Workplane Tutorial 2

Workplane Tutorial

Overview

This tutorial demonstrates workplane concepts using a carpenter's sawhorse as a practical example, building on the explanations from Training Part 1.

When entering components in the workplane, depth positioning is always flush with the front face unless specified otherwise. All dimensions are in meters.

We'll create a new building position called CSH.

Project Specifications

Complete sawhorse with all components and cross-sections labeled

Component Dimensions

Main Support Beam:

• Cross-section: 0.120 x 0.120m

• Height: 0.770m

Legs:

• Cross-section: 0.080 x 0.080m

Braces:

• Cross-section: 0.060 x 0.060m

Cross-Section Reference

• ① = 0.120 x0.120

• ② = 0.080 x0.080

• ③ = 0.060 x0.060

• ④ = 0.060 x0.060

Initial Setup

Viewing the Workplane

• Incase the workplan is not visible turn on the Workplan settings through Option 9-2-4.

• Turn transparency to 50% or suitble value.

• Turn clicp-box and grid on.

Setting Up the Global Workplane

Start with the horizontal global workplane and adjust its size and grid to accommodate the sawhorse in plan view:

• X direction: 1.00m

• Y direction: 0.500m

• Grid spacing: 0.100m

• See video below on how to setup grid size and spacing.

  

Positioning the Main Support Beam

The first component to position is the main support beam (0.120 x 0.120m). Using constant cross-section General - 2-1-1, a single click point in the workplane is sufficient to position the square beam correctly.

Constant section dialog with beam parameters and 3D preview showing positioning point

Result After Beam Placement

Settings dialog with Z-offset of 0.710 and result showing positioned support beam

Creating the Legs

Positioning the Legs

The upper attachment point of each leg should be positioned 0.200m from the end of the support beam. From this point, the leg's edge runs to the next corner of the workplane.

Measure dialog showing distance of 0.7100m with support beam geometry

Set a 3D auxiliary geometry point at the top of the support beam using 4-1-1 with B for reference point.

Creating the "Legs Narrow Side" Workplane

The legs are inclined in two directions relative to the workplane. On the narrow side, the legs are connected by cross-bracing and must be flush - they lie in the same plane like tilted supports with a shared side surface.

This defines our first custom workplane: "legs narrow side".

Creating custom workplane by selecting 3 points with measurement dialog showing distances

Important: The order of point selection determines the coordinate system orientation.

Creating the First Leg

Create the first sawhorse leg with cross-section 0.080 x 0.080m as a component input in the workplane using 2-1-4 as constant cross-section, beam along X-axis. Set the Positioning Point to Choice.

Workplane view showing leg creation with coordinate system and settings dialog

Result After Leg Creation

Leg positioned in workplane with settings dialog showing Choice positioning point

Leg-to-Beam Connections

Creating Cuts for Leg Connection

Switch to the global workplane and generate two horizontal cuts using 3-4-3:

• Bottom cut: To global zero

• Top cut: With 0.020m offset from top of support beam

Cut dialog showing distance settings with 3D view of cut operation

Additionally, create a vertical cut on the leg parallel to the support beam axis using 3-4-7 with 0.003m offset to avoid collision with the opposite leg.

Creating the Angled End Lap Joint

Connect the leg to the sawhorse with an angled end lap joint, notched 0.020m parallel into the side surface of the support beam.

Create a vertical workplane named "angled end lap" using 9-2-5 as shown:

Two views showing workplane creation for angled end lap joint

Creating Connection Board

Using function 2-1-7 (beam 2 points), position a board with:

• Thickness: 0.020m

• Width: 0.080m

Position this at the connection from the upper leg end to the support beam.

3D view showing board placement with settings dialog

Point selection: From the 3D auxiliary geometry point to the intersection of the outside leg with the lower edge of the support beam.

