Revision Date: 20190529

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precaution has been taken in the preparation of this documentation, 3D Systems assumes no responsibility for
errors or omissions that may appear in this document. References in this document do not constitute an
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© 1996-2019 3D Systems All rights reserved

Geomagic Solutions, Geomagic, the Geomagic logo, Geomagic Control X, Geomagic Control, Geomagic Design X,
Geomagic Design Direct, Geomagic Design, Geomagic Studio, Geomagic XOS, Geomagic Wrap, Geomagic
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Geomagic Claytools are either trademarks or registered trademarks of 3D Systems.

All other company and product names referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective owners.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 3 Geomagic Design X™

About Us
3D Systems is a leading global provider of 3D content-to-print solutions including 3D printers, print materials and
on-demand custom parts services for professionals and consumers alike. The company also provides CAD
modeling, reverse engineering and inspection software tools and consumer 3D printers, apps and services. Its
expertly integrated solutions replace and complement traditional methods and reduce the time and cost of
designing and manufacturing new products. 3D Systems’ products and services are used to rapidly design,
communicate, prototype or produce real functional parts, empowering customers to create and make with
confidence.

More information on the company is available at www.3DSystems.com

Contact Information
3D Systems - Software Business Unit
1001 Winstead Dr, Suite 400
Cary, NC 27560, USA
Phone: +1 (800) 691-1839 or +1 (919) 474-0122
Fax: +1 (919) 474-0216

Web Sites:
3D Systems https://www.3DSystems.com
Technical Support https://softwaresupport.3dsystems.com

Email Addresses:
Technical Support [email protected]
Training [email protected]

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 4 Geomagic Design X™

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 7
OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................................................................ 7
INTENDED AUDIENCE ............................................................................................................................................... 7
PREREQUISITES ......................................................................................................................................................... 7
GUIDE LENGTH ......................................................................................................................................................... 7
GUIDE CONVENTIONS .............................................................................................................................................. 7
GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE ............................................................................................................................ 8
ACTIVITY: GETTING STARTED ............................................................................................................................... 8
RIBBON ................................................................................................................................................................... 10
TAB ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10
GROUP .................................................................................................................................................................... 10
COMMAND ............................................................................................................................................................. 10
UPPER-SIDE TOOLBAR ............................................................................................................................................ 11
NAVIGATION AND SELECTION ................................................................................................................................ 13
ACTIVITY: MOUSE COMMANDS ......................................................................................................................... 13
DOCKS ..................................................................................................................................................................... 17
ACTIVITY: TREE MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................................... 17
ACCURACY ANALYZER™ AND PROPERTIES ............................................................................................................. 22
ACTIVITY: CHECK ACCURACY AND PROPERTIES OF A MODEL ........................................................................... 22
BOTTOM TOOLBAR ................................................................................................................................................. 25
DIALOGS ................................................................................................................................................................. 26
CONTEXT MENUS ................................................................................................................................................... 27
DATA TYPES ................................................................................................................................................... 28
POINT DATA ............................................................................................................................................................ 28
POLYGON DATA ...................................................................................................................................................... 28
CAD DATA ............................................................................................................................................................... 29
SCAN REGISTRATION ...................................................................................................................................... 30
ACTIVITY: REGISTRATION – AUTO GUESS .......................................................................................................... 30
ACTIVITY: REGISTRATION – LOCAL BASED ON PICKED POINT ........................................................................... 33
OBJECT – POINT DATA .................................................................................................................................... 38
ACTIVITY: POINT PROCESSING ........................................................................................................................... 38
REGIONS ........................................................................................................................................................ 41
ACTIVITY: GENERATING REGIONS ...................................................................................................................... 41
ALIGNMENT ................................................................................................................................................... 44
ALIGN TO COORDINATE SYSTEM ............................................................................................................................ 44
ACTIVITY: 3-2-1 ALIGNMENT USING REGIONS ................................................................................................... 44
ACTIVITY: 3-2-1 ALIGNMENT USING REFERENCE GEOMETRY ........................................................................... 46
ACTIVITY: XYZ ALIGNMENT ................................................................................................................................ 49
ACTIVITY: SCAN TO CAD ALIGNMENT ................................................................................................................ 51
OBJECT - MESH DATA ..................................................................................................................................... 53
MESH PROCESSING................................................................................................................................................. 53
ACTIVITY: MESH EDITING I ................................................................................................................................. 53
ACTIVITY: MESH EDITING II ................................................................................................................................ 57
ACTIVITY: MESH EDITING III ............................................................................................................................... 60
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 MESH BUILDUP WIZARD......................................................................................................................................... 64
ACTIVITY: MESH BUILDUP WIZARD .................................................................................................................... 64
ACTIVITY: MESH EDITING - ROCK ....................................................................................................................... 67
PARAMETRIC MODELING................................................................................................................................ 71
ACTIVITY: INTRODUCTION TO SKETCHING......................................................................................................... 71
ACTIVITY: INTRODUCTION TO SOLID MODELING .............................................................................................. 75
ACTIVITY: SURFACE MODELING ......................................................................................................................... 89
ACTIVITY: IMPELLER - SAMPLE ......................................................................................................................... 107
EXACT SURFACING ....................................................................................................................................... 118
ACTIVITY: AUTO SURFACE ................................................................................................................................ 119
ACTIVITY: MANUAL NETWORK ........................................................................................................................ 122
HYBRID MODELING ...................................................................................................................................... 128
ACTIVITY: HYBRID MODELING .......................................................................................................................... 128
USER DRIVEN ACTIVITIES .............................................................................................................................. 139
APPENDIX – MOUSE AND KEYBOARD CONTROLS .......................................................................................... 141

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 6 Geomagic Design X™

INTRODUCTION
OVERVIEW
This guide covers the fundamental commands and workflows utilizing the Geomagic Design X software.
 The graphical user interface and navigation
 Data types, processing and usage
 Basic Geomagic Design X workflows
 Various modeling workflows

INTENDED AUDIENCE
This guide is targeted to users of 3D Systems products who require an overall understanding of the Geomagic
Design X software.

