CAD > Build > Construction Lines

Builds construction lines. These are meant to represent the mining outlines and are used as aids for building your model. Construction lines are generally digitized from drawings or imported from other CAD packages.

When the routine is initiated the user is prompted to select a series of corners that define the perimeter of the desired zone. The construction line is considered to be complete when either the 1st corner is repeated or the user selects

CAD > Build > Build

Once at least two points have been entered, the remaining points can be generated by offsetting

CAD > Build > Offset Remaining

The coordinates of the corners can be typed in from the keyboard

CAD > Build > Enter Point

selected by freehand drawing, picked from other entities (other blocks or construction lines) or digitized

CAD > Digitizer Setup > Activate

A large variety of drawing tools are available to assist in visually selecting points from the model

CAD > Snap

Corners can be unselected using

CAD > Build > Undo Point

Corners can be reselected using

CAD > Build > Redo Point

Upon completion of block construction the user is prompted to enter the properties. This allows you to specify the colour of the construction line.

Colour - specifies the colour number that will be used to display the construction line.

A total of 10 colours are available for display. These are numbered respectively

1 through 10,

11 through 20,

21 through 30, etc.,

such that the same colour is displayed for numbers

1, 11, 21...,

2, 22, 32...,

3, 23, 33..., etc.

Undo - unselects the last point entered and returns to the construction line grid building routine.

CAD > Build > Undo Point

Build - completes grid construction and enters the block into the model database.

Once you have completed this operation you have one last chance to undo this and remove this grid from the model database by selecting

CAD > Build > Undo Build

Cancel - aborts line construction.

Notes

Different colour numbers should be used to represent logical groupings of construction lines (e.g. for different levels, sections or logical mining units such as development, stoping etc.). These colours are user definable

Tools > Custom Colours

Since it is easy to toggle on and off the display of specific construction line colour numbers

View > Hide Block Colours

This provides an efficient method to work with complex construction line data.

For examples on the use of construction lines in model building refer to:

Model Building Tutorials

Pressing the space-bar automatically activates the last build function that was used.