user manual

modeling

Release 8.5

____________________________________

User Manual

Modeling - Volume 1

1993-2011 solidThinking Inc.

Part N. 80-25041-10301

Copyright 1993-2011 solidThinking, Inc. All rights reserved.

solidThinking and renderThinking are trademarks of solidThinking, Inc. All other trademarks or servicemarks are
the property of their respective owners.
This documentation and the software program are copyright solidThinking, Inc. and your rights are subject to the
limitations and restrictions imposed by the copyright laws. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a
retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or
otherwise, or disclosed to a third party, without the prior written permission of solidThinking, Inc.
solidThinking, Inc. reserves the right to make changes in specifications at any time and without notice. Parts of this
documentation are copyright LightWork Design Ltd. 1990-2011 . solidThinking Inc. provides this publication as is
without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents
Modeling - Volume 1
Section 1

Getting Started
1.1

About this Manual

1
21

Conventions

22

1.2

Starting solidThinking

24

1.3

Screen Components

25

1.4

Using the Mouse and the Keyboard

26

1.5

Message Boxes

28

1.6

Saving your Work

31

Section 2

The Pull-Down Menus

33

2.1

File Menu

36

2.2

Edit Menu

39

2.3

Selection Menu

43

2.4

View Menu

49

2.5

Tools Menu

51

2.6

Managers Menu

54

2.7

Render Menu

56

2.8

Environment Menu

58

2.9

Help Menu

59

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Section 3

General User Interface

61

3.1

Space in solidThinking

68

3.2

The Modeling Views

70

3.3

View Modes

78

3.4

View Layout

80

3.5

View Detail

81

Customize View Detail

82

3.6

Background Image

85

3.7

Grid Settings

87

3.8

Snap Options

89

3.9

The Application Toolbar

94

3.10

Working Modes

97

3.11

Selecting Objects

103

3.12

Selecting Points

105

3.13

Selecting Groups

107

3.14

The Modeling Toolbar and Libraries

108

3.15

The Console

111

3.16

The World Browser

113

Layers

119

3.17

The Modeling Tool panel

122

3.18

The Shading panel

123

3.19

Preferences

124

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Section 4

Modeling in solidThinking

131

4.1

The Construction Tree

134

4.2

Modeling Tools and Modeling Tool Panel

139

4.3

Transformations

143

Translate

144

Rotate

150

Scale

155

Bounding Box Fitting

158

Inspector

161

Combine

163

MultiCombine

165

Mirror

166

Replicate

170

Step copy

177

DynaStep

180

Matrix Copy

184

DynaMatrix

187

Polar Copy

192

Axes Align to NURBS Surface

198

Axes Align to Object

201

Axes Align to 3 Points

203

Align to Global Axes

206

Align to Curve

210

Advanced Curve Edit

215

MultiEdit

219

Twist

221

Taper

223

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4.4

vi

Warp

226

Shear

229

Bend

232

Lattice

235

Stretch

240

LinearStretch

242

PixelMap

245

SurfDrape

248

Curves

253

NURBS curve

255

MetaCURVE

267

Open PolyLine

272

Rounded PolyLine

274

Single Line

277

Line: perpendicular to segment

279

Line: parallel to segment

281

Line: fillet segment

283

Segment from center

286

Inclined Segment

289

Segment Tangency Align

292

Segment Bisector

295

Bi-tangent Segment

298

Arc: center, point, point

301

Arc: 3 Points

304

Fillet arc: 2 lines

308

Arc: 2 points, radius

312

Arc: tangent, 2 points

315

Line-Arc

320

Fillet Curves

324

Circle: center, radius

328
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Circle: diameter

331

Circle: 3 point

334

Circle: 2 points, tangent

337

Circle: 2 tangents, point

340

Circle: center, tangent

343

Ellipse: focuses, point

346

Ellipse: center, axis 1, axis 2

349

Rect: 3 points

353

Rectangle

355

Regular Polygon

357

Helix

359

Offset

363

Split curves

365

Divide curve

366

Break curve

368

Blend Curves

369

Curve Tangency Align

373

EdgeExtract

378

Extract isoparametric curves

382

Curves from surface intersection

384

Sections

386

Silhouette

389

PathCast

392

Curve to Plane

396

Join curve entities

399

Rebuild curve

401

Simplify curve

404

Curve to arcs

406

Extend Curve

408

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Table of Contents

Modeling - Volume 2
4.5

viii

Surfaces

NURBS Surface Editing

Extrude

Surface extrusion

13

Lathe

16

RadialSweep

19

Skin (and Rule)

24

Loft

29

Pipe

38

Birail

42

MultiSweep

48

3sides

57

Coons

59

N-Side patch

63

Curves Network

66

FillPath

70

Patch

72

Close Hole

78

Surface from Curves

81

Blend Surfaces

84

Surface tangency Align

93

Extend surface

96

Surface offset

99

Shell

102

Solid offset

106

Trim surface

111

Trim solid

119

Trim convert

122
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4.6

4.7

Intersect CT

124

Intersect

130

Boolean

134

Make Manifold

140

Round

145

Round 8.0

167

Fillet surface

190

Face extract

196

Simplify surface

198

Join surfaces

200

Heightfield

203

NURBS Primitives

207

Plane

209

Disk

211

Cube

215

Sphere

217

Torus

221

Cylinder

226

Prism

231

3D Text

235

Polygonal Modeling

237

PolyMesh from NURBS

239

Advanced Tessellation

243

PolyMesh from NURBS control net

247

Vertices editing

250

Edges editing

255

Faces editing

261

Split Polygon

268

Simplify

270

Create Polygon

273

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4.8

4.9

Fill hole

275

Subdivision Surface

276

Subdivision Surface on faces

282

PolyMesh Info

286

Polygonal Primitives

289

PolyPlane

290

PolyDisk

292

PolyCube

295

PolySphere

298

PolyTorus

301

PolyCylinder

305

Analysis tools
Points distance

312

Curve Length

314

SubCurve Length

316

Curve Tangent and Curvature

318

Surface Curvature

320

Surface Area

323

Surface Volume

325

Tolerance check

327

Continuity check

329

The Curvature Display

333

Curvature Plot

335

4.10 Construction planes

337

Construction Plane

338

Disable Construction Plane

340

4.11 PointsCloud

311

341

PointsCloud

342

PointsCloud from object

344

Planar Couds from PointsCloud

346
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Curve from PointsCloud

349

Fit PointsCloud

351

4.12 Digitizers

355

MicroScribe-3D

355

Calibrate

356

Sketch on planes

357

Minolta Vivid Scanner

360

4.13 Dimensioning

361

Linear Aligned

363

Linear Horizontal

367

Linear Vertical

371

Linear Aligned (associative)

375

Linear Horizontal (associative)

382

Linear Vertical (associative)

388

Edge Aligned

395

Edge Horizontal

399

Edge Vertical

403

Bounding Box Horizontal

407

Bounding Box Vertical

411

Angular

415

Angular (associative)

419

Radius/Diameter

425

Radius/Diameter (associative)

428

Leader

431

Leader (associative)

433

4.14 Drawing

435

Pages management

436

Page composition

437

Menu commands

441

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solidThinking User Manual

Getting Started

Section 1

Getting Started

solidThinking User Manual

Section 1

solidThinking User Manual

Getting Started

Getting Started

Welcome to solidThinking, the breakthrough 3D environment!

solidThinking combines unique and powerful modeling and

design communication tools surrounded by an interface that is at

once familiar, intuitive and informative.
The robust combination of NURBS curve, surface, and solid
modeling tools, as well as polygonal and point cloud creation
and manipulation tools, work together to expand the possibilities
of what you can achieve within a single 3D design application.
The photorealistic and sketch rendering technologies, along with
web-ready interactive exports, combine to produce stunning
images of your models for easy communication and approval.
And finally, the unparalleled and interactive Construction
History which completes the parametric modeling environment,
gives you the freedom to create and evaluate more design
possibilities in less time.
The solidThinking product line consists of four packages for
each level of need in your design modeling workflow. We are
providing here a list of the main features included. Some of
them are not available in each solidThinking version.

solidThinking User Manual

Section 1

USER INTERFACE
solidThinking

user interface is a carefully designed

environment where you work in luxurious comfort. In fact, not
only does it have clear and self-explicative icons but it also
reduces the number of commands required to specify
operations. The program console guides you through the
creation process prompting you on steps to follow. The perfect
OpenGL integration grants you the best interaction with your
models.

Views

Standard orthographic views (Top, Front, Right, Left, Rear,

and Bottom) plus a user defined number of independent
perspective views.
Interactive editing with full-shaded, texture mapped real
time visualization.
Transparent drawing mode. It is a variant of the Shaded and
Textured modes.
Texture management options to exploit hardware texture
mapping of accelerated graphic cards. Three textures
formats supported: RGBA, RGB and BGR.
High quality NURBS tessellation.

Camera

Dolly, field of view, focal length, roll, track, rectangular

zoom, and cursor zoom.
Interactive editing with full-shaded, texture mapped real
time visualization.
Numerical input of the camera coordinates, show/hide
camera, on/off display update, on/off show points,
adjustable resolution, true colors or selection/deselection
colors visualization.

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Getting Started

Construction Aids

Units of measure.
Advanced grid settings for defining up to four different
grids, each with its own origin and spacing, grid type, color.
Snaps to grid, angle, scale%, translate, point, midpoint,
center, curve, tangent. Snap to 3D and Snap disabled
options.
Unlimited number of Construction Planes.
Axes Align to 3 Points. Align the local axes of a
construction plane/object to three points.
Axes Align to Object. Align the local axes of a construction
plane/object to another object local axes.
Axes Align to NURBS surface. Align the local axes of a
construction plane/ object to be tangent to a NURBS surface.
Align to axis. Align a set of objects along X, Y, or Z
directions with spacing options.
Align to curve. Align a set of objects along a curve with
spacing options.
Global/local modeling tolerance.

Objects Hierarchy Browser

Advanced hierarchical browser.

Unlimited number of layers.
Select/deselect, toggle, delete, group/ungroup, show/hide
objects and groups of objects, on/off bounding box, and
cast/receive shadow options.

On-Line Help

solidThinking User Manual

Reference manual on line (HTML formats).

Section 1

NURBS MODELING
Full NURBS-based modeling and Construction Tree make of
solidThinking a matchless tool for designers and graphics
professionals.
solidThinking uses NURBS (Non Uniform Rational B-Splines)
as its geometry type. This curve and surface definition method
offers the greatest flexibility and precision. NURBS are capable
of representing any desired shape, both analytic and free form,
and their algorithms are extremely fast and stable.

The Construction Tree gives you real-time update when

modifications are made to curves, parameters or surfaces.
Browse the graphic representation of the Construction Tree to
identify and select source objects and actions. Add, remove, or
replace source objects within the Tree with immediate
reconstruction. Manipulate both the parameters and points of all
objects freely. And never forget the steps involved in
construction - the entire tree is saved inside the file and is
accessible at any time.
Thanks to the possibility to freely manipulate your models, you
can easily experiment new shapes and improve your creativity.
Once you have tried how the Construction Tree improves your
productivity you will not do without it.
The most advanced modeling tools and the numerous
construction aids make it possible for you to create any shape
you can think about.
Main features include:

Simultaneous point editing on multiple objects.

Unlimited undo levels.
Un-edit. Allows removing any editing from selected points
of a curve/surface independently from any other successive
modification of the curve/ surface.

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Getting Started

Primitives

Plane, disc, cylinder, sphere, cube, cone, torus, prism,

3D text.

Curves

solidThinking User Manual

High quality freeform NURBS curves of order 2 to 7.

Real-time adjustment of curve tangency and curvature at any
given point. Any curvature radius can be set.
META curves. Interpolation of points using a smooth curve.
Ability to specify cusps at points.
Arcs (center-2 points, 2 points-radius, 3 points, fillet arc,
tangent-2points, line-arc, fillet curves).
Circles (center-radius, 3 points, tangent-2 points, point-2
tangents, center-tangent).
Ellipses (center-2 axes, point-2 focuses).
Lines (single, perpendicular to segment, parallel to segment,
fillet segment, segment from center, inclined segment,
segment tangency align, bisector, bitangent segment).
Polylines (open, closed, rounded).
Regular polygons.
Helix and spiral.
Curve Offset. Create the copy of a curve at a fixed distance.
options: Symmetric,
Closed, Rounded corners and Rounded ends.
Split curve. Splits two intersecting curves into more parts.
Divide curve. Divides a curve into two independent curves.
Break curve. Breaks a curve into two joined curves.
Blend Curves. Create a blend curve connecting two existing
curves.
Curve Tangency Align. Establish tangent continuity between
two curves. Optionally modify incidence of curve to
tangency plane.
Extend curve. Extends a curve for a user-defined length to a
given point or to another curve.
EdgeExtract. Extract a surface edge into a 3D curve.
Extract isoparametric curve. Extract an isoparametric curve
from a surface.

Section 1

Curves from Intersection. Extracts a curve from the

intersection of two surfaces.
Section. Extract any number of sections from a set of
NURBS surfaces along a specified direction.
Silhouette. Extract a silhouette curves from a set of NURBS
surfaces given a direction and a viewpoint.
PathCast. Project a curve onto a surface in order to obtain a
3D curve on a surface.
Curve to Plane. Project a 3D curve onto a user-defined 2D
plane.
Join curve entities. Join two curve endpoints.
Refine curve. Increase curve detail.
Rebuild curve. Rebuilds a curve with a user-defined number
of points distributing them at a constant distance while still
keeping the curve original shape.
Simplify curve. Reduce number of points of a curve given
the target number or a tolerance.
Curve to Arcs. Starting from any planar curve you can create
a new curve made up of a series of accurate arcs.

Transformations

Translate. Move one or more pickable items to a new

location. Magnet options: Constant, Linear, Smooth.
Rotate. Rotate one or more items.
Scale. Change the size of one or more items.
Mirror. Mirror objects.
Replicate. Replicate any object along a path or over a
surface.
Matrix copy. Replicate an object along X, Y, Z to create a
box-like array.
DynaMatrix. Dynamic matrix copy with Construction Tree.
Polar copy. Replicate an object along a circular path of any
given radius.
Step copy. Replicate an object applying incremental
transformations (translation, rotation, scale).
DynaStep. Dynamic step copy with Construction Tree.
Combine. Combine two or more selected objects into one
single object.
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Getting Started

Uncombine. Create a separate object for each entity of an

object.

Deformations

Twist. Twist an object along a user-defined axis.

Taper. Widen or narrow one side of an object.
Warp. Warp all points of an object comprised in a userdefined distance and with respect to a user-defined axis.
Shear. Shear an object with respect to a user-defined axis.
Bend. Bend an object with respect to a user-defined axis.
Linear Stretch. Stretch an object along a path curve.
Lattice. Free object deformation.
PixelMap. Deform any selected NURBS surface based on
the brightness intensity of each pixel of a bitmap image that
you use as a map.
SurfDrape. Drape a NURBS surface over another surface.

Surface Creation Tools

solidThinking User Manual

G2-continuity surfaces.
Extrude. Create a surface by extruding a profile along a
specified direction.
Surface Extrusion. Create a surface by extruding a cross
sectional profile along a specified direction.
Lathe. Create a surface by revolving a profile curve around
its X, Y, or Z-axis or any user-defined vector.
RadialSweep. Creates a surface by sweeping one or more
profile curves along a rail curve and a common rotational
point in space.
Rule. Create a surface that fits across a number of crosssectional curves by a linear interpolation.
Skin. Create a surface that fits across a number of crosssectional curves by a smooth interpolation.
Lofting. Create a surface that fits across a number of crosssectional curves by a spine-controlled interpolation.
Pipe. Create a surface by sweeping a cross sectional profile
curve along a second path.
Birail. Create a surface by sweeping a profile curve along
two rail curves.
9

Section 1

10

MultiSweep. Creates a surface by sweeping one or more

profile curves between one or more rail curves.
3sides. Create a surface blended between three boundary
curves.
Coons. Create a surface that is fitted between four arbitrary
boundary curves.
N-Side modeling tool. Create a surface that is fitted between
"n" arbitrary boundary curves.
Curves Network. Create a surface by interpolating a network
of curves.
FillPath. Create a surface by filling one or more selected
curves.
Patch. Create a G1 surface from a list of surface edges and,
optionally, from separate curves.
Close hole. Close a hole in a NURBS surface where the hole
is defined as a loop of at least three edges.
Surface from Curves. Create a surface that fits across one or
two sets of curves.
Blending. Create a surface forming a blending between two
surface edges.
Surface Tangency Align modeling tool. Align a surface
border to any other surface trim edge, with the ability to
specify the incident angle between the two surfaces.
Extend Surface. Extend a surface along one or more
boundaries for a user-defined distance or to a given curve.
Surface Offset. Create the copy of a surface at a fixed
distance.
Solid offset. Offset or inset a solid.
Shell. Shell a solid by just selecting the object to work on
and defining which faces shall be made open for the Shell.
Trim surface. Interactively trim a surface and retain
specified regions of it while discarding others by projecting
a curve on it.
Trim solid. Interactively trim a solid and retain specified
regions of the solid while discarding others by projecting a
curve on it.
Trim Convert. Converts a four-sided trimmed surface into an
untrimmed (natural) surface.
Intersect. Surfaces intersection.
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Getting Started

Intersect CT. Surfaces intersection maintaining Construction

Tree.
Make Manifold. The Make Manifold command produces a
manifold solid topology from a non-manifold topology. It
deletes excess faces, edges and vertices to get to a manifold
topology.
Interactive Boolean Operations of Intersection, Difference,
and Union.
Round. A topology-based technique to build constant or
variable radius round with G3 blend option while
maintaining the Construction History.
Chamfer. Perform filleting with a linear cross section
(constant or variable) rather than a circular cross section.
Approx Round. A faster round technique at the price of a
mathematical approximation.
Fillet. Create a fillet between two intersecting surfaces.
Surface Refine. Increase detail of surfaces.
Simplify Surface. Reduce number of points of a surface
given a tolerance.
Join surfaces. Join two or more surfaces into a single
surface.

POLYGONAL MODELING
solidThinking also features an advanced polygonal modeler

with support of n-side polygons. It is possible to create and

extrude polygons, split faces and edges, refine, decimate, and
perform any other operation.
The possibility to convert a NURBS surface into a polygonal
model and vice versa is great for virtual reality and video game
developers.
The unique implementation of Interactive Subdivision Surfaces
with Construction Tree gives the user maximum power for
refinement and smoothing of polygonal meshes. solidThinking
Subdivision Surfaces fully adheres to the Pixar standard.

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Section 1

Features include:
Advanced polygonal modeling with support of n-side
polygons.
Polygonal primitives: sphere, cylinder, torus, cube, plane
and disc.
Create single polygons.
NURBS to poly: tessellate any NURBS surface. Optional
creation of quadrilaterals whenever possible and welding of
coincident vertices.
NURBS CVs to poly: create a PolyMesh from the control
vertices of a NURBS surface.
Vertices editing. Translate, rotate, scale, delete, split,
welding, normal direction.
Edges editing. Translate, rotate, scale, smoothing, delete,
relax, split.
Edge welding. Merge coincident edges.
Faces editing. Translate, rotate, scale, delete, extract, split,
normal direction.
Face normal editing. Invert or unify the specified face
normals.
Refine edges.
Simplify. Reduce the number of faces to a specified
percentage of the original, optionally preserving edge
sharpness and curvature.
Fill hole: close holes in a polyhedron using an N-Side
polygon.
Smooth. Applies a smoothing filtering on a polygonal
object. Very useful for 3D scanner data processing.
Interactive
Subdivision
Surfaces.
User-controllable
refinement and smoothing of polygonal meshes.

12

solidThinking User Manual

Getting Started

ANALYSIS TOOLS
Analysis tools are useful for finding distances, lengths, areas,
and volume. They also allows you to analyze curve/surface
curvature and tangency.
solidThinking Curvature Display also offers the possibility to

dynamically analyze smoothness, curvature and other important

properties of your models by evaluating surface curvature,
reflection lines and environment mapping.

Evaluation tools: distance between two points; length of a

curve; length of a part of a curve; interactive curve
curvature/tangency; interactive surface curvature/tangency;
surface area; volume.
Surface curvature evaluation shaders for automotive and
product design, including shaders using analytical antialiasing.
Mold design false color shader, for evaluating draft angles of
mold designs.
Tolerance check. Detects any gaps between surface patches.
Thanks to the Construction Tree, tolerance can be adjusted
to make the model "water tight".
Tools for evaluating draft angles of mold designs.
Interactive curvature display. Interactive visualization of
surface curvature while editing. The following methods:
mean curvature, gaussian curvature, absolute curvature.
Interactive reflection lines display. Allows to analyze
surface smoothness and curvature by using zebra stripes.
Interactive environment mapping display. Allows to analyze
the surface curvature by using environment mapping.
Curvature Plot. To visualize how the curvature vary along
the curve.
Continuity Check. Allows to check surface continuity at joined
edges, and in particular you can check gaps, tangency and
curvature at any point.

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Section 1

REVERSE ENGINEERING

Fit points. Create a surface from a point cloud data sets.

PointsCloud from object. Create a PointsCloud given a
surface.
Planar Clouds from PointsCloud. Creates a specified number
of points clouds lying on parallel planes from a given points
cloud. This command can be useful to simplify a points
cloud derived from 3d scanning. Beside section planes
direction, the user can specify either the number of planes or
the distance between planes.
Curve from PointsCloud. Creates a curve from a points
cloud. This tool creates a curve starting from a selected point
and approximating the points ordered by minimal distance.
Minolta Vivid 3D scanner front-end. Remotely controls (via
SCSI interface) Minolta Vivid 3D scanner. Data can be
imported as a point cloud or a polygonal object.
Advanced MicroScribe-3D support.
Sketch on planes. Using Microscribe-3D scanner, creates
point clouds by "sketching" a real object. The tool samples
the points derived from the Microscribe-3D digitizer.

ASSOCIATIVE DIMENSIONING
Associative Dimensioning for the automatic creation of
horizontal, vertical, aligned linear dimensions, arcs and circle
radii, curvature radii of NURBS curves at any given point,
diameters, edges, angular dimensions. Leader command for
quickly creating leaders (text annotations).
You will realize the great power of the Dynamic Associative
Dimensioning when a revision to a drawing comes through, or a
design changes. With Associative Dimensioning on your model,
you can edit your entities and have the dimensioning change as
well, in real time.

14

solidThinking User Manual

Getting Started

DRAWING
Connection from Design to Documentation. You can now
compose drawings and pictures on a virtual sheet of paper and
configure plot scale, paper size, plot area, paper orientation.
Multiple drawing layouts are possible.

RENDERING
Once you have created your models you can take advantage of a
truly comprehensive rendering system for the most advanced of
graphics professionals, integrating all industry-leading
rendering techniques. The most efficient memory management
functions, unlimited output resolution as well as multi-threaded
and multi-processor rendering make of solidThinking the
perfect tool for generating photorealistic images.
Final Gather is a new, exclusive global illumination method that
improves both the quality and ease of generation of images. Its easeof-use means that there is no need to be an expert in rendering,
simply press a button and solidThinking will calculate the lighting
for you automatically. The increased breadth of functionality
introduced means that solidThinking can match the fastest and the
best global illumination solutions, and is now significantly faster
than other rendering engines for a given quality of image.

Techniques

solidThinking User Manual

Wireframe.
Fast hidden-line.
Flat, Gouraud and Phong shaded.
Preview scan-line.
Full scan-line.
Preview ray-trace.
Full ray-trace rendering (multi-threaded).
Hybrid rendering for integrating radiosity with ray-tracing
and other rendering methods.
Sketch rendering for stylized presentations.
Preview quality post-processing and full quality post-processing.
15

Section 1

Panoramic rendering

Radiosity

Radiosity for simulating real light effects.

Progressive simulation allows you to balance speed and accuracy.
Generation of the solution for a view-dependent
illumination model allowing the fastest result possible.
Support of industry standards for the definition of the
luminous intensity distribution of a luminaire.

Sketch rendering

A technique for supporting rendering at the conceptual

design stage or for stylized presentations.
Support of various styles such as cartoon, pencil, ink, hatch
and paint.

Shaders

16

Advanced parameterized procedural shaders with high

quality noise function.
Shade trees for combining multiple shaders.
Color Source, Reflectance Model, Transparency Source,
Displacement, Texture Space, Light Source, Background,
Foreground, and Post-processing Shaders.
Highly realistic simulation of a wide range of wood surfaces,
for ease of visualizing furniture, doors, cabinets, and even
parquet floors.
Leather shader, giving users the ability to simulate the
surface finish of a wide range of leather materials. They can
decide on the complexity and detail of the surface of the
leather, including creasing, smoothness, color and regularity.
Multi-layer paints, to simulate the multiple highlight and
color shift effects of multi-layer paints used in the
automotive industry. Designers can specify the composition
of each paint layer to simulate a wide range of paints and
finishes, including metallic.
Anisotropic reflectance shader for woven materials, to
produce physically based simulations of the anisotropic

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Getting Started

reflectance properties of woven textiles and materials, such

as satin.
Environment-mapped and mixed backgrounds.
Environment mapping (e.g., reflection mapping).
Wrapped mirror map for changing the reflection of a surface
from a texture map.
Wrapped filtered image shader for adjusting color contrast
and brightness of textures.
Interactive transformations (translation, rotation, and scale)
of textures and materials in the views.
Procedural and image-based transparency effects.
Decal support for combining different materials and
wrapping images around surfaces.

Anti-aliasing

Anti-aliasing shader class for applying different anti-aliasing

per material.
Feature following anti-aliasing for the highest-quality image
output (brute-force over-sampling to perform extra antialiasing around any areas of intensity change).
Enhanced analytical anti-aliasing, while using minimal
processing time and resources.

Lights

solidThinking User Manual

Unlimited number of lights.

Ambient, distant, eye, goniometric, point, projector, sky,
spot, and sun light sources.
Simple sky. A special light providing a fast approximation
to a true sky light. It allows you to quickly reach realistic
lighting results with just one light.
Area lights.
Volumetric lighting effects.
Global lighting effects using real sky conditions.
Radiometric or photometric measurement.
Light sources using goniometric data in lighting industrystandard formats.

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Section 1

Expanded physically accurate lighting range. Goniometric

lights allow users to define accurate light beam shapes (such
as fluorescent lights) using manufacturer's lighting data.
Perceptual tone mapping, for physically accurate recreations of the eye's response to brightness levels.

Shadows

Shadow mapping.
Soft shadows.
Shadow ray casting.
Shadows cast by semi-transparent objects.
Hybrid shadow creation, combining ray-tracing and scan-line
rendering for fast, efficient production of ray-traced shadows.

Post-processing operations

Physically based depth of field.

Post-Processing depth cue, variable fog and snow foregrounds.
Advanced atmospheric effects.
Lens flares (Glows, Ghosts, and Halos).
Direct output of QuickTime VR panoramic and object movies.

Support of third-party renderers

Third-party renderers are supported through continuously
enhanced plug-ins. Already available:
solidMaxwell. Plug-in for integrating Maxwell Render.
Windows and Mac OS X.
ThinkMan. Plug-in for integrating PhotoRealistic
RenderMan. Windows only.Physically based depth of field.

