unigraphics nx8 - combine bodies

[NX8-HELP] COMBINE BODIES 1

Combine Bodies drive24ward (meslab.org/mes)

Combine bodies View a topic

Unite

Subtract

Intersect

Emboss

Sheet

Sew

Unsew

Patch

Join Face

Quilt

1. Unite

Use the Unite Boolean command to combine the volume of two or more solid tool bodies into a single

target body. The target body and tool body must overlap or share faces so that the result is a valid solid

body. This command creates a Unite feature.

You can:

Use a Group of bodies as the tool.

Optionally save and retain unmodified copies of the target and tool bodies.

Target solid body (1) united with a group of tool bodies (2) into a single solid body

Where do I find it?

Application Modeling

Toolbar FeatureCombine Drop-downUnite

Menu InsertCombineUnite



1.1. Combine tool body volumes using Unite

1. On the Feature toolbar, from the Combine Drop-down list, select Unite or choose InsertCombineUnite.

Note In the Unite dialog box, by default, Select Body is active first in the Target group, and

after you select a target, it is active in the Tool group.

2. Select a target solid body.

3. Selected target body (cyan) 4. Select one or more tool solid bodies.

5. Selected tool solid bodies (red) 6. (Optional) You can do one or more of the following:

o In the Preview group, use Show Result / Undo Result to check how the target and

tool solid bodies will be modified.



o Modified solid body

o To save an unmodified copy of the target body, select Keep Target.

o To save unmodified copies of the tool bodies, select Keep Tool.

7. Click OK or Apply.

The target body is modified by combining it with the volumes of the four tool bodies.

1.2. Unite options Target

Select Body

Lets you select a target solid body to unite with one or more tool solid bodies.

The target body is united with, and becomes part of, the tool bodies.

Tool

Select Body

Lets you select one or more tool solid bodies to modify the selected target body.

The tool bodies are united with, and become part of, the target body.

Selected tool bodies appear in dynamic preview mode when Preview is selected.

Note Any selected tool body that does not intersect the target body will be consumed by

the Boolean operation.

Settings

Keep Target

Saves a copy of the target body in an unmodified state.

If you select more than one tool body, Unite copies the target of the first Boolean

feature, but unites the target bodies for the rest.

Keep Tool Saves a copy of the selected tool bodies in an unmodified state.

Convert to

Sew Feature

Available only when editing a Unite feature.

Lets you convert a Unite Boolean to a Boolean sheet body feature. You may need to

make this conversion if a Boolean feature fails to update. Conversion may also be useful

if you need access to the additional editing options available for sew features.

Tolerance

Lets you change the tolerance used to create a Boolean sheet body feature. A tighter

(smaller value) tolerance creates a more precise model. A looser (larger value) tolerance

permits objects to be joined more easily, but the model may not be as precise.



2. Subtract Use the Subtract command to remove the volume of one or more tool bodies from a target body.

When you use the Subtract command:

You can select a Group of bodies as the tool.

Group of bodies as tool

Resulting Subtract feature

If you select a sheet body as a tool body, the result is a fully parameterized Subtract feature with

all regions kept.

If the tool body completely splits the target body into multiple solid bodies the resulting solid

bodies are parameterized features.

A tool solid (2) is subtracted from a target solid (1), which becomes a parameterized Subtract feature (3)

Note An empty space may remain where the subtracted target body existed.

Where do I find it?


Toolbar FeatureCombine Drop-downSubtract

Menu InsertCombineSubtract



2.1. Remove tool body volume using Subtract

1. On the Feature toolbar, from the Combine Drop-down list, select Subtract , or choose InsertCombineSubtract.

Note In the Subtract dialog box, by default, Select Body is active first in the Target group,

and after you select a target, it is active in the Tool group.

2. Select a target body.

3. Selected target body (cyan) 4. Select one or more tool bodies.

5. Selected tool bodies (red) 6. (Optional) You can do the following:

o In the Preview group, use Show Result / Undo Result to check how the target body

will be modified when the volume of the tool bodies is subtracted from it.



o Preview of modified target body

o To save an unmodified copy of the original target body, select Keep Target.

o To save an unmodified copy of the original tool bodies, select Keep Tool.

7. Choose OK or Apply.

The target body is modified by subtracting the volumes of the four tool bodies.

2.2. Subtract options Target

Select Body

Lets you select a target solid body.

The target body is modified by subtracting from it the volumes of the tool bodies.

