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How to use the snapper settings in CAD

How to use the snapper settings in CAD

Using Snapper Settings in CAD

Welcome to 3Dsurvey tutorials.

In this guide, we will show you how to use the snapper settings available in the CAD module. Snapper settings control where points, endpoints, and center points will be snapped when drawing a line, point, or circle, ensuring precise modeling and editing.

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Overview of Snapper Settings

When you open the snapper settings, you will notice two large buttons:

  1. Point Snapper
  2. Interpolate Points

For now, we will focus on the Point Snapper before diving into the interpolation feature.

Point Snapper Options

Below the Point Snapper button, there are six smaller buttons, each defining where your point will snap. These options are:

  1. Point

    • Activates snapping to any point in the point cloud.
    • Ensure the point cloud is active in the background for this to work.
  2. Endpoint

    • Snaps your point to the endpoints of existing lines.
  3. Midpoint

    • Snaps to the midpoint of any existing line.
  4. Nearest

    • Snaps your point to the nearest location on an existing line.
  5. Center

    • Snaps to the center of any existing circle.
  6. Triangle

    • Snaps to points on the surface of a 3D mesh.
    • Ensure the 3D mesh is active in the background for this function to work.

You can activate multiple snapping options simultaneously. However, if you know precisely where your point should snap, enabling only the required options will simplify the process.

Practical Example

When drawing a regular line, it’s useful to:

  • Enable Point and Triangle options.
  • Optionally, activate the Endpoint option if you’re creating a closed line.

Interpolate Points

The Interpolate Points feature helps overcome challenges caused by noisy point clouds.

  1. Click the Interpolate Points button.
  2. A blue circle will appear. Adjust its size using the slider below the button.
  3. The feature calculates the average height of all points within the circle and places a snap point at the intersection of the cross.

This is particularly useful for features like macadam roads where noise affects accuracy. All other snapping options work in conjunction with interpolation, ensuring smooth and precise snapping.

The snapper settings in 3Dsurvey CAD provide a powerful way to control and refine your drawing process. By selecting the right snapping options and utilizing interpolation when needed, you can achieve highly accurate and efficient results.

See you in the next tutorial!

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