ANIMATION

18

Keyframing animation.
Animation of translation, Rotation, and Scale attributes.
Animation of lights.
Animation of cameras with control of position and target.
Speed interpolation options.
Path interpolation options.
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WEB AUTHORING ENVIRONMENT

solidThinking

offers a sophisticated web authoring

environment which allows you to export and integrate your 3D
objects or scenes into HTML pages through the Viewpoint
Media Player developed by Viewpoint.
This technology creates a compelling and interactive user
experience for many e-business applications, from advertising
and e-commerce to online customer service and internal
training.
Objects can be easily manipulated and visualized with textures,
reflections, transparencies, and shadows. Besides, it permits the
immediate streaming display of content.

DATA EXCHANGE

solidThinking User Manual

Support for industry standard data formats allows you to

share data with other software packages using neutral file
formats.
Color palette RGB and HSL.
Image Formats: BMP, JPEG, TIF, High Dynamic Range and
OpenEXR.
Import plug-ins include: Catia V4, Catia V5, DXF, DWG,
IGES, Lightwave, Maya, Parasolid (x_t and x_b),
Pro/ENGINEER, Rhinoceros, RIB, SAT (ACIS),
SolidWorks, STEP, STL, UGS NX, VDA/FS, VET, VRML,
3DStudio.
Export plug-ins include: DXF, DWG, IGES, Lightwave,
Maya, Parasolid (x_t and x_b), Rhinoceros, RIB, STEP,
STL, VDA/FS, VET, VRML, 3DStudio.
Support of different IGES flavors.
SolidWorks plug-in for importing/exporting solidThinking
scene files from/to SolidWorks.

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Section 1

PDK

20

Plug-Ins Development Kit. Documentation for developers

and users that want to create their own modeling tools and
plug-ins. Code samples are included.

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1.1

About this manual

solidThinking User Manuals are organized in four volumes

and nine distinct sections. They are as follows:

Volume 1 - Modeling I
Section 1, Getting Started, gives you a short overview of
solidThinking and includes information to help you get started with
solidThinking and understand the way the program communicates.
Section 2, The Pull-Down Menus, describes the menus
available from the menu bar located at the top of the window.
Menu items allow you to save and retrieve files, display control
panels, and perform many other operations.
Section 3, General User Interface, itemizes solidThinking
user interface, defines the purpose of panels and toolbars, shows
you the use of different view modes and layouts, and teaches
you to customize the user interface.
Section 4, Modeling in solidThinking, explains the
Construction Tree approach and describes all the tools available to
apply transformations/deformations and to create NURBS curves.

Volume 2 - Modeling II
Section 4, Modeling in solidThinking, describes all the tools
available to create NURBS surfaces as well as polygonal
objects. It also describes analysis tools and construction planes,
dimensioning and drawing environments.

Volume 3 - Rendering
Section 5, Rendering in solidThinking, defines tools for
adding cameras and lights, and explains how to create materials,
use textures, and render a 3D scene.

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Section 1

At the end, you will find a list of keyboard Shortcuts that can be
used to speed up the program workflow and a Glossary that will
be practical when searching for the meaning of terms that you
will find throughout this manual.

Conventions
To help you find and interpret information readily, this manual
makes use of conventions and displays them in various modes.
Their definitions are specified below.

The descriptions of various commands can be easily

recognized as they will appear in the margins of this manual
as shown below.

Select Objects Mode

the

When an icon is associated to a command, the icon appears in

margin adjacent to the text.

Each time we refer to a command, both in the form of an

icon or a menu item, we will show it in bold as follows:
Switch to Select Objects Mode.

Keys demanded to perform an operation will appear in the

text surrounded by a border as in the example below:
Press Spacebar to stop points insertion.

Shortcuts are combinations of keys that, used in conjunction

with other keys or mouse clicks, let you quickly access
specific commands and menu functions. You will find them,
near the command description, represented as below:
Ctrl + Shift + D

22

Text that is displayed as a prompt in the console is shown in

the same font type, style, and size of the following example:
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Getting Started

Pick profile curve:

Values to be typed in the console or in any other entry field

are shown in the same font type, style, and size of the
following example:
Then type 1, 1, 1 in the console.

From time to time some important notes may integrate the

description of commands or functions. They are always
displayed in italics as in the example below:
Note: Weight modification should be used very carefully.
If you plan to exchange your projects, you should

Filenames and file extensions are also in italics:

filename.stm
.dxf

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Section 1

1.2

Starting solidThinking
After completing the guided installation as specified in the
Installation Notes, move to the /solidThinking directory.
In this directory, you will find the solidThinking file
(solidThinking.exe on Windows) as well as the following main
folders created by the installation program:
Demos (This folder is currently available in the Windows
version only). Animated tutorials that can be loaded using File >
Open Macro.
Examples. Examples files.
Help (This folder can be found in the Mac version only). Help
files that can be read using Help > Help.
Images. Renderings are saved here with progressive numbering
(filename.st~n.bmp where n is a progressive numbering).
Renderings are saved as .tif (TIFF format) files.
MaterialsLib. Materials saved in the Materials library.
ModelsLib. Models saved in the Models library.
Plug-In. Here you will find the rendering engines as well as the
file format I/O modules.
Projects (This folder is currently available in the Windows
version only). You can use this folder to store your project files.
Textures. Use this folder to store textures.
Double-clicking the solidThinking icon launches the
application and displays the copyright panel for a few seconds.
solidThinking user interface is then displayed at full screen.

The program is ready to be used.

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1.3

Screen Components
solidThinking uses multiple viewing windows. Each of these

windows shows you a view of your 3D scene.

Four are the modeling views displayed by default. Each of them
occupies almost a quarter of the screen. Basic elements of the
screen display are shown in the picture below:

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Section 1

1.4

Using the Mouse

and the Keyboard
Most of your communications with solidThinking require you to
use the mouse or the keyboard. When you move the mouse, a cursor
on the screen matches any movement.
The left mouse button is the standard button for most interactions,
but the right button ( key + mouse button on the Mac) are also
used in some cases.
You issue commands by pressing the mouse button when you
are over some area of the screen. Commands respond differently
depending on how you press the button.
Basic mouse actions can be summarized as follows:
Clicking. Pressing the left mouse button and releasing it
immediately. This action is also called Picking when it is used,
for example, to select a point or an object.
Double-Clicking. Pressing the left mouse button twice in quick
succession.
Clicking-and-Dragging. Pressing the left mouse button and holding
it down while moving the mouse button to a new screen position.
Release the button to stop. Also called Picking-and-Dragging.
Keyboard entries as well let you interact with solidThinking.
Each value you type must be separated from the previous value
by a single space and confirmed by pressing Enter .

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Getting Started

The keyboard is also used to perform various shortcuts for quick

access to specific commands and many menu functions.
Learning the keyboard shortcuts can significantly speed up
operations.
A shortcut list is provided at the end of this guide. Available
shortcuts to menu options are also listed next to the menu items.

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Section 1

1.5

Message Boxes
One of the ways solidThinking communicates is through
message boxes, of which there are four main types.

Info box
An info box provides information on operations that you have to
perform before activating a new command. Click OK and
follow instructions. An example of an info box is that appearing
when you click a Transformation Tool before selecting an
object.

Decision box
A decision box provides information that allows you to make a
Yes/No decision. A Cancel button is also displayed. Confirm
by clicking the Yes button. Select no by clicking the No button.
Click Cancel to cancel the command and remove the box. An
example of a decision box is the one that appears when you quit
the program.

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Alert
An alert tells you something you need to know before
proceeding with an operation. After reading the message
carefully, you can press Yes to confirm the operation or No to
cancel it. An example of alert is that appearing when you
choose the NURBS Surface Editing tool.

Dialog box
A dialog box usually contains one or more controls through
which you can enter text, choose options, or direct the action of
the command. An example of dialog box is the Modeling Tool
panel.

Dialog panels share some components, and in particular:

Push button. A button you have to push to perform an action.
Check button. A button you can switch on/off to enable/disable
an option.
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Section 1

Radio button. A round button you can use to choose from a set
of related but mutually exclusive options. The check mark for a
radio button is a black dot. A radio button can assume two
states: checked (dot) or unchecked (no dot).
Slider bar. A horizontal rectangle with a sliding bar inside. By
moving the sliding bar, you alter values.
Scroll bar. Vertical rectangles with a sliding bar inside used to
shift the content of a window area. It is also a visual hint of the
length of the area. In some cases, a hand icon replaces the
cursor to indicate a scrollable area. Left click and drag the
mouse up and down to scroll through the panel.
Entry-fields. Two are the entry-field types: text fields that
accept alphanumerical entries and numeric fields that accept
only numbers. When a dialog box appears the first field has
text/numbers highlighted. It means that any valid character you
will type will replace the content of the field.
You can click the mouse to move the insertion point within or
between fields or you can use the following keys to move
around fields:
Tab moves to the next field.
Tab + Shift moves to the previous field.
Backspace deletes the character on the left of the cursor.

moves the cursor one character left or right.

increases/decreases values of the active parameter.

Most command names in a dialog box have an underlined letter.

If you press the corresponding letter key while holding the Alt key
down, you can automatically move the insertion point to a such
command field.

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1.6

Saving your Work

Before exiting solidThinking, you should save your work using
the File4Save menu command.
A file selector is brought up allowing you to name the document
and save it either in solidThinking file format (.st) or in
another supported format.
If the file already has a name, the program will overwrite it. If
you dont want to overwrite it, but rather assign a new name,
you must instead use the File4Save as menu command.
solidThinking native file format is characterized by the .st

extension and includes the geometry at the time you save, plus
the following information:
- materials,
- lights,
- camera settings.
You can exit solidThinking by selecting the File4Exit
command. If the current document is not saved, the program
prompts you on whether you want to save it or not. Options are:
Yes, No or Cancel to cancel the command and remove the box.

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Section 2

The
Pull-Down Menus

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Section 2

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The Pull-Down Menus

The Pull-Down
Menus
The menu options are displayed on the top left of the screen,
from left to right.
When you click a main menu item and hold the mouse button
down, a sub-menu appears showing more options. To select a
menu option, keep the mouse button pressed, move the cursor
over the item, and then release the mouse button.

Before we examine in detail each menu item, you should know

that most of the menu commands have keyboard shortcuts that
give you prompt access to their relative functions.
Once you are familiar with the program, you will probably find
these shortcuts much faster and efficient to work with.
Most shortcuts are listed next to the items in each menu.
You can find a complete list of all keyboard shortcuts at the end
of this manual.

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Section 2

2.1

File menu
The File menu provides the tools for storing, retrieving, and
saving. In other words, it allows you to manage different types
of files. It also provides tools for printing and exiting the
program.

New
Deletes the current file. Before deleting it, the program prompts
you if you want to save it. Options are Yes, No or Cancel to
skip the command.

Open
Brings up a file selector allowing you to retrieve any document
you previously saved with one of the Save commands.
Opening a new file replaces the current document. Before it, the
program prompts you if you want to save it. Options are Yes,
No or Cancel to skip the command.
The file selector offers the possibility to choose any supported
file format. Once you have chosen it, select the document, then
press Open.

Merge
Brings up a file selector allowing you to specify a previously
saved document whose content will be merged with the current
document. Merge ignores views configuration information from
the incoming file.

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Just as the Open command, the Merge file selector lets you
choose any supported file format. Once you have chosen it,
select the document, and then press Open.

Save
Saves the current document either in the solidThinking file
format or in another supported format. A file selector is brought
up allowing you to name it. If the file already has a name, the
program will overwrite it.
In the Preferences panel (Info4Preferences) you can
enable the Autosave option for automatically saving the current
scene every n minutes. You can also use the Safe save, which
is useful to avoid accidental savings. In fact, every time you
save a previously named scene, a decision box will prompt you
if you are sure to save.
Note: when you save a file, you save not only its geometry but
also materials and display information, which includes views
mode, zoom level, snap and grids status.

Save as
Names and saves the current document. A file selector is
brought up allowing you to name it.

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Section 2

Save selected
Saves selected objects either in solidThinking file format or in
another supported format. A file selector is brought up allowing
you to name it. If the file already has a name, the program will
overwrite it.

Save as model
Allows you to save any selected object in the Models library so
that it can be quickly retrieved for any successive use.
A small Save as panel is brought up. Here you can create the
model icon, which will be used in the Library. Right click and
drag to orbit the object. Right click and drag while
simultaneously pressing Shift to adjust the zoom factor.
Choose the Group name where you want to store the new
model, then type the Model name and click OK to confirm.
You can choose a group from the already existing list or create a
new one by simply typing a new name.
If you quickly right click a model icon, the program displays a
pop-up menu that allows you to Delete it or change its
Properties (name and group).

Revert
Discards all changes to the current document since you last saved it.

Exit
Quits solidThinking. Before quitting, a decision box is
displayed asking whether you want to save changes you made to
the scene or not. Options are: Yes, No or Cancel to skip the
command.

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2.2

Edit menu
The Edit menu provides the tools for a precise editing of points
and objects in the scene.

Undo
Undoes an operation. The number of commands you can undo
depends on the amount of memory allocated to the undo and
redo operations as set in the Preferences panel (Info
Preferences). The more complex the commands, the fewer
will be retained in memory.

Redo
Cancels the effects of the undo. Redo is only available after you
undo a command.

Cut
Removes selected objects from the scene and puts them on the
clipboard.

Copy
Copies selected objects and puts them on the clipboard.

Paste
Inserts objects on the clipboard into your scene.

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Section 2

Delete
Deletes the selected objects.

Collapse Construction tree

Unlinks the selected object from the construction tree, leaving it
freely editable. It also deletes any source object that is not used
in another construction tree. Before performing this command,
the program warns you that the source objects will be deleted.
Click Yes to confirm, No to cancel the command.

Uncombine entities
Creates a separate object for each entity of the selected
object/objects. Uncombine can only be applied to objects that
are NOT involved in a Construction Tree.

Prune
Deletes the selected object and its dependent objects that are not
used in another construction tree.

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Active snaps
Opens a submenu allowing you to activate the following snap options:
Grid #1
Grid #2
Grid #3
Grid #4
To snap any entity to the closest grid intersection.
Point
To snap any entity to curves and surfaces control points, endpoints
of curves, midpoints of lines, and centers of circles, arcs, ellipses.
Translate
Rotate
Scale
To translate, rotate, and scale only by steps of the measure you
have set in the Grid Setup panel.
Curve
To snap whatever you are moving (a point, a light, or a camera)
to any point on a curve.
Tangent
To snap whatever you are moving (a point, a light, or a camera)
to a given curve tangent.
Endpoint
To snap whatever you are moving (a point, a light, or a camera)
to the endpoint of a line.
Midpoint
To snap whatever you are moving (a point, a light, or a camera)
to the midpoint of a line.

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Section 2

Snap in 3D
When you enable Snap in 3D, snapping on the view-disabled
axis (the axis perpendicular to the view plane) is allowed.
Otherwise, snap is enabled only in the view plane, i.e. XY in the
Top view, XZ in the Front view, and so on.
Snap disabled
When pressed, disables all the snap options you activated. This
way, you can quickly enable/disable your preferred snap
configuration without having to enable/disable each single option.

Grid setup

Displays the Grid setup panel that is used to define up to four

different grids, each with its own origin and spacing, grid type,
and color.

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2.3

Selection menu
The Selection menu provides the tools for selecting objects and
controlling selected ones.

All
Selects all objects, cameras, and lights in the scene in Select
Objects mode. All points of a selected curve or surface in Edit
Parameters mode.

All geometry
Selects all the objects in the scene.

All lights
Selects all the lights in the scene.

All cameras
Selects all the cameras in the scene.

None
Deselects a) all the objects in the scene if you are in Select Objects
mode, b) all the control points of selected objects if you are in Edit
Parameters mode.

Invert
Swaps the selection of objects or points according to the
working mode.

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Section 2

Dependents in History
Selects the objects in the scene that are dependents of the
selected object. This feature is disabled on the menu until an
object in the scene is selected. This feature is useful when
organizing the World Browser and creating groups. All objects
involved in a Construction History can easily be identified and
placed into the same group.

Sources in History
Selects the source objects in the scene from which the selected
objects are derived. This feature is disabled on the menu until
an object in the scene is selected. This feature is useful when
organizing the World Browser and creating groups. All objects
involved in a Construction History can easily be identified and
placed into the same group.

Pick Curves
When you choose this selection filter, only the curves in the
scene can be selected.

Pick Surfaces
When you choose this selection filter, only the surfaces in the
scene can be selected.

Pick PolyMesh
When you choose this selection filter, only the polymesh objects
in the scene can be selected.

Pick Pointmesh
When you choose this selection filter, only the pointmesh
objects in the scene can be selected.

Pick All
When you choose this selection filter, any object in the scene
can be selected. This is the default selection method. If you
choose another filter method, you must reselect Pick All from

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the menu before you can use it to select all objects in your
scene.

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Section 2

Group

Groups the selected objects into a more complex object so that

any transformations can be applied to all of them at once.
Grouping objects is also useful to put in order your scene.
You can select a group by simply picking it from the World
Browser.

If you create a new object while a group is selected, the object

will be added to the currently selected group.
You can move an existing object into a group by just clicking
and dragging it.

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To simply copy the object into a group, instead of moving it, click
and drag it while pressing the left mouse button and
the Ctrl key simultaneously.

Once you have selected a group of objects, you can move it,
rotate it, or scale it by clicking in any view in a point free of any
item and dragging with the mouse.
In the next examples, we are applying a rotation to a group of
primitives.

Ungroup
Separates parts of a group that you can select from the World
browser.

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Section 2

Center in view
Centers selected objects in the active view so that only selected
components are displayed.

Center in all views

Centers selected objects in all orthographic views so that only
selected components are displayed.

Hide from rendering

Disables the rendering of selected objects. Once hidden from
rendering, selected objects are transparent but already pickable.

Hide from view

Disables the visualization of selected objects in the views.
Selected objects are hidden only after you deselect them. Once
hidden from views, they can be selected again through the
browser.

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2.4

View menu
The View menu provides the tools for a complete control of the
visual representation of objects in the scene.

Layouts
Opens a graphic panel allowing you to choose your preferred
views layout.

Detail
Opens the View Detail panel, allowing you to adjust the level of
detail in the visual representation of objects.

Background image
Opens the Background Image panel, allowing you to display
any selected image as a background for the active view.

Curvature
Opens the Curvature Display panel, allowing you to
dynamically analyze smoothness, curvature and other important
properties of your models by evaluating surface curvature,
reflection lines and environment mapping.

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Section 2

Curvature Plot
Opens the Curvature Plot panel, which shows how the
curvature vary along a curve.

Zoom extent
Zooms the active view in or out so that all graphic components
are displayed.

Zoom extent all

Zooms all the orthographic views in or out so that all graphic
components are displayed.

Ortho adjust
Forces all the orthographic views to have the same zoom and
view point as the selected one.

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2.5

Tools menu
The Tools menu provides the tools for creating and modifying
curves, primitives, and surfaces. It also provides the tools for
adding cameras and lights to the scene.

Transform
Opens a submenu listing transformation commands.

Curves
Opens a submenu listing curves creation commands.

Surfaces
Opens a submenu listing surfaces creation commands.

Generate Shape
Opens a submenu listing Run Morphogenesis and
Morphogenesis browser.

PolyMesh
Opens a submenu listing commands for editing polygonal
surfaces.

PointsCloud
Opens a submenu listing the commands for editing points
clouds.

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Section 2

Dimensioning
Opens a submenu listing the commands for creating horizontal,
vertical, aligned linear dimensions, arcs and circle radii,
curvature radii or NURBS curves at any given point, diameters,
edges, and angular dimensions.

Texturing
Opens a submenu offering the Texture Positioning command
which allows you to position textures and more in general any
material containing a texture mapping shader. Note that this tool
is NOT provided for applying materials (for this purpose you
must use the shading panel) but only for positioning materials
that you have already assigned.

Cam/Light
Opens a submenu listing the following commands:

Perspective Camera. Allows you to add and position a new

camera in the 3D scene.

Light. Lets you add and position a light source in the 3D

scene.

Analyze
Opens a submenu listing the commands for analyzing curves
and surfaces.

CPlanes
Opens a submenu listing the commands for creating and
disabling construction planes.

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Digitizer
Opens a submenu for calibrating the MicroScribe-3D digitizer.

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Section 2

2.6

Managers menu
The Managers menu gives you access to specific windows
called Managers. Managers are used in different working phases
and they are fundamental to the use of the program. Please,
note that Managers shortcuts work only if panels are floating.

Browser

Displays/hides the Shape Hierarchy panel which allows you to

view the objects in your scene in their hierarchical structure, as
well as in relation to other elements. It lets you perform
numerous operations and change the hierarchy of the scene.

Modeling Tool

Displays/hides the Modeling Tool panel which gives you

access to the numerous parameters and/or options of each
Modeling Tool. Content of these panel changes depending on
the Modeling Tool you select.

Shading

Displays/hides the Shading panel that gives you access to

surface, light, and image shaders allowing you to choose
shaders you want to apply and set their various parameters. Post
processing effects can be tuned here as well.

Application toolbar
Displays/hides the Application toolbar when it is floating.

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Snaps toolbar

Displays/hides the Snaps toolbar when it is floating. The Snaps

toolbar contains all the snap options available.

Modeling toolbar

Displays/hides the Modeling toolbar when it is floating. The

Modeling toolbar lets you scroll modeling tools sorted in
categories whose names appear on blue tabs.

Materials browser

Displays/hides the Materials browser. The Materials browser

lets you assign materials to objects, search materials sorted, or
tagged, in categories. You can also create new category tags,
assign a new tag to an existing material, browse for existing
material libraries or create a new library, and delete materials
from a library.

Models browser

Displays/hides the Models browser. The Models browser

allows you to store 3D models.

Devices
Opens a submenu that lists supported external devices. To start
up a device, just choose it. To stop it, choose it again.

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2.7

Render menu
Once you have created your models, assigned materials,
positioned lights and camera, you are ready to use the Render
menu. Options are:

Render current view

Renders a still image of the geometry as seen through the active
view. The rendering technique used is that chosen in the
Rendering Options panel.

Render selected objects

Renders selected objects using the rendering technique specified

in the Rendering Options panel.

Real Time Shading

Opens the Rendered image window, which displays the scene
using the Realtime Shading Method. This window is dynamic
and you can interact in real time to evaluate the result.

Real Time + Photorealistic

Opens the Rendered image window, which displays the scene
using the Realtime Shading Method. This window is dynamic
and you can interact in real time to evaluate the result.
Compared to Real Time Shading, this command adds
photorealism with a higher quality result in terms of
reflections/refractions, transparencies, shadows, and so on. See
Realtime Shading Method for more information.

Real Time selected objects

Renders only the selected object.

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The Pull-Down Menus

Render animation

Renders the current animation.

Options

Opens the Rendering Options panel, which allows you to

specify rendering methods and resolution.

Browse renderings

Opens the Renderings Browser, which shows you all the

pictures you have rendered since you launched solidThinking.
Pictures can then be saved or deleted.

Renderers
Opens a panel that allows you to choose among the available
renderers.

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2.8

Environment menu
You can use the Environment menu to switch from the
Modeling environment to the Animation amd Drawing
environment, and vice-versa.

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2.9

Help menu
General information, various optional settings, and the
registration panel can be found here.

Info
Opens the About solidThinking panel, which displays the
program version number, copyright notices. Press the OK
button to remove it from the screen.

Preferences
Opens the Preferences panel that lets you modify default values
of various optional settings.

Help

Opens solidThinking on-line help.

Essential movies
Opens the Essential movies dialog, which contains six
QuickTime movies to jumpstart your solidThinking skills.

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Section 3

General
User Interface

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General
User Interface

solidThinking user interface has been carefully designed to

reduce to the absolute minimum the number of commands

required to perform operations. It has been designed bearing in
mind that different working phases bring you to complete your
3D project: modeling, light settings, assignment of materials,
preview renderings, and final image.
Four modeling views are displayed. They occupy most of the
working space: it is here that you interact with the 3D scene.
Orthogonal and perspective views allow you to determine
position and shape of a 3D model.
When you launch solidThinking for the first time, the basic
layout is displayed and, with a screen resolution of 1024x768,
the user interface appears as in the following picture:

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Working with a higher screen resolution will give you more

working space and will allow you to visualize all the modeling
tools without having to scroll the toolbar.
On the top left of the screen, you can see the menu bar, which is
a constant element of the user interface.
Another constant presence is the console on the top right: it
prompts the next action to be performed when you activate a
modeling tool and lets you enter numerical values.
On the left of the screen, you find the Application toolbar and,
below, the Libraries toolbar that gives you access to Modeling
Tools, Materials, or Models.
You can float/dock these panels by simply picking and dragging
their borders according to your needs and/or preferences. When
floating, a toolbar displays its name and close button in the title
bar. Thus, the basic layout of the solidThinking user interface
may change as in the next picture:

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If you hide all panels, operations can still be performed by using

the menu commands. With this layout, modeling views have the
maximum space possible.

A number of floating panels is used in different phases of a

working session. Learning the keyboard shortcuts that allow you
to quickly show/hide them will improve your workflow.

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solidThinking offers several different layouts; thus you can

adopt the one you prefer. Pictures in the next page show some
possible customizations of solidThinking user interface.

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3.1

Space in
solidThinking
To define the three-dimensional space, solidThinking, just as
most computer graphics applications, uses the EuclideanCartesian coordinate system: three perpendicular axes (X, Y, Z)
intersecting at one point called origin (whose coordinates are 0,
0, 0).
In the Cartesian coordinate system, also known as XYZ
coordinate system, any point in the 3D scene is identifiable by
one coordinate in the X direction, one in the Y direction, and
one in the Z direction.
The coordinate system adopted in solidThinking is a Z-up
world: it means that, in a world representation where the X and
the Y directions are on the same horizontal plane, Z represents
the up direction.
The Z-up world is certainly the most used by designers and
architects, while the Y-up world, another world representation
where Y represents the up direction, is often preferred by
animators.
Z
Y

x
X

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The mathematical representation of space here described can be

applied to either a global or a local coordinate system.
The global (also called world) coordinate system is a coordinate
system that is used to locate an object in relation to a world
origin. The world origin is a reference point unique for all the
objects in the 3D space.
The local (also called object) coordinate system is a coordinate
system that is applicable to a single object having its own center
as origin.
Any object in a 3D space has both local and global coordinates.
You can switch between the local and world axes by selecting
the
or
icons from the Application toolbar,
respectively. This option is available if you are using the
Translate or Rotate tools. It is not available for the Scale tool.

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3.2

The Modeling Views

Most of your work in solidThinking is performed in the
Modeling Views.
By default, three orthographic views describe the 3D scene as
seen from the Top, Front, and Right side.
One perspective view displays the 3D scene as seen from the
active Camera.
It is possible to choose what is displayed in each view by just
clicking the view name on the left of the title bar. Six different
orthographic views and any defined perspective camera are
possible.

You could have, for example, four perspective views using four
different cameras instead of three orthographic and one
perspective.
The origin of the Global Coordinate system is represented by
the intersection of the white lines at the center of each
orthographic view.
Each orthographic modeling view has its own plane shown on
the bottom left of every view:
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Top and Bottom views use a XY plane.

Front and Rear use a XZ plane.
Right and Left use a YZ plane.
A view can be enlarged to fill all the space inside the main
window by simply double-clicking its title bar. Double click it
again to restore it to its normal size.
Only one view at a time can accept mouse input. The active
view has the title bar drawn with the standard Windows color
used for active windows. A view can be activated by clicking
either inside it, its title bar, or by pressing the Ctrl key ( Apple
on the Mac) while the mouse is positioned anywhere in the view
to be activated.
.