PREREQUISITES
None

GUIDE LENGTH
3-days

GUIDE CONVENTIONS
Indicates mouse button clicks to locate a command in the user interface in the format of
Tab > Group > Command, example:
Model> Create Solid > Extrude
Bold Text
Model(Tab) > Create Solid (Group) > Extrude (Command)
Bold text also may be used to draw attention to or create emphasis for key concepts in
activity steps.
● A dotted bullet indicates an actionable item in the training activities.
This symbol is used to identify additional information within the context of an activity step.
 Text following this symbol is not actionable within an activity step.
 A circled bullet is an information item found outside of an activity.
 This symbol is used to strongly advise or convey important information when used.

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GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
Introduction to the Graphical User Interface (GUI).

ACTIVITY: GETTING STARTED

OBJECTIVE
Locate the primary components of the application user interface.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-01.xrl

START PROGRAM
1. From the Windows Start button, select Start > All Programs > 3D Systems >
Geomagic Design X to start the application.
or
2. From the Desktop, double-click the Geomagic Design X icon to start the application.
The application will start as shown below.

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FILE OPEN
1. Click the Open button or select Open from the menu tab.
 Use the Open Files dialog to navigate to the training files folder. Choose TR-DX-
01.xrl from the Open Files dialog.
 Native files in Geomagic Design X format have an .XRL extension.
 Click Open. The file is loaded and displayed in the Model View.
 The Open command is for opening native Geomagic Design X files. Other file types need to be Imported.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 9 Geomagic Design X™

RIBBON
All commands used to create models are stored in the tabs at the top of the interface. Each tab has a different
category of commands that are classified into groups. The HOME Tab is the default tab, but all tabs can be
selected with the left-mouse button.

TAB
The layout of the ribbon user interface is shown below. Each Tab is broken down into Groups, and the
Commands are located within each Group.

GROUP
Each Group within a Tab will hold a set of Commands that work similarly or have similar objectives.

COMMAND
Each Command will have its own properties and dialogs. Commands that are similar will have a drop down menu
to toggle between the options and save space on the toolbar.

Commands that are not found directly on one of the main Ribbons will be located in the MENU tab. Commands
are categorized and listed here. Selecting a command from the MENU tab is the same as selecting directly from
the Ribbon.

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UPPER-SIDE TOOLBAR
This toolbar contains data display modes, view options, and selection tools.

DISPLAY - MESH
Point Set - Display the mesh as only the poly-vertices.

Wireframe - Display the mesh as only the poly-edges.

Shaded - Display the mesh as shaded poly-faces.

Shaded with Edges - Display the mesh as shaded poly-faces with poly-edges visible.

Curvature Display Mode - Turn on or off the visibility of the curvature map of the mesh.

Region Display Mode - Turn on or off the visibility of the Regions.

Geometry Type Display Mode - Change the region display to classify all region types as individual
colors.

DISPLAY - BODY
Wireframe - Display the bodies as only the edges.

Hidden Line – Display the body as edges with the edges in the background displayed as dashed lines.

Shaded - Display the bodies as faces with no drawn edges.

Shaded with Edges - Display the bodies as faces with edges visible.

DISPLAY – ACCURACY ANALYZER

Deviation for Body – Compare the solid or surface body with the used scan data.

Deviation for Mesh – Compare the mesh to its previous state.

Curvature – Analyze solid or surface for areas of high curvature.

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 Continuity – Display quality of edge continuity.

Iso Line – Display the iso lines that define the surface.

Environment Mapping – Display zebra stripes on the surface to show continuity.

VIEWS
Viewpoint - fly out will display the standard views of the Model View. All standard views are listed:
Front, Back, Left, Right, Top, Bottom, and Isometric.
Rotate View Counter-Clockwise – Rotate the Model View 90° to the left.

Rotate View Clockwise – Rotate the Model View 90° to the right.

Flip Viewpoint – Change viewing direction 180°.

Normal To (Ctrl+Shift+A) – Orient the view perpendicular to a clicked surface.

SELECTION TOOLS
Line - Select entities on a user drawn line on the screen.

Rectangle - Select entities within a user drawn rectangle on the screen.

Circle - Select entities within a user drawn circle on the screen.

Polyline - Select entities within a user drawn polyline on the screen.

Lasso - Select entities within a freehand drawn curve on the screen.

Paint Brush - Select entities on a freehand drawn path on the screen.

Flood Selection - Select all polygons connected to a selected polygon.

Extend to Similar - Select an area of mesh with polygons connected by similar curvature.

Smart Selection - Select an area of mesh by similar curvature, drag up or down to change sensitivity.

Visible Only - Select only visible objects in the current view. Deselect to select through the object.

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NAVIGATION AND SELECTION
This section uses a polygon object as an example; all commands in this section work the same for point and CAD
objects except where noted.

ACTIVITY: MOUSE COMMANDS

OBJECTIVE
Learn the mouse operations in the Model View.

In the upper right corner of the Model View,

a little white/black triangle can be used to
open or closed the mouse control panel.

This display is dynamic and will only show

what is available at the moment. The default
mouse controls are display.

ROTATE, PAN AND ZOOM

1. Rotate the view by first placing the cursor in the Model View; press and hold the
right-mouse button (RMB).
 Moving the mouse in all directions performs a spherical (3D) rotation pivoting
around the center of the screen.
 Moving the mouse vertically performs a planar rotation, parallel to the current view.
2. Pan the part. Press and hold down the right-mouse button (RMB) and then the
left-mouse button (LMB).
 Position the current view by using the Pan command
 Move the mouse right or left to pan from one side to the other. Move the mouse
away or towards to pan from top to bottom.
 Release to stop the pan operation.

