OpenSite Designer CONNECT Edition

Surfaces

Create Surfaces

Modify Surfaces

Surface Utilities

Note: Select a link to "jump" to the desired Surfaces tab group.

Surfaces tab

Create Surfaces

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

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

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.