The small buttons on the right side of the view title bar control
the area displayed in the view and various parameters such as
position, orientation, field of view, etc.
To activate them, just click the icons with the left mouse button
and drag the mouse, or click inside the view while holding
down the appropriate shortcut keys and right mouse button.

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Orthogonal Views
Track
Drag the mouse horizontally to move the view from side to side.
Drag it vertically to move the view up and down.
Win

Right Mouse Button

Mac Apple + Mouse Button

Zoom
Drag the mouse up to enlarge the view. Drag it down to shrink
the view.
Win

Shift + Right Mouse Button

Mac Apple + Shift + Mouse Button

Area Zoom
Click in any view to set a corner, then drag the mouse
diagonally to define the area that will be magnified.
Win

Alt + Right Mouse Button

Mac Apple + Alt + Mouse Button

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Orbit

Perspective View
Lets you pivot the camera around its point of interest.
Win

Right Mouse Button

Mac Apple + Mouse Button

Dolly
Drag the mouse up to move the camera forward. Drag it down
to move the camera backward. This action does not change the
viewing angle: perspective distortions may result at the edges of
the scene.
Win

Shift + Right Mouse Button

Mac Apple + Shift + Mouse Button

F.O.V. (Field Of View)

Drag the mouse up to zoom in. Drag it down to zoom out. This action
changes the camera field of view and increases the size of the point
of interest by increasing the lens length.

Dolly / F.O.V.
This function combines Dolly and F.O.V.

Track
Drag the mouse horizontally to move the view from side to side.
Drag it vertically to move the view up and down.
Win

Ctrl + Right Mouse Button

Mac Apple + Ctrl + Mouse Button

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Perspective Camera
Click the camera icon to edit the current Perspective
view using the Perspective Camera Modeling Tool
panel.

Area Zoom
Click in any view to set a corner, then drag the mouse
diagonally to define the area that will be magnified.
Win

Alt + Right Mouse Button

Mac Apple + Alt + Mouse Button

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Using local coordinate systems

When you create an object, you are prompted to position its
local coordinate origin. Any coordinate specified from then on,
refers to this local coordinate system. Translating or rotating the
object (while in Object mode) does not actually move its points,
but rather changes the position and orientation of the local axes.
Since the object is defined in its local coordinate system, it
moves according to its axes. The x, y, and z axes of each
selected object are depicted in red, green and blue, respectively.
Thus, an object can be drawn with a particular alignment in
relation to its local axes. For example a rectangle can be drawn
on the XY plane aligned to the X and Y-axes. It can then be
rotated 45 degrees and translated to the right position in the
world. Since the rectangle is still aligned to its local axes, you
can modify its width and height by moving its points along its
local X and Y-axis.
solidThinking allows you to draw in different coordinate

systems: local, global, but also in the system of a parent object

or of any other object. By default, solidThinking draws in local
coordinate system in the perspective views and in world
coordinates in the orthographic views.
The coordinate system orientation is shown on the lower left
corner of each view. Since the mouse moves on a twodimensional plane, only movements along two axes at a time
can be specified with the mouse. You will find these axes on the
lower left corner: the two active in red, while the other in green.
By rotating the perspective camera around an object, the current
local axes rotates too, and the two active axes change depending
on the orientation of the camera.

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When you implement a transformation, a parameter called

reference axes lets you specify which coordinate system you
wish to use. For further details, refer to modeling tools,
transformations.
By using local coordinate systems, you do not need to define a
construction plane each time you want to edit an object; simply
let the construction plane "follow" the object around the world.

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Construction Axes
The construction axes and current construction plane are located
at the lower left corner of the Perspective view. The construction
axes indicate the current orientation of the active coordinate
system used when you specify x, y and z coordinates and
directions.

When no objects are selected, the construction axes are aligned

to the global axes. When you select an object, the construction
axes align to the local axes of the selected object.
The green square indicates the orientation of the construction
plane. The construction plane is the plane on which points are
placed while creating objects like curves. The construction plane
is also the plane along which objects will move when you drag
them directly with the mouse.
As you rotate the view, the current construction plane is
automatically re-aligned to whichever plane (x, y, or z) is most
parallel to the screen. You can lock the construction plane so
that it remains fixed to a particular axis by clicking on that axis.
When you lock the construction plane, the selected plane turns
red and a small red lock icon is displayed near the plane. To
unlock the construction plane, simply click the lock icon.

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3.3

View Modes
You can select different viewing modes in which to display
your scene. By default, the Wireframe view mode is displayed
in each window.
If you want to modify only one view at a time, you can click the
W (Wireframe), S (Shaded), C (Combined),T (Textured) or E
(Environment) icons displayed on the title bar of each view.
The Wireframe mode offers the fastest display. Objects are
displayed as a curve meshes.
The Shaded mode is useful to see the shape of the objects and
how lights illuminate the scene.
The Combined mode applies both the wireframe and shaded
mode to the object.
The Textured mode displays not only the shape but also the
texture and/or the procedural material assigned to objects. In
case of procedural materials, which have no textures, the
representation does not exactly fit the final effect being only
aimed to give you an idea of what to expect. The textured mode
takes the longest time for refreshing the display but it can be
very useful for previewing your scene before starting the
rendering session. The Textured mode also supports the
environment map. If you have an environment map applied
and you switch to textured mode, the environment map (the
plane, object, and the environment that surrounds the scene) is
visible. Previously, this was only available in Rendering.
The Environment mode allows you to apply an environment
map to your scene. Click E from the View Modes toolbar to
select a map from the list. If you rotate the view, the
environment map is reflected on the model. From the "E" list,

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click Open folder to select a different map to get a new result or

add additional maps to the EnvMaps folder of your
solidThinking application.

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3.4

View Layouts
solidThinking offers several view layouts options, so that you

can easily find the ideal configuration for your project. They are
displayed in the Layouts panel that appears when you choose
the View4Layouts command.

To choose a view division layout, just click the corresponding

icon: the panel closes and the views are redrawn.
You can enlarge one view to fill all the space inside the main
window by simply double-clicking its title bar. Double click it
again to restore its normal size.

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3.5

View Detail
Detail can be usefully modified when moving complex models.
A low level of detail allows a faster representation of an object
speeding up modeling operations. A high level of detail can be
useful for a better visualization, but it will slowdown the
redrawing process. The level of detail you can reach without
compromising the redraw performance depends on your
hardware configuration. You should avoid increasing the level
of detail too much if your hardware is not powerful enough.
solidThinking lets you adjust the level of detail in the visual

representation of objects through the View Detail panel, which

can be selected from the View main menu item.

Low, Medium, and High are preset, while Custom stores any
detail setting defined through the Customize View Detail panel,
which is displayed when you click the Customize button.
The Transparent surfaces drawing mode can be enabled by
activating the check box.
You can move through the options using the left and right
arrows. Each command name has an underlined letter. If you
press the corresponding letter key, you can directly apply that
command.
Note: Changing the visual representation of your model does
not affect in any way its geometry.
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Customize View Detail

NURBS curves and surfaces are curved in a continuous manner,
while computer display better deals with straight lines and flat
polygons. For this reason, NURBS curves and surfaces are
tessellated into polylines and polygons at redrawing time.
The representation quality of the object improves as the number
of subdivisions of a surface grows. The number of subdivisions
generally depends on the number of control points defining a
surface.
The Customize View Detail panel allows you to define your
preferred detail setting.

In particular, the Wireframe, Shaded/Textured sections of the

panel give you control over surface detail, while the Lines
section is used to adjust curves detail.
Three different methods can be chosen from the Method pulldown menu. They are: Fixed, Linear, and Log10.

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Fixed method
The number of control points does not affect the number of
subdivision, which is fixed and corresponds to the parameter
Resolution.

subdivisions

detail

Fixed method

control points

Linear method
The number of subdivisions is linearly proportional to the
number of control points according to the formula: subdivision
= resolution * control points.
subdivisions
detail

Linear method

control points

Log10 method
The number of subdivisions is linearly proportional to the
number of control points according to the formula: subdivision
= resolution * log10 (control points)

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Compared to Linear, the Log10 method allows you to contain

the number of subdivisions in case of surfaces with numerous
control points.

subdivisions

detail

Log10 method

control points

After choosing the method, for each section of the Customize

View Detail, you can set other visualization parameters.
Resolution determines the level of detail. The effect of this
setting changes depending on the method you choose. See the
above discussion and related charts.
You can limit the number of subdivisions in a range comprised
between a minimum and a maximum value. In particular,
Minimum determines the minimum number while Maximum
determines the maximum number of subdivisions allowed, even
though a high level of detail has been set in the resolution field.
Press OK to confirm all changes and close the panel, Apply to
apply changes without closing the panel, Cancel to cancel any
changes.

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3.6

Background Image
The Background Image panel allows you to choose an image
that will be displayed as reference in the active view.
To open it, select the Image Plane command from the View
menu.

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Press the Browse button to choose the reference image.

You can so use any sketch to help you draw lines and curves of
your project. Note that this image will not be used for the final
rendering, in which case you should use the Image shaders from
the Background shader class.
If you want to remove the image as background of a view, just
switch off the Visibility check button.
Ref. Space (Reference Space) should be used to determine
whether the image size should be independent from the zoom
factor (View) or bound to the zoom factor (3D).
The position section offers three options: Free if you want to
freely position the image within the view, Center if you want it
centered, Fit to adapt it to the entire view.
The Origin section lets you set the position of the image origin
in case you have chosen the Free option in the Position section.
Adjusting the Horizontal and Vertical value modifies size of
the image plane. Leave the Keep aspect ratio option switched
on if you want to maintain proportions.
The image plane can be rotated by simply setting the Angle
degree in the Rotation section.
The Transparency section allows you to control the
transparency level (alpha) of background images for better
visibility when modeling.
Press Apply to display the image plane or to update settings
without closing the panel or OK if you also want to close the
panel.

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3.7

Grid Settings
Grids help you place points and objects into the scene with
precision. Grids do not appear in rendered images: they are
only temporary drawing aids, extremely useful to place and
align objects in an accurate manner.
solidThinking lets you adjust grid settings through the Grid

setup panel that can be displayed by choosing the Edit4Grid

setup command.
Modifications to grids and snaps settings in the Grid setup
panel are immediately drawn in the views.

Here you can define up to four different grids, each with its own
origin and spacing, grid type, and color.

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As default, all construction grids are based on the Global

Coordinates origin, but they can be shifted individually.
You can set the spacing of the grids to match the scale you work
in. For small mechanical parts, use small grid spacing for the
first grid and increase the spacing for the second, third and
fourth grid. Similarly, for a building the basic grid spacing can
decrease for additional grids. If you set all the spacing values to
zero, the grid will not be drawn.
The three grid icons define the type of line for the selected grid.
To define the color of the grid lines for the selected grid just
click the Choose button and select your preferred color from the
Colors panel. Once confirmed, the color appears in the color
field on the left.
The Visible grids section allows you to check the grids you
want to make visible and the ones you dont.
The Active snap section allows you to define the grid to which
the snap will be applied.
When snaps are activated, Angles, Scale %, and Translate
allow you to rotate, scale, and move only by steps of the
measure you typed in the numeric.

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3.8

Snap Options
To activate snaps choose Active snaps from the Edit menu item
or open the Snaps toolbar by choosing Managers 4Snaps
toolbar
. .

Options are:

Grid # 1
Grid # 2
Grid # 3
Grid # 4
Snap to grid lets you snap any entity to the closest grid intersection.

Point
Snap to points allows snapping any entity to:
- curves and surfaces control points;
- endpoints of curves;
- midpoints of lines;
- centers of circles, arcs, ellipses.

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Translate
Rotate
Scale
These snaps allow you to translate, rotate, and scale only by
steps of the measure you have set in the Grid Setup panel.

Curve
Snap to curve allows you to snap whatever you are moving (a
point, a light, or a camera) to any point on a curve. It takes
precedence over the above mentioned snap options.
After you have enabled this snap option, click the curve you
want to snap to. Without releasing the mouse button, slide the
snap point along the curve. Release the mouse button when you
have reached the desired position.
To set the point free from the curve, just press the Ctrl key. To
snap to another curve in the scene press again the Ctrl key
when you are over it.
.

Snap to curve makes achieving intersections easy. You are

suggested to disable this option when you do not need it.

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Tangent
Snap to tangent allows you to snap whatever you are moving (a
point, a light, or a camera) to a given curve tangent. It takes
precedence over any other snap options. You are suggested to
disable it once you have used it.
After you have enabled this snap option, and positioned the local
axis, click on the curve you want to snap to.

Without releasing the mouse button, slide the snap point along
the tangent of the curve until you have reached the desired
position. Then, release the mouse button.

Repeat the same steps for the second point: click the curve you
want to be tangent to and, without releasing the mouse button,
slide the snap point along the tangent of the curve.

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Release the mouse button once you have reached the desired
position. You can insert all successive points normally. The new
curve remains tangent to the first one.

If you want the first point of the new curve to coincide with the
last point of the first curve, you must also enable snap to point.
Place the first point of the new curve out of the first curve and,
without releasing the mouse button, drag it until it snaps.

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Then, position the second point: click on the curve and, without
releasing the mouse button, slide the snap point along the
tangent of the curve. Release the mouse button when you have
reached the desired position.

Snap in 3D
When you enable Snap in 3D, snapping on the view's disabled
axis (the axis perpendicular to the view plane) is allowed.
Otherwise, snap is enabled only in the active plane, i.e. XY in
the Top view, XZ in the Front view, and so on.

Snap disabled
Disables all the snap options you activated. This way, you can
quickly enable/disable your preferred snap configuration
without having to enable/disable each single option.

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3.9

The Application
toolbar
When you start solidThinking, the Application toolbar is
displayed by default on the upper left of the screen.
If you click its border, you can drag it and obtain a floating panel
that can be quickly shown/hidden by choosing the Managers
4Application toolbar menu item.

The Application toolbar includes three icons used to identify the

three main working modes of the program: Select Objects
mode, Edit Parameters mode, and Edit Points mode. A
fourth icon is used for the Group mode. They are explained in
the next paragraph.
In the row below, three icons, used in combination with the
transformation tools, let you constrain points insertion and
transformations as follows:

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X-axis
Transformations are applied only to the X-axis.

Y-axis
Transformations are applied only to the Y-axis.

Z-axis
Transformations are applied only to the Z-axis.

The next three icons are:

Zoom extent all

Zooms all the orthographic views in or out so that all graphic
components are displayed. The same icon, but smaller, appears
on the title bar of each view. Click this small icon to apply the
zoom extent to a single view.

Center selected all

Centers selected objects in all the orthographic views so that
only selected components are displayed. The same icon, but
smaller, appears on the title bar of each view. Click this small
icon to apply the center selected to a single view.

Ortho adjust
Forces all the orthographic views to have the same zoom and
view point as the selected one.

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Content of the library you select from the Application toolbar is displayed
in a new browser. The next two icons represent the following libraries:

Materials
The Materials library holds a number of materials provided with
the package. This library can however be expanded and be used
to store any of your custom materials. The Material browser
allows you to categorize and manage materials in
solidThinking using tags. See Materials Browser for more
information.

Models
Similar to the Materials library, the Models library is easily
extensible and it can be used to store 3D models. When you
click the Models icon, the Models browser is displayed.

Axes
You can switch between the local and world axes by selecting
or
icons, respectively. This option is available if
the
you are using the Translate or Rotate tools. It is not available
for the Scale tool.

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3.10

Working Modes
As we have seen, the Application toolbar displays three icons
that represent the main working modes:

Select Objects mode

The default working mode of solidThinking is Select Objects
mode. In Select Objects mode, you select objects by clicking
them with the mouse or by dragging a selection window around
them. Once objects are selected, you a variety of operations can
be performed on them such as copying them, deleting them, or
transforming them with the translate, scale and rotate tools.
Press the Ctrl key while selecting objects to toggle their
selection state and for multiple selections. To deselect
everything, click on empty space.
To pick and drag an object in a window view, just click it and
move the mouse while holding down the mouse button. Picking
a new object automatically deselects any previously selected
object. Picking can be performed in any view, perspective view
included.
An object can also be selected within the hierarchy browser by
simply clicking it. This is very useful especially when objects
coincide or in complex scenes.
To understand how solidThinking works, you should remember
that an object could be made of one or more entities (for
example, a cube is formed by six entities called faces).
To represent the status of an object, solidThinking uses the
following colors:

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Blue. Object is not selected.

Red/Magenta. Object is selected. The red color is applied to the
selected entity, magenta to the non-selected entity. When the
entity is represented in magenta you cannot delete, copy, or cut
it, but you can apply any other object transformation.
Dark green. Object is involved in the Construction Tree of the
selected object (see also 4.1, The Construction Tree, page 116 ).
Hold down the mouse button and drag in the view to select any
object included in a selection box. To force a selection box even
if you are over an object or a handle (thus avoiding to activate a
translation), hold down Ctrl + Shift and drag with the mouse.

To select an entity (and not the whole object), pick it while

holding down the Alt key.
Consider a NURBS curve, for example: portions of different
order can characterize it. To select an entity and not the entire
curve, pick it while holding down the Alt key.

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Edit Parameters mode

To edit the parameters of an object, select it and then click the
Edit Parameters icon, . You can also double-click an object
while in Select Object mode to activate the Edit Parameters
mode. While you are in Edit Parameters mode, all the
parameters of an object appear in the modeling tool panel where
they can be modified with a variety of sliders, buttons and text
fields. Some parameters are also represented graphically in the
modeling window with graphical "handles". Handles are
typically shown for dimensional or shape-controlling parameters
such as lengths, diameters, control points or isoparametric
curves on a surface. Some handles can be dragged while others
may only be selected. You can click and drag handles in any
view to modify the object parameters.
When you are over a handle, a tool tip displays its name. In the
case of a circle, for example, you can modify its radius and
start/end angles by clicking the appropriate handles and dragging
them. When in Edit Parameters mode you can select other
objects by clicking on them while pressing the Alt key or you
can select them in the browser.
When an object is selected, you can quickly toggle
between Select Objects mode and Edit Parameters mode by
pressing the spacebar.
To return to Select Objects mode from Edit Parameters mode,
you can either double-click or right-click outside the object.

Edit Points Mode

You can freely deform objects by dragging their control points
in Edit Points mode. To enable point editing, select an object
and click the icon or double-click the object while in Edit
Parameters mode.
When control points are moved, their offsets relative to the
undeformed shape are stored. The point offsets are maintained
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even if the objects parameters are changed later so that the

character of the shape is preserved.
You can toggle back and forth between Edit Points mode and
Edit Parameters mode by double-clicking an object while editing
it.
To exit both edit modes and return to Select Objects mode,
double-click or right-click outside the object or press the
Spacebar.
When in Edit Points mode, the Multi Edit modeling tool is
automatically invoked. Transformations can be applied to the
control points using the standard Translate, Rotate and Scale
tools (invoked by clicking their corresponding icons or by using
the T, R or S shortcuts, respectively).
To represent the status of a point solidThinking uses the
following colors:
Blue. Point is pickable.
Yellow. Point is selected. When you apply a transformation to
some selected points, these are displayed in blue but in a smaller
size.
Light green. Point is not pickable and is visualized (in a smaller
size) in order to enable snap to point.
For multiple selections, pick points while holding down the Ctrl
key.
To choose a range of points from the currently selected to the
clicked point, hold down the Shift key.
Hold down the mouse button and drag in the view to select any
point included in a selection box. To force a selection box even
if you are over a control point or another handle (thus avoiding
to activate a translation), hold down Ctrl + Shift and drag with
the mouse.

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Multi Edit
The Multi Edit modeling tool panel contains two buttons to
remove the editing from the currently selected points (Un-edit
selected) and from all the points of the currently selected objects
(Un-edit all).
The offset is actually bound only to objects that are the result of
an Action. Collapsed objects - objects whose Construction Tree
has been collapsed - will have their points moved. This is to
avoid useless complications: since these objects have no action
behind them, their points can be freely moved.
Moving points on revolved objects (i.e. sphere, circle, lathe)
may give unexpected results if the object is, for example, refined
(more points added along the circumference) or if Start angle or
End angle parameters are changed. The offsets applied are
always specified as (X,Y,Z) values added to the source points,
not as radial offsets with respect to the circumference on
which the object is based.

Group mode
Used to select groups and to apply transformations and/or
materials to a group as a whole. If you pick an object that is part
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of a group, the entire group will be selected. When you are in

Group mode, you cannot translate an object or a group by
clicking and dragging in the view, while it is still possible to
apply any transformation by activating the appropriate tool.
A group can also be selected within the hierarchy browser by
simply clicking it.

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3.11

Selecting Objects
To select an object, choose the Object mode and click its
surface. To pick and drag an object in a window view, just click
it and move the mouse while holding down the mouse button.
Picking a new object automatically deselects any previously
selected object. Picking can be performed in any view,
perspective view included.
An object can also be selected within the hierarchy browser by
simply clicking it. This is very useful especially when objects
coincide or in complex scenes.
In order to understand how solidThinking works, you should
remember that an object could be made of one or more entities
(for example, a cube is formed by six entities called faces).
To represent the status of an object, solidThinking uses the
following colors:
Blue. Object is not selected.
Red/Magenta. Object is selected. The red color is applied to the
selected entity, magenta to the non-selected entity. When the
entity is represented in magenta you cannot delete, copy, or cut
it, but you can apply any other object transformation.
Dark green. Object is involved in the Construction Tree of the
selected object (see also 4.1, The Construction Tree, page 116 ).

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For multiple selections, pick the objects while holding down the
Ctrl key.
Hold down the mouse button and drag in the view to select any
object included in a selection box. To force selection box even
if you are over an object or a handle (thus avoiding to activate a
translation), hold down Ctrl + Shift and drag with the mouse.

To select an entity (and not the whole object), pick it while

holding down the Alt key.
Consider a NURBS curve, for example: portions of different
order can characterize it. To select an entity and not the entire
curve, pick it while holding down the Alt key.

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3.12

Selecting Points
To select a point, choose the Edit Parameters mode and click
it. To pick and drag a point in a window view, just click it and
move the mouse while holding down the mouse button. Picking
a new point automatically deselect any previously selected
point. Picking can be performed in any view, 3D view included.
To represent the status of a point solidThinking uses the
following colors:
Blue. Point is pickable.
Yellow. Point is selected.
When you apply a transformation to some selected points, these
are displayed in blue but in a smaller size.
Light green. Point is not pickable and is visualized (in a smaller
size) in order to enable snap to point.
For multiple selections, pick points while holding down the
Ctrl key.
.

To choose a range of points from the currently selected to the

clicked point, hold down the Shift key.

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Hold down the mouse button and drag in the view to select any
point included in a selection box. To force selection box even if
you are over a control point or another handle (thus avoiding to
activate a translation), hold down Ctrl + Shift and drag with the
mouse.

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3.13

Selecting Groups
When you are in Group mode and pick an object that is part of
a group, the entire group will be selected. When you are in
Group mode you cannot translate an object or a group by
clicking and dragging in the view, while it is still possible to
apply any transformation by activating the appropriate tool.
A group can also be selected within the hierarchy browser by
simply clicking it.

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3.14

The Modeling Toolbar

and Libraries
The Modeling Toolbar allows you to scroll through the
modeling tools available, which are sorted in categories whose
names appear on blue tabs.
By default, at the launch of the program, the Modeling toolbar is
positioned on the left side of the interface below the menu bar
and displays the modeling tools available.
If you click the border, you can drag it and obtain a floating
panel.

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To select the library to be displayed, just click the related icon

in the Application toolbar or choose the Managers menu and
select Modeling toolbar, Materials browser, or Models
browser.

To scroll the content of the toolbar, hover over a tab

(Transforms, Curves, etc.) until the hand icon is displayed.
Once the hand icon is displayed, you can click the left mouse
button and drag the mouse up or down.
When you double click a model tool tab, all tools within a
category are displayed/hidden.

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If an icon contains a small blue arrow on the bottom right

corner, you can click and hold to display a pull-out that contains
other tools.

You can then drag the cursor to choose the tool you want to use.
When you are over each icon, the program displays the tool name.

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3.15

The Console
In the upper right corner of the screen, the console lets you enter
numerical values and prompts you on parameters required by
the active command.

To confirm default values, where indicated, just press the

Enter key. To skip the current and all the subsequent prompts
for the current command, press Ctrl + Enter ( Apple + Enter
on the Mac). Default values will be assigned to the skipped
parameters.
.

Any parameter requiring numerical input can be either set

through the keyboard or specified by working interactively in
any views with the mouse. When you type XYZ coordinates,
values can be separated by a comma (i.e. 1,1,1), a semi-colon, or
any other key except a dot, which is used for decimals. A tab
can be used as well. Spacebar , on the contrary, cannot be used
as it puts an end to operations.

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By default, values are inserted with respect to the objects origin

but, if you type the @ symbol near any coordinate number
(i.e. @2,2,2 or 2,2@,2), they can be inserted with respect to the
previously inserted point.

By typing X, Y, or Z before the coordinate, you can specify the

relative position respect to the X, Y, or Z axis (i.e. x1). This
way, you dont have to type all coordinate values when just one
must change.

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3.16

The World Browser

The World Browser (Managers4Browser command) allows
you to view the objects in your scene in their hierarchical
structure, as well as in the context of their relations with other
elements. This way you can analyze how the scene is
constructed. Moreover, layers can help you organize your work
in an even more flexible manner.
Just as the hierarchical structure of the scene, the world browser
displays the Construction Tree, an important part of
solidThinking. We will look at it closely in section 4 while
discussing modeling. In the meantime, it is sufficient to know
that the Construction Tree shows the connection between a
surface and all its construction curves, and that it makes the
selection of construction curves easy and fast.

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The Browser window can be freely resized and positioned

anywhere in the screen. If you want it floating, you will
certainly find it practical to use its keyboard shortcut to quickly
show it or hide it. The program remembers the last size and
position of the browser. If you prefer, you can dock it by simply
dragging and dropping it on the edge of the screen.
You have a range of possibilities for customizing the World
Browser. Options are displayed in the pop-up menu which
appears when you right-click within its window.

Horizontal/vertical panes
Organizes the Hierarchy Browser and the Construction Tree
horizontally or vertically.

Show/hide buttons
Shows/hides the buttons on the top of the Browser window.
Hiding them could be useful when you dock the browser
vertically and you need to save space.

Show/hide Construction Tree

Shows/hides the Construction Tree. Useful to save space when
you have finished the modeling phase and you are working, for
example, on shading attributes.

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Modifying the status of an object

The World Browser lets you perform numerous operations and
change the hierarchy of the scene. Icons for commands and
visualization operations are located at the top of the Browser. If
you right click one or more selected objects in the browser, a
pop-up menu is displayed showing a number of commands and
visualization options. Lets examine some of these operations
which can also be accomplished by clicking the appropriate
button. Just as it happens in the interactive views, icons used to
represent state of an object turn red once selected.

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Picking disabled
Makes an object non-pickable. Convenient when you do not
want to accidentally modify the object.

Bounding Box only

Displays the selected object as a bounding box, speeding up
modeling operations. Very useful when you have to deal with
complex models.

Hidden in interactive views

Disables visualization of selected objects from 3D views and
makes them invisible. Objects are visualized only when
selected, and hidden when deselected.

Hidden in rendering
Disables rendering of selected objects.

Do not receive shadows

Choose this option if you do not want the selected object to
receive shadows.

Do not cast shadows

Choose this option if you do not want the selected object to cast
shadows.