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 3. Change the magnification of the object in the Model View by using the Zoom
command.
 Place your cursor in the Model View at a location of interest and use the scroll-
wheel to zoom in by rolling the scroll-wheel up. To zoom out, roll the scroll-
wheel down.
 The Zoom defaults to zooming to the center of the screen. This can be changed in Preferences.

USING SELECTION TOOLS

4. Select poly-faces of the mesh.
 Click the Rectangle Selection Mode
icon.
 Place the cursor on the object, click
and hold the left-mouse button
(LMB).
 Drag your cursor to define the
second corner of selection zone. As
you move the cursor, a rectangle is
visible in the area to be selected.
 Release the LMB. The poly-faces in
the selection zone are highlighted.

5. Deselect portions of the previously

selected poly-faces.
 Hold down the CTRL key while
selecting with the LMB in the same
area highlighted area.
 Release the mouse button before
releasing CTRL.
 Clicking the LMB in empty space of the Model View
deselect everything.

6. Add more poly-faces to the previous

selections.
 Hold down the SHIFT key while
selecting other areas of the mesh.

7. Delete selected areas by pressing the

DEL key
8. Press CTRL+Z or the undo button on
the keyboard to undo the last
command.

9. Select and delete additional areas using the Line, Circle, Polygon, Freehand, and
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 Paint Brush Selection Modes.
 Select the tools from the Upper-Side Toolbar and make selections on the object in
the Model View.
 Press the DEL key to delete selected areas.
 The Line Selection Tool is active only on polygon objects.
Remember to hold Shift or Ctrl to add or remove portions of selected data.

10. Press CTRL+Z to recover (undo) the most recently deleted areas of the object

11. Deselect the Visible Only icon on the Upper-Side Toolbar and select an area on the
object using the Rectangle Selection Tool.
 Rotate the object around to view the other side of your selection. Notice that turning
off Visible Only causes the current selection tool to affect all areas within the
selection boundary, not just those visible on screen, see below.
 Click in empty space to clear all selections.

Initial Selection Result of Selection

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 12. From the Upper-Side Toolbar,
select the Polyline Selection Tool
to create a polygonal selection.
 Click a set of points as shown to
the right. As you click, a boundary
line will appear from click to click.
 To define the last point in your
Polyline Selection, move your
cursor to the last location and
press the right-mouse button
(RMB) or double click the LMB to
end the process and make your
selection.
 Rotate the object slightly to
review the selected data.
 Double click in space to clear the
selection.

13. Choose the Extend to Similar Selection Tool to select adjacent triangles that meet
have a similar curvature.
 Click on the area as shown below.

Pick Location Triangles Selected

14. Press Esc to remove the selection.

 Certain tools will not clear selections when clicking the mouse in space.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 16 Geomagic Design X™

DOCKS
Docks contain the properties for many different application needs. Important Design X options are contained
within these docks. Docks can be positioned anywhere on the screen. They can also be pinned, hidden, and
closed completely.

ACTIVITY: TREE MANAGEMENT

OBJECTIVE
Explore the different available docks.
 If a dock is closed, make it visible again with a RMB click on the bottom toolbar and select the dock from the
list that appears.
TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-02.xrl

TREE DOCK
The Tree dock on the left side is essential to the modeling process. The top half is the Feature Tree, and the
bottom half is the Model Tree. The Feature Tree can be compared to a history tree since it lists the steps taken to
create a model. The Model Tree lists entities that are present in the model. The visibility of these objects is
controlled here as well.

1. Click the Open icon on the Quick Access Toolbar.

 Use the Open Files dialog to navigate to the folder where the training files reside.
Choose TR-DX-02.xrl from the Open Files dialog and press Open.
 This XRL file is partially modeled.

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 2. The Feature Tree tracks the
parametric history modeling progress.
Each step to create an entity is tracked
in chronological order, and can be
edited.
 Find Extrude 1 in the Feature
Tree. Click on the + sign next to it
to view the associated entities.
 RMB click on Extrude 1 to pull up
the context menu.
 A right-click context menu is available on entities
in the tree. The commands available from the
context menu change depending on the type of
object selected.
 Select Edit from the context menu.
 Press the ESC key to cancel the edit.

3. Geomagic Design X is a parametric

history based modeler, meaning steps
can be edited. Certain points in the
modeling history can be accessed, and
the steps in the Feature Tree can be
reordered.
 LMB click one time on the Mesh Fit
1 entity. Then click and hold the
LMB on Mesh Fit 1 and drag it to be
above Extrude 1.
 The Mesh Fit surface can now be used in the
Extrude step since it comes first in the tree.
 RMB on Cut 1 in the tree and select
Rollback.
 The model can now be viewed as if the Cut
and all steps after have never been
performed.
 RMB on an entity in the tree and
select Roll to End to go back to last
step.

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 4. The Model Tree lists all entities existing in the model. Practice controlling the
visibility in the part.
 Click on the + next to Ref. Planes to view all Planes in the Model.
 Click on the Eye Icon next to the + to turn off visibility for all Planes.
 Click on the Closed Eye to turn the planes back on.
 Click on and off the Eyes next to the Front, Top, and Right Planes to hide the
planes individually.

DISPLAY DOCK
The Display dock is found on the right side of the Model View. Display controls the display options for scan data
and the bodies. It also contains additional ways to view and display data in the Model View.

1. Click on the Display Tab.

 Place/remove a checkmark next to World
Axis & Scale, Scene Grid, Gradient
Background and Label to toggle visibility of
each item in the Model View.

