MecModInterfaces CatConstraintTypeEnumeration

enum CatConstraintType {
catCstTypeReference, catCstTypeDistance, catCstTypeOn, catCstTypeConcentricity, catCstTypeTangency, catCstTypeLength, catCstTypeAngle, catCstTypePlanarAngle, catCstTypeParallelism, catCstTypeAxisParallelism, catCstTypeHorizontality, catCstTypePerpendicularity, catCstTypeAxisPerpendicularity, catCstTypeVerticality, catCstTypeRadius, catCstTypeSymmetry, catCstTypeMidPoint, catCstTypeEquidistance, catCstTypeMajorRadius, catCstTypeMinorRadius, catCstTypeSurfContact, catCstTypeLinContact, catCstTypePoncContact, catCstTypeChamfer, catCstTypeChamferPerpend, catCstTypeAnnulContact, catCstTypeCylinderRadius, catCstTypeStContinuity, catCstTypeStDistance, catCstTypeSdContinuity, catCstTypeSdShape
}

Possible types of constraints.
According to their type, constraint may exist in 3D space (at the part level), in 2D space (at the sketch level), or both.

The constraint type also determines the number of elements (from 1 to 3) that are necessary to define the constraint, plus the type of those elements. Also, the constraint type defines the valid combinations between those types, and the associated semantics.

These combinations plus usage notes are detailed in tables on a per-type basis below.

Values:

catCstTypeReference

catCstTypeReference Definition
Constraint valid in		2D & 3D
# of needed elements		1
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Point, Line, Circle or Arc, Ellipse or Arc, parabola, Hyperbola, Polynomial curve, Spline
Possible configurations (2D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
All types	The element support is not modifiable	--
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Point, Line, Plane, Cylinder, Sphere, Cone
Possible configurations (3D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
All types	The element cannot move with respect to the bloc that contains it	--

catCstTypeDistance

catCstTypeDistance between 2 elements Definition
Constraint valid in			2D & 3D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Point, Line, Circle or Arc, Ellipse or Arc, Parabola, Hyperbola, Polynomial curve, Spline
Valid types for 2nd elt			Same as 1rst elt
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Point	Point	Distance between points is equal to constraint value	--
Point	Curve	Constraint is measured between point and its closest projection onto curve. Constraint value is equal to that distance.	"Curve" means every possible type except point
Curve	Curve	Constraint is measured at points on curves that mutually project onto the other curve, and such as their distance is minimum. Constraint value is this distance.	"Curve" means every possible type except point
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst Elt			Point, Line, Plane, Cylinder, Sphere, Cone
Valid types for 2nd Elt			Same as 1rst elt
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
...with point
Point	Point	Distance between points is equal to constraint value.	--
Point	Line	Distance between point and its projection onto line support is equal to constraint value.	--
Point	Plane	Distance between point and its projection onto plane is equal to constraint value.	See for managing the relative position of constrained elements
Point	Cylinder	Constraint is measured along the line, perpendicular to cylinder axis, that contains point. Constraint value is equal to the distance between the point and the cylinder surface, measured along this line.	See for managing the placement of point relative to the normal to the cylinder at projection point.
Point	Sphere	Constraint is measured along the line passing through point and sphere center. Constraint value is equal to the distance between point and sphere surface, measured along this line.	See for managing the placement of point relative to the normal to the sphere at projection point.
...with line
Line	Line	Constraint is measured along the common perpendicular to both lines. Constraint value is equal to the distance between both lines measures on this perpendicular.	See for further specifying parallelism conditions on lines.
Line	Plane	Line is parallel to plane, i.e. line lies within a plane parallel to plane. Constraint value is equal to distance between those planes.	See for managing the relative position of line and plane
Line	Cylinder	Same as Line/Line case, but constraint value is measured between line and cylinder surface.	See for managing on which side of measurement point on first element is second element located (relative to the direction of normal to element at that point). See for managing wether the distance to second element is measured on the inside or on the outside of it: it mutually orients the normals taken at measurement points on both elements.
Line	Sphere	Constraint is measured on the line by which sphere center projects onto line. Constraint value is equal to the distance between that projection point and the sphere surface.	See for managing the relative position of line regarding the normal to sphere at constraint measurement point.
...with plane
Plane	Plane	Planes are parallel and constraint value is equal to their distance.	See for managing on which side of measurement point on first element is second element located (relative to the direction of normal to element at that point). See for managing wether the distance to second element is measured on the inside or on the outside of it: it mutually orients the normals
Plane	Cylinder	Plane is parallel to cylinder axis (as in Plane/Line case) and constraint value is measured between plane and cylinder surface.	See for managing on which side of measurement point on first element is second element located (relative to the direction of normal to element at that point). See for managing wether the distance to second element is measured on the inside or on the outside of it: it mutually orients the normals taken at measurement points on both elements.
Plane	Sphere	Constraint value is equal to distance between plane and sphere surface.	See for managing the relative position of plane and sphere. See for managing the relative orientation of plane normal and normal to sphere at constraint measurement point.
...with cylinder
Cylinder	Cylinder	Similar to a Line/Line distance constraint applied to cylinder axis, but constraint value is measured between cylinder surfaces.	See for managing on which side of measurement point on first element is second element located (relative to the direction of normal to element at that point). See for managing wether the distance to second element is measured on the inside or on the outside of it: it mutually orients the normals taken at measurement points on both elements. See for further specifying parallelism conditions on cylinders axes.
Cylinder	Sphere	Similar to a Line/Point distance constraint applied to cylinder axis and sphere center, but constraint value is measured between cylinder and sphere surfaces.	See for managing on which side of measurement point on first element is second element located (relative to the direction of normal to element at that point). See for managing wether the distance to second element is measured on the inside or on the outside of it: it mutually orients the normals taken at measurement points on both elements.
...with sphere
Sphere	Sphere	Similar to a Point/Point distance constraint applied between spheres centers, but constraint value is measured between spheres surfaces.	See for managing where second measurement point is taken on second sphere: normals to spheres at measurement points may be or not oriented in the same direction, thus defining two possible measurement points. See for managing the direction of constraint measurement relative to normal vector to first sphere.
Sphere	Cone	Similar to a Point/Cone distance constraint applied between sphere center and cone, but constraint value is measured between sphere and cone surfaces.	--

