Constrained Surface

1. Click the Constrained surface icon ( ).

   

2. Choose to define the surface by points or mesh data.
   • Points - Select the vertices to define the surface. The surface is created Normal to the selected vertex. To change the orientation of the surface, click the vertex in the dialog to show additional options:

     

     • Click in the Normal field to select it, then select the direction in which to create the surface from the model.
     • Click the Mate connector button to select a mate connector.
     • Click the Flip normal button to switch the orientation.
   • Mesh - Select the mesh bodies or faces to define the surface.
3. Set the Tolerance to allow when creating the surface. The larger the tolerance, the simpler and larger the resulting surface.
4. Click the Optimize dropdown and select to optimize for performance or smoothness.
   • Performance - Faster performance that may produce lower-quality surfaces.
   • Smoothness - Typically produces higher-quality surfaces with lower curvatures, but with slower performance and more control points.
5. Click the Deviation check box to view the maximum deviation between the original points/mesh and the created surface.
   • Click the Show deviation check box to display the Maximum deviation or All deviations on the model.
   • Set the Limit for deviations to display. Any deviations below the entered limit will not be displayed on the model.
6. Click .

Constrained surface defined by points

Constrained surface defined by points in an extrude.

Constrained surface defined by mesh

Stripes rendered on a constrained surface defined by a mesh data scan of a violin.

Constrained surface with displayed deviations

Red line added to the model to highlight deviations.

Constrained surface orientation options

Left: Constrained surface normal to the selected vertex. Right: Constrained surface with non-normal orientation.

This lists the collection of surface feature tools. This is not an exhaustive list. Additional Feature tools may be used when modeling surfaces. See Surfacing for additional information.

• Thicken - Add depth to a surface. Create a new part or modify an existing one by giving thickness to a surface and converting it to a solid, adding or removing material from an existing part or surface, or intersecting parts in its path.
• Enclose - Create a part by selecting all boundaries surrounding an empty space to form a solid. Use any set of surfaces and solids (including planes and faces) that intersect each other or connect at a boundary to create a volume. Create a new part or modify an existing one by adding, removing, or intersecting parts.
• Fillet - Round sharp interior and exterior edges and define as a standard constant radius, more stylized conic, or variable by selecting Edge fillet. Optionally apply a Full round fillet to create a seamless blend of one or more faces between two opposing sides.
• Face blend - Round sharp connected or disconnected interior and exterior faces to create a seamless blend between the faces or detach the blend to create new faces, defining a radius or constant width. Further define the blend cross section (rolling ball or swept profile), symmetry, control, trim, constraints, and limits.
• Delete face - Remove geometry from a part. Select whether to heal the surrounding faces (by extending until they intersect), cap the void, or leave the void open. This Direct Editing tool is especially convenient if you don't have the parametric history of the part, as is often the case with an imported part.
• Move face - Translate, rotate, or offset one or more selected faces. This Direct Editing tool is especially convenient if you don't have the parametric history of the part, as is often the case with an imported part.
• Replace face - Trim a face or extend a face to a new surface. This Direct Editing tool is especially convenient if you don't have the parametric history of the part, as is often the case with an imported part.
• Offset surface - Create a new surface by offsetting an existing face, surface, or sketch region. Set offset distance to 0 to create a copy in place.
• Boundary surface - Create or add a surface specified by its boundary profiles.
• Fill - Create a surface (or a part from surfaces) by defining boundaries and refine the surface with boundary conditions (instead of requiring the use of reference surfaces).
• Move boundary - Move boundary edges of a surface in order to extend or trim it.
• Ruled surface - Create a ruled surface from an existing edge, sketch line, or curve.
• Mutual trim - Trim two adjacent surfaces by extending intersections to complete the trim.
• Constrained surface - Create a surface from a selection of points or mesh data within a specified tolerance. Display deviations and optimize for performance or smoothness.