Mirroring and Copying Components

1. Switch to Global System and create a 3D point at the center of the top support beam

2. Mirror the auxiliary part for creating the notch using 2-7-5 on the support beam axis

3. Copy both auxiliary parts using 2-7-3 around the new auxiliary geometry point, parallel to Global Z by 180°

4. Create the connection in the support beam with lap joint using 3-8-1 (fixed depth: 0.000m)

5. Disband the lap joint in the support beam and delete the helper timbers

Bird's Mouth Cut Creation

Preparation

Moving workplane 0.020m parallel to rear with settings dialog

1. Switch to the "Lap joint" workplane

2. Move it 0.020m parallel to the rear (Z direction -0.020m)

3. Position a helper timber for creating the bird's mouth cut at the upper end of the legs using beam along X (2-1-4)

Helper timber positioned for bird's mouth cut creation with settings dialog

Executing the Cut

1. Switch to global workplane

2. Create bird's mouth cut in the leg using 3-7-1 with the auxiliary component

3. Disband the bird's mouth cut in the leg and delete the helper timber

4. Mirror and copy the leg as previously described

Checkpoint: The sawhorse should now be at this stage of completion:

3D view showing sawhorse with support beam and two legs connected

Adding Bracing Systems

Cross-Bracing Setup

Preparing the Workplane

For the cross-bracing at the narrow end of the sawhorse:

1. Change to the "legs narrow side" workplane

2. Hide the support beam and other leg pair using 8-05

3. Modify workplane origin and orientation using 9-2-04:

Selecting corner points to change workplane origin and orientation

• Select outer corners of left leg, then right leg at bottom

• Exchange X and Y values in grid settings using 9-2-01

Drawing Cross-Brace Layout

1. Call 2D drawing function for line input using 02-3-1

2. The workplane automatically rotates to its view

3. Draw a line to determine the top edge position for the cross-brace

4. Offset the line down by 0.060m using 03-5

5. Mirror the lines at center perpendicular using 03-4 to verify cross-brace position

2D workplane view showing cross-brace layout with construction lines

Creating Cross-Brace

Create the cross-brace using function 2-1-7 (beam 2 points):

Cross-brace creation dialog with beam settings

Connecting Cross-Brace

Notched lap connection dialog and resulting cross-brace connections

1. Connect it to the legs with notched lap using 3-9-5

2. Create a lap joint at the center intersection using 3-8-1 (Depth in beam 1: Bisect)

3D view showing completed cross-brace with center lap joint

Longitudinal Bracing

Creating Longitudinal Bracing Workplane

Create another custom workplane called "longitudinal bracing":

1. Select outer corner points of two legs in the longitudinal direction

2. Select upper corner point of the same edge on the right leg

3. Set workplane grid area to 1.000 x 1.000m

Layout and Initial Creation

Workplane view showing longitudinal brace layout with temporary 0.020m thick board

1. Draw a line for the top of the longitudinal brace to avoid overlap with cross-brace

2. Temporarily enter the brace with 0.020m thickness

3. Input across the entire width of the grid area

Longitudinal strut settings dialog showing beam parameters

Since the brace and outer leg surfaces aren't flush on this side, normal lap jointing isn't possible.

Creating Free Lap Joint

1. Create lap joint with the temporary board (0.020m thickness)

2. Disband this connection lap joint in both legs, creating a free lap joint

3. Delete the temporary board

4. Create the actual longitudinal strut using the same settings as the cross-brace (0.060 x 0.060m)

Final Cuts and Connections

1. Cut the longitudinal brace flush with leg surfaces at both ends

2. Create a V-cut (bird's mouth cut isn't possible due to 93.45° angle between legs and brace)

3. Customize the longitudinal brace using 3-6-1 with V-cut and < four points > option

V-cut dialog showing point selection sequence with angle measurement of 93.45°

Completing the Project

Mirroring to Opposite Side

Install the cross-brace and longitudinal brace on the opposite side using the same procedures described above.

Final Result

Final completed sawhorse showing all structural components with proper joinery connections

The completed sawhorse displays all structural components with proper joinery connections, demonstrating the effective use of multiple workplanes for complex 3D timber construction.

Summary

Key Learning Points

This tutorial demonstrates how workplanes allow you to:

• Work in different orientations and coordinate systems

• Break complex 3D construction into logical 2D working surfaces

• Create custom workplanes for specific joinery operations

• Manage component positioning across multiple reference planes

• Execute advanced timber joints and connections systematically

Skills Developed

• Global Workplane Configuration: Setting up primary working surfaces

• Custom Workplane Creation: Defining arbitrary planes for specific operations

• Component Positioning: Strategic placement using different coordinate systems

• Advanced Joinery: Creating lap joints, bird's mouth cuts, and V-cuts

• System Integration: Coordinating multiple workplanes for complex assemblies