catCstTypeDistance

catCstTypeDistance with 3 elements Definition
Constraint valid in				2D & 3D
# of needed elements				3
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt				same as catCstTypeDistance
Valid types for 2nd elt				same as catCstTypeDistance
Valid types for 3rd elt				Line
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	3rd elt type	Definition	Notes
Same as catCstTypeDistance	Same as catCstTypeDistance	Line	The difference with the distance between 2 elements is that the third element is a projection direction. The distance is measured after projection on the third element.	--
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt				same as catCstTypeDistance
Valid types for 2nd elt				same as catCstTypeDistance
Valid types for 3rd elt				Line, plane
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	3rd elt type	Definition	Notes
Same as catCstTypeDistance	Same as catCstTypeDistance	Line or plane	The distance is measured after projection on the third element.	--

catCstTypeOn

catCstTypeOn Definition
Constraint valid in			2D & 3D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Point, Line, Circle or Arc, Ellipse or Arc
Valid types for 2nd elt			Same as 1rst elt
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
All Types	All Types	Constrained elements supports are identical.	Support mean the element considered without limitation (e.g. the underlying infinite line for a line segment).
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Point, Line, Plane, Cylinder, Sphere, Cone, Circle
Valid types for 2nd elt			Same as 1rst elt
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Point	Point	Points lie at the same location.	--
Point	Line	Points lie on line support.	--
Point	Plane	Point lies within plane.	--
Point	Cylinder	Point lies on cylinder surface.	--
Point	Sphere	Point lies on sphere surface.	--
Line	Line	Lines supports are identical.	See for managing the relative orientation of lines.
Line	Plane	Line lies within plane.	--
Line	Cylinder	One of the cylinder generating lines and line supports are the same.	See for managing the relative orientation of line support and Cylinder axis.
Line	Sphere	Line support contains sphere center.	--
Plane	Plane	Both planes are identical.	See for managing the relative orientation of planes.
Sphere	Sphere	Spheres centers and radii are identical.	--
Cylinder	Cylinder	Both cylinder supports are identical.	Cylinder are considered infinite in length.
Cone	Cone	Both cones supports are identical.	Cones are considered infinite in heigth.
Cone	Circle	The circle lies on the cone.	See for managing the relative orientation of the plane of the circle.