Note During edit, you can change the target body of a subtraction, but you must first

reorder any children of either the target body or the tool body before the Subtract

feature. You can reorder child features with EditFeatureReorder, or by right-clicking Reorder Before or Reorder After in the Part Navigator.

Tool

Select Body

Lets you select one or more tool solid bodies to modify the selected target body.

The tool bodies are subtracted from the target body.




Settings

Keep Target

Saves a copy of the target body in an unmodified state.

If you select more than one tool body, Subtract copies the target of the first Boolean

feature, but consumes the target bodies for the rest.

Keep Tool Saves a copy of the tool bodies in an unmodified state.

Convert to

Sew Feature

Available only when editing a Boolean feature.

Lets you convert a Subtract Boolean to a Boolean sheet body feature. You may need to

make this conversion if a Boolean feature fails to update. Conversion may also be useful if

you need access to the additional editing options available for sew features.

Tolerance




3. Intersect

Use Intersect to create a body containing the shared volume or area between a target body and one or

more tool bodies.



When you use the Intersect command:

You can use a Group of bodies as the tool.

You can intersect solids with solids, sheets with sheets, and a sheet with a solid. If you select a

sheet body as a tool body, the result is a fully parameterized Intersect feature with all regions kept.

If the tool body completely splits the target body into multiple solid bodies the resulting solid

bodies are parameterized features.

The normal result is a solid body containing the intersecting volume of the target body and all tool body

solid bodies.

A target solid (1) and a group of tool bodies (2) intersect resulting into three parameterized bodies (3)

Where do I find it?


Toolbar FeatureCombine Drop-downIntersect

Menu InsertCombineIntersect

3.1. Create shared body volume using Intersect

1. On the Feature toolbar, from the Combine Drop-down list, select Intersect , or choose InsertCombineIntersect.

Note In the Intersect dialog box, by default, Select Body is active first in the Target group,

and after you select a target, it is active in the Tool group.

2. Select a target body.



3. Selected target body (cyan) 4. Select a tool body.

5. Selected tool body (red) 6. (Optional) You can do the following:

o In the Preview group, use Show Result / Undo Result to check how the target and

tool body will be modified when an intersect body containing the volume they share is

created.

o Preview of modified target body

o To save an unmodified copy of the original target body, select Keep Target.

o To save an unmodified copy of the original tool body, select Keep Tool.

7. Click OK or Apply.

An intersect body is created containing the volume shared by the target and tool bodies.



3.2. Intersect options Target

Select Body

Lets you select a target solid or sheet body.

The target body is modified by combining its volume with that of the tool body where

they intersect.

Tool

Select Body

Lets you select a solid body or sheet body to serve as the tool.

If the target is a solid body, the tool can only be another solid.

If the target is a sheet body, the tool can be a solid or a sheet body.

The volume of the tool body is combined with that of the target body where they

intersect.




Settings

Keep Target Saves a copy of the target body in an unmodified state.

Keep Tool Saves a copy of the tool body in an unmodified state.

Convert to

Sew Feature

Available only when editing a Boolean feature.

Lets you convert an Intersect Boolean to a Boolean sheet body feature. You may need to

make this conversion if a Boolean feature fails to update. Conversion may also be useful

if you need access to the additional editing options available for sew features.

Tolerance




4. Emboss Sheet

Use the Emboss Sheet command to modify a sheet body by adding faces of a solid body, as if the solid

body was pressed into the sheet body.

Sheet metal models are embossed to:

Increase a metal panels stiffness and rigidity.

Increase the surface area for heat transfer or acoustic applications.

Improve traction.

Enhance the ability of a metal surface to disperse fluids efficiently.

Reduce friction and static.



Note You must position the tool bodies on the target sheet body such that they intersect the sheet body in

the areas where the shapes of the tool bodies are to be transferred onto the sheet body.

Emboss Sheet feature

You can produce raised or sunken designs or relief on a sheet metal body to improve the performance

characteristics of appliance panels, door panels, automotive trim, metal office furniture and so on.

Where do I find it?


Toolbar FeatureCombine Drop-downEmboss Sheet

Menu InsertCombineEmboss Sheet

4.1. Create an Emboss Sheet feature

1. Choose InsertCombineEmboss Sheet. In the Emboss Sheet dialog box, the Select Body option in the Target group is active.

2. Select the sheet metal body to emboss.

3. Select one or more solid tool bodies to be used to modify the target sheet body.

Note The selected tool bodies must cut entirely through the target sheet body.