2. The General group has options for controlling

the way the overall data is displayed,
including Transparency, Lighting, and View
settings.
Be cautious changing options without changing them back
where they started. The General>Lock option will disable all
mouse rotation ability.

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 3. The Mesh/Point Cloud group lists all the
different ways to view the scan data.

4. The Region group gives the option to view

the geometry of the selected or all regions.

5. The Body group lists the ways to view a

surface or solid body and it allows for control
of the resolution of the bodies.

6. The Sketch & 3D Sketch group has specific

visibility options for components of sketches.

HELP DOCK
The Help dock consists of two docks. One dock contains the Contents and the Index. The selected
content is then displayed in a different Help dock on the right side of the Model View. The Index
tab is searchable. The Content of each command will help explain what the command is, the
benefits of using it, how to use the command, and then all of the parameters of the command.
 F1 will access the Content Help menu for the command that is currently being used.

Help Dock - Content and Index Help Dock – Content Details

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VIEWPOINT DOCK
The Viewpoint dock manages user-defined points of view with models and shown entities.

1. Create a Viewpoint of the model.

 Rotate, Zoom and Turn on/off Visibility of the model to get a view as shown
below.
 Click on the Add Viewpoint button.
 Rotate and Zoom the model to a different orientation.
 Select the Apply Viewpoint button to return to the state of Viewpoint1.

2. Use the Reassign Viewpoint command to change the Viewpoint1.

 In the Model Tree, turn off visibility of the Solid Bodies.
 Select Reassign Viewpoint.
 Viewpoint 1 is now reassigned to the same view but with the Solid Bodies turned off.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 21 Geomagic Design X™

ACCURACY ANALYZER™ AND PROPERTIES
The Accuracy Analyzer™ allows the user to check the accuracy of their part throughout the entire process. The
CAD body can be compared to the base scan data with its deviations displayed in a color map. Different ways to
display the quality and continuity of the surfaces are also found here. Deviations between meshes can be
analyzed. The dock is where calculation options can be set. Once deviations are applied, a Color Bar will appear
to control the tolerance values.

ACTIVITY: CHECK ACCURACY AND PROPERTIES OF A MODEL

OBJECTIVE
Explore the different deviation displays for checking accuracy of a model. Also, explore the different information
that can be displayed in the Properties dock.
 Docks can be pinned to the screen using the push pin located in the corner.

ACCURACY ANALYZER™ DOCK

1. View the deviations between the solid
body and the mesh.
 Click the Accuracy Analyzer dock.
 Select the radio button next to
Deviation for Body.

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 2. Adjust the tolerance range of the part
 Double click on the 0.1 in green,
as shown, to alter the value.
 Change the value to 0.15.
Changing the upper tolerance will automatically
change the lower value.

3. Turn the Accuracy Analyzer off by

selecting None.

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PROPERTIES DOCK
The Properties dock displays information about any selected entities. Some properties can be changed, visibility
can be turned on or off, and other information can be displayed on the Properties dock.
1. Calculate the Volume of the mesh
data.
 Select the 3DS Partifact mesh
from the Feature Tree or Model
Tree.
 In the Properties dock, click
Calc. next to Volume.
 If the mesh is not fully closed, Geomagic
Design X will calculate the volume of the
assumed closed shape.

2. Display only the mesh data.

 In the Upper-Side Toolbar,
change the Mesh Display Mode
to Shaded.
 In the Model Tree, turn the eye
off next to Solid Bodies.

3. Change the color of the mesh

 In the Properties dock, select
the color bar next to Material.
 Select the three dots

4. Select a new color from Material

Dialog.
 Change the mesh color by
selecting one of the colored
circles.
 Press OK to accept

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 24 Geomagic Design X™

BOTTOM TOOLBAR
This toolbar allows the user to hide/show entities, control selection filters, and measuring.

VISIBLITY SELECTION FILTER

Meshes (Ctrl+1) Meshes/Point Clouds
Regions (Ctrl+2) Regions
Point Clouds (Ctrl+3) Poly-Faces
Surface Bodies (Ctrl+4) Poly-Vertices
Solid Bodies (Ctrl+5) Mesh Boundaries
Sketches (Ctrl+6) Bodies
3D Sketches (Ctrl+7) Faces
Ref. Points (Ctrl+8) Loops
Ref. Vectors (Ctrl+9) Edges
Ref. Planes (Ctrl+0) Vertices
Ref. Polylines Ref. Geometries
Ref. Coordinate Sketches
Measurements Sketches
Constraints Dimensions

MEASURE
Distance – Measure a linear distance between two entities.
Angle – Measure an angular dimension between two entities.
Radius – Find a radius using 3 points or a circular entity.
Section – Create a dimension on a 2D section of an object.
Mesh Deviation – Measure deviations between separate scan data.

WORLD AXIS AND SCALE

The World Axis displays the orientation of the global coordinate system. The Scale below
shows the size of the part.

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DIALOGS
Geomagic Design X dialogs have several controls in common with each other; this section describes the most
commonly used controls and conventions. The majority of Geomagic Design X commands are dialog based.
OK button – A checkmark that accepts any changes made while in the dialog and exits the dialog. A
subset check can also mean Apply.

Cancel button - Discards any changes made while in the dialog and exits the dialog.

Don’t Quit Command with OK button – When the option is selected, the user will remain in the
command after clicking OK to be able to use the command again.

Preview button – Allows the user to see what changes will be made after the command is run.

Next Stage button – Only available in some commands, when another stage of options is needed.
Generally the next stages have calculation options.

Previous Stage button – Go back a stage to make changes.

User Break – Cancel a command before it finishes.

Estimate – Estimate various quantities in options by reading the surrounding mesh.