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Group
Groups all selected objects. If you add an object to the scene
while a group is selected, the new object will automatically be
added to the group. If you choose this command while no
objects are selected, an empty group will be created. To add
objects to the newly created group, just drag and drop them into
the folder.

Ungroup
Ungroups objects belonging to the selected group.

Delete
Deletes selected objects or groups.

Status filters
The pull-down menu on the top right of the browser window
allows you to decide which kind of information you want
displayed in the hierarchy browser. The three options available
work as status filters and they are self-exclusive in order to
provide a clear visualization of the scene. They are:
Visibility

Icons show objects that are not visible in

the interactive views or in the rendering.
Picking/B.Box Icons show objects that are not pickable or
that use a bounding-box display.
Shadows
Icons show objects that do not receive or
do not cast shadows.

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Using the dragndrop technique

An object can be easily moved into a group by dragging and
dropping it: pick it with the mouse, drag it while holding the left
mouse button down, and finally drop it by releasing the mouse
button.
You can make a copy, instead of moving it, by clicking and
dragging while holding the Ctrl key simultaneously.
Any object can be made of one or more entities. For example, a
cube-shaped object is made of six entities called faces. Just as to
objects, you can apply the dragndrop technique to entities,
though with some limitations. In fact, they can only be dropped
into objects that are not the result of a construction tree.
This way, you can move or copy entities that belong to an object
into another one. For example, in order to join two curves, you
can move or copy one of the two curve entities into the other
curve. This allows you to successively join the two entities
using the NURBS Curve Modeling Tool panel.
To rename an object, just select it and click it again or select it
and press the F2 key, and then type the new name.
The Browser also lists the cameras and the lights in the scene. If
you select a Perspective camera, it will be displayed in the
views allowing you to interactively adjust both its position and
target handles.

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Layers
The World Browser offers an ulterior tool, which is very useful
for organizing your models and particularly when managing
complex ones: layers.
Layers allow you to associate some objects regardless of any
group hierarchy of your model.
You do not have to necessarily use layers. Nonetheless, objects
are always created on a default layer. If you create other layers
you will have to specify which should be the current layer, i.e.
the one to which objects are automatically assigned when they
are added to the scene.
You can set the current layer by simply selecting it from the
layers pull-down menu.

The current layer is clearly recognizable in the browser since its

icon is highlighted in yellow.

When you select an object that belongs to a layer, the folder icon
for that layer in the World Browser has a partially red state. The
folder will only have a fully red state when the layer itself is
selected. This allows you to identify the objects that belong to a
specific layer.

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Layers commands are accessible through the pop-up menu that

appears when you right-click within the browser. Some of these
operations can also be performed by clicking the appropriate
button.

New layer
Creates a new layer. When you create a new layer, it is
automatically set as the current one.

Delete layer
To delete a selected layer. When you delete a layer, the objects
in that layer are deleted as well. You cannot delete the current
layer.

Layer color
You can assign a color to each layer to increase visibility of the
objects created on different layers. The color you assign is used
when the layer is not selected. In fact, when the layer is
selected, objects are always represented in red.

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Layer on
Sets the layer on. All the objects assigned to the layer are
visible, pickable, and snappable.

Layer off
Sets the layer off. None of the objects assigned to the layer are
displayed, nor are they pickable or snappable. Useful to reduce
the visual clutter in the views.

Layer lock
When a layer is locked, all the objects assigned to the layer are
displayed and snappable, but they are NOT pickable. Useful
when you want to restrict picking to the part of the model you
are working on.

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3.17

The Modeling Tool

panel
The Modeling Tool panel appears when you select Modeling
Tool item from the Managers main menu. Content of the
Modeling Tool panel changes depending on the Modeling Tool
you select.
This panel can be resized and positioned anywhere in the
screen. The program will remember its last size and position.
This panel is a fundamental part of solidThinking and we
encourage you to leave it opened until you become familiar with
the program.
We will look at it closely in the Modeling section.

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3.18

The Shading panel

The Shading panel (Managers4Shading command) gives you
access to surface shaders, light shaders, image shaders allowing
you to choose the ones you want to apply and set their various
parameters.
The Shading panel can be freely resized and positioned
anywhere in the screen. However, you cannot dock the panel on
the edge of the interface. The program remembers the last size
and position of the window. When you resize the Shading
panel, only the Preview column resizes. The Shader tree and
Parameters columns remain fixed.
We will dwell upon this panel in the Rendering section.

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3.19

Preferences
The Preferences panel (Info4Preferences command) lets you
modify default values of various optional settings. Once opened,
it displays five tabs: General, Units, Tolerances, Dimensions,
and View.

General
Autosave allows you to automatically save the current scene
every "n" minutes. To enable this option, switch on the Enable
check button and set the minutes value in the proper data field.
If you check Safe save on, every time you save a previously
named scene, a decision box will ask you if you are sure to save.
This option is useful to avoid accidental savings.
Switch the Large buttons off if you want icons of half the
default size.
Theme allows you to select from four default color schemes for
the user interface.
Click Restore defaults to restore the default settings to
solidThinking. You must restart solidThinking for the default to
take effect.
The Texture folder section allows you to choose which folder
should be set as the default resource for textures.
Renderings buffer refers to the maximum number of rendered
pictures that will be displayed in the Rendering browser and
stored in the /solidThinking/Images folder for Windows. For a
Mac, the rendered pictures are stored in the
$HOME/Documents/Images folder.
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Morphogenesis buffer refers to the maximum number of shapes

that are stored in the /Morphogenesis folder.
Undo buffer lets you set the amount of memory solidThinking
uses to save 'undo' information. Simple commands take less
memory; thus, more simple commands can be undone. As
complexity increases, fewer commands will be retained in
memory.
Language allows you to select English as the interface
language.

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Units
The Units tab allows you to specify the units of the scene.
solidThinking allows you to choose among various standard
units (Standard Units) as well as to specify your own unit
(Custom Units).

Tolerances
The Continuity tolerances section can be used to set the
Positional 3D tolerance. Such tolerance, expressed in the
current units, is used by the modeling tools that cannot produce
an exact result, such as pipe, birail, trim, intersect, blend, round,
and surface tangency align.
This ensures that surfaces you create do not deviate from the
theoretical result more than the specified tolerance. The lower
the tolerance, the higher the precision, but also the slower the
computation. The 0.01 default value should be appropriate for
most cases.
Angular tolerance and Curvature tolerance work with the
same approach.
Changing this value with an open scene will cause the entire
Construction Tree to be re-evaluated in order to fit the new
tolerance value.
When you launch solidThinking, the Tolerance settings dialog
is displayed. It allows you to set the correct tolerance value by
selecting the model units and the approximate size. From the
Tolerances tab as well as the dialog itself, select Do not show
Tolerance Settings dialog at startup to not display the dialog
when launching solidThinking or creating a new scene. You can
also press the ESC key to remove the dialog upon launch. By
doing this, you will automatically assign the default value to
your scene.

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Dimensions
The Decimal digits (linear) field allows you to enter the
number of decimal places for a linear dimension. The Decimal
digits (angular) field allows you to enter the number of decimal
places for an angular dimension. The default Arrow size is 3
mm. You can change this value to if necessary and save any
changes as your new default setting.

View
Under Views, the Grids in ortho views and Grids in 3D views
check boxes can be switched off in case you want that grids in
the orthographic and/or perspective views are not displayed.
Arrow on curves draws an arrow at the end of each curve.
Deselect to turn off the arrow feature.
Isoparams in "C" mode visualizes isoparametric curves when
the Combined Views mode is used.

The Adaptive degradation option allows you to specify a

minimum number of frames per second during camera
movement. When the model is so complex that it could cause
the rate to drop below the specified level, the model will be

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redrawn in a simplified manner. This includes wireframe and

bounding box. Set the value to 0 to disable the option.
The Visualization engine section lets you choose between
OpenGL and Direct3D.
At start up, solidThinking detects if DirectX is installed and if
hardware acceleration is supported. DirectX will only be used
under these two conditions. The DirectX option is only available
on Windows 95 and 98. It is possible to force solidThinking to
start with OpenGL or DirectX by holding down the Shift or
Ctrl key respectively during the program start up. This setting
will be definitive for all successive sections.
To exploit hardware texture mapping of accelerated graphic
cards, it is possible to specify the internal format of the
Textures. Three formats are supported: RGBA, RGB, and
BGR. If your system mounts an accelerated graphic board you
may want to verify which format is better supported. This option
is effective only with OpenGL.
Quality allows you to specify additional settings regarding
texture mapping. The Anti-aliasing option forces the texture to
be drawn anti-aliased. This ensures a better quality in texture
mapped visualization mode. On the other side, if the graphic
board does not support hardware anti-aliasing this may produce
a slower redraw.
Entry-level graphic boards usually perform texture mapping
without taking in consideration the perspective deformation of
the texture over the polygons. This may deform the texture over
a surface. This effect is more evident when the polygons are
relatively large. Switch Force perspective correction on to
avoid this problem. Use this option only if actually needed, as it
will generally slow down redrawing.
Internal size specifies the dimension of the textures used by the
visualization engine. The higher the values, the slower will be
the redrawing.

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Click the Advanced OpenGL button to display the following

Capabilities:

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Save buffer
Antialiasing
Wide lines
High quality shading (Phong)
High quality environment shading

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Section 4

Modeling in
solidThinking

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Modeling in
solidThinking

A model is a representation of some features of either a concrete

or abstract entity. The purpose of a model is to let people
visualize and understand the structure or the behavior of the
entity, as well as providing the possibility to experiment and
predict the effects of inputs or changes to the model.
Computer aided modeling permits to design 3D shapes that
actually resemble real objects. They are manipulated by their
geometry, by the mathematical descriptions of the points, lines,
and curves by which they are created.
solidThinking uses NURBS (Non Uniform Rational B-Splines)

as its geometry type. This curve and surface definition method

offers the greatest flexibility and precision. NURBS are capable
of representing any desired shape, both analytic and free form
entities, and their algorithms are fast and numerically stable.
Excellent mathematical and algorithmic properties have
contributed to make of NURBS the de-facto industry standard
for the representation of geometric information processed by
computers.

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4.1

The Construction Tree

Modeling involves numerous concepts such as transformations,
curves, surfaces, primitives, and others. The following
paragraphs will discuss these concepts.
Modeling Tools are solidThinking main methods to create new
objects (Actions) or modify existing ones (Modifiers). The
Modeling Tool usually has parameters that define how the
object has to be created or modified.
The Action Modeling Tool creates the resulting object from the
input parameters. Once the Action has started, it remains active
for the whole life of solidThinking. This means that the object
created is not static. Parameters are maintained and a link is set
between the resulting object and the Action. When you change a
parameter, the resulting object is modified accordingly.
Parameters can be of various types: integer numbers, floatingpoint values, 3D coordinates, a number of individual flags and
even other objects. The Extrusion Modeling Tool, for example,
accepts as input a profile curve (object), an extrusion direction
(3D coordinates) and an extrusion length (floating-point value).
When a parameter is an object, an interesting effect occurs. The
source object can be a result of an Action itself, then two actions
appear in sequence. Modifying a parameter in the first Action
causes its resulting object to change.
The resulting object can be a source object of another Action.
When the object changes, the Actions for which it is a source
are notified that the parameter (the object) has changed. They
perform the necessary calculation and modify their resulting
object accordingly.

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This relationship is called Construction Tree and it is a

fundamental structure in solidThinking. The Construction Tree
allows for a complex object to be created while any parameter
in the tree can be adjusted at any time. When a parameter
changes, all the actions down the tree are notified and reevaluated, propagating the change along the tree. There are no
limitations on the number of actions or objects involved in the
Tree.
solidThinking Construction Tree amplifies the power of all of

the tools. It allows you to replace source objects within the Tree
with immediate reconstruction.
You can manipulate both the parameters and the points of all
objects freely. And never forget the steps involved in
construction - the entire tree is saved inside the file and is
accessible at any time. You can browse the graphic
representation of the Construction Tree to identify and select
source objects and actions. It is also possible to collapse the
Construction tree so removing the history from an object.

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Lets now take a look at a very simple example as to how this

works. Choose the NURBS curve action, and draw a simple
profile as below. Than, create a revolution surface by selecting
the appropriate surface action.

Now, select the starting profile by picking it either with the

mouse in any view,

or from the browser (just select Curve #1).

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Choose the Edit Parameters mode to make the program

display control points of the profile curve.

Now, click any control point you want to modify and drag it.

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Any modification of the starting profile interactively modifies

the revolution surface. You can choose the Shaded view mode
by just clicking the S icon on the title bar of the view.

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4.2

Modeling Tools and

Modeling Tool Panel
The Modeling Tools available are displayed on the left side of
the application by default.
.

To activate a modeling tool just click its icon and follow the
program console prompts.
To skip all console prompts, use the Ctrl + Enter combination
( Apple + Enter on the Mac). Default values will be used.
Clicking a new modeling tool will produce the same result.
To abort a modeling tool previously activated, press Esc . Any
eventually created object will be deleted.

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To recall the last modeling tool activated, press the Ins key
( Ctrl + Spacebar on the Mac).
Any Modeling Tool has a number of parameters and commands
accessible through the Modeling Tool panel, another
fundamental part of solidThinking (It appears when you select
Modeling Tool item from the Managers main menu). This
panel can be resized and positioned anywhere in the screen. The
program will remember its last size and position.
Content of the Modeling Tool panel changes depending on what
you select. In the following pictures you can see some examples
of the panel appearance: Scale tool in the first picture, NURBS
curve drawing tool in the second, Birail action in the third, and
Torus primitive in the fourth.

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4.3

Transformations
Operations that move, re-orient, or resize items in a 3D scene are
called transformations. To apply transformations to objects you
must work in Select Objects mode; to apply them to points you
must work in Edit Parameters mode. (see also 3.10, Working
Modes, page 87).
Transformations include Translation, Rotation, and Scaling.
Deformations are also available and they include: Twist, Taper,
Warp, Shear, Bend, Lattice, Stretch, Linear Stretch,
PixelMap, and SurfDrape.
Mirroring and various Replication methods are included in this
category even though, strictly speaking, they are not
transformations.
Last, the Combine command allows you to merge two or more
separate objects of any type (curves, surfaces, tri-meshes,
primitives) into a single object.
For each parameter/command we will mention all the possibilities
as below:
Views: steps to follow allow you to work interactively with the
mouse in the views only;
Modeling Tool panel: steps to follow allow you to work in the
Modeling Tool panel only;
Views / Modeling Tool panel: steps to follow require you to work
in
both
views
and
Modeling
Tool
panel.

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Translate
Moves one or more pickable items in the 3D scene to a new
location.

How to use
When you pick one or more items (objects or points) and drag, a
translation is always applied regardless of the transformation you
have selected.
Translation can also be applied by following the standard
transformation steps:

144

1.

Pick the items you want to move.

2.

Click the Translate icon or choose the Tools4 Transform

4Translate menu command. You can also perform a
translation by using the T keyboard shortcut.

3.

To move the items you can use one of the following

methods:
a)
Click directly on the object and drag it to the new
location.
b)
Click an area of the view that is clear of any items and
drag.
c)
Input precise XYZ coordinates of the target location
in the Modeling Tool panel.
Use the Manipulator to translate an object in the X, Y,
or Z direction by clicking and dragging in the direction
of the labeled arrow on the Manipulator. The red,
green, and blue colors of the Manipulator represent the
X, Y, and Z axes, respectively.
d) Use the Manipulator to translate an object along the X,
Y, or Z plane. The plane that you select moves the
object in the direction of the other two axes. Select the
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green Y plane to translate the object in the X and Z

direction. Likewise, select the red X plane to move the
object in the Y and Z direction, and select the blue Z
plane to move the object in the Y and X direction.
Note: When you select an object to translate, the
Manipulator can be aligned with the local axes or the
global axes. Their orientation in the view is dependent on
the orientation of the coordinate system, which can be local
or global. If you select an object and you are using the
Local axes system, the axes are aligned with the object.
The Manipulator looks like this:

If you switch to the World axes system, the Manipulator is

aligned with the global axes and looks like this:

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4.

By default, the translation reference point of an item is

placed in relation to its local axes. Because it may be
desirable to translate an object relative to an arbitrary point
(such as an edge), you may want to relocate it by using one
of the following methods:
a) Click the Pivot handle of the item in any view and
drag it to the new location.
b) Choose one of the predefined Axes options in the
Modeling Tool panel.
c) Input the XYZ coordinates in the Pivot field of the
Modeling Tool panel to specify numerically the
location of an arbitrary origin point.

You can constrain movement along one axis by enabling only one
the following icons in the Application toolbar:
To move along the X-axis only (shortcut is the X key).
To move along the Y-axis only (shortcut is the Y key).
To move along the Z-axis only (shortcut is the Z key).
To constrain movement of the selected items along XY, XZ, or
YZ axes, just select two of the above icons at a time. Leave all
three icons selected if you want free translation.

Note: By default, translation is applied with reference to the

origin of the objects local axes, but the Modeling Tool panel
allows you to choose among several options.

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Options
To
To modify XYZ coordinates of the target location of selected item.
Views. Pick the item whose target location you want to modify
and drag it. Release the mouse button when you have reached the
desired location.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Axis
To define the reference coordinate system.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
Local (default). Each picked item is moved with reference to its
local axis. You can also select the
icon from the Application
toolbar to switch to the Local axes.
Parent. Each picked item is moved with reference to the
coordinate system of its parent node.
World. Items are moved with reference to the world (or global)
icon from the
coordinate system. You can also select the
Application toolbar to switch to the World axes.
Object. Items are moved according to the axis orientation of a
reference object that you can define in the Object section below.

Object
To define the reference object in case you have switched on the
Object option in the Axis section above.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick the reference object in the scene. Then move the item.

Distance
Displays the translation distance.
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Type
This option is available only when you are in Edit Parameters
mode as it can be applied to control points, not to objects. It is
related to the influence distance parameter.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You have
the following options:
Standard for the standard translation. All the selected points are
translated by the amount specified.
The other three options activate the Magnet behavior for points
translation. The center of the selected points will be the reference
point for the translation. Only points with a distance lower than the
one specified in the Influence distance parameter will be actually
translated. The amount of translation will be the same in case of
Constant, inversely proportional to the distance from the reference
point in case of Linear and Smooth. Smooth will provide a smooth
transition from the reference point to the external points.

Influence distance
Maximum distance within which the Magnet translation is applied.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the rotation angle in
the Influence distance field.

Apply to
To selectively translate objects/points or axes. This option is
enabled only when you are in Select Objects mode and when
collapsed objects (objects without a Construction Tree) are
selected.
Modeling Tool panel. Choose one of the two options:
The Objects/Points option allows you to move objects or points.
Choose Axes if you want to move ONLY the objects axes.

Pivot Point
The start point of the Translation, which is used when you want to
Translate an object in reference to a specific point.
Views. Click on the Pivot handle and drag it. Release the mouse
button when you have reached the desired location.

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Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Rotate
Rotates one or more pickable items in a 3D scene.

How to use

150

1.

Pick the item you want to rotate.

2.

Click the Rotate icon or choose the Tools4 Transform4

Rotate menu command. You can also perform a rotation by
using the R keyboard shortcut.

3.

The views display the center of rotation.

4.

By default, the center of rotation of an item is placed in the

center of its bounding box. Since the effect of a rotation of
an item depends on the location of the center of rotation
(origin), you may want to relocate it by using one of the
following methods:
a)
Click the Center handle of the item in any view and
drag it to the new location.
b) Choose one of the predefined Origin options in the
Modeling Tool panel.
c) Input the XYZ coordinates in the Center field of the
Modeling Tool panel to specify numerically the
location of an arbitrary origin point.

5.

By default, rotation is View dependent, i.e. it is performed

according to the two-dimensional plane of the window view
where you have selected the item to rotate. The plane of the
view axis is displayed in the bottom left corner of each view
(for example, XY in the Top view).

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To define a different rotation axis you can choose one of the

Predefined rotation axes (X, Y, and Z) listed in the
Modeling Tool panel or the Custom rotation axis which lets
you input XYZ coordinates in the Custom rotation axis
fields for any arbitrary orientation.
6.

To interactively rotate the item, you can use one of the

following methods:
a) Click an area of the view that is clear of any item and
drag with the mouse (remember that you must not
pick the item as, in this case, a translation is always
applied regardless of the transformation you selected).
b) Define the degree of rotation by moving the Angle
slider of the Modeling Tool panel.
c) When you select an object to rotate and you activate
the Rotate tool, the Manipulator is displayed as a
yellow circle which allows you to apply a view
dependent rotation to an object. Click and drag the
Manipulators yellow circle in the direction that you
want to rotate.
d) Click and drag the red, green, and blue arcs to rotate
along the X, Y, and Z axis, respectively.

Note: By default, rotation is applied with reference to the origin

of the objects local axes, but the Reference Axes section of the
Modeling Tool panel allows you to choose among other options.

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Options
Angle
To define the rotation angle.
Views. Click an area of the view that is clear of any item and drag.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the rotation angle in
the Angle field.

Origin
To set the center of rotation (origin).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
Barycenter. The rotation center coincides with the barycenter.
Center of bounding box (default). The rotation coincides with
the center of the bounding box of the item (or items).
Axes origin The rotation center coincides with the axes origin.
Point. The rotation center coincides with any arbitrary point that
you can define in the Center section below.

Center
To define an arbitrary location (defined by the XYZ coordinates)
of the origin.
Views. Pick the Center handle of the rotation axes and drag it to
the new location.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Predefined rotation axis

To set one of the predefined rotation axis.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
X. Rotation about the X-axis.
Y. Rotation about the Y-axis.
Z. Rotation about the Z-axis.
View dependent (default). Rotation is performed according to the
two-dimensional plane of the view where you have selected the
item to rotate.
Custom. Lets you input XYZ coordinates in the Custom rotation
axis fields below.

Custom rotation axis

To define an arbitrary orientation of the rotation axis.
Views. Pick the Custom rotation axis handle of the rotation axes
and drag it to the new location.
Modeling Tool panel. Input the XYZ coordinates in the Custom
rotation axis fields.

Reference axes
To define the reference coordinate system.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
Local (default). Each picked item is rotated with reference to its
icon from the Application
local axes. You can also select the
toolbar to switch to the Local axes.
Parent. Each picked item is rotated with reference to the
coordinate system of its parent node.
World. Items are rotated with reference to the world (or global)
coordinate system. You can also select the
icon from the
Application toolbar to switch to the World axes.
Object. Items are rotated according to the axes orientation of a
reference object that you can define in the Object section below.
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Object
To define the reference object in case you have switched on the
Object option in the Reference Axes section above.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch on the Replace check button
and pick the reference object in the scene. Then drag with the
mouse in the scene.

Apply to
To selectively rotate objects/points or axes. This option is enabled
only when you are in Select Objects mode and when collapsed
objects (objects without a Construction Tree) are selected.
Modeling Tool panel. Choose one of the two options:
The Objects/Points option allows you to rotate objects or points.
Choose Axes if you want to rotate ONLY the objects axes.

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Scale
Changes the size of one or more pickable items in a 3D scene.

How to use
1.

Pick the item you want to scale.

2.

Click the Scale icon or choose the Tools4Transform4

Scale4Scale menu command. You can also perform a
scale by using the S keyboard shortcut.

3.

The views display the scaling center.

4.

Define the origin (center) of the scaling.

By default, scaling is performed about the center of the
items bounding box. The scaling effect of an item (and
especially of points) often depends on the location of the
origin; thus, you may want to relocate it using one of the
following methods:
a)
Click the Center handle of the item and drag it to the
new location.
b) Choose one of the predefined Origin options in the
Modeling Tool panel.
c) Input the XYZ coordinates in the Center field of the
Modeling Tool panel to specify numerically the
location of an arbitrary origin point.

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5.

To interactively scale the item, you can use one of the

following methods:
a)
Click an area of the view that is clear of any item and
drag with the mouse (remember that you must not
pick the item as, in this case, a translation is always
applied regardless of the transformation you selected).
b) Define the scale factor by moving the Scale slider of
the Modeling Tool panel.
c) Use the Manipulator to scale an object in the X, Y, or
Z direction or along the X, Y, or Z plane.

Note. When scaling an object, if an object has a Construction

History, you cannot scale the object in one direction only. You
can only scale the object proportionally, in all directions and at the
same time, regardless of where you click. The Manipulator
indicates that an object has a Construction History by displaying
yellow cubes at the ends of the XYZ arrows and at the plane
points. If you remove the Construction History of an object or
select an object without a history, the Manipulator displays red,
green and blue cubes instead of the yellow cubes. This indicates
that you can now scale the object in a non-proportional way,
moving in the X, Y or Z direction.

You can constrain scaling along one axis only by enabling one of
the following icons in the Application toolbar:
To scale along the X-axis only (shortcut is the X key).
To scale along the Y-axis only (shortcut is the Y key).
To scale along the Z-axis only (shortcut is the Z key).
To constrain scaling of the selected items along XY, XZ, or YZ
axes, just select two of the above icons at a time. Leave all the
three icons selected if you want uniform scaling on all three axes
so that only the size changes while the shape remains the same

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Note. By default, scaling is performed about the center of the

items bounding box, but the Origin section of the Modeling Tool
panel allows you to choose among several options.

Options
Scale
To define the scale factor (default value is 1).
Views. Click an area of the view that is clear of any item and drag.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the scale factor in
the Scale field.

Origin
To define the scaling center (origin).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
Barycenter. The scaling center is located in correspondence with
the barycenter.
Center of bounding box (default). The scaling center is located
in correspondence with the center of the bounding box of the item
(or items).
Axes origin. The rotation center is located in correspondence
with the axes origin.
Point. The rotation center is located in correspondence with any
arbitrary point.

Center
To define an arbitrary location (defined by the XYZ coordinates)
of the origin.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Pick the Center
handle and drag it to the new location.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Bounding Box Fitting

Scales a given object to fit it into a user-defined box. Scaling
transformation can be non uniform so that the user can define
exact dimensions for each direction (X, Y, Z) of the box.

How to use
1.

Select a single object (the object can be a NURBS curve, a

NURBS surface, a Polymesh or a Pointmesh). If the object
has a Construction Tree, the program displays an alert
message informing the user that a copy of the object will be
created.

2.

Click the Bounding Box Fitting icon or choose Tools4

Transform4Scale4Bounding Box Fitting command.

3.

You can set dimensions and other parameters of the

bounding box in the Modeling Tool panel. Dimensions can
be modified also by picking and dragging handles in the
interactive views while you are in Edit Parameters mode.

Note. Non-uniform scaling transformations do not maintain

geometric properties like tangency and curvature continuity
between adjacent surfaces.

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Options
Origin
To set the bottom left corner of the bounding box.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Origin
point and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Dim
To set the top right corner of the bounding box.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point whose
position you want to modify and drag it. Release the mouse button
when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Width
Depth
Height
To set dimensions of the bounding box along X (width), Y
(depth) and Z (height). By default, the program uses world axis
direction. Local axis direction can be set by checking the Local
bounding box option on.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter
.

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Options
To specify some useful options for the fitting.
Modeling Tool panel. To enable the available options, switch their
check buttons on:
Constrain Proportions. To maintain original proportions while
modifying the bounding box dimensions (the result is uniform
scaling transformation).
Local bounding box. To set local axes as reference coordinate
system.
Custom scaling center. To set a custom center for the scaling
transformation. Enter the values in the X, Y, and Z fields under
Scale.

