Defining adjust points constraints

You use an adjust points constraint to move a point or points onto a specified surface. For more information about adjusting points, see Adjusting Nodal Coordinates. This adjustment may be useful in assembled fastener template models and other applications; see About assembled fasteners, and Creating assembled fasteners.

See Also
Understanding constraints
In Other Guides
Adjusting Nodal Coordinates

Context:

An adjust points constraint should not be used in assembled fastener template models when the main model attachment points are located on bolt hole center points. Any point along the bolt hole centerline will be moved incorrectly to a random location along the perimeter of the hole instead of being projected along the surface normal to the center of the hole.

  1. From the main menu bar, select ConstraintCreate.

    Tip: You can also create an adjust points constraint using the tool in the Interaction module toolbox.

  2. In the Create Constraint dialog box that appears, do the following:
    1. Name the constraint. For more information about naming objects, see Using basic dialog box components.
    2. From the Type list, select Adjust points, and then click Continue.
  3. Select the point or set of points to be moved, using one of the following methods:

    • Select one or more points in the viewport.

      Tip: The Select the Entity Closest to the Screen tool in the Selection toolbar is toggled off by default. If you make an ambiguous selection, Abaqus/CAE highlights the point and displays a description of the point in the lower left corner of the viewport. Use the Next and Previous buttons to cycle through the possible selections, and click OK to confirm your selection.
      Click mouse button 2 to indicate that you have finished selecting. For more information, see Selecting objects within the current viewport.

      If the model contains a combination of mesh and geometry, click one of the following from the prompt area:

      • Click Geometry if you want to select the points from a geometry region or select one or more reference points.

      • Click Mesh if you want to select the points from a native or orphan mesh selection.

    • Use an existing set to define the point or points. On the right side of the prompt area, click Sets. Select an existing set of points from the Region Selection dialog box that appears, and click Continue.

      Note:

      The default selection method is based on the selection method you most recently employed. To revert to the other method, click Select in Viewport or Sets on the right side of the prompt area.

    The points that you select become highlighted in red in the viewport.

  4. In the prompt area, select the type of region onto which the points will be moved.

    • Select Surface if you want to select a surface.

    • Select Node Region if you want to select a region from which to create a node-based surface.

  5. Select the surface onto which the points will be moved using one of the following methods:

    • Select a surface in the viewport. Click mouse button 2 to indicate that you have finished selecting.

      If the model contains a combination of mesh and geometry, click one of the following from the prompt area:

      • Click Geometry if you want to select the surface from a geometry region or select one or more reference points.

      • Click Mesh if you want to select the surface from a native or orphan mesh selection.

    • Use an existing surface or set to define the region. On the right side of the prompt area, click Surfaces or Sets. Select an existing surface or set from the Region Selection dialog box that appears, and click Continue.

      Note:

      The default selection method is based on the selection method you most recently employed. To revert to the other method, click Select in Viewport or Surfaces (or Sets) on the right side of the prompt area.

    The region that you select is highlighted in magenta in the viewport, and the constraint editor appears.

  6. Click OK to save your constraint definition and to close the editor.