gp_Ax3 Class Reference
Describes a coordinate system in 3D space. Unlike a
gp_Ax2 coordinate system, a gp_Ax3 can be
right-handed ("direct sense") or left-handed ("indirect sense").
A coordinate system is defined by:
- its origin (also referred to as its "Location point"), and
- three orthogonal unit vectors, termed the "X <br> Direction", the "Y Direction" and the "Direction" (also
referred to as the "main Direction").
The "Direction" of the coordinate system is called its
"main Direction" because whenever this unit vector is
modified, the "X Direction" and the "Y Direction" are
recomputed. However, when we modify either the "X <br> Direction" or the "Y Direction", "Direction" is not modified.
"Direction" is also the "Z Direction".
The "main Direction" is always parallel to the cross
product of its "X Direction" and "Y Direction".
If the coordinate system is right-handed, it satisfies the equation:
"main Direction" = "X Direction" ^ "Y Direction"
and if it is left-handed, it satisfies the equation:
"main Direction" = -"X Direction" ^ "Y Direction"
A coordinate system is used:
- to describe geometric entities, in particular to position
them. The local coordinate system of a geometric
entity serves the same purpose as the STEP function
"axis placement three axes", or
- to define geometric transformations.
Note:
- We refer to the "X Axis", "Y Axis" and "Z Axis",
respectively, as the axes having:
- the origin of the coordinate system as their origin, and
- the unit vectors "X Direction", "Y Direction" and
"main Direction", respectively, as their unit vectors.
- The "Z Axis" is also the "main Axis".
- gp_Ax2 is used to define a coordinate system that must be always right-handed.
#include <gp_Ax3.hxx>