Entity Selection – The yellow box frame around an entity type means the user can select
objects, such as scan data, ref. geometry, and CAD faces, to complete the command. Multiple
selections can be made in one command.
 If there is a vertical red stripe on the left side, an entity is required for completion.

Select None – Remove all entities listed.

Deselect Last – Remove the last selected entity.

Roll-Up Groups - when rolled up, an arrow in the group title points downward. Clicking anywhere on a rolled up
group title will expand the group and reveal additional dialog.

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CONTEXT MENUS
Geomagic Design X has several context menus activated by right-clicking in one of three locations; at the top of
the screen on a User Interface Element, on an object in the Model View and in the Tree Dock.

USER INTERFACE CONTEXT MENU

 Quickly add and reorder any command to the Ribbon.
 Hide the ribbon; reappears when a tab is clicked.

MODEL VIEW CONTEXT MENU

Right click on any object or blank space in the Model View will activate an action menu. Different selected
entities produce different menus.
 Immediately enter a Sketch mode.
 Quickly start a Wizard command.
 Toggle through common sketching tools.
 Accept and Cancel commands with ease.

Context Menu – Sketch Mode

TREE CONTEXT MENU

Right Click on any entity in the Feature or Model Tree to open a context menu about the entities. Generally, this
is the easiest way to find a step to edit or change the visibility state.
 Edit a command or sketch.
 Suppress an entity in the modeling history.
 Rollback and Roll Forward to a certain point of
time in the model.
 Hide and Show object visibility.
 Export individual entities as a more generic file
format.
Context Menu – Feature Tree

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 27 Geomagic Design X™

DATA TYPES
The application can import several hardware device native file formats. Plug-ins are provided for several hardware
devices, enabling direct input of scan data into the application.

POINT DATA
Point data is a set of points that can be captured raw (un-gridded) or gridded from various sources. This data can
also contain normal or not.
 Raw point data is a collection of points, each having an X, Y, Z location. When viewed up close, raw point
data is displayed as simple colored points, as shown below.
 Raw data may contain normal vector information. Normal information can be created using the Generate
Normal Information command (POINTS > Tools > Generate Normal Information).
 Gridded point data has a structure layout and is optimized for triangulation.

Raw Points – With Normals Raw Points - With Normals

POLYGON DATA
Polygon data is sometimes referred to as a mesh; triangles are formed by triangulating point data that result in a
mesh. Polygon data comes from a variety of sources that include modeling software, scanning devices and a result
of triangulating points in Geomagic Design X.
 When a mesh object is generated the normal faces are colored blue by default, the back face or opposite
side of the normal face is colored brown. The back faces of all meshes are the complementary color of the
front face. The front and back face are determined by the direction of the normal of the point cloud.
 If the mesh object is modified, the underlying point structure will likewise be modified.

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  In the event that any mesh object normal vectors are inverted either from other software or from the
triangulation process in Geomagic Design X, use the Fix Normal command (POLYGONS > Edit > Fix
Normal) to reverse the orientation of normal’s.

Mesh Object Mesh Object Normals Inverted

Click the Display dock and place a checkmark in the Edge checkbox under the Mesh/Point Cloud group will reveal
the triangulation of the mesh object.

CAD DATA
CAD data is a collection of faces or bounded surfaces created in Geomagic Design X or imported from an external
source. Geomagic Design X uses two types of CAD bodies, Solid body or Surface body. Solid bodies are grey, and
surface bodies are yellow.
CAD data occurs by:
 Opening or Importing external CAD files, IGES, STEP or CAD neutral file exchange formats
 Directly opening or importing supported native CAD file formats
 CAD solid data is grey in color when activated and displays CAD face boundaries
 CAD surface data is yellow in color when activated and displays CAD face boundaries

CAD Data – Solid Body CAD Data – Surface Body

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 29 Geomagic Design X™

SCAN REGISTRATION
ACTIVITY: REGISTRATION – AUTO GUESS
OBJECTIVE
The process of scan registration provides the ability to align scans together with different coordinate systems.
Scans will be in different coordinate systems if the part or scanner is moved during the scanning process.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-03.xrl

OPEN DATA
1. Open file TR-DX-03.xrl.
 Click MENU > File > Open
 Navigate to location of file
 Select file, TR-DX-03.xrl
 Click Open

AUTO GUESS REGISTRATION

2. Register scan data.
 Click ALIGNMENT > Scan to Scan > Align Between Scan Data
 Click Local Based On Auto Guess radio button

NOTE: Multiple scans can be used as the Moving object. The Reference object will hold in place while all
of the Moving objects align between each other and to the Reference object. Only one scan object
should be placed as the Reference until the scans are aligned.

3. Define Reference and Moving objects to align.

 Click on the Reference input field
 Select one of the Point Clouds from the Model View
 Click on the Moving input field
 Select the other Point Cloud from the Model View

NOTE: A dock titled Entity Thumbnails will appear at the bottom of the application. These thumbnails
can be used in the selection process instead of finding the correct scan in the Model View.

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 4. Register the data.
 Click Apply next to Method
 Click OK

GLOBAL AND FINE REGISTRATION

5. Refine the alignment between the objects. The Global and Fine Registration should
ALWAYS be run after a Local Alignment for better registration
 Click ALIGNMENT > Scan to Scan > Align Between Scan Data
 Click the Global and Fine radio button
 Select both scans as the Moving object
 Click Apply

NOTE: The registration process will stop when either convergence is detected or the maximum number
of iterations has been reached.