4. 5. Specify the direction in which the tool body must emboss the sheet body.

Same as Sheet Normal

Opposite of Sheet Normal

6. Check the Settings options and select or clear the Keep Target or Keep Tool check boxes as required.

7. Click OK or Apply to emboss the sheet.

8. Emboss Sheet feature

4.2. Emboss Sheet options Target

Select Body

Lets you select the target sheet body whose shape you want to emboss.

Tool

Select Body

Lets you select one or more tool bodies that intersect the target sheet body.

Note The tool bodies must entirely cut through the target sheet body.

Tool Shape Side



Same as Sheet

Normal

Adds to the sheet's shape the portions of the tool bodies that lie on the same side of the

sheet body as the displayed sheet normal vector . The portions of the tool bodies on the

other side of the sheet body are discarded.

Opposite of

Sheet Normal

Adds to the sheet's shape the portions of the tool bodies that lie on the opposite side of

the sheet body as the displayed sheet normal vector. The portions of the tool bodies on

the same side of the sheet body as the normal are discarded.

Settings

Keep Target Lets you keep or discard the target bodies.

Keep Tool Lets you keep or discard the tool bodies.

5. Sew

Use the Sew command to join two or more sheet bodies into a new single sheet body. If the collection of

sheet bodies encloses a volume, a solid body is created. The selected sheet bodies must not have any gaps

larger than the specified tolerance, or the resulting body will be a sheet body.

You can also sew two solid bodies together if they share one or more common (coincident) faces.

Where do I find it?

Application Modeling, Shape Studio

Toolbar FeatureCombine Drop-downSew

Menu InsertCombineSew

5.1. Sew sheets together

1. Click InsertCombineSew. 2. In the Sew dialog box, select Sheet from the Type list.

3. If it is not already active, click Select Sheet Body in the Target group and select a sheet body for the target.



4. Target sheet body selected

5. If it is not already active, click Select Sheet Body in the Tool group and select one or more sheet bodies to sew to the target. The sheet body faces should be coincident with the target.

6. Tool sheet bodies selected 7. (Optional) You can do the following:

o In the Preview group, click Show Result .

The preview shows the sew feature.

Preview of the sew feature

Click Undo Result to return to the dialog or OK or Apply to create the sew feature.



o In the Settings group, select Output Multiple Sheets to create more than one sewn sheet.

o In the Settings group, type a new value for the Tolerance if the current setting is too small

to create the sew feature.

8. Click OK or Apply to create the sew feature.

5.2. Sew solids together

1. Click InsertCombineSew . 2. In the Sew dialog box, select Solid from the Type list.

3. If it is not already active, click Select Face in the Target group and select a solid face for the target.

4. Bottom surface of the top solid selected for the target

5. If it is not already active, click Select Face in the Tool group and select one or more solid faces to sew to the target. The solid faces should be coincident with the target.

6. Top surface of the bottom solid selected for the tool 7. (Optional) You can do the following:

o In the Preview group, click Show Result .

The preview shows the sew feature.



Preview of new sew solid body

Click Undo Result to return to the dialog or OK or Apply to create the sew feature.

o In the Tool group, click Search Common Faces to see where the sewing will occur.

o If a selected body is part of an instance array, and you want all the instances to be sewn,

select Sew All Instances in the Settings group.

o In the Settings group, type a new value for the Tolerance if the current setting is too small

to create the sew feature.

8. Click OK or Apply to create the sew feature.

5.3. Sew options Type

Sheet Set the Type to Sheet to sew sheet bodies together.

Solid Set the Type to Solid to sew two solid bodies together.

Target

Select Sheet

Body

Appears when the Type is Sheet, to let you select the target sheet body.

Select Face

Appears when the Type is Solid, to let you select the target solid face.

Tool

Select Sheet

Body

Appears when the Type is Sheet, to let you select one or more tool sheets to sew to the

target sheet body. The sheets should be coincident to the selected target sheet body.

Select Face

Appears when the Type is Solid, to let you select one or more tool faces from the second

solid body. The faces must be coincident with one or more target faces.



Search

Common

Faces

Available only when the Type is Solid.

Highlights the edges of faces that are common to (between) the target and tool bodies

when the Type is Solid.

Settings

Output

Multiple

Sheets

Only available when the Type is Sheet.

Lets you create more than one sewn sheet.

Sew All

Instances

Sews the entire instance array if the selected body is part of an instance array. Otherwise,

only the selected instance is sewn.