Scaling center along X

Scaling center along Y
Scaling center along Z
To define the scaling center along X, Y, or Z.
Modeling Tool panel. Select Min, Center, or Max to define
the scaling center along the minimum, center, or maximum of the
X, Y, or Z axes, respectively. This is not enabled if you have
Custom scaling center selected under Options.

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Inspector
Displays translation, rotation, and scaling values of a single object or a
group with reference to the world coordinates system allowing you to
edit them.

How to use

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1.

Select a single object or a group.

2.

Click the Inspector icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Inspector menu command.

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Options
Object
To change the object or the group whose information you want to
be displayed.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve or object in the scene. Displayed values
will be updated according to the new selected object/group.

Translation
To change XYZ translation values with respect to the world
coordinate system.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation
To change XYZ rotation values with respect to the world
coordinate system.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling
To change XYZ scaling values with respect to the world
coordinate system.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the scale factor in
the Scale field.

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Combine
Combines two or more selected objects into a single one.
Objects to combine must be of the same type.

How to use
1.

Click the Combine icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Combine4Combine menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick objects to combine.

3.

Pick the objects you want to combine in any view.

4.

You can pick as many objects as you want. To end objects

selection, press Spacebar .

Note: Combining is different from grouping. Combining allows

you to put different entities in the same object. Only entities of the
same type can be merged (curves with curves, surfaces with
surfaces, etc.). Grouping allows you to group different objects
together, so that, you can apply transformations as to a unique
object. Nonetheless, grouped objects are not really unique
objects; in fact groups cannot be used as source objects in an
action (i.e., you cannot trim a group of surfaces, but you can
apply the same action to combined objects). Objects of different
types can be grouped.

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Options
Remove
To remove a component from the combine object.
Modeling Tool panel. Choose the component of the merge object
you want to remove from the list. Press the Remove button.

Insert
To add a new component to the combined object.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Insert check button on
and pick the new object you want to include in the combined
object.

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Multi combine
Combines objects of different types. For each object type, a single
object containing all the selected objects of the same type is
created, i.e. a curve object for all the curves, a surface object for
all the surfaces, etc.

How to use
1.

Select all the objects you want to combine.

2.

Click the Multi combine icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Combine4Multi combine menu command.

3.

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Mirror
Mirrors curves and surfaces in a 3D scene.

How to use
1.

Click the Mirror icon or choose the Tools4 Transform4

Mirror menu command.

2.

While the views display the mirror plane, the program

console prompts Pick objects to mirror.

3.

Pick the items you want to be mirrored. Press the

Spacebar to end items picking.

4.

At the Start of mirror plane console prompt, click to specify

the location.

5.

At the End of mirror plane console prompt, click to define

the direction of the mirror plane. The items to be mirrored
will be replicated across the plane from the start point to
this end point. Press the Shift key to snap to the closest
axis.

After completing the mirror operation you can still adjust the
position and orientation of the mirror plane using one of the
following methods:
a) In the Edit Parameters mode, click the Start of Mirror
Plane handle and interactively define the distance of the
mirrored copy from the selected item and its orientation. If
you do not want to modify the distance, but only the
orientation, just click and drag on either the End of Mirror
Plane handle, or the Plane Normal handle.

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b)

Use the Mirror Plane option in the Mirror tool panel to

specify the plane (XY, YZ, or ZX) or the Free direction along
which the mirroring will be performed.

Note. When using the Mirror Plane option in the tool panel, by
default the Start of Mirror Plane coincides with the origin of the
selected items local axes.

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Options
Remove
To remove one or more mirrored items obtained with the same
mirror action.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Select the mirrored item by either
picking it with the mouse or through the browser. Choose the item
you want to remove from the list displayed in the Object section
of the Modeling Tool panel. Press the Remove button.

Insert
To add new items after a mirror action has been performed.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Insert check button on
and pick the items you want to mirror. Press Spacebar to end.
.

Mirror Plane
To modify the mirror axis and, consequently, the orientation of
the mirror plane.
Views. Select the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start of
mirror plane handle and interactively define the distance from
the selected item and the orientation. If you do not want to modify
the distance but only the orientation, just click and drag the Plane
Normal handle.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You can
specify the plane (XY, YZ, ZX) or the direction (Free) along
which the mirroring will be performed.

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Start of Mirror Plane

End of Mirror Plane
Plane Normal
To specify the XYZ coordinates of the mirror plane start and end
points and normal direction, allowing you to determine a custom
vector that defines position and orientation of the mirror plane.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Replicate
Replicates any curve or object along a path or over a surface or on
vertices of a polymesh.

How to use
1.

Click the Replicate icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Replicators4Replicate menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick object to replicate.

3.

Pick the object you want to replicate in any view. Once

picked, the object becomes green.

4.

The

program

console

prompts

Select

replication

path/surface.

5.

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Pick in any view the replication path, surface, or polymesh.

If you select a path, you control replication along the U
direction only. If you select a surface you control replication
along both U and V directions. If you select a polymesh
object the replicated objects are positioned on vertices of
the polygonal model and U and V parameters are not used.
By default, the selected object is replicated three times but
the Modeling Tool panel allows you to modify the number
of copies as well as numerous other options.

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Options
Object
To change the object to replicate.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve or object in the scene. The new object will
be replicated instead of the previous one.

Path
To change the replication path/surface.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another replication path or surface in the scene.
Replication of the object will be accordingly modified.

Hide source objects

To hide or display source objects (original object to replicate and
replication path/surface).
Modeling Tool panel. If you switch the Hide source objects radio
button on, source objects (the object to replicate and the
replication path/surface) will be hidden but not deleted. In fact,
you can find them in the Hierarchy Browser hidden from both
rendering and views.

Replication method
To specify the replication method. In case of replication over a
polymesh this option is disabled.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on:
Copies, if you want to precisely set the number of copies that
must be replicated.
Step, if you prefer to set a constant distance between each
replicated object. In this case the number of copies will depend on
the step you define.

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Copies along U
Copies along V
If you have chosen the Copies replication method, this option
allows you to o change the number of copies to be replicated
along U and/or V directions (V direction is enabled only if you
use a replication surface).
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Step along U
Step along V
If you have chosen the Step replication method, this option allows
you to change the distance between each replicated object along
U and/or V directions (V direction is enabled only if you use a
replication surface).
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Objects transformation
To specify how rotation and scaling transformations will be
applied to the replicated object.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons
on:
Step by step if you want rotation and/or scaling values to be
applied to each replicated object with respect to the previous one.
Linear if you prefer for rotation and/or scaling values to be
applied to the last replicated object with respect to the first one
(rotation and/or scaling values of intermediate objects will be
automatically interpolated).
Constant when the same rotation and/or scaling values must be
applied to any replicated object.

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Rotation
To set the rotation angle on the X, Y, and Z axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Type rotation values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling
To set the scaling factor on the X, Y, and Z axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Type factor values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation noise
To apply a random effect on rotation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling noise
To apply a random effect on scaling.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Noise seed
This parameter affects the sequence of random numbers that
determine the noise.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Options
To specify how the curve or object will be aligned with respect to
the replication path/surface.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Origin, X
axis, Y axis or Z axis handles and interactively define the
orientation by dragging them.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons on:
No alignment. No alignment will be applied.

Frenet frame alignment. Replicated objects are oriented along

curve normal if the path is a curve, along surface normal if the path is
a surface and along vertices normal if the path is a polymesh.

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Dir. preserving alignment. To align the curve or object axes to

the replication object normal without any twisting.

Reset axes
To restore the orientation axes to their original position.
Modeling Tool panel. Press the Reset axes button.

Starting point
V Starting point
To set the replication starting point on the path or over the surface.
V starting point is active only in the second case (in this case
Starting point means U Starting point).
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter.

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End point
V End point
To set the replication end point on the path or over the surface. V
end point is active only in the second case (in this case End point
means U End point).
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter.

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Step copy
Creates a user-defined number of copies in 3D space applying
incremental transformations, i.e. each transformation is applied to
each replicated object with respect to the previous one.
This modeling tool is a modifier, not an action; therefore it does
not feature a construction tree.

How to use

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1.

Select one or more objects or groups.

2.

Click the Step copy icon or choose the Tools4 Transform4

Replicators4Step Copy menu command.

3.

In the Modeling Tool panel set the number of copies by

either typing a value in the Copies data field or moving the
slider.

4.

In case, set translation, rotation, and scale on the X, Y, and

Z axes as well as noise effects.

5.

Press the Go button to perform the operation. Each time you

press the Go button you add new copies to the scene.

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Options
Copies
To specify the number of copies.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Translation
To set XYZ translation values with respect to the world
coordinate system.
Modeling Tool panel. Type translation values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation
To set XYZ rotation values with respect to the world coordinate
system.
Modeling Tool panel. Type rotation values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scale
To set XYZ scaling values with respect to the world coordinate
system.
Modeling Tool panel. Type scaling factor values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Translation noise
To apply a random effect on translation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation noise
To apply a random effect on rotation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling noise
To apply a random effect on scaling.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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DynaStep
Creates a user-defined number of copies in 3D space applying
incremental transformations, i.e. each transformation is applied to
each replicated object with respect to the previous one. It is similar
to Step Copy command but it features a Construction Tree.

How to use
1.

Click the DynaStep icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Replicators4DynaStep menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick an object to copy.

3.

Pick the object you want to replicate. The Modeling Tool

panel allows you to adjust dynamically various parameters
such as the number of copies.

The following examples show how the use of DynaStep simplifies

common replication tasks. The original object is first replicated 3
times with a translation along Z.

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Now the object is replicated 10 times with a vertical translation

and a rotation around Z axis.

To change the predefined position and orientation of replicated

objects switch to Edit Parameters mode and edit direction axes
that are, in the beginning, coincident to the original object local
axes. The direction changes of the replicated objects reflect
relative changes of these axes from original object axes.

Working in the interactive views, it is also possible to control the

total translation of the sequence of replicate objects by picking and
dragging the Direction hot-spot.

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Options
Object
To change the object to replicate.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another object in the scene.

Copies
To specify the number of copies.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Translation
To set XYZ translation values with respect to the world
coordinate system.
Modeling Tool panel. Type translation values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation
To set XYZ rotation values with respect to the world coordinate
system.
Modeling Tool panel. Type rotation values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scale
To set XYZ scaling values with respect to the world coordinate
system.
Modeling Tool panel. Type scaling factor values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Translation noise
To apply a random effect on translation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation noise
To apply a random effect on rotation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling noise
To apply a random effect on scaling.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Noise seed
This parameter affects the sequence of random numbers that
determine the noise.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Reset axes
Set direction axes to be coincident to the original object local axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Just click the Reset axes button.

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Matrix copy
Creates a user-defined number of copies along XYZ to make a
box-like array.
This modeling tool is a modifier, not an action; therefore it does
not feature a construction tree.

How to use

184

1.

Select one or more objects or groups.

2.

Click the Matrix copy icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Replicators4Matrix copy menu command.

3.

In the Modeling Tool panel, specify the number of copies

that must be replicated by typing XYZ values in the Copies
data fields and the XYZ constant distances between each
replicated object in the Step data fields.

4.

In case, set rotation and scale on the X, Y, and Z axes as

well as noise effects.

5.

Press the Go button to perform the operation. Each time you

press the Go button you add new copies to the scene.

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Options
Copies
To specify the number of copies along X, Y, and Z.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the XYZ values in the data fields and
press Enter .

Step
To specify the constant distance between each replicated object.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the XYZ values in the data fields and
press Enter .

Step by step
Linear
Constant
To specify how rotation and scaling transformations will be
applied to the replicated object.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons
on:
Step by step if you want rotation and/or scaling values to be
applied to each replicated object with respect to the previous one.
Linear if you prefer for rotation and/or scaling values to be
applied to the last replicated object with respect to the first one
(rotation and/or scaling values of intermediate objects will be
automatically interpolated).
Constant when the same rotation and/or scaling values must be
applied to any replicated object.

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Rotation
To set the rotation angle on the X, Y, and Z axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Type rotation values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scale
To set the scaling factor on the X, Y, and Z axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Type factor values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Translation noise
To apply a random effect on translation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation noise
To apply a random effect on rotation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling noise
To apply a random effect on scaling.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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DynaMatrix
Creates a user-defined number of copies along XYZ to make a
box-like array. It is similar to Matrix Copy command but it
features a Construction Tree.

How to use
1.

Click the DynaMatrix icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Replicators4DynaMatrix menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick an object to copy.

3.

Pick the object you want to replicate. The Modeling Tool

panel allows you to adjust dynamically various parameters
such as the number of copies.

The following examples show you how the use of DynaMatrix

simplifies common replication tasks.
The original object is first replicated 3x3x3 times.

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To change the predefined position and orientation of replicated

objects switch to Edit Parameters mode and edit direction axes;
in the beginning they are coincident to the original object local
axes. The direction changes of the replicated objects reflect
relative changes of these axes from original object axes.

Working in the interactive views, it is also possible to control the

total length of replication along X, Y and Z (i.e. the dimension of
replication box) by picking and dragging the Direction hot-spot.

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Options
Object
To change the object to replicate.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another object in the scene.

Copies
To specify the number of copies along X, Y, and Z.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the XYZ values in the data fields and
press Enter .

Step
To specify the constant distance between each replicated object.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the XYZ values in the data fields and
press Enter .

Step by step
Linear
Constant
To specify how rotation and scaling transformations will be
applied to the replicated object.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons on:
Step by step if you want rotation and/or scaling values to be
applied to each replicated object with respect to the previous one.
Linear if you prefer for rotation and/or scaling values to be
applied to the last replicated object with respect to the first one
(rotation and/or scaling values of intermediate objects will be
automatically interpolated).

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Constant when the same rotation and/or scaling values must be

applied to any replicated object.

Rotation
To set the rotation angle on the X, Y, and Z axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Type rotation values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scale
To set the scaling factor on the X, Y, and Z axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Type factor values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Translation noise
To apply a random effect on translation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation noise
To apply a random effect on rotation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling noise
To apply a random effect on scaling.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Noise seed
This parameter affects the sequence of random numbers that
determine the noise.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Reset axes
Set direction axes to be coincident to the original object local axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Just click the Reset axes button.

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Polar copy
Creates a user-defined number of copies along a circular path of
a given radius. Useful for spiral stairs.
This modeling tool is a modifier, not an action; therefore it does
not feature a construction tree.

How to use

192

1.

Click the Polar copy icon or choose the Tools4Transform4

Replicators4Polar Copy menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick object to copy.

3.

Pick the object you want to copy in any view. Once picked,
the object is copied 3 times along a default circle.

4.

The program console prompts Copies.

5.

Type the number of copies in the console and press Enter .

6.

The program console prompts Radius.

7.

Type the circular path radius value in the console and press
Enter or pick and drag the radius hot-spot (blue circle) in any
interactive view to visually define its value.

8.

Find more options in the Modeling Tool panel.

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In the picture below, the original object is replicated 10 times with

a path radius of 5.

To change the predefined position and orientation of replicated

objects, switch to Edit Parameters mode and edit direction axes
which are, in the beginning, coincident to the original object local
axes.
The direction changes of the replicated objects reflect relative
changes of these axes from original object axes.
Working in the interactive views you can also orient the plane on
which the replicated objects lie by picking and dragging the
Direction hot-spot.

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Options
Object
To change the object to copy.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another object in the scene. The new object will be
copied instead of the previous one.

Copies
To specify the number of copies along the circular path.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Linear step
To specify the constant distance between each copy.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Angular step
To specify the angle between each copy.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Radius
To change the radius of the circular path.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Start Angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

End Angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

Transformation
To specify how transformations will be applied to the replicated object.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons on:
Step by step if you want translation, rotation and/or scaling
values to be applied to each replicated object with respect to the
previous one.
Linear if you prefer for rotation and/or scaling values to be
applied to the last replicated object with respect to the first one
(rotation and/or scaling values of intermediate objects will be
automatically interpolated).
Constant when the same rotation and/or scaling values must be
applied to any replicated object.

Translation
To set the translation values on the X, Y, and Z axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Type translation values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Rotation
To set the rotation angle on the X, Y, and Z axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Type rotation values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling
To set the scaling factor on the X, Y, and Z axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Type factor values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Translation noise
To apply a random effect on translation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation noise
To apply a random effect on rotation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling noise
To apply a random effect on scaling.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Noise seed
This parameter affects the sequence of random numbers that
determine the noise.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Axis direction
To set the axis direction of the polar replication (i.e. the direction
of the normal to the plane on which the replicated object lies).
Views. Pick the Axis handle to orient the replication plane.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Default direction
To set one of the predefined orientation of the replication plane.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons
on:
X/Y/Z if you want that replicated objects lie respectively on the
YZ, XZ or XY world planes (Axis direction parallel to X, Y or Z
world axis).
Horizontal/Vertical if you prefer that Axis direction will result
horizontal or vertical in the active view.
Custom if you want that Axis direction assumes non-standard
values that can be set interactively by working in the views or
numerically by modifying the Axis direction option.

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Axes Align to NURBS surface

Orients an object so that its local axes are tangent to a reference
NURBS surface at a specified point.

How to use

198

1.

Select the object you want to align.

2.

Click the Axes Align to NURBS surface icon or choose the

Tools4Transform4Align4Axes Align to NURBS
surface menu command.

3.

The program console prompts Pick Reference surface at

tangency point.

4.

Pick the point of the NURBS surface to which the axes of

the original object will be aligned.

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Options
Reference object
To change the reference object.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another object in the scene.

U
To specify the position along the surface U direction of the
tangency point.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . Value must be
between 0 and 1.

V
To specify the position along the surface V direction of the
tangency point.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . Value must be
between 0 and 1.

Position
To specify whether the object axes origin must be coincident to
the tangency point of the reference NURBS surface.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Position radio button on.

Orientation
To specify whether the object axes origin must be tangent to a
reference NURBS surface at a specified point.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Orientation radio button on.

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Invert normal
To invert the reference surface at the tangency point.

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Axes Align to object

Orients an object so that its local axes are coincident to the local
axes of a reference object.

How to use

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1.

Select the object you want to align.

2.

Click the Axes Align to object icon or choose the

Tools4Transform4 Align4Axes Align to object menu
command.

3.

The program console prompts Pick Reference object.

4.

Pick the reference object to which the axes of the original

object must be aligned.

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Options
Reference object
To change the reference object.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another object in the scene.

Position
To specify whether the object axes origin must be coincident to
the reference object axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Position radio button on.

Orientation
To specify whether the object axes must be oriented in the same
way as the reference object axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Orientation radio button on.

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Axes Align to 3 points

Orients an object so that its XY local axes lie on a plane specified
by three points. The three points define the origin of the plane and
the plane local axes, i.e. X and Y axes.

How to use

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1.

Select the object or objects you want to align.

2.

Click the Axes Align to 3 points icon or choose the

Tools4Transform4 Align4Axes Align to 3 points menu
command.

3.

The program console prompts Origin.

4.

Locate axes origin of the plane following one of the two

methods:
a)
Click and drag in any view and release the mouse
button to confirm placement;
b)
Input the XYZ coordinates in the console and press Enter
to confirm. If you press Enter without typing any
value, the axes origin of the plane will be placed in
correspondence of the XYZ origin.

5.

The program console prompts X axis point.

6.

Define the orientation of the X axis following one of the

two methods:
a)
Click and drag in any view and release the mouse
button to confirm placement;

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b)

204

Input the XYZ coordinates in the console and press Enter

to confirm. If you press Enter without typing any
value, the point that specifies the X coordinate of the
plane will be placed in correspondence of the XYZ
origin.

7.

The program console prompts Y axis point.

8.

Define the orientation of the Y axis following one of the

two methods:
a)
Click and drag in any view and release the mouse
button to confirm placement;
b)
Input the XYZ coordinates in the console and press Enter
to confirm. If you press Enter without typing any
value, the point that specifies the Y coordinate of the
plane will be placed in correspondence of the XYZ
origin.

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Options
Origin
X Axis
Y Axis
To modify the point that specifies the coordinates of the plane
origin.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Origin
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Position
To specify whether the object axes origin must be coincident to
the axes plane or not.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Position radio button on.

Orientation
To specify whether the object axes must be oriented in the same
way as the plane axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Orientation radio button on.

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Align to Global Axes

Align a selection of objects of any type on XY, XZ or YZ world
planes or along X, Y or Z axes.

How to use

206

1.

Select the objects you want to align. Make sure that all
objects are not a part of a Construction Tree.

2.

Click the Align to Global Axes icon (in the Transform tab)
or choose the Tools4Transform4Align4Align to
Global Axes menu command.

3.

Set the parameters of the modeling tool to obtain the

desired result. In particular, check the buttons relative to the
desired alignment planes in the Alignment Planes section.

4.

Press the Go button in the modeling tool panel to apply the

alignment.

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Figures above show the alignment of various objects in the

XY and YZ planes. The alignment planes position depends
from the first selected object. Lights can be aligned like any
other objects.
Note I: Selected objects must not be part of a Construction Tree. If
you want to align such objects you must perform a Collapse
Construction tree command on them.
Note II: Random transformations to the aligned objects are
applied in the following order: scaling, rotation, translation.

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Options
Go
To perform the alignment with given parameters.
Modeling Tool panel. Press the Go button.

Alignment Planes
To define the alignment planes or axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Options can be enabled by switching the
chosen radio button on. Alignment planes can be parallel to the
XY, XZ or YZ world planes passing through the pivot point of the
first selected object. Alignment axes can be parallel to the X, Y or
Z world axes. The option Axes origin centers all objects in the
same point.

Alignment Options
To set a default point of the object that will be considered the
pivot point for the alignment.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio buttons on. Options
are: Axis Origin, Bounding box and Center of bounding box. If
you choose Bounding box, the Justification section offers more
options.

B. box computation
To compute the bounding box size.
Computation options include On CVs or On geometry.
Modeling Tool panel. This parameter is active only if the B. box
radio button in the Alignment Options parameter has been
checked. Switch the chosen radio buttons on.

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Justification
To specify whether the objects should be aligned to the top
(B. box max) or to the bottom (B. box min) of the bounding box.
Modeling Tool panel. This parameter is active only if the B. box
radio button in the Alignment Options parameter has been
checked.

Translation noise
To apply a random effect on translation of each aligned object.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation noise
To apply a random rotation around the local axis of each aligned
object compared to the default resulting position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Scaling noise
To apply a random effect on scaling for each aligned object.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Align to Curve
Align and eventually space a selection of objects of any type along
a NURBS curve.

How to use

210

1.

Select the objects you want to align. Make sure that all
objects are not a part of a Construction Tree.

2.

Click the Align to Curve icon (in the Transform tab) or

choose the Tools4Transform4Align4Align to Curve
command.

3.

Pick the NURBS curve along which to align the selected

objects.

4.

Set the parameters of the modeling tool to obtain the

desired result.

5.

Press the Go button in the modeling tool panel.

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Figures above show the alignment of various objects along a

NURBS curve. Note that also lights can be aligned.
Note I: Selected objects must not be part of a Construction Tree. If
you want to align such objects you must perform a Collapse
Construction tree command on them.
Note II: Random transformations to the aligned objects are
applied in the following order: scaling, rotation, translation.

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Options
Go
To perform the alignment with given parameters.
Modeling Tool panel. Press the Go button.

Alignment Curve
To change the alignment curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on and
pick another NURBS curve in the scene.

Alignment Options
To set a default point of the object that will be considered the
pivot point for the alignment.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio buttons on. Options
are: Axis Origin and Center of bounding box.

B. box computation
To compute the bounding box size.
Computation options include On CVs or On geometry.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio buttons on.

Direction
To specify how the aligned objects will be oriented with respect
to the alignment curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio buttons on. Options
are:
Original. No changes on object orientation are made. Objects will
be only translated.
Align to Normal. The local Z axis will be aligned to the curve
normal.
Align to Tangent. The local Z axis will be aligned to the curve
tangent.
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Align to Binormal. The local Z axis will be aligned to the curve

binormal (i.e. the direction perpendicular to the plane defined by
the tangent and the normal to the curve).

Spacing
To specify positioning of the objects along the curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio buttons on. Options
are:
Project to curve. Each object is projected to the nearest point on
the curve (with respect to its original position).
Fit to curve. Objects will be evenly spaced along the curve so
that the first selected object is positioned at the start of the curve
and the last selected object is positioned at the end.
Custom. Objects will be spaced at a constant distance (defined by
the Step option) from the start of the curve.

Step
To set the distance along the curve between two consecutive
objects. This option is enabled only if the Custom spacing option
is enabled.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Translation noise
To apply a random effect on translation of each aligned object.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Rotation noise
To apply a random rotation around the local axis of each aligned
object compared to the default resulting position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .
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Scaling noise
To apply a random effect on scaling for each aligned object.
Modeling Tool panel. Type values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Advanced Curve Edit

Performs a powerful editing of any NURBS curve.
User can specify position, tangent direction and curvature radius at
any point of a curve both interactively and by numeric input.
These values can be set at any point of a given reference curve.

How to use

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1.

Click the Advanced Curve Edit icon or choose the

Tools4Transform4Edit4Advanced
Curve
Edit
command.

2.

Pick a point on the curve you want to edit and drag it to the
desired position. When in Edit Parameters mode, the tool
shows position, tangent direction and the second order
derivative direction of the curve at the specified point.

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3.

Pick and drag the Position, Tangent or Curvature hotSpots to interactively change the local shape of the curve.

4.

To change the point of the curve to edit click near (not on)
the Position handle and drag it in the desired new point.

Note I: The length of the tangent direction vector is proportional

to the curvature radius.
.
Note II: The curvature vector is, from a mathematical point of
view, the second order derivative of the curve in the specified
point. The length of this vector influences the curvature radius; its
direction defines the changes of curvature radius locally.
Note III: To reduce the influence area of this tool, add control
points to the curve near the point to be edited.

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Options
Object
To change the reference object.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve in the scene.

Parameter
To set the parametric point (in the range [0...1]) of the curve to
edit.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . Value must be
between 0 and 1.

Point
To set the new position of the specified point on the curve with
respect to the local coordinate system.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Tangent
To set the new tangent direction and magnitude of the curve at the
specified point. Note that modifications of the tangent magnitude
(length) influence also the curvature radius.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Curvature Radius
To set the curvature radius at the specified point.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .
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Constraint to Object
To set position, tangent direction and/or curvature of the selected
curve at the specified point equal to those of a reference curve at a
reference point.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio buttons on. Options
are: Position. Tangent. Curvature.

Reference Object
To specify the curve to which refer for position, tangency and
curvature radius settings.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on, pick a curve in the scene and, holding down the mouse button,
position the reference point on the picked curve.

Reference Point
To specify the point of the reference curve. The point will be
projected on the reference curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ
data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Reference Parameter
To set the parameter of the reference curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . Value must be
between 0 and 1.

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Multi Edit
The MultiEdit Modeling Tool allows you to work on the points of
collapsed NURBS curves, surfaces, PolyMeshes and PointMeshes
(points clouds). It is possible to translate, rotate and scale points of
more than one object at the same time.

How to use
1.

Select the objects you want to edit.

2.

The Multi edit Modeling Tool should automatically

activate. Eventually, click the Multi edit icon or choose the
Tools4Transform4Edit4Multi Edit menu command.

3.

Choose the Edit Parameters mode and drag the control

points you want to edit.

Note: You should be in Edit Parameters mode to actually drag

the points. Press Spacebar to activate Edit Parameters mode.
This Modeling Tool is automatically activated if two to ten objects
are selected. In all other cases it is required to manually activate
the Multi edit tool.