6. Review registration results. You should

see a better overlap between the
objects.
 Review the results
 Click OK

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 31 Geomagic Design X™

COMBINE SCAN DATA
7. After registration, the objects are
aligned but are still separate and need
to be combined into a single point
object.
 Click POINTS > Merge/Combine
> Combine
 Select both objects as the Target
 Place a checkmark in the Remove
Overlap Region checkbox
 Click Open

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 32 Geomagic Design X™

ACTIVITY: REGISTRATION – LOCAL BASED ON PICKED POINT
OBJECTIVE
Align multiple, overlapping scans captured at different positions using the Align Between Scan Data > Local Based
on Picked Point command. Refine the alignment using the Global and Fine Align tool and combine the individual
scans into a single point object. This method is only needed if Local Based on Auto Guess fails. The Auto Guess
method can fail if there is not enough overlapping data of unique features.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-04.xrl

OPEN DATA
1. Open file TR-DX-04.XRL.
 Click MENU > File > Open
 Navigate to location of file
 Select file, TR-DX-04.xrl
 Click Open

NOTE: These scans are gridded

points.

FILTER POINT DATA

2. Enter POINTS mode and remove small, undesired portions of the scan object.
 Click POINTS
 Click POINTS > Optimize > Filter Noise
 Select Point Clouds objects as Targets
 Enter 1000 in the Max. Poly-Vertex Count Per Noisy Cluster box
 Click OK

NOTE: Group of points, 1000 or fewer will be automatically deleted.

BEFORE AFTER

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 33 Geomagic Design X™

MANUALLY ALIGN SCANS (LOCAL BASED ON PICKED POINT)
3. Register scan data.
 Click ALIGNMENT > Scan to Scan > Align Between Scan Data
 Click Local Based On Picked Point radio button

NOTE: The screen will split into three views. Each view rotates and zoom
independently of the others.

4. Define Reference and Moving objects to align.

 Highlight the Reference input field
 From the Entity Thumbnails below, select the first scan
 Highlight the Moving input field
 From the Entity Thumbnails below, select the second scan

5. The Local Based on Picked Point will bring the Moving scan in line with the
Reference scan using three or more manually selected points.
 Rotate each of the scans to positions similar to the figure below see most of the
overlapping data

NOTE: There are two sides to each scan; always make sure you rotate to the more
defined side of the scan before choosing points

REFERENCE MOVING

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 34 Geomagic Design X™

 6. Pick the points as indicated in image on both the Reference and Moving scans at
approximately the same locations on each.

The order each point is selected is critical. Confirm matches by color. First is a RED
dot, then GREEN, then BLUE. The RED dot on the Reference needs to match with
the RED dot on the Moving.

NOTE: If you accidentally pick the wrong location, press CTRL+Z to undo the last
pick.

7. The left side of the screen will show the

approximate alignment.
 View the fitting of the 2 scans. The
scans should appear close, but not
perfect

NOTE: The other scans can be

hidden by unchecking them in the
Entity Thumbnails
 Place a checkmark in the Refine
Alignment checkbox
 Click Apply

NOTE: With Refine Alignment

checked, the system will perform a
quick Best Fit between the
Reference and Moving object.

8. The two scans should now be listed under the Reference field.
 With Moving field active, click on the next scan to add it to the Moving field
 Pick three more points on both the Reference and Moving objects
 Review the alignment on the left
 Click the Apply
 As each Moving scan is registered, it will be added to the Reference field

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 9. Continue to register the remaining
objects by repeating steps above.
 When all objects have been
registered, click OK

GLOBAL AND FINE REGSTRATION

10. Refine the registration between the
objects.
 Click ALIGNMENT > Scan to Scan
> Align Between Scan Data
 Click the Global and Fine radio
button
 Select all objects as the Moving
object
 Expand the Global Options group
 Increase the Max. Iteration Count
to 50
 Click Apply

11. Several iterations of a registration algorithm are run in order to get a better fit
between the objects.

The operation will terminate when one of three things happen:

a. The number of maximum iterations is performed

b. A specified number of iterations are run without convergence

c. The scans converge within the range of the Max. Average Deviation

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 12. Review results, check for misaligned
objects.
 Click OK

COMBINE POINT OBJECTS

13. Combined objects into a single object.
 POINTS > Merge/Combine >
Combine
 Select both objects as the Target
 Place a checkmark in the Remove
Overlap Region checkbox
 Click Open.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 37 Geomagic Design X™

OBJECT – POINT DATA
ACTIVITY: POINT PROCESSING
OBJECTIVE
When a point object is active you have the opportunity to improve the scanned data. Noisy data can be filtered,
and point sampling techniques can be employed to reduce the density of point cloud data.
All cleanup procedures are optional, but a “cleaned” point object can be converted to a mesh object with greater
efficiency and higher quality. Sampling point objects also improves the computation times of other commands; it
is very easy to capture more data than is necessary when scanning a part, more point data is not always “better”.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-05.xrl

FILE OPEN
1. Open file TR-DX-05.xrl.
 Click MENU > File > Open
 Navigate to location of file
 Select file, TR-DX-05.xrl
 Click Open

FILTER NOISY POLY-VERTICES

2. Scanned data often includes points that
are isolated from the main point cloud;
these types of points are referred to as
noisy points.
 Click POINTS > Optimize > Filter
Noise
 Change Max. Poly-Vertex Count
per Noisy Cluster to 500
 Click Ok

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SMOOTHING
3. Reduce the roughness of scan data.
 Click POINTS > Optimize >
Smooth
 Change Strength to 2nd tick on
slider
 Change Smoothness level to 3rd
tick on the slider
 Click Ok

SAMPLING
4. Change the density of the point cloud. The Sampling command removes redundant
points as well as reducing the total point count
 Click POINTS > Optimize > Sampling
 Click Uniform Distance radio button

NOTE: Uniform Distance will attempt to make the points a grid, by removing
points within a specified value.
 Select the Magic Wand icon at the end of the Average Distance Between Poly-
Vertices setting

NOTE: The Magic Wand will show the value the software will run when the option
is set to Auto.
 Click OK

5. Check the part for additional data to

remove or edit.