Tolerance

Sets the maximum distance that edges to be sewn together can be separated for the sew

operation to succeed.

2 sheet edges to be sewn together.

The tolerance must be greater than the maximum distance between the two edges.

Edges to be sewn together (whether they are gapped or overlap) will be sewn if the

distance between them is less than the specified tolerance. If the distance between them is

greater than this tolerance, they will not be sewn together.

Note The tolerance should not be larger than necessary. Whenever possible, the sew

tolerance should be less than the shortest edge. Otherwise, later operations, such as

Booleans, might have unexpected results.



To sew these three sheets together, use a tolerance that is slightly larger than this gap.

Do not use a tolerance this large.

Preview

Show Result

Undo Result

Show Result computes the feature and displays the result. When you click OK or Apply

to create the feature, the software reuses the computation, making the creation process

faster.

Undo Result exits the result display and returns you to the dialog box.

5.4. Sew tips and techniques Mismatched sheets

If the sew operation fails because the sheets to be sewn together are badly mismatched, you can try the

following:

1. Convert the sheet's underlying surface to a B-spline surface using InsertAssociative CopyExtract.

2. Match the edges of the converted sheets using EditSurfaceChange Edge. 3. Sew the sheets together again.

If the sew operation still fails, compare the distance between the sheets or bodies with the sew tolerance.

(Check the distance with AnalysisDistance.) Try loosening the sew tolerance if it is less than the distance between the sheets or bodies.

Cannot change the body type of a sew feature

You cannot edit a sew sheet body feature to that of a sew solid body. Nor can you edit a sew solid body to

that of a sew sheet body.



6. Unsew Use the Unsew command to separate an existing sheet body or solid body into multiple bodies. The

selected faces are unsewn along the edges of the selected face, resulting in multiple bodies.

Unsew is useful in a workflow where you want to perform additional modeling tasks on a specific region

of an existing model. You can unsew a model without referencing its history.

The following graphic shows an unsewn face of a sheet body.

Where do I find it?


Toolbar FeatureCombine Drop-downUnsew

Menu InsertCombineUnsew

6.1. Unsew a face from a body

1. Choose InsertCombineUnsew to open the Unsew dialog box. Select Face is active. 2. Select the faces you want to unsew.

3. Selected face to unsew 4. (Optional) Under Settings, select the Keep Original check box to retain the original objects.



5. Select the required option from the Output list. 6. Click OK or Apply to create the unsew feature.

The following graphic shows the unsew feature created with the original body retained and One

Body for Each Face selected as the Output option.

6.2. Unsew options Face

Select Face

Selects the faces to unsew.

Settings

Keep

Original

Creates the unsew feature on a copy of the selected body.

Note This option is not available when editing an unsew feature.

Output

Lets you specify the number of bodies you want to create for the selected faces, while

creating an unsew feature.

One Body for Connected Faces Creates an unsew feature consisting of a single body for the connected faces selected to be unsewn.

One Body for Each Face Creates an unsew feature for each of the connected faces selected to be unsewn.

7. Patch

Use the Patch command to modify a solid body or a sheet body by replacing faces with the faces of

another sheet.

In this example, the large blue sheet body is the target and the small green sheet body is the tool.



Where do I find it?

Application Modeling, Shape Studio

Toolbar FeatureCombine Drop-downPatch

7.1. Modify a solid or sheet body with faces of

another sheet

1. Click InsertCombinePatch .

2. In the Patch dialog box, click Target (if it is not already active), and select a target for the patch. The target can be a sheet or a solid.

3. Body selected for the target to patch (highlighted in cyan)

4. In the Tool group, click Tool (if it is not already active), and select the tool sheet to patch to the target. Note the direction of the vector.



5. Sheet on the body selected for the patch tool (highlighted in red)

6. In the Preview group, click Show Result .

7. Preview of the new solid body 8. The preview shows the new solid you get by removing the region of the face on the target solid

body that lies between the sheet and the solid and is bounded by the sheet edges.

9. Click Undo Result to return to the dialog or OK or Apply to create the patch.

10. (Optional) To reverse the direction of the patch, click Reverse Direction in the Target Region to Remove group.

11. Direction of the target region to remove arrow reversed

12. In the Preview group, click Show Result again.

13. Preview after reversing the direction 14. The preview in this case shows a different solid body that is formed from the sheet and the solid

body face that is bounded by the sheet edges

15. (Optional) If the tool sheet has multiple faces and you want to use one of them instead of the

default for the remove direction, click Select Face in the Tool Direction Face group and

select the face with the desired direction.



