Use the xyz subpanel to create free points by specifying (x,y,z) coordinates.

This subpanel creates free points by specifying (x,y,z) coordinates.

A new point is created with x=5, y=5, and z=5, relative to the global coordinate system.

There are several methods for entering the coordinate values:

When using each of these collectors, the respective x, y, or z coordinate value is copied from the selected node into the corresponding input box.

This will copy the respective x, y and z coordinate values and the reference system value from the selected node into the corresponding input boxes.

By default, free points are created relative to the global system; however, a local coordinate system can be specified using the system collector. This system can be rectangular, cylindrical or spherical.  However, unlike nodes, free points cannot be assigned a reference system and are therefore not updated to reflect any subsequent changes made to the system.

Use the Arc Center subpanel to create at the center of the arc that best approximates the input set of nodes, points or lines.

This subpanel creates free points at the center of the arc that best approximates the input set of nodes, points or lines.

Here, three nodes selected produce a point at the center of the arc that they form.  Three input points would work similarly.

Here, two selected lines are used to determine the arc center.  Note that the curved line could also have been used alone.

For nodes and points input, a minimum of three must be selected.

For lines input, the selection must not all lie on a straight line.

An optional tolerance is available to verify whether the calculated best fit circle is sufficient.  If ignored, the best fit circle is always calculated.  Otherwise, an error is returned if the input entities are not all on the circle within the specified tolerance.

Use the Extract Parametric subpanel to create free points at parametric locations on lines and surfaces.

This subpanel creates free points at parametric locations on lines and surfaces.

For lines:

This example shows u ranging from 0 to 1, with six u points, created evenly along the arc length.

For surfaces:

This examples uses u from 0 to 0.75 with 4 u points, and v from 0.25 to 1.0 with 6 v points.

Use the Intersect subpanel to create free points at the intersection of geometric entities: lines/lines, lines/surfaces, lines/solids, lines/planes, vector/lines, vector/surfaces, vector/solids and vector/plane.

This subpanel creates free points at the intersection of geometric entities: lines/lines, lines/surfaces, lines/solids, lines/planes, vector/lines, vector/surfaces, vector/solids and vector/plane.

A free point is created at each intersection location.

Though difficult to see in the second image, a new point was created from the selected lines.

For surface, solid and plane intersections, if the input line or vector lies on the surface/solid/plane the result is undefined and unpredictable.

For vectors, the magnitude and direction of the vector do not have any effect on the result.  The vector extends through the entire model space.