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MANUAL EDITING
6. Zoom, pan and rotate as necessary to
locate and manually delete any
remaining stray points that may exist
around the part perimeter.
 Select a selection tool for the Upper
Side Toolbar
 Press DELETE key after selection

NOTE: Remember CTRL+LMB

removes selection while
SHIFT+LMB adds selection.

7. Continue to rotate, zoom, manually select and delete until you are satisfied that
only points that describe the scanned part remain.
 Click OK

TRIANGULATE
8. Convert point object to a mesh object.
 Click POINTS > Triangulate >
Triangulate
 Click on Mesh Construction radio
button
 Set Geometry Capture Accuracy
to Tight
 Set Scanner Accuracy to 0.05mm
 Press OK

NOTE: The Triangulate command

creates triangular faces by
“connecting the dots” of a point
cloud. The quality of a “triangulated”
point object is dependent on the
quality of the data it is derived from.
The triangles are commonly referred
to as a mesh.

9. A mesh object is created while the point object is removed.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 40 Geomagic Design X™

REGIONS
Regions classify areas of the mesh based on curvature and geometry features. An automatic segmentation of the
scan data into regions is one of the first steps in the modeling processes for most standard workflows. Regions
can assist with many processes, including:
 Aligning
 Quick Selection
 Wizard Tools

ACTIVITY: GENERATING REGIONS

OBJECTIVE
Create and edit regions on a mesh to assist in modeling.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-06.xrl

OPEN FILE
1. Open training file TR-DX-06.xrl

2. Generate Regions on the mesh data.

 Select REGION > Segment > Auto
Segment.
 Set the Sensitivity to 5.
 Click the OK button.

The sensitivity option classifies a

shape as being round or prismatic. To
make smoothly connected areas in a
single region, move the slider to the
left. To make strictly separated
regions, move the slider to the right

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 41 Geomagic Design X™

EDITING REGIONS
3. Change the Selection Type to Paint Brush Selection Mode in the Upper-Side
Toolbar.
 To resize the paint brush tool, hold down the Alt key while left-clicking and moving the cursor.

4. Combine multiple smaller regions into a

single region.
 Paint across multiple regions.
 Click REGION > Edit > Merge
 The regions are combine into one
region.

5. Change the Selection Type to the Rectangular Selection Mode.

 The Rectangular Selection will allow for single click selections of entire regions.

6. The Merge tool can combine regions

that are not physicallly touching.
 Click on the five top regions.

7. Click REGION > Edit > Merge to

combine selected regions in one region.

Non-adjacent, single regions can be

separated back apart by selecting the
region and then choosing the Separate
command.

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 8. Split a region into multiple regions.
 Select the REGION > Edit > Split
 Use the Limit to Region to restrict
the region that will be split. Select
the top region as shown to the right.
 Switch the Selection Type to the
Paint Brush.
 Paint across multiple regions,
including the previously selected.
 Click Ok.

9. Use the Insert command to manually create a region.

 Select the Extend to Similar Selection Mode in the Upper-Side Toolbar.
 Click on the marked area to select. You might need multiple clicks to select all of the
desired entities.
 Select REGION > Edit > Insert to create a region independent of the previously
merged regions.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 43 Geomagic Design X™

ALIGNMENT
ALIGN TO COORDINATE SYSTEM
Scan data should be moved and aligned to a more useful position with the general coordinate system.

ACTIVITY: 3-2-1 ALIGNMENT USING REGIONS

OBJECTIVE
Learn the basics of aligning scans to the coordinate system using the Regions.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-07.xrl

OPEN FILE
1. Open training file TR-DX-07.xrl.

GENERATE REGIONS
2. In the REGION tab, select the
Auto Segment command.
 Set the Sensitivity to 25.
 Click the OK button

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INTERACTIVE ALIGNMENT
3. Define the alignment.
 Click ALIGNMENT > Scan to Global >
Interactive Alignment.
 Click the Next Stage button
 The Model View displays a two view
layout.

4. Create a 3-2-1 alignment. Select the

region define the Plane (Z axis).
 The Plane option will set the Front
Plane, and therefore the XY Plane and
the Z Axis direction.

5. Select region to define the Vector (Y axis).

 The Vector will set the Top Plane and
the Y Axis direction.

6. Select region to define the Position (X

axis).
 The Position will set the Right Plane
and the location along the X Axis.
 Click OK to accept.

The origin will be located at the

intersection of the three planes
selected.

BACK VIEW

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 45 Geomagic Design X™

ACTIVITY: 3-2-1 ALIGNMENT USING REFERENCE GEOMETRY
OBJECTIVE
Learn how to create Reference Geometry to use for an alignment.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-07.xrl

OPEN FILE
1. Open training file TR-DX-07.xrl.

GENERATE REGIONS
2. In the REGION tab, select the Auto
Segment command.
 Set the Sensitivity to 65.
 Click OK button.

CREATE REFERENCE GEOMETRY

3. Create an alignment Plane.
 Select the Lock icon to stay inside
the command and make multiple
planes.
 Select regions as shown.
 The Method will be set Average
 Click OK button.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 46 Geomagic Design X™

 4. Draw a plane down the center of the
part.
 Change the Method to Draw Line.
 Draw a line roughly in the orientation
shown.
 Click the OK button.

5. Create a symmetry plane from the

plane draw in the previous step.
 Select the Lock to deactivate.
 In the Model Tree, hold the Ctrl key
and select the Mesh and Plane2.
 Change the Method to Mirror.
 Click OK button.

INTERACTIVE ALIGNMENT
6. Define the alignment.
 Click ALIGNMENT > Scan to Global > Interactive Alignment.
 Click the Next Stage button
 The Model View displays a two view layout.