16. (Optional) If you are patching a closed sheet to a target body to make a hole, click Make Hole in Solid Target in the Settings group.

17. Choose OK or Apply to create the patch feature.

7.2. Patch options Target

Select Body

Lets you select a sheet body or a solid body as the target to be patched.

When editing a patch body, you can use this option to redefine the target body. Shift-click

to deselect the original target body and then selecting a new one.

Tool

Select Sheet

Body

Lets you select a sheet body to patch to the target.

Tool sheet edges must be on or close to the face of the target body. Resulting new edges

that are created by the patch must form a closed loop.

When editing a patch body, you can use this option to redefine the tool sheet. Shift-click

to deselect the original tool sheet, and then select the new tool sheet.

Target Region to Remove

Reverse

Direction

When you select a tool sheet body, a conehead vector displays the direction in which the

target body faces will be removed.

To reverse this direction, click Reverse Direction.

Default direction vector

If you accept the default direction, the region of the block face that lies within the

sheet edges is removed and the block and the sheet form a solid body.

If you reverse the direction of the region to be removed, the solid body is formed from

the sheet, plus the block face between the sheet edges.

Tool Direction Face

Lets you redefine the vector direction of the tool sheet when it is composed of multiple

faces. The normal direction of the face you select becomes the new remove direction for



Select Face the target.

Note that the remove direction vector must intersect the target. If it does not, use this

option to specify a new remove direction that does intersect the target. Otherwise, the

patch will fail.

When editing a patch body, you can use this option to reselect the tool face (for example,

when you need to use a single face of a tool sheet that has multiple faces). Choose shift-

click to deselect the original tool face, and then select the new tool face.

Settings

Make Hole

in Solid

Target

Lets you patch a closed sheet to the target body to create a hole.

Note If the edges of the tool sheet have gaps that are larger than the modeling tolerance,

the patch operation may not work as expected.

Tolerance The tolerance value used to create the feature. The default is taken from the tolerance

setting in Modeling preferences.

Preview

Show Result

Undo Result

Show Result computes the feature and displays the result. When you click OK or Apply

to create the feature, the software reuses the computation, making the creation process

faster.

Undo Result exits the result display and returns you to the dialog box.

Reset

Restores settings to their customer defaults or their initial software defaults during

creation and to their pre-edited values during editing.

8. Join Face

Use the Join Face command to join faces on a body.

You can choose from the following two methods:

On Same Surface

Remove redundant faces, edges, and vertices from selected bodies.

If you subdivide a face and subsequently discover that you no longer need the subdivision, you

can use this option to remove the unwanted edges and faces.

Convert to B-Surface



Join multiple faces into a single B-surface type face. The selected faces must be adjacent to each

other, belong to the same body, have matching U-V box ranges, and the edges at which they join

must be isoparametric.

When you select more than two faces to join, the faces are matched in pairs and must be selected

in order so that the matching pairs share edges.

Select mulitple faces in order to maintain matching pairs

Where do I find it?


Toolbar FeatureCombine Drop-downJoin Face

Menu InsertCombineJoin Face

9. Quilt

Use the Quilt command to combine several surfaces into one surface. The system creates a single B-

surface that approximates a four-sided region lying on several existing faces.

The system projects points from a driver surface along a vector or along the driver surface normal vectors

onto the target surfaces (the ones being approximated). These projected points are then used to construct

the approximating B-surface. You can think of the projection as a process of emitting a ray from each

original point to the target surfaces.



Where do I find it?

The Quilt command is available from InsertCombineQuilt when using the following roles:

Advanced with full menus

Essential with full menus

CAM Advanced

CAM Express

I-deas

When not working in one of these roles you can add the Quilt command to a menu or toolbar using the

ToolsCustomize dialog box.

Dialog Options

Quilt Surface Dialog Options

Driver Type Lets you specify the type of driver surface.

Projection

Type

Lets you indicate whether you want the direction of the projection of the driver surface

onto the target surfaces to be a single vector, or vectors which are normal to the driver

surface.

Projection

Limit

Used to limit the distance that points are projected onto the target surface when the

projection vector may pass through the target surface more than once. This option is active

only when the Along Driver Normals projection type is used.

Tolerances Lets you define inside and edge distance and angle tolerances for the Quilt feature.

Show Check

Points

When this option is toggled ON, the points that are calculated during the approximation of

the quilted surface are displayed.