catCstTypeConcentricity

catCstTypeConcentricity Definition
Constraint valid in			2D & 3D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Point, Circle or Arc, Ellipse or Arc
Valid types for 2nd elt			Same as 1rst elt
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Point	Circle	Circle center lies on point.	--
Circle	Circle	Circle centers lie on each other.	--
Point	Ellipse	Ellipse center lies on point.	--
Ellipse	Circle	Ellipse center lies on circle center.	--
Ellipse	Ellipse	Ellipse center lies on ellipse center.	--
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Sphere
Valid types for 2nd elt			Sphere
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Sphere	Sphere	Both spheres centers are the same.	--

catCstTypeTangency

catCstTypeTangency Definition
Constraint valid in			2D & 3D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Point, Line, Circle or Arc, Ellipse or Arc, Parabola, Hyperbola, Polynomial curve, Spline
Valid types for 2nd elt			Same as 1rst elt
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
All types	All types	A point exists, where both elements supports are tangent.	This constraint type cannot be defined between two lines.
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Line, Plane, Cylinder, Sphere, Cone
Valid types for 2nd elt			Cylinder, Sphere, Cone
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Cylinder	Line is tangent to cylinder.	--
Line	Sphere	Line is tangent to sphere.	--
Plane	Cylinder	Plane is tangent to cylinder.	See for managing the relative orientation of plane and cylinder normals.
Plane	Sphere	Plane is tangent to Sphere.	See for managing the relative orientation of plane and sphere normals.
Cylinder	Cylinder	Both cylinders are tangent.	See for managing the relative orientation of both cylinder normals at tangency point. See for adding additional parallelism requirements on the constraint.
Cylinder	Sphere	Cylinders is tangent to sphere.	See for managing the relative orientation of cylinder and sphere normals.
Sphere	Sphere	Both spheres are tangent.	See for managing the relative orientation of both spheres normals.
Cone	Cone	Both cones are tangent through on of their gererating lines.	See for managing the relative orientation of both generating lines.

catCstTypeLength

catCstTypeLength Definition
Constraint valid in		2D
# of needed elements		1
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Line
Possible combinations(2D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line length is equal to constraint value.	--

catCstTypeAngle

catCstTypeAngle Definition
Constraint valid in			2D & 3D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Line
Valid types for 2nd elt			Line
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line	Angle between lines supports is equal to constraint value.	The angle is measured in degrees, within the 0-360 range.
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Line, Plane
Valid types for 2nd elt			Line, Plane
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line	The common perpendicular to both lines defines the normal to the measuring plane. Both lines direction vector is projected onto that plane. The constraint value is equal to the angular difference between those two projected vectors.	Angle is measured in degree, in the 0-180 range.
Line	Plane	Constraint value is equal to the angular difference between the line direction vector and its projection onto the plane.	Angle is measured in degree, in the 0-180 range.
Plane	Plane	Constraint value is equal to the angular difference between the normals to both planes.	Angle is measured in degree, in the 0-180 range.

catCstTypePlanarAngle

catCstTypePlanarAngle Definition
Constraint valid in				3D
# of needed elements				3
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt				Plane
Valid types for 2nd elt				Plane
Valid types for 3rd elt				Line
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	3rd elt type	Definition	Notes
Plane	Plane	Line	Line lies at the intersection of both planes. Angle is measured in the normal plane to line.	Angle is measured in degrees, in the 0-360 range, in the direct sense of the measuring plane deduced for the line orientation.

catCstTypeParallelism

catCstTypeParallelism Definition
Constraint valid in			2D & 3D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Line
Valid types for 2nd elt			Line
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line	Both lines supports are parallel.	See for managing the relative orientation of lines.
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Line, Plane
Valid types for 2nd elt			Line, Plan
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line	Both lines supports are parallel.	See for managing the relative orientation of lines.
Line	Plane	Lines support is parallel to plane.	See for managing the relative position of line and plane
Plane	Plane	Planes are parallel.	See and for managing the relative positioning and orientation of planes.

catCstTypeAxisParallelism

catCstTypeAxisParallelism Definition
Constraint valid in		3D
# of needed elements		1
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Line, Plane, Cylinder
Possible combinations(3D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
All types	Element is parallel to one of the 3D space axes.	See for managing which axis the constraint applies to. See for managing the relative orientation of element and axis in the case of line and cylinder.

catCstTypeHorizontality

catCstTypeHorizontality Definition
Constraint valid in		2D
# of needed elements		1
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Line
Possible combinations(2D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line is parallel to the horizontal component of the reference axis.	--

catCstTypePerpendicularity

catCstTypePerpendicularity Definition
Constraint valid in			2D & 3D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Line
Valid types for 2nd elt			Line
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line	Lines support are perpendicular.	--
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Line
Valid types for 2nd elt			Line, Plane, Cylinder
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
...with line
Line	Line	Lines support are perpendicular.	--
Line	Plane	Line is perpendicular to plane.	See for managing the relative orientation of line direction vector and normal to plane.
Line	Cylinder	Lines support is perpendicular to cylinder axis.	--

catCstTypeAxisPerpendicularity

catCstTypeAxisPerpendicularity Definition
Constraint valid in		3D
# of needed elements		1
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Line, Plane, Cylinder
Possible combinations(3D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
All types	Element is perpendicular to one of the 3D space axes.	See for managing which axis the constraint applies to. See for managing the relative orientation of element and axis in the case of line and cylinder.

