Creating 3D Profiles – Surface Unfoldings

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The mode of creating a 3D profile as a surface unfolding is called by the following option of the main command automenu:

<S>

Unfold surfaces

After calling the option, you should select the surface for which you want to create an unfolding in the 3D window. The selection is made using the option:

<O>

Select surfaces

Then you should set the point of tangency of the profile (fixed point), which is indicated by the option:

<A>

Select 3D node as tangency point of profile and source face

 

The selected surface and fixed point will be added to the properties window. To edit the list of elements for scanning, use the buttons Collapse , Delete Element from the List , Clear .

The automatic selection of the algorithm is set by default.

To determine the cut line of the unfolding of a closed cylindrical face, use the automenu option:

<S>

Select 3D path to define split line

To determine the cut line of the unfolding of a closed conic face, use the automenu option:

<S>

Select 3D node to define split line

In the iterative type of the algorithm mode, the system proposes to select an additional 3D point defining the direction of profile projection and/or plane for the orientation of the unfolding. The accuracy of the contour of the resulting unfolding is settled by parameters such as Spline Interpolation Accuracy and Smooth Edges Angle.

The choice of the point specifying the direction of projection is performed using the auto-menu option:

<D>

Select Point to Define Profile Orientation

The choice of the plane for orientation of the resultant unfolding is carried out using the auto-menu option:

<P>

Select Plane to Define Unfolding Direction

If necessary, you can specify the mesh generation parameters in the corresponding section of the command properties window.

Edge Tolerance - the maximum distance between the curves of the model and the edges of the mesh that approximate them.

Face Tolerance - the maximum distance between the surfaces of the model and the flat edges of the grid that approximate them.

Angle Tolerance - the maximum angle between the curves of the model and the grid edges that approximate them, given in degrees. The angle is measured as the sum of the angles between the edges of the mesh and the tangents to the initial curve at the end points of the edges. This parameter also determines the maximum allowable angle between the surfaces of the model and the flat mesh faces that approximate them (that is, the angle between surface and face normals).

Maximal Edge Length - the maximum length of the edge of the generated mesh finite element. If the value is zero, the system ignores this parameter.