Check for

Overlaps

When this option is ON, the system checks for and tries to handle overlapping surfaces.

Modeling multiple faces as a single face (rather than several) makes certain operations easier. For

example, manufacturing may want to simplify a model to allow for a simpler drive surface to do surface

contouring.



Quilt always outputs bi-cubic surfaces (i.e., surfaces of degree 3x3).

To define a driver surface, you can either use an existing B-surface or other type of surface. To create a

driver B-surface from another type of surface, you must use single curves to define the limits of a driver

surface.

Note If you need to use a string of curves; you can use Insert Mesh Surface Through Curve Mesh to define the driver surface.

Driver Type

The driver types are:

Mesh of

Curves

The system internally builds a B-surface driver from the curve mesh before quilting the

selected target surfaces.

B-Surface Lets you select an existing B-surface as a driver.

Self-Refit Lets you approximate a single untrimmed B-surface. You may want to use this option if you

want to approximate a high degree surface with a low degree surface.

Note If you are using Quilt repeatedly, you may want to construct a B-surface to use as a driver. Selecting

an existing driver surface is much more convenient than selecting the same set of drive curves over

and over again.

Mesh of Curves Driver

Internally, the driver is always a B-surface. However, you are not restricted to B-surfaces only. If you use

Mesh of Curves, the system internally builds a B-surface driver before quilting the selected target

surfaces. When you use curves to define the driver surfaces, they must satisfy all of the conditions

required for building a curve mesh B-surface.

You can select a family of primary curves, followed by a family of cross curves. The number of primary

curves and cross curves must be two or more (but less than 50). The outermost primary and cross curves

act as boundaries of the quilted surface. Therefore, each of the primary curves must intersect each of the

cross curves once and only once. They must also be within the bounds of the target surfaces.

Note It is essential to always use a driver surface or drive curves that lie within the projected target

surface boundaries. Failure to do so results in the following error message:

Failed to project point onto face



Projection Type

This option lets you indicate whether you want the direction of the projection of the driver surface onto

the target surfaces to be a single vector, or vectors which are normal to the driver surface. You can choose

from the following projection types:

Along Fixed Vector Lets you define a projection vector using the Vector Constructor.

Along Driver Normals Lets you use projection vectors normal to the driver surface.

Along Fixed Vector

This option lets you define a projection vector using the Vector Constructor.

Note The sense of the vector is not important, unless you have Check for Overlaps ON and your targets

overlap (i.e., using the +ZC Axis gives the same result as using the -ZC Axis). For example, using -

ZC Axis approximates the highest target faces, while using +ZC Axis approximates the lowest

target faces.

If your target faces do not overlap significantly, or if they are at roughly the same height in the regions

where they do overlap, you get the same result by using either the -ZC Axis or the +ZC Axis. However,

you can achieve roughly the same result and improve performance by setting Check for Overlaps to OFF.

Along Driver Normals

This option lets you use projection vectors normal to the driver surface. When you use Along Driver

Normals, you can enter a Projection Limit value (this option is unavailable if you are using Along Fixed

Vector). The default projection size is 10 times the modeling distance tolerance. This variable is used to

limit the distance that points are projected onto the target surface when the projection vector may pass

through the target surface more than once (e.g., when the target is cylindrical).

Tolerances

The default for distance tolerance (both inside and edge) is the distance tolerance modeling preference.

The default for angle tolerance (both inside and edge) is 90.0.



The following tolerances are available:

Inside Distance The distance tolerance for the interior of the surface.

Inside Angle The angle tolerance for the interior of the surface.

Edge Distance The distance tolerance along the 4 edges of the surface.

Edge Angle The angle tolerance along the 4 edges of the surface.

If any of the tolerances entered are less than zero, the following message appears in the status line:

Tolerance must be greater than zero

If the angle tolerance entered is greater than 90, the following message appears in the status line:

The maximum angle tolerance is 90

Expressions can be entered for any of the Tolerance fields. If an invalid expression is entered, one of the

following messages is displayed in the status line.

Invalid expression for Inside Distance Invalid expression for Edge Distance Invalid

expression for Inside Angle Invalid expression for Edge Angle Invalid expression for

Projection Limit

Tips on Tolerances

The system starts out with a very simple approximating surface (which is unlikely to be within tolerance)

and then gradually makes it more complex until the original shape is replicated to within the specified

tolerances. If you use tighter tolerances, the system produces a more complex result, consumes storage

space and slows down all subsequent operations. Therefore, the tolerances you use should not be any

tighter than needed.

