

With this command, you can select multiple objects and SA will find the closest point among all selected candidate objects. You can also select multiple points, and SA will find the closest point for each of the candidate points.

You can also offset points away from the surface. This is particularly useful when you have nominal points on a surface that you’d like to back away from the surface by the probe radius (so that those points can serve as proximity triggers for probe measurement).

To Project Points to the Closest Points on an Object:

  1. From the menu, select Construct>Points>Project Points to>Objects>Closest Point.

  2. Select one or more objects to project to.

  3. Select one or more points to project. The Point Naming dialog will appear.

  1. Enter or select the desired group to contain the projected points. In the Add Prefix or Add Suffix field, enter a prefix or suffix that you’d like to attach to the point names, then click OK.

  2. The Probe Offset dialog will appear. Enter a distance to offset the projected points back away from the object’s surface. A positive value shifts along the positive direction of the surface normal.

Project Points to Objects with Control

Points as well as vectors can also be built through the Query option on the Reporting tab. This option offers even greater control over probe offset compensation and can be accessed through this menu option as well.