1d-3d-cae

Glossary

2D

Two-dimensional.

3D

Three-dimensional.

Absolute coordinates

Coordinate distances measured from the origin.

Aligned dimensioning

A dimensioning system in which dimension values align with dimension lines.

Angular dimensioning

A method of dimensioning angles in which one corner of an angle is located with a dimension and the value of the angle is provided in degrees.

Annotation

Textual information presented in notes, specifications, comments, and symbols. Letters, numbers, words, and notes are used to describe information on a drawing.

Annotative object

Objects that can adapt automatically to the current drawing scale.

Anti-aliasing

A technique for smoothing jagged lines on a graphic display.

Arc

Any portion of a circle; usually dimensioned according to the radius.

Array

Series of features typically appearing in a rectangular or radial pattern.

Aspect ratio

The ratio of width to height for a graphics display.

Associativity

Relationships between individual portions of a model. Changes to the parent are propagated to the children.

Axis

A principal direction along which the relative movements of a tool or work piece occur. Three linear axes, occurring at 90 degree angles from each other, named X, Y, and Z.

Base view

Modeling view imported into a drawing. The base view can be stand-alone view or a parent view for other derived view types, such as a section view.

Bezier curve

A curve defined by endpoints, tangent lines, and control points at the ends of the tangent lines. Altering the length and angle of tangent lines alters the shape of the curve.

Boolean operation

An operation that follows the rules of Boolean algebra in which each operand and the result takes one of two values; for example, “0 or 1”, “on or off”, or “open or closed”.

Boundary

The area filled by a hatch.

Boundary edge

The edge to which objects such as lines, arcs, and polylines extend.

Boundary representation

In solid modeling, a model-building approach in which geometry is represented by edges, faces, and vertices.

Boundary set

The part of the drawing CAD software evaluates to define a boundary.

B-spline

Mathematical, parametric definition of a series of connected geometric curve segments, belonging to the spline curve family.

CAD

Computer-aided design.

CAE

Computer-aided engineering.

CAx

Computer-aided technology.

Centerline

Drafting symbol consisting of intermittent long and short lines used to bisect geometry into equal parts.

Center point

The defining point at the exact center circle, arc, and regular polygon of ellipse.

Chord length

The linear distance between two points on a circle or arc.

Circle

A closed curve with a constant radius around a center point; usually dimensioned according to the diameter.

Coincident

A geometric construction that specifies two points sharing the same position.

Construction lines

Lines commonly used to lay out a drawing.

Coordinates

A system of numbers used to locate a point or object in a drawing. In the Cartesian coordinate system 2 numbers x and y are used to describe the location of a point in the horizontal and vertical dimensions respectively. 3D CAD programs add the z coordinates which describes distance in the third dimension. In the Polar coordinate system a point is described by a distance and an angle where 0 degree extends horizontally to the right.

Curve

A complex entity created by definition of endpoints of spline curve sections. Note the type of curve you use determines the types of editing tools or functions that may be performed on it.

Cutting

The process of deleting a portion of a multiline element or an entire multiline.

Cutting edge

An object such as a line, arc, or text that defines the point (edge) at which the object you trim will be cut.

Cutting plane line

The line that cuts through the object to expose internal features.

Dimension

A description of the size, shape, or location of features on an object or structure.

Dimension line

A line, usually with an arrow indicating the direction and distance of a drawing dimension.

Dimension variables

System variables that store the values of dimension style settings.

Display

A visual representation of data.

Editing

A procedure used to modify an existing object.

Ellipse

An oval shape that contains two centers of equal radius.

End points

The extremities of a span.

Exporting

Transferring electronic data from a database, such as a drawing file, to a different format used by another program

Extracted edge

3D representation of a visible edge that is associative to the parent component. An extracted edge view does not contain the entire model. Extracted edges are used to improve the view regeneration performance of the drawings of complex models, such as large assemblies.

Facet data

Data that defines a face or surface.

Faceted representation

Lightweight approximation of the faces that represent the real model. Faceted representations are used to facilitate quick regeneration of hidden line views.

Field

A text object that can display a specific property value, setting, or characteristic.

Fit curve

A curve that passes through all of its fit points.

Fit points

Points through which the spline passes that determine the shape of the spline.

Grid

A drawing tool which is usually a pattern of regularly spaced dots or lines which make the alignment and drawing of objects easier.

Group

A collection of objects which can be manipulated as one object.

Hatch

A complex object defined by a series of points or a bordering object such as a circle or polyline which fills the defined area with a repeating pattern of lines. Hatches have a scale property which determines the size and density of the repeating pattern.

Interpolation

A function of a control whereby data points are generated between given coordinate positions.

Isometric

Exhibiting equality in dimensions or measurements.

Joints

Lines connecting the vertices of adjacent multiline elements at the end of each segment.

Knot point

Point where B-spline segments connect.