The idea is to use tight tolerances around the edges of the approximating surface, but a loose tolerances in

the interior, thereby allowing a less complex surface.

If you use tight angular tolerances on very "wavy" surfaces, more patches are generated. If you set both

angular tolerances to 90 degrees (the default), angular deviation is not checked; which speeds up

processing.

Note The gap between surfaces (if any), should always be within an order of magnitude of the tolerance.

Other Options

To help you visualize the quilted surface and find potential overlapping problems, you can select the

Show Check Points and/or Check for Overlaps options.

Show Check Points

When this option is toggled ON, the points that are calculated during the approximation of the quilted

surface are displayed. Using Show Check Points slows the process down slightly, but it is probably

worthwhile. Displaying points lets you visualize and identify potential problem areas on the surfaces.

Then you can troubleshoot and fix problem areas much faster.

Check for Overlaps



If this option is ON, the system checks for and tries to handle overlapping surfaces. The system tries to

intersect each ray with all nearby surfaces, and finds the uppermost projection point. If the Check for

Overlaps option is OFF, the system assumes each ray can only hit one target surface, so it stops and

proceeds to the next ray as soon as it finds a hit. This is fine if the target faces do not actually overlap, or

if they are close together in the regions where they do overlap.

Procedure

To create a quilt surface:

1. Choose a Driver Type. 2. Choose a Projection Type. 3. Choose appropriate Tolerances. 4. Choose to Show Check Points and or Check for Overlaps. 5. Choose OK. 6. Select primary and cross curves or a driver surface. 7. Specify a projection vector (if applicable). 8. Select target face(s) by class selection.

Note You can abort the process at any stage by pressing Ctrl+Shift+L, or if you decide you are not happy

with the output surface, you can delete it by choosing Undo.

At the end of the approximation process, the system displays pole size information (xx U poles, xx V

poles) in the Status line.

Analyzing the Approximation

After creating the approximation surface, you may wish to analyze it to make sure it meets your needs.

You may want to check that your tolerance has been achieved. The system constantly measures error as it

proceeds, so it is unlikely that surfaces will be produced that are significantly out of tolerance. However,

you can perform more rigorous tolerance checks by using Analysis Deviation or by cutting cross sections.

You may want to check the validity of the approximation surface before trying to quilt a surface. You can

use Analysis Examine Geometry to insure that the driver surface is free from self-intersections. (You can also validate the resultant surface.)

The system does not make any attempt to preserve the character of the input surfaces, it just tries to stay

within tolerance. Small features sometimes get smoothed away, and extraneous wrinkles may be

introduced, especially in areas with very tight curvature. You can use Analysis Shape Face, shade the surfaces, or display a dense pattern of grid curves to check that the approximation has faithfully

replicated the shape of the original surfaces.

9.1. Editing a Quilt Surface Body

The options that appear on the Edit Quilt Surface dialog depend on the driver type that was used to create

the Quilt body.

Mesh of

Curves

Used a curve mesh from which the system internally built a B-surface driver before

quilting the selected target surfaces.



B-Surface Used an existing B-surface as the driver.

Self-Refit Approximated a single untrimmed B-surface.

Mesh of Curves

If the driver type is Mesh of Curves, the following dialog is displayed.

Edit Quilt Surface Dialog Options (Mesh of Curves)

Primary

Curves

Lets you reselect the primary curves.

Cross Curves Lets you reselect the cross curves.

Target Faces Lets you reselect the target face(s).

Projection

Type

Lets you change the projection option used to project the driver surface onto the target

surfaces. You can use either Along Fixed Vector or Along Driver Normals.

Projection

Limit

Lets you change the projection limit when the Projection Type is Along Driver Normals.

Define Vector Lets you define a projection vector using the Vector Constructor dialog.

Tolerances Lets you change the tolerance values used in creating the Quilt surface. You can use

Inside Distance, Inside Angle, Edge Distance or Edge Angle.

Check for

Overlaps

If this is toggled ON, the system will perform a check for overlapping target surfaces.

B-Surface

If the driver type is B-Surface, the following dialog is displayed.

Edit Quilt Surface Dialog Options (B-Surface)

Driver B-

Surface

Lets you reselect the B-surface used as the driver.

Target Faces Lets you reselect the target face(s).

Projection

Type

Lets you change the projection option used to project the driver surface onto the target

surfaces. You can use either Along Fixed Vector or Along Driver Normals.