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Options
Un-edit selected
Un-edit all
To remove the editing from the currently selected points (Un-edit
selected) and from all the points of the currently selected objects
(Un-edit all).
Modeling Tool panel. Click the button for the option you want to
use.

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Twist
Twists a curve or object along a user-defined axis.

How to use
1.

Click the Twist icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Deformation4Twist menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Select an object.

3.

Pick the object you want to twist from any view. A twisted
copy of the object is created. The original object is hidden
but not deleted. In fact, you will find it in Hierarchy
Browser hidden from both rendering and views.

4.

The program console prompts Twist angle.

5.

Type the number of degrees to twist the object. The

Modeling Tool panel allows you to define the temporary
axis along which the object is twisted.

You can press Ctrl + Enter ( Apple + Enter on the Mac) to skip
the console prompts, thus accepting the default values.

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Options
Object
To change the object to be twisted.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch on the Replace check button
and pick another curve or object in the scene.

Default twist axis

To define the temporary axis along which the object is twisted.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
X. Twists along the X-axis.
Y. Twists along the Y-axis.
Z. Twists along the Z-axis.
Vertical. Twists vertically.
Horizontal. Twists horizontally.

Axis start point

Axis end point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the axis start and end points
therefore allowing you to determine a custom vector that defines
position and orientation of the twist axis.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Axis Start
Point or Axis End Point handles of the axis and interactively
define its orientation by dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Twist angle
To define the twist angle
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the number of
degrees in the field.

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Taper
Widens or narrows one side of an object by tapering it.

How to use
1.

Click the Taper icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Deformation 4Taper menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Select an object.

3.

Pick the object to which you want to apply the taper action
from any view. A twisted copy of the object is created. The
original object is hidden but not deleted. In fact, you will
find it in Hierarchy Browser hidden from both rendering
and views.

4.

The program console prompts Scale factor along X.

5.

Type the value of the scale factor along X in the console

(default is 2).

6.

The program console prompts Scale factor along Y.

7.

Type the value of the scale factor along Y in the console

(default is 2).

You can press Ctrl + Enter ( Apple + Enter on the Mac) to skip
the console prompts, so accepting the default values.

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Options
Object
To change the object you want to taper.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch on the Replace check button
and pick another curve or object in the scene.

Default taper axis

To define the temporary axis along which the object is tapered.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
X. Tapers along the X-axis.
Y. Tapers along the Y-axis.
Z. Tapers along the Z-axis.
Vertical. Tapers vertically.
Horizontal. Tapers horizontally.

Axis start point

Axis end point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the axis start and end points,
hence allowing you to determine a custom vector defining
position and orientation of the taper axis.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Axis Start
Point or the Axis End Point and interactively define the
orientation by dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Taper along X
To define the scale factor along X
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the factor value in
the field.

Taper along Y
To define the scale factor along X
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the factor value in
the field.

Taper X dir.
To define the taper X direction.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Taper X dir.
handle and interactively define its orientation by dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Warp
Warps all points of a curve or object comprised in a user-defined
distance and according to a user-defined axis.

How to use
1.

Click the Warp icon or choose the Tools4 Transform4

Deformation4Warp menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Select an object.

3.

Pick the object you want to warp from any view. A warped
copy of the object is created. The original object is hidden
but not deleted. In fact, you will find it in Hierarchy
Browser hidden from both rendering and views.

4.

The program console prompts Warp distance.

5.

At this point you can define the Warp distance using one of
the following methods:
a)
Click the Warp distance point handle in any view and
interactively adjust it. Working in the same way you
can define the Warp axis by adjusting the Axis start
point and Axis end point handles.
b)
Specify in the console the Warp distance value. Press
Enter to confirm.

6.

The program console prompts Warp angle.

7.

Type the Warp angle in the console. Press Enter to confirm.

You can press Ctrl + Enter ( Apple + Enter on the Mac) to skip
the console prompts, so accepting the default values.

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Options
Object
To change the object you want to warp.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch on the Replace check button
and pick another curve or object in the scene.

Default warp axis

To define the temporary axis respect to which the object is bent.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
X. Bends respect to the X-axis.
Y. Bends respect to the Y-axis.
Z. Bends respect to the Z-axis.
Vertical. Bends vertically.
Horizontal. Bends horizontally.

Axis start point

Axis end point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the axis start and end points thus
allowing you to determine a custom vector that defines position
and orientation of the warp axis.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Axis Start
Point or the Axis End Point of the axis and interactively define its
orientation by dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Warp distance
To define the warp distance. Points included within this value will
be affected by the warp deformation.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the number of
degrees in the field.

Warp angle
To define the warp angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the number of
degrees in the field.

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Shear
Shears a curve or object with respect to a user-defined axis.

How to use
Click the Shear icon or choose the Tools4 Transform4
Deformation4Shear menu command.
1.

The program console prompts Select an object.

2.

Pick the object you want to shear from any view. A sheared
copy of the object is created. The original object is hidden
but not deleted. In fact, you will find it in Hierarchy
Browser hidden from both rendering and views.

3.

The program console prompts Shear direction.

4.

At this point you can define the Shear direction using one of
the following methods:
a)
Click the Shear direction handle in any view and
interactively adjust it. Likewise, you can define the
Shear axis by adjusting the Axis start point and Axis
end point handles.
b)
Specify in the console X, Y, and Z coordinates
defining the shear direction. Press Enter to confirm.

You can press Ctrl + Enter ( Apple + Enter on the Mac) to skip
the console prompts, so accepting the default values.

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Options
Object
To change the object you want to shear.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve or object in the scene.

Default shear axis

To define the temporary axis according to which the object is
sheared.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
X. Shears according to the X-axis.
Y. Shears according to the Y-axis.
Z. Shears according to the Z-axis.
Vertical. Shears vertically.
Horizontal. Shears horizontally.

Axis start point

Axis end point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the axis start and end points so
allowing you to determine a custom vector that defines position
and orientation of the shear axis.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Axis Start
Point or the Axis End Point of the axis and interactively define its
orientation by dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Shear direction
To define the shear direction.
Views. Select the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Shear
direction handle and interactively define its orientation by
dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Bend
Bends a curve or object with respect to a user-defined axis.

How to use
1.

Click the Bend icon or choose the Tools4Transform4

Deformation4Bend menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Select an object.

3.

Pick the object you want to bend from any view. A bent
copy of the object is created. The original object is hidden
but not deleted. In fact, you will find it in Hierarchy
Browser hidden from both rendering and views.

4.

The program console prompts Bend reference point.

5.

At this point you can define the Bend reference point

position using one of the following methods:
a)
Click the Bend reference point handle in any view and
interactively adjust it. Similarly, you can define the
Bend axis by adjusting the Axis start point and Axis
end point handles.
b)
Specify in the console X, Y, and Z coordinates of the
bend reference point. Press Enter to confirm.

You can press Ctrl + Enter ( Apple + Enter on the Mac) to skip
the console prompts, so accepting the default values.

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Options
Object
To change the object you want to bend.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve or object in the scene.

Default bend axis

To define the temporary axis in relation to which the object is
bent.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
X. Bends with respect to the X-axis.
Y. Bends with respect to the Y-axis.
Z. Bends with respect to the Z-axis.
Vertical. Bends vertically.
Horizontal. Bends horizontally.

Axis start point

Axis end point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the axis start and end points thus
allowing you to determine a custom vector defining position and
orientation of the bend axis.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Axis Start
Point or the Axis End Point and interactively define its orientation
by dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Bend reference point

To define position of the bend reference point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Bend
reference point handle and interactively define its orientation by
dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Bend radius
The bend radius value. This field cannot be modified.

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Lattice
Lets you apply a free deformation to an object.
This deformation is applied with the help of a lattice defining a
parallelepipedal space volume that can be freely deformed
working on a user-defined number of control points.

How to use
1.

Click the Lattice icon or choose the Tools4 Transform4

Deformation4Lattice menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick object to deform.

3.

Pick the object you want to freely deform. A copy of the

object is created. The original object is hidden but not
deleted. In fact, you will find it in Hierarchy Browser
hidden from both rendering and views.

4.

Choose the Edit Parameters mode.

5.

A lattice is displayed around the selected object. At this

point you can pick any point defining the lattice and drag it
to deform the original object.

Note: Before applying the lattice deformation to an object, you

should remember that the object capability of being deformed
depends on how the control points are distributed over its surface.
The more the control points of the object, the more the control
over shape and the precision of the deformation.

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Options
Object
To change the object you want to freely deform.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve or object in the scene.

Control points
To modify XYZ coordinates of lattice control points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point/points
whose position you want to modify and drag it/them. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the point from the scroll list that
appears when you click the [] button. Type the new values in
the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Origin
To modify XYZ coordinates of lattice origin.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click and drag the
Origin handle. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Orientation
To define XYZ rotation values of the lattice axes as regards to the
world coordinate system.
Views. Pick the X, Y, and Z handles and drag.
Modeling Tool panel. Input X, Y, and Z rotation angles (in
degrees) in their respective fields.

Width
To define the width of the lattice.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the X dim.
handle that is displayed at the end of the X axis and drag it.
Release the mouse button when you reach the desired dimension.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the numerical value
in the field.

Thickness
To define the thickness of the lattice.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Y dim.
handle that is displayed at the end of the Y axis and drag it.
Release the mouse button when you reach the desired dimension.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the numerical value
in the field.

Height
To define the height of the lattice.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Z dim.
handle that is displayed at the end of the Z axis and drag it.
Release the mouse button when you reach the desired dimension.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the numerical value
in the field.

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Points along X
Points along Y
Points along Z
To define the number of control points of the lattice along X, Y,
or Z.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Order along X
Order along Y
Order along Z
To change the lattice order along X, Y, or Z.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .The order values
should never be higher than the number of control points.

Link lattice to object

To define whether the lattice must be linked or not to the object so
that the lattice will follow the object when you move it.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Link lattice to object option.

Show control points

Displays the controls points.

Show lattice in object mode

To specify whether the lattice must appear also in Select Objects
mode or only in Edit Parameters mode.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Show lattice in Object mode
option.

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Fit to b.box
To make the lattice fit the objects bounding box.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the button to see the lattice
coincide with the bounding box of the object.

Reset lattice
To reset any change made to the lattice and bring it back to the
original status.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the button.

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Stretch
Deforms any object with a spine curve according to a stretch
curve.

How to use

240

1.

Click the Stretch icon or choose the Tools4 Transform4

Deformation4Stretch menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Select an object.

3.

Pick the object you want to stretch from any view.

4.

The program console prompts Select the spine curve.

5.

Pick the spine curve of the object you want to stretch.

6.

The program console prompts Select the stretch curve.

7.

Pick the curve according to which the object should be

stretched. A stretched copy of the object is created. The
original object is hidden but not deleted. In fact, you will
find it in Hierarchy Browser hidden from both rendering
and views.

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Options
Object
To change the object you want to stretch.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another object in the scene.

Spine curve
To change the spine curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve in the scene.

Stretch curve
To change the curve according to which the original object will be
stretched.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve in the scene.

Angle
To change the rotation angle of the object around the stretch
curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Linear stretch
Deforms any object according to a stretch curve.

How to use

242

1.

Click the Linear stretch icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Deformation4Linear stretch menu command.

2.

The program console prompts Select an object.

3.

Pick the object you want to stretch from any view.

4.

The program console prompts Select the stretch curve.

5.

Pick the curve according to which the object should be

stretched. A stretched copy of the object is created. The
original object is hidden but not deleted. In fact, you will
find it in Hierarchy Browser hidden from both rendering
and views.

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Options
Object
To change the object you want to stretch.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another object in the scene.

Default axis
To specify the stretch direction.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on.
You have the following options:
X. Stretches along the X-axis.
Y. Stretches along the Y-axis.
Z. Stretches along the Z-axis.
Vertical. Stretches vertically.
Horizontal. Stretches horizontally.

Axis start point

Axis end point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the axis start and end points
therefore allowing you to determine a custom vector that specifies
the stretch direction.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Axis Start
Point or Axis End Point handles of the axis and interactively
define its orientation by dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Stretch curve
To change the curve according to which the original object will be
stretched.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve in the scene.

Start position
To position the surface along the stretch curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Scaling factor
To scale the surface along the stretch curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Normal scaling factor

To scale the surface along its normal.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Angle
To change the rotation angle of the object around the stretch
curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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PixelMap
Deforms any selected NURBS surface depending on the
brightness of each pixel of a bitmap image that you use as a map.

How to use

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1.

Click the PixelMap icon or choose the Tools4

Transform4Deformation4 PixelMap command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick a NURBS surface.

3.

Pick the NURBS object you want to deform. A copy of the

object is created. The original object is hidden but not
deleted. In fact, you will find it in Hierarchy Browser
hidden from both rendering and views.

4.

In the Modeling Tool panel and click the Browse button

on the Image section. A file requester is displayed allowing
you to choose a .bmp image that will be used to deform the
NURBS surface on the ground of the luminance of each
pixel.

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Options
Object
To change the object to deform.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another object in the scene.

Image
To choose the image that will be used as a deforming map.
Modeling Tool panel. Press the Browse button and choose a
bitmap image that will be used to deform the NURBS surface
according to the luminance of each pixel.

Depth
To specify the deformation range.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click one of the
construction vertices and drag it. Release the mouse button when
you reach the desired width.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to .

Sampling X res.
Sampling Y res.
To increase or decrease the sampling factor (i.e. the number of
control points), along X and Y, of the image used as a map.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Constrained sample
To maintain X and Y sampling factors dependent.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch off the check button to disable this
option, which is enabled by default.

Smoothness
To increase or decrease smoothness of the new surface.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Flip
To flip the image map along either axis.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch on the check button to enable either
option. Both check buttons can be used to effectively rotate the
image 180 degrees.

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SurfDrape
Deforms any object, starting from a spine NURBS surface,
according to a stretch NURBS surface.
The target object will be shaped according to a reference NURBS
surface. Similar to the Stretch modeling tool, SurfDrape uses
surfaces as reference objects instead of curves.

How to use

248

1.

Click the SurfDrape icon or chose the Tools4 Transform

4Deformation4SurfDrape command.

2.

Pick the object to deform (it can be a surface, a curve or a

polymesh).

3.

Pick the spine surface. It must be a NURBS surface

consisting of only one NURBS surface. If the object is made
up of more than one surface only the first will be taken into
consideration.

4.

Pick the reference surface (stretch surface). It must be a

NURBS surface object consisting of only one NURBS
surface.

5.

A stretched copy of the object is created. The original object

is hidden but not deleted. In fact, you will find it in
Hierarchy Browser hidden from both rendering and views.

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In most cases, the spine surface should be a plane. The larger the
plane in comparison with the stretch surface, the smaller the
deformed object and vice-versa. This deformation is similar to a
texture UV-mapping (the spine surface) over the stretch surface.

If the original surface has a non-rectilinear shape, the spine

surface should be non-planar so that the object to deform lies on
such surface. See picture below.

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Options
Object
To change the object to deform.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another object in the scene.

Spine Surface
To change the spine surface.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve in the scene.

Stretch Surface
To change the stretch surface.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another curve in the scene.

Normal scaling factor

To change the thickness of the deformed object along the
direction of the normal to the stretch surface.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Options
To change the rotation angle of the object around the stretch
curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Check the Hide source objects check box if
you want to hide from view and from rendering the spine surface
and the stretch surface. Check the Interactive Changes check box
if you want that changes apply at every mouse move and not only
when mouse button is released.
Note I: If the original object is a shell of stitched NURBS surface
trimmed at boundaries, this deformation can introduce gaps. In
these cases, to obtain the best result, is useful to transform the
original object in a polymesh.
Note II: If the object comes out from the spine surface (like in
the figure below), the deformed object will lie on a rectilinear
extension of the stretch surface.

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4.4

Curves
In this section we will explain purpose and use of the curve tools
available.
A curve can be defined as the path of a point moving through
space. solidThinking lets you draw curves by placing control
points. Since they are just lines, they are not rendered even
though they are the basis for any 3D geometry.
Curves have only one dimension in space: it is called U and it
corresponds to the length of the curve.
Once you have drawn a curve, you have a number of options to
modify parameters and/or apply new commands. Each
parameter/command can be modified/applied by working in the
views only, in the Modeling Tool panel, or in both Views and
Modeling Tool panel.
For each parameter/command we will mention all the
possibilities as follows:
Views: steps to follow allow you to work interactively with the
mouse in the views only;
Modeling Tool panel: steps to follow allow you to work in the
Modeling Tool panel only;
Views / Modeling Tool panel: steps to follow require you to
work in both views and Modeling Tool panel.

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You can constrain insertion of control points along one axis by

enabling only one the following icons in the Application toolbar:
To insert along the X-axis only (shortcut is the X key).
To insert along the Y-axis only (shortcut is the Y key).
To insert along the Z-axis only (shortcut is the Z key).
To constrain insertion of control points of the selected items
along XY, XZ, or YZ planes, just select two of the above icons
at a time. Leave all the three icons selected if you want to freely
insert points.

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NURBS curve
Lets you define different segments of NURBS (Non-Uniform
Rational B-Spline) curves.
A NURBS curve is characterized by control points and knots.

You can change the shape of a curve by moving or editing its

control points.
Knots are points on a curve or surface where segments join.
Unlike control points, knots cannot be interactively manipulated
but they are important for a better understanding of curves
behavior.
In general, the distance between knots is approximated to the
distance between the control points.

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How to use
1.

Click the NURBS curve icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Polylines4NURBS curve command.

2.

Successive clicks add control points. You can add points in

any view regardless of where you started drawing the
curve.
If you prefer, you can type exact coordinates from the
keyboard. Separate each value with a comma. Your input
is immediately displayed in the console. Relative
coordinate values can be inserted by typing @ before
numbers (i.e. @2,2,2).

3.

Press Spacebar to stop points insertion.

To interactively define the arc hold the mouse button down
after the click or click while pressing the Shift key.
The local axis is automatically placed exactly coincident
with the global coordinate system. If you move the object,
the local axis moves with the object, following any
translation or rotation actions performed. You can also
press the Ctrl key and select the NURBS curve icon to
specify a local axis location, instead of accepting the
default (global coordinate system).

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Options
XYZ coordinates
To modify XYZ coordinates of a curve point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the point from the scroll list that
appears when you click the [] button. Type the new values in
the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Remove
To remove a curve point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Pick the point you
want to remove. Choose the Edit4Delete command.
Modeling Tool panel. Click the [] button and select the point
you want to remove from the scroll list (the views will display it
in yellow). Press the Remove button.

Insert
To add new points to a curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch on the Insert check button
and click in any view. If you have previously selected two
adjacent points, you can add points between them.

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Order
To set the order of a curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the value in the
Order data field. Press Enter to confirm. Default value is 3. The
order of a curve can be modified at any moment.
The following pictures show how the same curve changes by
modifying the order value from 2 to 7.

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Order 2

Order 3

Order 4

Order 5

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New Entity
To add a new portion of the curve even with a different order.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Press the New Curve Entity
button and click in any view to add points.
Here is an example on how to use this command. Draw a
NURBS curve as in the picture and press Spacebar to end
points insertion.

Select a curve endpoint, then press the New Curve Entity

button. Modify Order to 2 and press Enter .
Add new points to the selected curve by clicking in the view.
Press Spacebar to end point insertion.
The first point of the New Curve Entity is the endpoint of the
starting curve and it is called keypoint.

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Select the endpoint of the curve you have just drawn and press
again the New Curve Entity button. Modify Order to 4. Add
new points by clicking in any view. Press Spacebar .

To pick one curve entity only (and not the whole curve), press
the right mouse button while holding down the Alt key, or select
it from the browser.

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Join
Join can be used for two purposes:
a) To join the start and the end point of the same curve entity.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Select the end points (see the
Selection paragraph for multiple selections) of the same curve
and press the Join button. You can then use the Un-join
command to unjoin them.
b) To join two end points of two entities belonging to different
curves. This operation requires you to work also in the browser
in order to combine the two entities by dragging and dropping
one curve entity into the other curve.
Lets look at an example: we want to join the endpoints of two
given curves.

We can move one entity from one curve to another by just

clicking and dragging it. To simply copy the entity, instead of
moving it, click and drag it while simultaneously holding down
the Ctrl key.

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In the pictures below we have moved the entity belonging to

Curve#2.

Note: You can obtain the same result by using the Combine
command to merge the two curves and then collapsing the
Construction Tree.

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Once we have combined the two entities and made them

components of the same curve, switch to Edit Parameters mode
and select the two end points you are interested in joining by
either picking them while holding down the Ctrl key or
dragging in order to include them in the selection box.

Open the Modeling Tool panel and press the Join button. The
Join is performed as shown in the pictures of the next page.

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Un-join
To unjoin two previously joined points.
To break a curve into two pieces at a keypoint.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Choose Edit Parameters mode.
Pick the joined points and press the Un-join button. Click the
joined points to deselect them. Click again and drag to move the
first point. This command can be used in the same way to break
a curve obtained with New Curve Entity into two pieces at a
keypoint.

Curve Type
To open/close any selected curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Just switch the related radio button on.

Invert direction
To invert the direction or sequence of control points on a curve.
Inverting curve directions can be very important when you use
modeling tools like Skin and you have curves with different
directions.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the button.

Weight
To adjust the weight of one or more control points of a curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Select the control point or points
whose weight factor you want to modify. Move the slider or type
the weight factor in the Weight data field. Press Enter to
confirm.
Default weight factor is 1. The more you increase this value, the
greater the pulling effect that the control point exerts on the
curve. Weight factor should not be lower than 0.0001. In fact, 0 is
not a valid weight factor.

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The following pictures show how the same curve changes by

modifying the weight factor of a control point.
W=1

W=2

W = 0.0001

W=5

When all control points on a curve have the same weight, the
curve is called Non-rational. When control points have different
weight factors, the curve is called Rational.
Note: Weight modification should be used very carefully. If you
plan to exchange your projects, you should remember that many
CAD systems do not support modified weight values. Placing two
points close to one another, but not one over the other, grants
almost the same result.

Tolerance
To specify the maximum allowed deviation from the curve when
simplifying.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the tolerance value either by moving
the slider or by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter.

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Simplify
To reduce the number of points on a curve given a specified
tolerance.
Modeling Tool panel. Press the Simplify button. Set the
Tolerance value by moving the slider or by typing it in the data
field and pressing Enter. The higher the value, the bigger the
difference between the original curve and the simplified one.

New knots
To specify the number of knots that will be added when the
Refine button is pressed.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the number of new knots to be added
either by moving the slider or by typing it in the data field and
pressing Enter.

Refine
To insert new knots between the first and the last selected knots.
This adds new control points to a surface.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the curve and switch to Edit
Parameters mode. Select the knots between which you want to
add more control points. Set the desired number of new knots
specified in the New knots data field and click Refine.

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MetaCURVE
It is an interpolation of points using a smooth curve.
MetaCURVE is useful when a curve must pass through specified
points.

How to use
1.

Click the MetaCURVE icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Polylines4MetaCURVE command.

2.

Successive clicks add control points. You can add points in

any view regardless of where you started drawing the
curve.
If you prefer, you can type exact coordinates from the
keyboard. Separate each value with a comma. Your input
is immediately displayed in the console. Relative
coordinate values can be inserted by typing @ before
numbers (i.e. @2,2,2).

3.

Press Spacebar to stop points insertion.

Hold the mouse button down after the click to interactively
model the curve.
If you press the Shift key, there is no need to hold the
mouse button down to interactively draw the curve: just
click to place control points.

4.

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The local axis is automatically placed exactly coincident

with the global coordinate system. If you move the object,
the local axis moves with the object, following any
translation or rotation actions performed. You can also
press the Ctrl key and select the MetaCURVE icon to

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specify a local axis location, instead of accepting the

default (global coordinate system).

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Options
Point XYZ coordinates
To modify XYZ coordinates of a curve point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the point from the scroll list that
appears when you click the [] button. Type the new values in
the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Remove
To remove a curve point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Pick the point you
want to remove. Choose the Edit4Delete command.
Modeling Tool panel. Click the [] button and select the point
you want to remove from the scroll list (the views will display it
in yellow). Press the Remove button.

Insert
To add new points to the curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Insert check button on
and click in any view. If you have previously selected two
adjacent points, you can add points between them.

Cusp
To create a corner at selected control point/points.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Select the point you want to make
cuspid and press the button.

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Smooth
To smooth the curve at any selected control point/points.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Select the point/points you want to
smooth and press the button.

Curve Type
To open/close the selected curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Just switch the related radio button on.

Invert direction
To invert the direction or sequence of control points on the curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the button.

Start/End Condition
Controls the location and orientation of the ends of the
MetaCurve. Both the start point and end point of a MetaCurve
can have their interpolation and location controlled with the
following options:
Auto (default). Uses the position in space of the start or endpoint
to set the interpolation of the curve to the next point.
Free. Uses an arbitrary Tangent direction to set the orientation of
the start/ end point in the interpolation to the next point. The
position of the start/ end point remains the same.
(Start/ End) Tangent Angle. Controls the rotation of the
tangent direction around the effected point on the XY
plane.
(Start/ End) Tangent Length. Controls the size of the
tangent region between the effected point and the next
interior point.

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(Start/ End) Tangent Elevation. Controls the rotation of the

tangent direction around the effected point on the YZ
plane.
Clamped. Clamps the start/ end point to another curve in the
scene, with controls for the location, tangency and continuity of
the interpolation.
Start/End Curve. To change the Start Curve that the
MetaCurve will be clamped to.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check
button on and pick another curve in the scene.
Point on Start/End Curve. To adjust the location point
along the Start/ End curve that the MetaCurve start or end
point will be attached or tangent to.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the position
value (in a 0 to 1 range where 0 and 1 represent the
endpoints) in the data field and press Enter to confirm.
Changes are interactively displayed in the views.
Start/End Constraint. To control the continuity of the start
or end point of the MetaCurve. You can either select Attach
for positional continuity for Tangent continuity for
controlling position and tangency as well.
Invert Tangent Direction. To invert direction of the tangent
for the Clamped condition.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Invert tangent dir. check
box on where convenient.

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Open PolyLine
Draws a sequence of straight lines.

How to use
1.

Click the Open Polyline icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Polylines4Open polyline command.

2.

Successive clicks define point in the polyline. Each point

defines a new node and segment in the polyline. You can
add points working in any view regardless of where you
have started drawing.

3.

Press Spacebar to stop points insertion.

To interactively define the point position hold the mouse
button down after the click or click while pressing the
Shift key.

4.

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The local axis is automatically placed exactly coincident

with the global coordinate system. If you move the object,
the local axis moves with the object, following any
translation or rotation actions performed. You can also
press the Ctrl key and select the Open Polyline icon to
specify a local axis location, instead of accepting the
default (global coordinate system).

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Options
XYZ coordinates
To modify XYZ coordinates of a point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the point from the scroll list that
appears when you click the [] button. Type the new values in
the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Remove
To remove a polyline point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Pick the point you
want to remove. Choose the Edit4Delete command.
Modeling Tool panel. Click the [] button and select the point
you want to remove from the scroll list (the views will display it
in yellow). Press the Remove button.

Insert
To add new points to a polyline.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Insert check button on
and click in any view. If you have previously selected two
adjacent points, you can add points between them.

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Rounded PolyLine
Draws a sequence of straight or rounded lines.

How to use
1.

