Slice view

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture display multiple slices of a three-dimensional body in a computer drawing application. A first view of a 3D body is displayed. One or more slice sketches are defined on the first view. A single slice view of the three dimensional body is displayed. The single slice view simultaneously depicts all of the slices with a zero-depth representation of each slice.

1 . A method for displaying multiple slices of a three-dimensional body in a computer drawing application, comprising:
 displaying a first view of the three dimensional body;   defining, on the first view, one or more slice sketches; and   displaying a single slice view of the three dimensional body, wherein the single slice view simultaneously depicts all of the one or more slices with a zero-depth representation of each slice.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slice sketches are defined by the user drawing said slice sketches onto the first view. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slice sketches are defined by accepting one or more planes in a model of the three dimensional body as one or more slice sketches. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more slice sketches are open-profile lines. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the slice view comprises an isometric view that illustrates a depth component between slices displayed in the slice view based on a distance between each slice sketch defined in the first view. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 editing the three dimensional body or one of the slice sketch; and   automatically updating and displaying the slice view to reflect the editing.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the one or more slice sketches defines a slice cutting surface; and   each slice is depicted in the single slice view by displaying an outline of the three dimensional body where it intersects with each slice cutting surface.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the three dimensional body comprises an assembly having multiple parts;   a user can determine whether each of the multiple parts in the assembly participates in the single slice view;   if a first part of the multiple parts does not participate in the single slice view, the first part is displayed in an original form of the first part in the slice view; and   if the first part participates in the slice view, a zero-depth representation of the first part is displayed in the slice view.   
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for displaying multiple slices of a three-dimensional body in a computer drawing application comprising:
 (a) a computer having a memory;   (b) an application executing on the computer, wherein the application is configured to:
 (i) display a first view of the three dimensional body; 
 (ii) define, on the first view, one or more slice sketches; and 
 (iii) display a single slice view of the three dimensional body, wherein the single slice view simultaneously depicts all of the one or more slices with a zero-depth representation of each slice. 
   
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more slice sketches are defined by the user drawing said slice sketches onto the first view. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more slice sketches are defined by accepting one or more planes in a model of the three dimensional body as slice sketches. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more slice sketches are open-profile lines. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the slice view comprises an isometric view that illustrates a depth component between slices displayed in the slice view based on a distance between each slice sketche defined in the first view. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the application is further configured to:
 edit the three dimensional body or one of the slice sketches; and   automatically update and display the slice view to reflect the editing.   
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of the one or more slice sketches defines a slice cutting surface; and   each slice is depicted in the single slice view by displaying an outline of the three dimensional body where it intersects with each slice cutting surface.   
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the three dimensional body comprises an assembly having multiple parts;   a user can determine whether each of the multiple parts in the assembly participates in the single slice view;   if a first part of the multiple parts does not participate in the single slice view, the first part is displayed in a original form of the first part in the slice view; and   if the first part participates in the slice view, a zero-depth representation of the first part is displayed in the slice view.   
   
   
       17 . An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for displaying multiple slices of a three dimensional body in a computer drawing application, the method comprising:
 displaying a first view of the three dimensional body;   defining, on the first view, one or more slice sketches; and   displaying a single slice view of the three dimensional body, wherein the single slice view simultaneously depicts all of the one or more slices with a zero-depth representation of each slice.   
   
   
       18 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more slice sketches are defined by the user drawing said slice sketches onto the first view. 
   
   
       19 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more slice sketches are defined by accepting one or more planes in a model of the three dimensional body as slice sketches. 
   
   
       20 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more slice sketches are open-profile lines. 
   
   
       21 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein the slice view comprises an isometric view that illustrates a depth component between slices displayed in the slice view based on a distance between each slice sketche defined in the first view. 
   
   
       22 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 editing the three dimensional body or one of the slice sketches; and   automatically updating and displaying the slice view to reflect the editing.   
   
   
       23 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein:
 each of the one or more slice sketches defines a slice cutting surface; and   each slice is depicted in the single slice view by displaying an outline of the three dimensional body where it intersects with each slice cutting surface.   
   
   
       24 . The article of manufacture of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the three dimensional body comprises an assembly having multiple parts;   a user can determine whether each of the multiple parts in the assembly participates in the single slice view;   if a first part of the multiple parts does not participate in the single slice view, the first part is displayed in an original form of the first part in the slice view; and   if the first part participates in the slice view, a zero-depth representation of the first part is displayed in the slice view.