PMI Entities

A 3D file's Product and Manufacturing Information (PMI) is composed of annotations that are included in design files. These annotations indicate the limits and constraints that must be observed during the production of the object displayed in the 3D model.

At the highest level, PMI provides information about dimensions, feature control frames, weld specifications, and surface finishes. This information is based upon key design features which are specified through datum targets, measurement points, reference geometry (for example, construction lines, surfaces, and objects), or the geometry inherent in the object.

The following terms can be used interchangeably with the term PMI:

Datums Cosmetics

Dimensioning Cosmetics

Geometric Tolerances (GTOLs)

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerance (GDT or GD&T)

Functional Tolerance Annotation (FTA or FTA&A)

PMI Filtering

Use PMI Filtering to select which types of product and manufacturing information to display.

From the Manipulate menu, select Visibility Control, and then select PMI Filtering.

The PMI Filtering dialog box appears displaying all PMI types.

Note: From the AutoVue toolbar, you can also click PMI Filtering .

In the Tree column, select the check box beside the items that you want to show in the Model Tree.

In the View column, select the check box beside the items that you want to show on the 3D model.

Deselect the check box beside the items that you want to hide.

Note: Click All to show all items, or click None to hide all items.

Click OK.

Only items selected in the Tree column are displayed in the Model Tree.

Only items selected in the View column are visible on the 3D model.

Note: Visibility settings are saved and will be restored the next time you open the PMI filtering dialog box.

AutoVue supports default PMI visibility as saved in the file. To restore default PMI visibility, click Default in the PMI Filtering dialog box.

Aligning to a PMI Entity

From the Model Tree, right-click the PMI item that you want to align to and select Align To.

AutoVue aligns to the selected PMI item.

Go to a Displayed PMI Entity

From the Model Tree, right-click the PMI item that you want to go to on the model and select Go To.

AutoVue zooms to the selected PMI item.

PMI Configuration Entities

The Views, Captures, Reference/Grouping entities refer to specific configurations of the model. These PMI configuration entities are listed in the Model Tree and are activated by right-clicking the entity and then selecting Activate.

Views

The View configuration entity displays predefined views, and highlights associated PMI entities.

Expand the Views tree to display the defined views.

Right-click the selected view, and then select Activate.

The model and PMI entities display in the workspace as defined in the selected view.

Note: The PMI entities are also highlighted in the Model Tree.

Captures

The Captures configuration entity displays predefined views.

Expand the Captures tree to display the defined captures.

Right-click the selected captures, and then select Activate.

The model and PMI entities display in the workspace as defined in the selected capture.

Reference Frames

The Reference Frames configuration entity highlights the grouped PMI entities.

Expand the Reference Frames tree to display the predefined reference frames.

Right-click the selected reference frame, and then select Activate.

The grouped PMI entities are highlighted in the Model Tree.

PMI Hyperlinks

PMI entities can also include hyperlinks.To fire a PMI hyperlink, do the following:

From the Model Tree or workspace, right-click the PMI hyperlink entity.

From the menu, select Follow Hyperlink.

The 3D Hyperlink dialog box appears if there are multiple hyperlinks associated with the selected PMI entity.

From the 3D Hyperlink dialog box, select a link and then click Fire.

The selected link opens.