Line

A CAD object defined by two endpoints

Loop

Repetitive operations can be programmed in a continuous mode until the desired functions have been completed.

Markers

A line marker is used to mark the end points of lines.

Move

A drawing editing tool which moves objects or selection sets to a new drawing location by changing all definition points by a given instance.

Named objects

Blocks, dimensions styles, layers, linetypes, materials, multileader styles, plot styles, shapes, table styles, text styles, and visual styles that have specific names.

NURBS

Non-Uniform Rational B-Spline – A mathematical description of geometry that provides easy manipulation along with accurate description of entities and surfaces, from simple to complex.

Offset

The distance between two objects. Offsets are often used to draw parallel lines of determine the location of a dimension.

OpenGL

Open Graphics Library – A rendering-only applications programming interface (API) widely used by CAD/CAM/CAE software, originally developed by Silicon Graphics Inc., for creating 2D/3D graphics. It lets applications create high-quality color images independent of windowing systems, operating systems, and hardware. Functions include modeling, transformations, color, lighting, smooth shading, texture mapping, NURBS, fog, alpha blending, and motion blur.

Origin

The point in a drawing with x, y, and z coordinates of 0, 0, 0.

Orthographic view

Two-dimensional drawings used to represent or describe a three- dimensional object.

Pan

The process of altering the drawing view by moving the viewpoint laterally relative to the drawing.

Parasolid

Siemens PLM Software’s geometric modeling kernel.

Polygon

A complex object composed of three or more straight lines in a closed figure. Polygons are treated differently by CAD programs. Often a polygon is simply a closed polyline entity.

Polyline

A complex object composed of two or more lines, curves, or arcs which have contiguous endpoints. A closed polyline or polygon has its endpoints joined into a closed form. Polylines are more difficult to edit than a form drawn with individual line segments, but offers some advantages when editing or building surfaces and 3 dimensional objects.

Reference points

Points associated with drawing objects which allow an object to be selected, grouped, and manipulated. Reference points are often not visible.

Removed sections

Standard section views, but removed from direct projection from the cutting plane.

Rendering

A photo realistic illustration.

Resolution

The clarity or degree to which individual elements can be discerned on a monitor or print/plot. Common monitor resolutions include 600x800 and 1280x1024 measured in pixels. Resolution of devices determines how accurate a printout will be or how accurate an object will appear on the screen.

Rotate

A drawing editing tool which rotates objects or groups of objects based on a center of rotation and an angle.

Scale

An editing tool which changes the size of an object relative to percentage. Some objects can be rescaled

Section cut

2D geometry created by cutting the model geometry with one or more cut planes to view the planar geometry on the cutting planes.

Section line

Arrow segments, bend segments, and cut segments that specify the cut definition of a section view.

Section view

View defined by cutting the model geometry with one or more cut planes to view the planar geometry on the cutting planes.

Selection set

One or more objects selected for action with a single command. Often items are selected this way by drawing a window around them.

Solid modeling

A geometric modeling method that completely and unambiguously describes both the exterior and interior of a part or assembly in three dimensions. Solid primitive - Simple solid such as block, sphere, cylinder, cone, wedge, and torus that can be created directly.

Solid primitive

Simple solid such as block, sphere, cylinder, cone, wedge, and torus that can be created directly.

STEP

Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data – is the goal to interrelate all geometric and non-geometric data in a useful way so the complete description of a product can be shared between CAD systems.

Surface modeling

A 3D modeling method of describing geometry by its surface. Typically used where surface shape is critical, for example, automobile body panels. Surface modeling software generally provides many functions for creating, editing, and evaluating surfaces.

Sweeping

Base, boss or cut feature created by sweeping an open or closed profile sketch along one or more path curves.

Tangent continuous curves

Two curves that connect with tangent continuity.

Tessellation

The method used to represent 3D objects as a collection of triangles or other polygons; all surfaces, both curved and straight, are turned into triangles either at the time they are first created or in real time when they are rendered.

Tolerance

The total amount by which a specific dimension is permitted to vary.

Vertex

A point defining the junction of a segment within a polyline or polygon.

View

The graphical representation of the geometry stored in the drawing database which appears in the drawing window or viewport. A view has a center point and a scale or zoom. Multiple views of one drawing may be open in separate windows or viewports simultaneously.

View boundary

Boundary used to limit the geometry displayed in a view.

Viewport

The window or frame within which a view of the drawing is visible.

Wireframe model

A 3D model consisting of lines and curves that connect at the corners of an object to form edges; contains no surface properties or solid mass.

x_b

Parasolid binary file format.

x_t

Parasolid text file format.

Zoom

The way the view is changed by magnifying or reducing the image on the screen. Zoom scales the view only and does not affect the actual size of drawing objects

Source: https://docs.sw.siemens.com/en-US/doc/254352342/PL20250521841123434.amesim_collection.CAD2AME/tis1729193463033 · retrieved 2026-07-17