Surfaces

Create Surfaces Modify Surfaces Surface Utilities
Figure 1. Surfaces tab

Create Surfaces

Figure 2. Create Surfaces group

Setting

Description

Construct Surface

  • By Plane - Used to construct a rectangular B-spline surface from defined corner points, or from averaging multiple defined points.
  • By Edges - (3D only) Used to construct a B-spline surface that has up to 6 elements (lines, line strings, shapes, arcs, curves, B-spline curves, complex chains, and complex shapes) as edges.
  • By Corners - Used to construct a B-spline surface by defining its four corner points, which may be non-planar.
  • By Points - (3D only) Used to place or construct a free-form B-spline surface.
  • By Network of Curve - (3D only) Used to construct a B-spline surface that is transformed between elements of a network.
  • By Image - Used to create a B-spline surface from a raster image.

Loft

  • Loft - (3D only) Used to construct a B-spline surface that is transformed between section elements (lines, line strings, arcs, ellipses, complex chains, complex shapes, B-spline curves, or the edges of a surface).
  • Loft by Vertices - Used to construct a surface between the vertices of two profiles (or groups of profiles).
  • Loft Transition - Used to create a Smart Surface transition from a rectangular to a circular section.

Extrude/Sweep

  • Extrude - (3D only) Used to create a surface generated by linearly extruding aprofile element (line, line string, arc, ellipse, text, multi-line, complex chain, or complex shape, edge of a surface or solid element, or B-spline curve) a defined distance.
  • Extrude Along - (3D only) Used to create:
    • a tubular solid extrusion along a path.
    • a solid by extruding a profile element along a path. Profile elements can be a closed element such as a shape, complex shape, B-spline surface, or a selected face of solid or surface element.
  • Sweep - (3D only) Used to create a Smart Surface by sweeping one or two section profile curves along one or two trace curves.

Revolve Surface

  • Revolve Surface - Used to create a surface of revolution - a complex 3D element that is generated by rotating a profile element (line, line string, arc, ellipse, shape, complex chain, complex shape, or B-spline curve) about an axis of revolution.
  • Helix - (3D only) Used to construct a helical-shaped B-spline surface by sweeping a section profile curve along a helix curve.

Primitive Surfaces

  • Slab - (3D only) Used to place an extruded surface with a rectangular cross-section.
  • Dome - (3D only) Used to place a dome shaped surface, which is a part of a sphere.
  • Cylinder - (3D only) Used to place a cylindrical surface.
  • Torus - (3D only) Used to place a torus surface (a donut-shaped surface).
  • Cone - (3D only) Used to place a cone surface.
  • Elliptical Cone - (3D only) Used to place an elliptical cone surface, which is a transition surface between two ellipses.

Modify Surfaces

Figure 3. Modify Surfaces group

Setting

Description

Trim

  • Surfaces - (3D only) Used to do the following:
    • Trim two elements to their common intersection.
    • Trim one element to its intersection with a second.
  • By Curves - (3D only) Used to:
    • Punch a hole in a surface by projecting a cutting profile.
    • Project a B-spline curve onto a surface.

Fillet

  • Surfaces - (3D only) Used to create a 3D fillet between two surfaces (shapes, cones, extruded surfaces, surfaces of revolution, or B-spline surfaces) by sweeping an arc of constant radius along the common intersection curve - commonly referred to as a constant radius rolling ball fillet.
  • Along Curves - (3D only) Used to construct a blending B-spline surface between two surfaces (extruded surfaces, surfaces of revolution, cones, or B-spline surfaces) along their rail curves.

Blend Surfaces

(3D only) Used to construct a blend between two elements (extruded surfaces, surfaces of revolution, cones, or B-spline surfaces) with a specified order of continuity.

Extend Surface

(3D only) Used to extend a surface along one of its edge segments or the outer boundary.

Offset Surface

(3D only) Used to construct a Smart Surface by offsetting an extruded surface, surface of revolution or a B-spline surface.

Merge to Edge

Used to merge the selected edge of a B-spline surface to the edge of a second surface.

Stitch / Combine

  • Stitch Surfaces - (3D only) Used to stitch two or more open surfaces (extruded surfaces, surfaces of revolution, B-spline surfaces, shapes, or planar complex shapes) into one surface, along their abutting edges.
  • Combine Surfaces - Used to combine two or more B-spline surfaces that share common edges.

Split Surface

(3D only) Used to perform a partial delete on a surface or solid (shape, cone, sphere, extruded surface, surface of revolution, or B-spline surface) along its rule lines, in the U or V direction.

Surface Handlebar

Used to modify the shape of a surface by manipulating handles.

Twist Surface

Used to twist a B-spline surface, or a mesh element, about a defined axis.

Untrim Surface

(3D only) Used to:
  • Reverse the sense of trim boundaries in a B-spline surface or SmartSurface - that is, convert holes to surfaces and vice-versa.
  • Remove one or more trim boundaries (holes) from a B-spline surface or SmartSurface.

Edit Control Points

Used to show or hide the control polygon, or to edit the number of control points and/or the number of rule lines for a B-spline surface.

Surface Utilities

Figure 4. Surface Utilities group

Setting

Description

Change Surface

  • Normal - (3D only) Used to change the surface normal direction for a surface (cone, extruded surface, surface of revolution, or B-spline surface).
  • Order - Used to change the order of a B-spline surface in the U and/or V direction.
  • Closure - Used to change the closure settings in the U and/or V direction for a B-spline surface.

Planar Slice

Used to generate a planar section through design geometry, using as a cutting plane an existing planar element, a plane defined by three points, or a plane perpendicular to a view and defined by two points.

Extract

  • Points - (3D only) Used to graphically and numerically evaluate attributes of a B-spline surface, other than order, poles, and knots, at given locations on the surface.
  • Iso Curves - (3D only) Used to extract a B-spline curve(s) from a solid or a B-spline surface.

Compute Surface

  • Intersections - (3D only) Used to find the intersection point between elements. Example: find the intersection between a line or curve and a surface, solid or mesh element.
  • Curvature - (3D only) Used to visualize the Gaussian curvature of a surface.

Match Settings

Used to change the active B-spline surface settings to the attributes of a B-spline surface in the design.

Convert to Surface

Used to convert:
  • standard surfaces to B-spline surfaces or Smart Surfaces.
  • standard solids to standard surfaces.

Rebuild

(3D only) Used to rebuild a B-spline surface.

Unroll Surface

Used to unroll a surface onto a plane, using an approximation process.