Projection

Limit

Lets you change the projection limit when the Projection Type is Along Driver Normals.

Define Vector Lets you define a projection vector using the Vector Constructor dialog.

Tolerances Lets you change the tolerance values used in creating the Quilt surface. You can use

Inside Distance, Inside Angle, Edge Distance or Edge Angle.

Check for

Overlaps

If this is toggled ON, the system will perform a check for overlapping target surfaces.

Self-Refit

If the driver type is Self-Refit, the dialog that is displayed has only one selection step, which is used to

replace the driver surface. The Projection Type section and Check for Overlaps option are excluded.

Edit Quilt Surface Dialog Options (Self-Refit)

Driver Self-

Refit

Lets you reselect the driver.

Tolerances Lets you change the tolerance values used in creating the Quilt surface. You can use Inside

Distance, Inside Angle, Edge Distance or Edge Angle.



Quilt Editing Error Messages Missing Section

String Missing Guide

String Missing Spine

String Missing Scale

String Missing Orientation

String Missing Primary

String Missing Cross String

The following error is displayed if the number of section strings is less than the specified V degree.

More Section String(s) Required For V Degree

The following error is displayed if there are no alignment points for the new string(s).

Same Number Of Alignment Points Required Between String (End) Point As String Cannot

Be Alignment

The following error is displayed if illegal endpoint type strings have been detected for Curve Mesh or

Ruled features.

Only First/Last Primary String Can Have (End) Point Only First Section String Can

Have (End) Point (End) Point String Allowed For Parameter Or By Point Alignment Only

If the following errors display, check the alignment method with the added or removed strings.

No Spine Required For Selecting Feature No Scale Required For Selecting Feature No

Orient Required For Selecting Feature More Than One Spine String Exists More Than One

Scale String Exists More Than One Orient String Exists

If the following errors display, check the orientation and scaling string with the number of guides.

Orientation Curves Required Only If One Guide Scaling Curves Required Only If One

Guide

If the following errors display, check the spine string usage for the Curve Mesh feature.

Spine Required To Be Perpendicular With First/Last Primary Strings Planar First/Last

Primary Strings Required For Spine

Mc lc Combine bodies ............................................................................................................................................................ 1

1. Unite ................................................................................................................................................................. 1

1.1. Combine tool body volumes using Unite .................................................................................................. 2

1.2. Unite options ............................................................................................................................................ 3

2. Subtract ............................................................................................................................................................ 4

2.1. Remove tool body volume using Subtract ................................................................................................ 5

2.2. Subtract options ....................................................................................................................................... 6

3. Intersect ........................................................................................................................................................... 6

3.1. Create shared body volume using Intersect ............................................................................................. 7



3.2. Intersect options ....................................................................................................................................... 9

4. Emboss Sheet ................................................................................................................................................... 9

4.1. Create an Emboss Sheet feature ............................................................................................................ 10

4.2. Emboss Sheet options ............................................................................................................................ 11

5. Sew ................................................................................................................................................................. 12

5.1. Sew sheets together ............................................................................................................................... 12

5.2. Sew solids together ................................................................................................................................ 14

5.3. Sew options ............................................................................................................................................ 15

5.4. Sew tips and techniques ......................................................................................................................... 17

6. Unsew ............................................................................................................................................................. 18

6.1. Unsew a face from a body...................................................................................................................... 18

6.2. Unsew options ........................................................................................................................................ 19

7. Patch .............................................................................................................................................................. 19

7.1. Modify a solid or sheet body with faces of another sheet ..................................................................... 20

7.2. Patch options.......................................................................................................................................... 22

8. Join Face ......................................................................................................................................................... 23

9. Quilt ................................................................................................................................................................ 24

9.1. Editing a Quilt Surface Body ................................................................................................................... 29

Combine bodies1. Unite1.1. Combine tool body volumes using Unite1.2. Unite options

2. Subtract2.1. Remove tool body volume using Subtract2.2. Subtract options

3. Intersect3.1. Create shared body volume using Intersect3.2. Intersect options

4. Emboss Sheet4.1. Create an Emboss Sheet feature4.2. Emboss Sheet options

5. Sew5.1. Sew sheets together5.2. Sew solids together5.3. Sew options5.4. Sew tips and techniques

6. Unsew6.1. Unsew a face from a body6.2. Unsew options

7. Patch7.1. Modify a solid or sheet body with faces of another sheet7.2. Patch options

8. Join Face9. Quilt9.1. Editing a Quilt Surface Body