catCstTypeVerticality

catCstTypeVerticality Definition
Constraint valid in		2D
# of needed elements		1
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Line
Possible combinations(2D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line is parallel to the vertical component of the reference axis.	--

catCstTypeRadius

catCstTypeRadius Definition
Constraint valid in		2D
# of needed elements		1
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Circle or Arc
Possible combinations(2D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
Circle/Arc	Circle or arc radius is equal to constraint value.	--

catCstTypeSymmetry

catCstTypeSymmetry Definition
Constraint valid in				2D & 3D
# of needed elements				3
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt				Point, Line, Circle or Arc, Ellipse or Arc
Valid types for 2nd elt				Same as 1rst elt
Valid types for 3rd elt				Line
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	3rd elt type	Definition	Notes
All types	All types	Line	First element is symmetric to second one with respect to line.	Types of first and second elements are the same.
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt				Point, Line, Plane, Cylinder, Sphere, Cone
Valid types for 2nd elt				Same as 1rst elt
Valid types for 3rd elt				Line, Plane
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	3rd elt type	Definition	Notes
All types	All types	Line	First element is symmetric to second one with respect to line.	Types of first and second elements are the same. Characteristic vectors of symmetric elements are always opposite.
All types	All types	Plane	First element is symmetric to second one with respect to plane.	Types of first and second elements are the same. Characteristic vectors of symmetric elements are always opposite.

catCstTypeMidPoint

catCstTypeMidPoint Definition
Constraint valid in			2D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Point
Valid types for 2nd elt			Line
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Point	Line	Point is equally distant from both line extremities.	--

catCstTypeEquidistance

catCstTypeEquidistance Definition
Constraint valid in				2D
# of needed elements				3
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt				Point, Line
Valid types for 2nd elt				Same as 1rst elt
Valid types for 3rd elt				Point
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	3rd elt type	Definition	Notes
Point	Point	Point	Third point is equally distant from first and second one.	--
Line	Line	Point	Third point is equally distant from each of its projections onto first and second line.	--

catCstTypeMajorRadius

catCstTypeMajorRadius Definition
Constraint valid in		2D
# of needed elements		1
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Ellipse or Arc
Possible combinations(2D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
Ellipse or Arc	The length of ellipse major axis is equal to constraint value.	Ellipse major axis is the largest of ellipse axes at creation time

catCstTypeMinorRadius

catCstTypeMinorRadius Definition
Constraint valid in		2D
# of needed elements		1
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt		Ellipse or Arc
Possible combinations(2D)
1rst elt type	Definition	Notes
Ellipse or Arc	The length of ellipse minor axis is equal to constraint value.	Ellipse minor axis is the smallest of ellipse axes at creation time

catCstTypeChamfer

catCstTypeChamfer Definition
Constraint valid in				2D & 3D
# of needed elements				3
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt				Line
Valid types for 2nd elt				Line
Valid types for 3rd elt				Line
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	3rd elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line	Line	The chamfer is defined by two lengths and two angles.	The first line is between the second and the third lines. The first and second lines intersect in one of their extremities. Idem with the first and third lines.
*Constraint definition in 3D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt				Plane, Cone
Valid types for 2nd elt				Plane
Valid types for 3rd elt				Plane, Cylinder
Possible combinations (3D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	3rd elt type	Definition	Notes
Plane	Plane	Plane	The chamfer is defined by two lengths and two angles. The mode of the constraint is catCstModeDrivenDimension.	The first plane is between the second and the third planes. The normal vectors of the planes are in a same plane.
Cone	Plane	Cylinder	The chamfer is defined by two lengths and two angles.	The cone and the cylinder have the same axis. The plane is normal to that axis. The cone is between the plane and the cylinder.

catCstTypeChamferPerpend

catCstTypeChamferPerpend Definition
Constraint valid in			2D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Line
Valid types for 2nd elt			Line
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line	Chamfer is defined by one length and one angle. The mode of the constraint is catCstModeDrivenDimension.	The third element is implicit because it is perpendicular to the second line and it intersects the first line in one of their extremities.

catCstTypeCylinderRadius

catCstTypeChamferPerpend Definition
Constraint valid in			2D
# of needed elements			2
*Constraint definition in 2D space*
Valid types for 1rst elt			Line
Valid types for 2nd elt			Line
Possible combinations (2D)
1rst elt type	2nd elt type	Definition	Notes
Line	Line	The cylinder radius is defined by the distance beetween 2 the lines which results of the projection of a cylinder on a drawing sheet.	--