Click the Rounded Polyline icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Polylines4Rounded Polyline command.

2.

Successive clicks define point in the polyline. Each point

defines a new node and segment in the polyline. You can
add points working in any view regardless of where you
have started drawing.

3.

Press Spacebar to stop points insertion.

The Modeling Tool panel allows you to round any selected
point node by adjusting the Radius value.

4.

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The local axis is automatically placed exactly coincident

with the global coordinate system. If you move the object,
the local axis moves with the object, following any
translation or rotation actions performed. You can also
press the Ctrl key and select the Rounded Polyline icon to
specify a local axis location, instead of accepting the
default (global coordinate system).

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Options
XYZ coordinates
To modify XYZ coordinates of a point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the point from the scroll list that
appears when you click the [] button. Type the new values in
the XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Remove
To remove a polyline point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Pick the point you
want to remove. Choose the Edit4Delete command.
Modeling Tool panel. Click the [] button and select the point
you want to remove from the scroll list (the views will display it
in yellow). Press the Remove button.

Insert
To add new points to a polyline.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Insert check button on
and click in any view. If you have previously selected two
adjacent points, you can add points between them.

Radius
To define the radius value of selected point nodes.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the radius value in
the data field and press Enter to confirm.

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Options
To close the selected curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Just switch the Closed check box on.

Arc type
To specify whether the arcs must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
can choose either Weighted or Non-weighted. If you choose the
first option the number of control points is automatically defined.
With the second option you can set the number of control points
in the Points section.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the arcs in case you
have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the arcs).
.

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Single Line
Draws a line at any angle and defined by its endpoints.

How to use
1.

Click the Single line icon or choose the Tools4Curves

4Line 4Single line command.

2.

The program console prompts Point #1.

3.

Place the first endpoint either by clicking and dragging in

any view or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console.

4.

Repeat step 3 at the Point #2 console prompt.

You can insert points in any view regardless of where you
have started drawing your line.
To interactively define the arc, hold the mouse button
down after the click or click while pressing the Shift key.

5.

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The local axis is automatically placed exactly coincident

with the global coordinate system. If you move the object,
the local axis moves with the object, following any
translation or rotation actions performed.

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Options
Point #1
Point #2
To modify XYZ coordinates of the end points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Line:
perpendicular
to segment
Draws a perpendicular line to another line you select.

How to use
1.

Click the Line: perpendicular to segment icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Line4Line: perpendicular to segment
command.

2.

The program console prompts Line.

3.

Pick the line to which the one you are drawing will be
perpendicular.

4.

The program console prompts Point.

5.

Locate the axes origin of the curve following one of the

two methods:
a)
b)

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Click and drag in any view and release the mouse

button to confirm placement
Type its XYZ coordinates in the console (values must
be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3) and press Enter
to confirm. If you press Enter without typing any
value in the console, the axes origin of the curve will
be placed in correspondence with the XYZ origin.

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Options
Line
To change the line to which the one you have drawn is
perpendicular.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another line in the scene.

Point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the endpoint.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the endpoint
and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Line:
parallel
segment

to

Draws a straight line parallel to another line you select.

How to use

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1.

Click the Line: parallel to segment icon or choose the

Tools4 Curves 4Line 4Line: parallel to segment
command.

2.

The program console prompts Line.

3.

Pick the line to which the one you are drawing will be
parallel.

4.

The program console prompts Point.

5.

Pick the line to which the one you are drawing will be
parallel. Locate axes origin of the curve following one of
the two methods:
a) Click and drag in any view and release the mouse
button to confirm placement.
b) Type its XYZ coordinates in the console (values must
be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3) and press Enter to
confirm. If you press Enter without typing any value
in the console, the axes origin of the curve will be
placed in correspondence with the XYZ origin.

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Options
Line
To change the line to which the one you have drawn must be
parallel.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another line in the scene.
The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the
endpoints of the parallel line. These are not modifiable.

Point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the point on the parallel line.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired
position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Line: fillet segment

Draws the shortest line possible from a curve to another.

How to use

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1.

Click the Line: fillet segment icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Line4 Line: fillet segment command.

2.

The program console prompts Line #1.

3.

Pick the first line.

4.

The program console prompts Line #2.

5.

Pick the second line.

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Options
Line #1
To change the first line from which the segment starts.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another line in the scene.

Point on line 1
To modify XYZ coordinates of the point on line 1.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired
position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Line #2
To change the second line to which the segment ends.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another line in the scene.

Point on line 2
To modify XYZ coordinates of the point on line 2.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired
position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Distance
To change the position of the segment with respect to the lines.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the

endpoints of the fillet segment. These are not modifiable.

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Segment from center

Draws a segment defined by one end point and its center point.

How to use
1.

Click the Segment from center icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Line4Segment from center command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Locate axes origin of the curve following one of the two

methods:
a
Click and drag in any view and release the mouse
button to confirm placement.
b
Type its XYZ coordinates in the console and press
Enter to confirm. Press Enter without typing any value in
the console, to place the axes origin of the curve in
correspondence with the XYZ origin.

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4.

The program console prompts End point.

5.

Place the endpoint either by clicking and dragging in any

view or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console.

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Options
Center point
To modify coordinates of the center point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Center
point handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you
reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

End point
To modify XYZ coordinates of one end point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it until you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Length
To change the segment length.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Azimuthal angle
To change the azimuthal angle of the segment with the local axes
origin.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Polar angle
To change the polar angle of the segment with the local axes
origin..
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Inclined Segment
Draws a segment at any angle and defined by its endpoints.

How to use
1.

Click the Inclined Segment icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Line4Inclined Segment command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Locate axes origin of the curve following one of the two

methods:
a) Click and drag in any view and release the mouse
button to confirm placement.
b) Type its XYZ coordinates in the console and press
Enter to confirm. Press Enter without typing any value
in the console, to place the axes origin of the curve in
correspondence with the XYZ origin.

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4.

The program console prompts Azimuthal Angle.

5.

Set the azimuthal angle by typing its value in the console.

6.

At the Length console prompt, define the segment length

by typing its value in the console

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Options
Azimuthal angle
To change the azimuthal angle of the segment with the local axes
origin.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Polar angle
To change the polar angle of the segment with the local axes
origin..
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Point #1
To modify coordinates of the center point or local axes origin.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Point #1
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Point #2
To modify XYZ coordinates of one end point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Point #2
handle and drag it until you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Length
To change the segment length.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Segment Tangency Align

Allows you to establish tangent continuity between any given
curve and a newly created segment.

How to use
1.

Click the Segment Tangency Align icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Line4Segment Tangency Align menu
command.

2.

The program console prompts Point on curve.

3.

Pick the curve you want to align at tangency point, whose

position can be defined by sliding along the curve without
releasing the mouse button. The curve turns green.

4.

The program console prompts End point.

5.

Place the endpoint either by clicking and dragging in any

view or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console.

6.

A new segment establishing tangent continuity with the

curve is created.
This segment is automatically updated at any modification
of the curve. If you set the angle parameter at 90 degrees
you can make the segment perpendicular to the curve.

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Options
Curve
To change the curve to which the segment must be tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Parameter
To move the start point of the segment along the curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the position value
(in a 0 to 1 range where 0 and 1 represent the endpoints) in the
data field and press Enter to confirm. Changes are interactively
displayed in the views.
The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the
tangency Point on curve. These are not directly modifiable.

End point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the segment end point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it until you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Length
To modify the segment length.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the degree value in
the data field and press Enter to confirm.

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Angle
To set the angle of the segment with the curve at the specified
point.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the degree value in
the data field and press Enter to confirm. Set 0 for tangency, 90
for perpendicularity.

Angle on perp.plane
To set the rotation angle of the segment around the curve tangent.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the degree value in
the data field and press Enter to confirm.

Distance from curve

To define the distance between the point on curve and the
segment starting point (in the direction defined by the Angle on
perp. plane parameter).
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the distance value
in the data field and press Enter to confirm.

Options
To enable some useful options.
Modeling Tool panel. Check the Extend specular check box if
you want to extend the segment by doubling its length.
Check the Add normal segment check box if you want to create
a segment between the point on curve and the main segment
starting point (useful when Distance from curve is not 0).

Cutting
To specify whether to cut part of the curve or not.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: No cutting, Cut above, and Cut
below. If you choose the second or the third option, the segment
will cut the curve at the tangency point. Segment and curve will
be joined in a single element.
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Segment Bisector
Draws a segment which is the bisector of two user-defined
vectors.

How to use
1.

Click the Segment bisector icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Line4Segment bisector command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Locate axes origin of the curve following one of the two

methods:
a)
b)

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Click and drag in any view and release the mouse

button to confirm placement.
Type its XYZ coordinates in the console and press
Enter to confirm. Press Enter without typing any
value in the console, to place the axes origin of the
curve in correspondence with the XYZ origin.

4.

At the program Direction console prompt, define the first

direction vector either by clicking and dragging in any
view or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. At
the new Direction console prompt, define the second
direction vector.

5.

The program console prompts End point.

6.

Define the length of the segment by placing its endpoint:

click and drag in any view or type its XYZ coordinates in
the console.

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Options
Center
To modify coordinates of the center point or local axes origin.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Center
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Direction #1
To define the first direction vector by modifying XYZ
coordinates.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Direction
#1 handle and drag it until you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Direction #2
To define the second direction vector by modifying XYZ
coordinates.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Direction
#2 handle and drag it until you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

End point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the segment end point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it until you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Length
To change the segment length.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

The Modeling Tool panel also displays the Aperture angle of the
two direction vectors. This is not directly modifiable.

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Bi-tangent Segment
Allows you to create a segment tangent to two given curves.

How to use
1.

Click the Bi-tangent Segment icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Line4Bi-tangent Segment command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick tangent line #1.

3.

Pick the first curve to which the segment must be tangent.

The curve turns green.

4.

At the Pick tangent line #2 console prompt, pick the other

curve to which the segment must be tangent. The curve
turns green.

5.

A new segment tangent to both the two curves is created.

This segment is automatically updated at any modification
of the curves.

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Options
Tangent line #1
To change the first curve to which the segment must be tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

End point #1
To modify XYZ coordinates of the first reference point. This
point is not exactly the segment end point. The segment end
point is positioned as near as possible to this point to respect
tangent conditions.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it until you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Tangent line #2
To change the second curve to which the segment must be
tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

End point #2
To modify XYZ coordinates of the reference point on the second
curve. This point is not exactly the segment end point. The
segment end point is positioned as near as possible to this point
to respect tangent conditions.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it until you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Options
To enable trimming of the reference curves.
Modeling Tool panel. Check the Trim tangents check box if you
want to trim the curves at the intersection with the segment.
Segment and curves will be joined in a single element.

Cutting
To change the part of the curve to keep after cutting.
Modeling Tool panel. You have the following options: Invert tangent
#1 inverts cutting on the first curve and Invert tangent #2 which
inverts cutting on the second curve.

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Arc: center,
point

point,

Draws a circular arc by defining a center point and two end

points.

How to use
1.

Click the Arc: center, point, point icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Arc4Arc: center, point, point
command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Place the center point of the arc either by clicking and

dragging in any view (release the mouse button to confirm
placement) or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the
console. Values must be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3,
and confirmed by pressing Enter . If you press Enter
without typing any value, the axes origin of the curve will
be placed in correspondence with the XYZ origin.
.

4.

The program console prompts Start point.

5.

Place the start point either by clicking and dragging in any

view or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console.

6.

In the same way, place the end point at the End point
console prompt.
To interactively define the arc, hold the mouse button down
after the click or click while pressing the Shift key.

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Options
Start point
End point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the two arc end points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees, in which case the arc becomes a
circle.

Radius
To change the preferred radius.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired radius.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to .

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Extra
To specify whether you want to visualize the arc contour only or
also the radii that make it appear as a pie slice.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Contour and Pie Slice.

Arc type
To specify whether the arc must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Weighted and Non-weighted. If you
choose the first option, the number of control points is
automatically defined. With the second option you can set the
number of control points in the Points section.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the arc in case you
have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the arc).

Direction
To specify the direction of the arc.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Counter-clockwise and Clockwise
(starting from the Start point).

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Arc: 3 points
Arc: 3 points (ordered)
Draws an arc by defining three points in space.
The difference between Arc: 3 points and Arc: 3 points (ordered)
is only in the order you insert points. The first tool prompts you
to insert point in the following order: start point, end point,
middle point; in the second tool the order is: start point, middle
point, end point.
Although the difference may appear minimal, it can be important
to improve the workflow.

How to use

304

1.

Click the Arc: 3 points or Arc: 3 points (ordered) icon or

choose the Tools4Curves 4Arc 4Arc: 3 points or Arc:
3 points (ordered) command.

2.

The program console prompts Point #1.

3.

Place the first point either by clicking and dragging in any

view (release the mouse button to confirm placement) or
by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. Values must
be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by
pressing Enter . If you press Enter without typing any
value, the point will be placed in correspondence with the
XYZ origin.

4.

Place the second point at the Point #2 console prompts.

This will be the second end point of the arc.

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5.

Place the third point at the Point #3 console prompts. This

point can be anywhere on the arc.
You can insert points in any view regardless of where you
have started.
To interactively define the arc, hold the mouse button
down after the click or click while pressing the Shift key.

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Options
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3
To modify XYZ coordinates of perimeter points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Extra
To specify whether you want to visualize the arc contour only or
also the radii that make it appear as a pie slice.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Contour and Pie Slice.

Arc type
To specify whether the arc must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
can choose either Weighted or Non-weighted. If you choose the
first option the number of control points is automatically defined.
With the second option you can set the number of control points
in the Points section.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit it.

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Points
To determine the number of control points of the arc in case you
have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the arc).
.

The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the

Center of the circle, the arc Angle, and the Radius value. These
are not directly modifiable.

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Fillet arc: 2 lines

Draws an arc tangent to two selected lines.

How to use

308

1.

Click the Fillet arc: 2 lines icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Arc 4Fillet arc: 2 lines command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick tangent line #1.

3.

Pick the first line to which the circle will be tangent. Keep
the mouse button pressed and drag for positioning the arc
end point along the tangent. Release the mouse button
when you have reached the desired position.

4.

The program console prompts Pick tangent line #2.

5.

Pick the second line to which the circle will be tangent.

Keep the mouse button down and drag interactively for
defining the arc and positioning the other arc end point
along the tangent. Release the mouse button when you
have reached the desired position.

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Options
Tangent line #1
To change the first line to which the arc is tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another tangent line in the scene.

End point # 1
To modify XYZ coordinates of the arc end point on line 1.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired
position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Tangent line #2
To change the second line to which the arc is tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another tangent line in the scene.

End point # 2
To modify XYZ coordinates of the arc end point on line 2.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired
position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Radius
To change the preferred radius.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Radius
point handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you
reach the desired radius.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to .

Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
can choose either Weighted or Non-weighted. If you choose the
first option the number of control points is automatically defined.
With the second option you can set the number of control points
in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).

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Options
To specify various options.
Modeling Tool panel. To enable the available options, switch
their check buttons on:
Invert arc. To invert the arc direction.
Fit tangents. The fillet arc will cut the tangents at the
intersection points. Fillet arc and tangents will be joined to a
single element. If you enable this option, you have two more
possibilities:
Invert tangent #1. To invert the portion of tangent to be cut.
Invert tangent #2. To invert the portion of tangent to be cut.

The Modeling Tool panel also displays the sweep Angle of the
arc. This is not directly modifiable.

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Arc: 2 points, radius

Draws an arc by defining two points in space and the arc radius.

How to use
1.

Click the Arc: 2 points, radius icon or choose the Tools4

Curves 4Arc 4Arc: 2 points, radius command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Place the axes origin of the arc either by clicking and

dragging in any view (release the mouse button to confirm
placement) or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the
console. Values must be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3,
and confirmed by pressing Enter . If you press Enter
without typing any value, the axes origin of the curve will
be placed in correspondence with the XYZ origin.
.

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4.

The program console prompts Point #1.

5.

Place the first point either by clicking and dragging in any

view (release the mouse button to confirm placement) or
by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console.

6.

Place the second point at the Point #2 console prompt. This

will be the second end point of the arc.

7.

The program console prompts Radius.

8.

Define the preferred radius by typing the radius value in

the console.

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Options
Point #1
Point #2
To modify XYZ coordinates of perimeter points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Radius
To change the preferred radius.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

The Modeling Tool panel also displays the arc Angle and the
XYZ coordinates of the Center of the circle. These are not
directly modifiable.

Side/Direction
To invert side or direction of the arc.
Modeling Tool panel. To enable the available options, switch the
Invert side or Invert direction check box.

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Extra
To specify whether you want to visualize the arc contour only or
also the radii that make it appear as a pie slice.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Contour and Pie Slice.

Arc type
To specify whether the arc must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
can choose either Weighted or Non-weighted. If you choose the
first option the number of control points is automatically defined.
With the second option you can set the number of control points
in the Points section.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the arc in case you
have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the arc).
.

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Arc: tangent, 2 points

Draws an arc by defining a tangent curve, a point on such a curve
and another point in space.

How to use
1.

Click the Arc: tangent, 2 points icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Arc4Arc: tangent, 2 points command.

2.

The program console prompts Point on curve.

3.

Click a point on the curve at the Point on curve console

prompts. This will be the start point of the arc.

4.

Place the second point at the End point console prompt.

This point can be anywhere in the space.
You can insert points in any view regardless of where you
have started.
To interactively define the arc, hold the mouse button
down after the click or click while pressing the Shift key.
.

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Options
Curve
To change the curve to which the arc is tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Point on curve
To modify XYZ coordinates of the arc point on curve.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired
position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

End Point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the second arc point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired
position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Direction
To specify the direction of the arc from the tangent point.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Tangent, Normal, and Binormal.

Invert direction
To invert the direction of the arc.
Modeling Tool panel. Just press the button and observe the result
in any view.

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Arc type
To specify whether the arc must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
can choose either Weighted or Non-weighted. If you choose the
first option, the number of control points is automatically
defined. With the second option you can set the number of
control points in the Points section.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the arc in case you
have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the arc).
.

Trimming
To specify whether the tangent arc should trim the tangent curve or
not.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You have the
following options: None, Keep before, and Keep after. If you choose
the second or the third option, the arc will cut the tangent at the
intersection point. Arc and tangent will be joined in a single element.

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The Modeling Tool panel also displays the arc Angle and the
Radius value. These are not directly modifiable.

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Line-Arc
Draws a sequence of lines and arcs or, anyway, a curve
composed of lines and arcs.

How to use
1.

Click the Line-Arc icon or choose the Tools4Curves

4Arc4Line-Arc command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Place the local axes of the composite curve either by

clicking and dragging in any view (release the mouse
button to confirm placement) or by typing its XYZ
coordinates in the console. Values must be separated by a
comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by pressing Enter . If you
press Enter without typing any value, the axes origin of
the curve will be placed in correspondence with the XYZ
origin.

4.

Successive clicks will define the composite curve

alternating lines to arcs, each arc being tangent to the
preceding line. If you prefer, you can type exact
coordinates from the keyboard at the console prompts. You
can add points in any view regardless of where you have
started drawing.

5.

Press Spacebar to stop points insertion.

To interactively define the point position, hold the mouse
button down after the click or click while pressing the
Shift key.

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Options
XYZ coordinates
To modify XYZ coordinates of a point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Select the point from the scroll list that
appears when you click the [] button. Type the new values in
the three XYZ data fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Remove
To remove a point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Pick the point you
want to remove. Choose the Edit4Delete command.
Modeling Tool panel. Click the [] button and select the point
you want to remove from the scroll list (the views will display it
in yellow). Press the Remove button.

Insert
To add new points to the composite curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Insert check button on
and click in any view. If you have previously selected two
adjacent points you can add points between them.

Curve type
To open/close the selected curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Just switch the related radio button on.

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On insert
To create a composite curve only with lines or arcs.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Terminate points insertion by
pressing Spacebar . Switch the Insert check button on, followed
by one of these options: Alternated (default), Line, Arc. Start
clicking within any view to insert points that define the curve.

On remove
To specify whether the arcs must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
can choose either Weighted or Non-weighted. If you choose the
first option, the number of control points is automatically
defined. With the second option you can set the number of
control points in the section below.

Snap
To make lines tangent to arcs.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch off the check button to disable this
option, which is enabled by default.

Arc type
To specify whether the arcs must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
can choose either Weighted or Non-weighted. If you choose the
first option, the number of control points is automatically
defined. With the second option you can set the number of
control points in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

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Points
To determine the number of control points of the arcs in case you
have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).
.

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Fillet Curves
Draws an arc tangent to two selected curves.

How to use

324

1.

Click the Fillet curves icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Arc 4Fillet curves command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick tangent #1.

3.

Pick the first curve to which the arc will be tangent. Keep
the mouse button pressed and drag for positioning the arc
end point along the tangent. Release the mouse button
when you have reached the desired position.

4.

The program console prompts Pick tangent #2.

5.

Pick the second curve to which the arc will be tangent.

Keep the mouse button down and drag interactively for
defining the arc and positioning the other arc end point
along the tangent. Release the mouse button when you
have reached the desired position.

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Options
Tangent #1
To change the first curve to which the arc is tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another tangent line in the scene.

Point #1
To modify XYZ coordinates of the arc end point on curve 1.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired
position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Tangent #2
To change the second curve to which the arc is tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another tangent line in the scene.

Point #2
To modify XYZ coordinates of the arc end point on curve 2.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the desired
position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Radius
To change the preferred radius.

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Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Options
To specify various options.
Modeling Tool panel. To enable the available options, switch
their check buttons on:
Fixed radius. To constrain radius to a fixed value while moving
the arc end points. In order to fit the fixed radius, the arc can be
created far from reference points.
Invert arc. To invert the arc direction.
Trim tangents. The fillet arc will cut the tangents at the
intersection points. Fillet arc and tangents will be joined to a
single element. If you enable this option, you have two more
possibilities:
Invert tangent #1. To invert the portion of tangent to be cut.
Invert tangent #2. To invert the portion of tangent to be cut.

The Modeling Tool panel also displays the sweep Angle of the
arc. This is not directly modifiable.

Arc type
To specify whether the arc must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
can choose either Weighted or Non-weighted. If you choose the
first option the number of control points is automatically defined.
With the second option you can set the number of control points
in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

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Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).

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Circle: center, radius

Draws a circle by defining its centerpoint and the preferred
radius.

How to use
1.

Click the Circle: center, radius icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Circle4Circle:
center,
radius
command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Place the centerpoint of the circle either by clicking and

dragging in any view (release the mouse button to confirm
placement) or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the
console. Values must be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3,
and confirmed by pressing Enter . If you press Enter
without typing any value, the axes origin of the curve will
be placed in correspondence with the XYZ origin.

4.

The program console prompts Radius.

5.

Define the preferred radius by either clicking and dragging

the Radius point handle of the circle or by typing the radius
value in the console.
Hold the mouse button down after the click to interactively
draw the circle.
If you press the Shift key, there is no need to hold the
mouse button down to draw the circle: just click to define
the preferred radius.

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Options
Start angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

End angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data and pressing Enter . The value can range
from 0 to 360 degrees.

Radius
To change the preferred radius.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Radius
point handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you
reach the desired radius.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to .

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Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Weighted and Non-weighted. If you
choose the first option, the number of control points is
automatically defined. With the second option you can set the
number of control points in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).

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Circle: diameter
Draws a circle by defining its local axes and the preferred
diameter.

How to use
1.

Click the Circle: diameter icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Circle4Circle: diameter command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Place the local axes origin which is also the diameter start
point either by clicking and dragging in any view (release
the mouse button to confirm placement) or by typing its
XYZ coordinates in the console. Values must be separated
by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by pressing Enter .
If you press Enter without typing any value, the axes
origin of the curve will be placed in correspondence with
the XYZ origin.

4.

The program console prompts Diameter end.

5.

Define the preferred diameter by either clicking and

dragging the Diameter end handle of the circle or by typing
the radius value in the console.
Hold the mouse button down after the click to interactively
draw the circle.
If you press the Shift key, there is no need to hold the
mouse button down to draw the circle: just click to define
the preferred radius.

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Options
Diameter start
Diameter end
To modify XYZ coordinates of diameter start and end points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Start angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

End angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data and pressing Enter . The value can range
from 0 to 360 degrees.

The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the

Center of the circle. These are not directly modifiable.

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Radius
To change the preferred radius.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to .

Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Weighted and Non-weighted. If you
choose the first option, the number of control points is
automatically defined. With the second option you can set the
number of control points in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).

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Circle: 3 points
Draws a circle by defining three points on its perimeter.

How to use
1.

Click the Circle: 3 point icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4Circle 4Circle: 3 point command.

2.

The program console prompts Point #1.

3.

Place the first point either by clicking and dragging within

any view (release the mouse button to confirm placement)
or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. Values
must be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by
pressing Enter . If you press Enter without typing any
value, the point will be placed in correspondence with the
XYZ origin.

4.

Place the second and third point at the Point #2 and Point
#3 console prompts.
You can insert points in any view regardless of where you
have started.
Hold the mouse button down after the click to interactively
model the circle.
If you press the Shift key there is no need to hold the
mouse button down to draw the circle: just click to define
points placement.

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Options
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3
To modify XYZ coordinates of perimeter points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Start angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button once you have
reached the desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

End angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button once you have
reached the desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

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Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Weighted and Non-weighted. If you
choose the first option, the number of control points is
automatically defined. With the second option you can set the
number of control points in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).

The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the

Center of the circle and the Radius value. These are not
modifiable.

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Circle: 2 points, tangent

Draws a circle tangent to an existing line by defining two
perimeter points.

How to use

solidThinking User Manual

1.

Click the Circle: 2 points, tangent icon or choose

the Tools4Curves4Circle4Circle: 2 points, tangent
command.

2.

The program console prompts Point #1.

3.

Place the first perimeter point either by clicking and

dragging within any view (release the mouse button to
confirm placement) or by typing its XYZ coordinates in
the console. Values must be separated by a comma, i.e.
1,2,3, and confirmed by pressing Enter . If you press Enter
without typing any value, the point will be placed in
correspondence with the XYZ origin.

4.

Repeat step 3 at the Point #2 console prompt.

5.

The program console prompts Tangent line.

6.

Pick in the view the line to which the circle will be tangent.

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Options
Point #1
Point #2
To modify XYZ coordinates of perimeter points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you have reached the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Tangent line
To change the line to which the circle will be tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another tangent line in the scene.

Start angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse once you have reached the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

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End angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Weighted and Non-weighted. If you
choose the first option, the number of control points is
automatically defined. With the second option you can set the
number of control points in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted in the above section.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).

The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the

Center of the circle and the Radius value. These are not
modifiable.

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Circle: 2 tangents, point

Draws a circle by defining one perimeter point and two points of
tangency on two existing lines.

How to use

340

1.

Click the Circle: 2 tangents, point icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Circle4Circle: 2 tangents, point
command.

2.

The program console prompts Tangent line #1.

3.

Pick in the view the first line to which the circle will be
tangent.

4.

Repeat step 3 at the Tangent line #2 console prompt.

5.

The program console prompts Point.

6.

Place the perimeter point either by clicking and dragging in

any view (release the mouse button to confirm placement)
or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. Values
must be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by
pressing Enter . If you press Enter without typing any
value, the point will be placed in correspondence with the
XYZ origin.

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Options
Point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the perimeter point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you have reached the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Tangent line #1
Tangent line #2
To change the lines to which the circle will be tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another tangent line in the scene.

