Power Tools GUI Tutorial Step 5

Step 5: Splitting Filleted Surfaces

The previous step determined that the volume was not currently meshable, and that further decomposition was required. This decomposition can be performed using the tools in the Geometry Repair power tools. A good place to start is with blend surfaces.

A blend surface is a transitional surface that connects two orthogonal planes, also known as a fillet. Blend surfaces can be problematic in meshing because there is no clear transition between the two orthogonal surfaces, making sweeping or mapping algorithms difficult. The Split Surface function divides these blend surfaces (or any surface) into two distinct surfaces.

  • Select Surface 22 from the list of blend surfaces
  • Right click and select Zoom To from the list of options

The graphics window should look like this:

knuckle_22_zoom_to.gif

  • Right click with Surface 22 highlighted and select the Split button

OR

  • Click the split_surface_button.gif button on the tool panel

The Geometry-Surface-Modify-Split Menu will appear on the Control Panel. Make sure the Surface id is input in the window.

  • Press the Preview Button

The blue line shows where the surface will be split.

knuckle_split_preview.gif

  • Press the Apply Button

The surface should now appear split.

  • Repeat these steps with the opposite blend surface (ID 10)