Start angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you have
reached the desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

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End angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Weighted and Non-weighted. If
choose the first option, the number of control points is
automatically defined. With the second option you can set the
number of control points in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted as the arc type.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).

The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the

Center of the circle and the Radius value. These are not
modifiable.

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Circle:
center,tangent
Draws a circle tangent to an existing line by defining a specified
centerpoint.

How to use

solidThinking User Manual

1.

Click the Circle: center, tangent icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Circle4Circle:
center,
tangent
command.

2.

The program console prompts Tangent line.

3.

Pick the line to which the circle will be tangent.

4.

The program console prompts Center.

5.

Place the centerpoint either by clicking and dragging in

any view (release the mouse button to confirm placement)
or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. Values
must be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by
pressing Enter . If you press Enter without typing any
value, the center of the circle will be placed in
correspondence with the XYZ origin.

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Options
Tangent line
To change the line to which the circle will be tangent.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another tangent line in the scene.

Center
To modify XYZ coordinates of the centerpoint.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the centerpoint
and drag it. Release the mouse button once you have reached the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Start angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you have
reached the desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

End angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.
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Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Weighted and Non-weighted. If you
choose the first option, the number of control points is
automatically defined. With the second option you can set the
number of control points in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted as the arc type.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).

The Modeling Tool panel also displays the Radius value. This is
not modifiable.

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Ellipse:
point

focuses,

Draws an ellipse by defining its focal points and a point on the

perimeter.

How to use
1.

Click the Ellipse: focuses, point icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Circle4Ellipse:
focuses,
point
command.

2.

The program console prompts Focus #1.

3.

Place the first focal point either by clicking and dragging in

any view (release the mouse button to confirm placement)
or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. Values
must be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by
pressing Enter .

4.

Repeat step 3 at the Focus #1console prompt placing the

second focal point.

5.

The program console prompts Point.

6.

Define a perimeter point either by clicking and dragging in

any view or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console.
You can insert points in any view regardless of where you
have started.
To interactively define the ellipse, hold the mouse button
down after the click or click while pressing Shift .

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Options
Focus #1
Focus #2
To modify XYZ coordinates of the focal points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the perimeter point.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point and
drag it. Release the mouse button when you have reached the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Start angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

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End angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it until you reach the desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Weighted and Non-weighted. If you
choose the first option the number of control points is
automatically defined. With the second option you can set the
number of control points in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted as the arc type.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter (remember: the
more the control points, the more approximated the circle).
.

The Modeling Tool panel also displays XYZ coordinates of the

Center of the ellipse and the length of Half Axis #1 and Half
Axis #2. These are not directly modifiable.

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Ellipse: center, axis

1, axis 2
Draws an ellipse by defining the centerpoint and the preferred
major and minor half axes.

How to use
1.

Click the Ellipse: center, axis 1, axis 2 icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Circle4Ellipse: center, axis 1, axis 2
command.

2.

The program console prompts Center.

3.

Place the centerpoint either by clicking and dragging in

any view (release the mouse button to confirm placement)
or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. Values
must be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by
pressing Enter .

4.

The program console prompts Axis endpoint #1.

5.

Define the axis endpoint either by clicking and dragging in

any view or by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console.

6.

Repeat step 5 at the Axis endpoint #2 console prompt.

You can insert points in any view regardless of where you
have started.
To interactively define the ellipse, hold the mouse button
down after the click or click while pressing the Shift key.
.

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Options
Center
To modify XYZ coordinates of the centerpoint of the ellipse.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the centerpoint
and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Axis endpoint #1
Axis endpoint #2
To modify XYZ coordinates of the axes endpoints.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the endpoint
and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Start angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

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End angle
To change sweep of the arc.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End point
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired angle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 360 degrees.

Half Axis #1
Half Axis #2
To modify length of the half axes.
Modeling Tool panel. Set values either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . Values can
range from 0 to .

Arc type
To specify whether the circle must be weighted (exact) or nonweighted (approximated).
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: Weighted and Non-weighted. If you
choose the first option, the number of control points is
automatically defined. With the second option you can set the
number of control points in the section below.
Note: in general, you could use Weighted if you do not plan to
modify the original shape and Non-weighted if you want to edit
it.

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Points
To determine the number of control points of the circle in case
you have chosen Non-weighted as the arc type.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . (Remember:
the more the control points, the more approximated the circle).

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Rect: 3 points
Draws a rectangle by defining its opposite corners and one more
point defining the angle of the rectangle.

How to use
1.

Click the Rect: 3 points icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Polyline 4Rect: 3 point command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Place the first point either by clicking and dragging in any

view (release the mouse button to confirm placement) or
by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console.

4.

Place the second and the third point at the Point #2 and
Point #3 console prompts.
You can insert points in any view regardless of where you
have started.

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Options
Point #1
Point #2
Point #3
To modify XYZ coordinates of the three points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Width
To change width of the rectangle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Height
To change height of the rectangle.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Rectangle
Draws a rectangle by defining its opposite corners.

How to use
1.

Click the Rectangle icon or choose the Tools4 Curves4

Polyline 4Rectangle command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

This is the first corner of the rectangle and you can place it
either by clicking and dragging in any view (release the
mouse button to confirm placement) or by typing its XYZ
coordinates in the console.

4.

Place the second point at the Point #2 console prompt.

You can insert points in any view regardless of where you
have started.

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Options
Point #1
Point #2
To modify XYZ coordinates of the two points.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the point
whose position you want to modify and drag it. Release the
mouse button when you reach the desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data fields
and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Width
To change width of the rectangle.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Width
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired width.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Height
To change height of the rectangle.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Height
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired width.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

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Regular Polygon
Draws a regular polygon, that is a closed polygon with three or
more equal sides.

How to use
1.

Click the Regular Polygon icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Polyline 4 Regular Polygon command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Position the polygon either by clicking and dragging in any

view (release the mouse button to confirm placement) or
by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. Values must
be separated by a comma, i.e. 1,2,3, and confirmed by
pressing Enter . If you press Enter without typing any
value, the axes origin of the cylinder will be placed in
correspondence with the XYZ origin.
.

4.

The program console prompts Sides.

5.

Type the number of sides of the polygon in the console and

press Enter .

6.

The program console prompts Radius.

7.

Define the radius by either clicking and dragging the

Radius point handle of the polygon or by typing the radius
value in the console.
Hold the mouse button down after the click in the view to
interactively define the radius value.

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Options
Radius
To change the radius.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Radius
point handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you
have reached the desired radius.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to .

Sides
To define the number of sides of the polygon,
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 3 to .

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Helix
Draws a helix (or a spiral if top and bottom radius are different).

How to use
1.

Click the Helix icon or choose the Tools4Curves4

Helix command.

2.

The program console prompts Local axes origin.

3.

Position the helix either by clicking and dragging in any

view (release the mouse button to confirm placement) or
by typing its XYZ coordinates in the console. Values must
be separated by a space or a comma, i.e. 1 2 3 or 1,2,3, and
confirmed by pressing Enter . If you press Enter without
typing any value, the axes origin of the helix will be placed
in correspondence with the XYZ origin.

4.

The program console prompts Bottom radius.

5.

Define the bottom radius by either clicking and dragging

the Bottom radius handle or by typing the radius value in
the console.
Hold the mouse button down after the click to interactively
define the bottom radius value.

6.

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7.

The program console prompts Height.

8.

Define the height by either clicking and dragging the

Height point handle in a view or by typing the height value
in the console.
Hold the mouse button down after the click in the view to
interactively define the height value.

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9.

The program console prompts Turns.

10.

Define the number of turns by typing it in the console.

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Options
Bottom radius
To change the radius of the first turn of the helix.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Bottom
radius handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you
reach the desired radius.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to .

Top radius
To change the radius of the last turn of the helix.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Top radius
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired radius.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to .
Note: Set the top radius value lower than the bottom radius one
or vice versa to obtain a spiral.

Height
To change the height.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Height
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired height.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to .

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Turns
To determine the number of turns of the helix.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Pitch
To determine the distance between two turns.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . This value is
inversely proportional to the number of turns. The higher the
pitch value, the lower the number of turns.

Turning
To make the helix clockwise or counterclockwise.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch on the preferred radio button
option.

Points per turn

To determine the number of control points that will be created
per each turn of the helix if you use the Collapse Construction
Tree command.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 4 to 20.

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Offset
Creates a copy of a curve at a specified distance.

How to use
1.

Click the Offset icon or choose the Tools4Curves4

Offset command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick Curve.

3.

Pick the curve you want to offset. The curve will be

displayed in green.

4.

The program console prompts to define the Offset distance.

5.

Type the distance value in the console or determine it by

clicking and dragging the Offset point handle.
Hold the mouse button down after the click to interactively
define the distance.

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Options
Curve
To change the curve to offset.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Offset
To modify the offset distance
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Offset
point handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you
reach the preferred distance.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Options
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons on:
Symmetric creates the offset on both sides of the curve.
Closed automatically connects the offset endpoints with the
original curve or the symmetric offset endpoints in order to
create a closed path.
Rounded corners rounds the corners of the offset caused by
sharp corners of the original curve.
Rounded ends is used in conjunction with Closed and allows to
close with half-circles the endpoints of the offset.

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Split curves
Splits two intersecting curves into more parts.

How to use

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1.

Click the Split curve icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Divide4Split curves command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick curve #1.

3.

Pick the first intersecting curve. It turns red.

4.

The program console prompts Pick curve #2.

5.

Pick the second intersecting curve. It turns red.

6.

The Console prompts Choose which curves will be split and

offers you three options: Both, 1st, 2nd.

7.

If you type B (Both), you will split both curve #1 and curve
#2. By choosing 1st or 2nd you will only split the curve #1
or the curve #2 respectively.

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Divide curve
Divides a curve into two independent curves whose respective
lengths are displayed in the Modeling Tool panel.

How to use

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1.

Click the Divide curve icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Divide4Divide curve command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick a curve at break point.

3.

Position the cursor and drag along the curve. Release the
mouse button when you reach the point to divide the curve
at.

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Options
Length #1 and Length #2
The length of the curves These fields cannot be modified.

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Break curve
Breaks a curve into two joined curves whose respective lengths
are displayed in the Modeling Tool panel.

How to use

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1.

Click the Break curve icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Divide4Break curve command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick a curve at break point.

3.

Position the cursor and drag along the curve. Release the
mouse button when you reach the point to break the curve
at.

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Blend Curves
Creates a new blend curve between two existing curves.

How to use
1.

Click the Blend curves icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Blend/Extend4Blend curves command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick curve #1 near endpoint.

3.

Pick the first curve near the endpoint where you want the
blend curve to start. Once picked, the curve turns green.

4.

The program console prompts Pick curve #2 near endpoint.

5.

Pick the second curve near the endpoint where you want
the blend curve to end. Once picked, the curve turns green
and the new blend curve is created.
Thanks to the Construction Tree even if you move and
modify the two original curves, the blend curve is
interactively updated and stays attached as shown in the
next pictures.

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While a blended curve is selected, the Modeling Tool panel

offers you several options for adjusting it.

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Options
Curve #1
To change the curve #1.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Endpoint #1
To change the curve #1 point to which the blend curve is
attached.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the two radio buttons on to
choose the Start or the End of the curve.

Smoothness #1
To control smoothness of the blend curve at curve #1 endpoint.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the smoothness
value in the data field and press Enter to confirm. Changes are
interactively displayed in the views.

Curve #2
To change the curve #2.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Endpoint #2
To change the curve #2 point to which the blend curve is
attached.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the two radio buttons on to
choose the Start or the End of the curve.

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Smoothness #2
To control smoothness of the blend curve at curve #2 endpoint.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the smoothness
value in the data field and press Enter to confirm. Changes are
interactively displayed in the views.

Tangents
To invert direction of tangents.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch on the Invert curve #1 or Invert
curve #2 radio buttons where convenient.

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Curve Tangency Align

Allows you to establish tangent continuity between two curves.

How to use
1.

2.

Click the Curve tangency align icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Blend/Extend4Curve tangency align
command.
The program console prompts Pick master curve at
tangency point (drag to adjust).

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3.

Pick the first curve you want to align at tangency point,

whose position can be defined by sliding along the curve
without releasing the mouse button. The curve turns green.

4.

The program console prompts Pick slave curve near

endpoint.

5.

Pick the second curve you want to align near the desired
endpoint.

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6.

A new curve establishing tangent continuity with the

master curve is created in place of the original slave curve.

The new curve is automatically updated at any

modification of the master curve. If you set the angle
parameter at 90 degrees you can make the new curve
perpendicular to the master curve.

The original slave curve is hidden but not deleted. Thus,

you can select it from the browser and modify its shape
working in Edit Parameters mode. The newly created
curve will be updated at any change.
By default, the new curve is attached to the master curve,
but you can also disable this option, in which case the new
curve will have tangency alignment to the master curve but
will not be attached.

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Options
Master curve
To change the master curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Point on master
To adjust the tangency point along the master curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the position value
(in a 0 to 1 range where 0 and 1 represent the endpoints) in the
data field and press Enter to confirm. Changes are interactively
displayed in the views.

Slave curve
To change the slave curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Endpoint on slave
To change the desired endpoint of the slave curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the two radio buttons on to
choose the Start or the End of the curve.

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Angle
To set the angle of the new curve with respect to the master one.
Modeling Tool panel. Move the slider or type the degree value in
the data field and press Enter to confirm. Set 0 for tangency, 90
for perpendicularity.
0

60

90

You can slide the new curve along the master one by simply
dragging Point on master curve.

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Attach
To join master and slave curves by attaching the tangency point
on master curve and the endpoint on slave curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch off the check button to disable this
option, which is enabled by default.

G2 continuity
To compute G2 continuity (tangency and curvature) between
master and slave curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the G2 continuity check box on.

Invert tangent dir.

To invert direction of the tangents.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Invert tangent dir. check box
on where convenient.

Tangency plane
To define your preferred tangency plane.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on to
specify one of the following options: Auto, XY, XZ, YZ, User.

Tangency plane normal

If you have chosen the User option in the above Tangency plane
section, you can define any custom tangency plane by typing the
XYZ coordinates that determine the plane normal orientation.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Trimming
Options include None, Keep before, or Keep after.

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EdgeExtract
Extracts a curve from a surface and outputs a 3D curve.

How to use

378

1.

Click the EdgeExtract icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Edges/Sections4 EdgeExtract command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick a surface.

3.

Pick the target surface. Once picking is performed, the

surface is displayed in dark green and the surface edges in
blue.

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4.

The program console prompts Pick edges.

5.

Pick the edges you want to extract by either clicking

related handles directly in the views or by selecting paths
listed in the Modeling Tool panel. To select multiple paths,
just pick them while holding the Ctrl key down. Picked
edges are displayed in yellow.
.

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6.

To end edge selection press Spacebar .

Selected edges will be now displayed in magenta, ready to
be used for any other action (in the example below, for an
extrusion).

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Options
Surface
To change the target surface.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on, and pick another surface in the scene.

Edges
To select the edges you want to extract
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the handle of
the curve you want to extract.
Modeling Tool panel. Select edges from the list.

Invert curve
To invert the direction or sequence of control points. Inverting
curve direction can be very useful when you use modeling tools
like Skin and you have curves with different directions.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Invert curves check
box on.

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Extract isoparametric
Extracts an isoparametric curve from a surface in U or V
direction. This command creates a curve that is not attached to
the surface although it exactly runs on the surface.
This command is useful for creating trimming curves on
surfaces. Isoparametric curves can also be used to recreate a
given surface with different parameterization. Extract several
isoparams and use the Loft or Skin command to create a surface
through them.
An isoparametric curve extracted from a surface can be used as a
snappable location when you need to place an object on such
surface.

How to use

382

1.

Select a NURBS surface.

2.

Click the Extract isoparametric curve icon or choose the

Tools4Curves4Edges/Sections4 Extract isoparametric
curve command.

3.

Open the Modeling Tool panel (shortcut is Ctrl + 2) and

specify the direction (U or V). In the Parameter section,
type a value between 0 and 1 or move the slider to
interactively change the position of the isoparametric curve
over the surface. The isoparametric curve is displayed in
dark green.

4.

Press the Go button when you have reached the desired

position.

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Options
Isoparm direction
To choose whether to extract the isoparm in the U or V direction.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons on:
U direction if you want to extract a curve in the U direction.
V direction if you want to extract a curve in the V direction.

Parameter
To choose where to extract the curve along the U or V direction.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter . The value can
range from 0 to 1.

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Curves from intersection

Extracts a curve from the intersection of two surfaces.

How to use

384

1.

Click the Curves from surface intersection icon or choose

the
Tools4Curves4Edges/Sections4Curves
from
surface intersection command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick Surface 1.

3.

Pick the first surface. It turns red.

4.

The program console prompts Pick Surface 2

5.

Pick the second surface. It turns red.

6.

The program will generate the curves defined by the

intersection of the two surfaces. You can then use the
resulting curves by either leaving the Construction Tree or
collapsing it (shortcut for collapsing the Construction Tree
is C ).

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Options
Surface 1
To change the first surface.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on, and pick another surface in the scene.

Surface 2
To change the second surface.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on, and pick another surface in the scene.

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Sections
Creates an object containing the section curves of a NURBS
surface object. You can specify the direction and the position of
the section planes as well as the number of the planes and the
distance between them. This modeling tool maintains the
Construction History.

How to use
1.

Click the Sections icon or choose the Tools4 Curves4

Edges/Sections4Sections command.

2.

Pick the NURBS surface whose section or sections you

want to calculate.
Choose Edit Parameters mode to interactively change
direction of section planes.

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Options
Object
To change the object to section.
Views/ Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another NURBS surface object in the scene.

Default directions
To set a default direction for the section planes.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: X, Y, Z local axes, Vertical, and
Horizontal. These two options are the up and the right direction
of the active view.

Origin
To change the starting point of the section plane normal direction.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Origin
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
preferred position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

Planes dir.
To change the ending point of the section planes normal direction.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Planes dir.
handle and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
preferred direction.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Distance between sections

To set the distance between each section
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Number of sections
To specify the total number of sections.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Options
To change some defaults for user interaction.
Modeling Tool panel. Check the Show section planes check box if
you want to visualize the section planes.
Check the Interactive changes check box if you want that
changes are applied at every mouse movement and not only when
the mouse button is released.

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Silhouette
Creates an object containing the silhouette curves and the
boundary curves of a NURBS surface object. Curves can be
calculated by a parallel or perspective projection. This modelling
tool maintains the Construction History.

How to use

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1.

Click the Silhouette icon or choose the Tools4Curves4

Edges/Sections4Silhouette command.

2.

Pick the NURBS surface whose silhouette you want to

calculate.

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Options
Surface
To change the object whose silhouette you want to calculate..
Views/ Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button on
and pick another NURBS surface object in the scene.

Direction
To set a default direction for the silhouette.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options: X, Y, Z local axes, Vertical, and
Horizontal. These two options are the up and the right direction
of the active view. Custom should be enabled if you want that
Start and End points of the silhouette direction match Position
and Look at handles of the active camera.

Start
To change the starting point of the silhouette direction.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start handle
and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
preferred position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

End
To change the ending point of the silhouette direction.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Start handle
and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
preferred position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Direction
To change the silhouette computation method.
Modeling Tool panel. Check the Perspective projection check
box if you want that the silhouette direction is calculated using a
perspective projection view instead of a parallel projection view
(default).

Simplify
To reduce the number of points of the resulting silhouette curve
given a specified tolerance.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Simplify check button and set
the tolerance value by moving the slider or by typing it in the
data field and pressing Enter. The higher the value, the bigger
the difference between the original object and the simplified one.
Tolerance is enabled only if Simplify is selected.

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PathCast
Projects a curve onto a surface in order to obtain a 3D curve on
surface.

How to use
1.

Click the PathCast icon or choose the Tools4 Curves4

Curve projections4PathCast command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick curve.

3.

Pick the curve you want to be projected along a vector on

the target surface.
Once picked, the curve turns green.

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4.

The program console prompts Pick surface.

5.

After you pick the target surface, the program will display
it in green and the curve projection in magenta.

Note: By default, the curve is projected along both the

curve normal and its opposite, but you have several
options to modify this (see Projection Direction in the
Options list).

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Options
Curve
To change the curve to be projected.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Surface
To change the target surface.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another surface in the scene.

Projection direction
To determine the vector along which the curve will be projected.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. You
have the following options:
X axis. The curve is projected along the X-axis.
Y axis. The curve is projected along the Y-axis.
Z axis. The curve is projected along the Z-axis.
Current view. The curve is projected along the axis that is
perpendicular (normal) to the current active view.
Curve normal. The curve is projected along its normal.
Inverse normal. The curve is projected in the opposite direction
with respect to the curve normal.
Both normals. The curve is projected along both its normal and
opposite direction.

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Projection start point

Projection end point
To modify XYZ coordinates of the projection start and end
points, hence allowing you to determine a custom vector along
which the curve will be projected. and confirm them by pressing
Enter .

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Curve to Plane
Transforms a 3D curve into a planar curve by projecting its
control points on a specified plane. It is not a projection of the
curve but only of its control points.

How to use
1. Click the Curve to Plane icon or choose the Tools4
Curves4 Curve projections4Curve to Plane command.
2. The program console prompts Pick curve.
3. Pick the curve you want to make planar.
4.

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Options
Curve
To change the curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Projection direction
To change the direction of the plane normal. The default
direction is: Best plane.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on.
You have the following choices:
Best plane. Approximate a plane on which the curve lies.
XY plane. To project on the XY plane
YZ plane. To project on the XY plane.
XZ plane. To project on the YZ plane.
Custom plane. To freely define the origin and the normal of the
projection plane.

Plane origin
To determine the origin of the plane. Activated only when the
Custom plane option is enabled.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Plane
origin handle and interactively define its orientation by dragging
it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Plane normal
To determine the normal of the plane. Activated only when the
Custom plane option is enabled.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Plane
normal handle and interactively define its orientation by
dragging it.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the values in the XYZ data fields and
confirm them by pressing Enter .

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Join curve entities

Joins the entities of a composed curve in order to form a unique
entity.

How to use
1. Click the Join curve entities icon or choose the Tools4
Curves4 Rebuild4Join curve entities command.
2. The program console prompts Pick a curve.
3. Pick the curve whose entities you want to be joined.
4.

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Options
Curve
To change the curve.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Endpoints tolerance
To specify the maximum allowed distance between two endpoints.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Cusps
To determine whether the cusps should be maintained or
approximated.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons on:
Approximate. Approximates the cusps of the curve without
discontinuity, depending on the value in the Cusps tolerance
field.
Maintain. Replicates the knots in the curve in order to maintain
the cusps.

Cusps tolerance
To specify the tolerance value of cusps. Activated only when the
Approximate option is enabled. The created curve will not
deviate from the original curve more than this tolerance.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Parametrization
To specify the knots distribution method. The default is Chord
length.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Options are:
Uniform, Chord length, Centripetal.

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Rebuild Curve
Rebuilds a curve with a user-defined number of points
distributing them at a constant distance while still keeping the
curve original shape.

How to use

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1.

Click the Rebuild curve icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Rebuild4Rebuild curve command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick Curve.

3.

Pick the curve you want to rebuild.

4.

The program console prompts you to specify the Points

number.

5.

Type the number of points in the console and press Enter

to confirm.

6.

More options are available in the Modeling Tool panel.

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Options
Curve
To change the curve to rebuild.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Points number
To change the number of points.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Points distribution
To determine the points distribution method.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons
on. You have the following choices:
Points # for total curve. The specified number of points will be
distributed along the whole curve.
Points # for each entity. The specified number of points will be
distributed along each entity composing the curve.

Invert direction
To invert the direction or sequence of control points on a curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Invert direction check button on.

Keep original CVs

To rebuild curves with the same number of control points of the
original curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Invert direction check button on.

Max distance
Shows the maximum distance between the original curve and the
rebuilt one.
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Parametrization
To specify the knots distribution method. The default is Chord
length.

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Simplify curve
Reduces the number of points of a curve given a specified
tolerance.

How to use

404

1.

Click the Simplify curve icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Rebuild4Simplify curve command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick Curve.

3.

Pick the curve you want to simplify. The curve will be

displayed in green.

4.

In the Modeling Tool panel, adjust the Tolerance value by

typing the value in the data field or by moving the slider.
The Input/Output readout gives you exact feedback on the
reduction as you change the Tolerance value.

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Options
Curve
To change the curve to simplify.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene.

Tolerance
To modify the tolerance value. The higher the value, the bigger
the difference between the original curve and the simplified one.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Input points
The number of points of the original curve.

Output points
The number of points of the simplified curve.

Output/Input %
The percentage of reduction of the simplified curve respect to the
original one.

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Section 4

Curve to arcs
Creates a new curve made up of a series of accurate arcs
approximating the original planar curve.
Useful for exporting to a CAM solution, where a succession of
joined arcs is preferred to a generic curve.
The result is a curve composed of more arcs, each of them
separated by a green dot.

How to use

406

1.

Click the Curve to arcs icon or choose the Tools4

Curves4 Rebuild4 Rebuild4Curve to arcs command.

2.

The program console prompts Pick a planar curve.

3.

Pick the curve you want to transform into a sequence of

arcs. If the curve is not planar, the tool attempts to
planarize it.

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Options
Planar Curve
To change the curve to transform into a sequence of arcs.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene. The sequence of arcs will
automatically be modified.

Tolerance
To modify the tolerance value. The higher the value, the bigger
the difference between the original curve and the resulting arcs.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Status
Information about the transformation process.

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Extend Curve
Extends a curve for a user-defined length to a given point or to
another curve.

How to use
1.

2.

Click the Extend curve icon or

Tools4Curves4Blend/Extend4Extend
command.

choose

the
curve

The program console prompts Pick a curve near the endpoint to be extended.

3.

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Pick the curve near the end point you want to extend.

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Options
Curve
To change the curve to extend.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene. The extended curve will
automatically be modified.

Extend to
To specify the preferred extension method.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the chosen radio button on. There
are three options:
Distance: Extension for a user-defined distance.
Point: Extension to a given point.
Curve: Extension to a another curve.

Side
To change the side of the curve that will be extended.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the End-point
handle and drag it to the other side, then release the mouse
button.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch the radio button to select Curve
start or Curve end.

Total curve length

The total length of the curve.

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Extension length
To adjust the extension length. Directly modifiable when you
choose Distance in the Extend to section.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Extension
point and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired length.
Modeling Tool panel. Set the value either by moving the slider or
by typing it in the data field and pressing Enter .

Extension point
To control the extension point. Directly modifiable when you
choose Point in the Extend to section.
Views. Choose the Edit Parameters mode. Click the Extension
point and drag it. Release the mouse button when you reach the
desired position.
Modeling Tool panel. Type the new values in the XYZ data
fields and confirm them by pressing Enter .

Extension curve
To change the curve to which the original curve must be extended.
Active when you choose Curve in the Extend to section.
Views / Modeling Tool panel. Switch the Replace check button
on and pick another curve in the scene. The extended curve will
automatically be modified.

Continuity
To set continuity of the extended curve.
Modeling Tool panel. Switch one of the following radio buttons on:
Tangency (G1). Set tangency continuity. In case of extension
along the distance, the extension is a straight line.
Curvature (G2). Set curvature continuity.
Maximal (C). Set maximum continuity in relation with the curve
order.

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