7. Create a 3-2-1 alignment using the

Reference Geometry and a region.
 Set the Plane to the top planar
region. To control the Z Axis.

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 8. Define Vector.
 The Vector will set the Top Plane.
Choose Plane1 to set the Y Direction
normal to the plane.

9. Define Position.
 The Position will set the Right Plane
and the location along the X Axis.
Select Plane3.
 Click OK to accept.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 48 Geomagic Design X™

ACTIVITY: XYZ ALIGNMENT
OBJECTIVE
Learn how to create other types of Reference Geometry to with Interactive Alignment.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-08.xrl

OPEN FILE
1. Open training file TR-DX-08.xrl.

2. Create Regions.
 Click REGION > Segment > Auto
Segment.
 Set the Sensitivity to 45.
 Click the OK button

CREATE REFERENCE GEOMETRY

3. Create a Vector at the center of hub.
 Click MODEL > Ref. Geometry >
Vector.
 Choose the two large cylinder regions
around the central hub
 Set Method to Find Cylinder Axis.
 Click Preview.
 Click Ok.

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INTERACTIVE ALIGNMENT
4. Define the alignment.
 Click ALIGNMENT > Scan to Global > Interactive Alignment.
 Click the Next Stage button.

5. Create an XYZ alignment using the

generated reference vector and a
region.
 Click X-Y-Z radio button.
 The Position will set the location of
the Origin.
 Select the Vector1 and region Plane
representing the top of the middle
hub.

The intersection of a vector and plane

represents a point, which can be used
for position.

6. Define Axis Z.
 Click input field, Axis Z.
 Choose the Vector1.
 Click the Flip Direction arrow to
adjust the positive Z in the desired
direction.
 Axis X and Axis Y are optional. The
blue circle can be twisted to manually
clock the part to any location.
 Click OK.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 50 Geomagic Design X™

ACTIVITY: SCAN TO CAD ALIGNMENT
OBJECTIVE
Learn how to import a CAD body and align the scan data to the CAD body.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-07.xrl
TR-DX-07.igs

FILE OPEN AND FILE IMPORT

1. Open existing file.
 Open TR-DX-07.xrl

2. Import an additional file into the

current open file.
 Click HOME > File > Import.
 Navigate to file.
 Select TR-DX-07.igs
 Click Import Only

INTERACTIVE ALIGNMENT
3. Align the scan data to the CAD data.
 Click ALIGNMENT > Scan to CAD >
Quick Fit
 Set Moving Entities to Mesh.
 Set Target Body to Imported
Body1
 Click the OK button.
 The Run Best Fit Alignment should be checked
under More Options.

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 4. The Best Fit command will automatically start and have all of the options populated.
 Click OK.
 The Best Fit command will always need to be run after a Quick Fit. This will make a much better registration
between the files.

Aligning a scan to an already built CAD file can be used for multiple reasons, including:
 Check the accuracy of the scanned part to the CAD.
 Add features to a Solid Body that were not in the original file.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 52 Geomagic Design X™

OBJECT - MESH DATA
MESH PROCESSING
On many occasions, the scan data will require post scanning processing. After a mesh is generated, there are
many options for output. A clean mesh can be exported to be 3D Printed, or a CAD body can created and sent for
other forms of manufacturing.

ACTIVITY: MESH EDITING I

OBJECTIVE
This activity will show how to edit the mesh to prepare the data for the modeling process.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-09-MM.stl

IMPORT FILE
1. Create a new empty file.
 Click MENU > File > New

2. Import an STL file into the current open

file.
 Click HOME > File > Import.
 Navigate to file.
 Select TR-DX-09-MM.stl
 Click Import Only

HEALING WIZARD
3. Evaluate the mesh for unwanted and
irregular poly-faces.
 Click POLYGONS > Wizard >
Healing Wizard
 The command will evaluate mesh and
display any issues with the mesh.

4. Repair the mesh.

 Toggle the Don’t Quit Command With OK button.
 Click OK.
 If mesh can be repaired then command will display not additional issues. Otherwise
it might display the message, Failed to heal some singularities. Try again?
 Click Yes

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 5. If system is unable to heal defects.
 Click OK
 From the Target dropdown, select object listed.
 The Healing Wizard will re-evaluate the mesh.
 Click Cancel.
 Click Discard on discard changes dialog.
 Press DELETE on your keyboard to delete these few items.

6. Re-evaluate the mesh.

 Click POLYGONS > Wizard > Healing Wizard
 The command will evaluate mesh and display any issues with the mesh.
 All issues should be repaired otherwise click OK to repair issues.

DEFEATURE
7. Remove unwanted features on the
mesh.
 Click POLYGONS > Repair
Holes/Boss > Defeature
 Select Lasso Selection Mode
 Turn of Visible Only
 Select area as shown.

8. Set Defeature parameters.

 Set Method to Fill
 Set Method to Curvature
 Click OK

FILL HOLES
9. Fill any unwanted holes in the mesh.
 Click POLYGONS > Repair
Holes/Boss > Fill Holes
 Toggle on the Don’t Quit Command
With OK button.
 Set Curvature of Filled Holes to
Tangent
 Select the hole as shown.
 Click the OK button.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 54 Geomagic Design X™

 10. Close the bottom edge of the model
with a bridge fill.
 Click the Add Bridge button under
Editing Tools.
 Click on hold the LMB on the edge of
one triangle on one side of the gap.
 Drag the mouse to the other side and
release when an edge is highlighted.

Adding bridges is useful for filling in

complicated holes or boundary areas
that are irregular in shape.

11. Fill hole on the bottom edge.

 Click the Boundaries input field
 Select the boundary created by the
bridge.
 Toggle off the Don’t Quit
Command With OK button to
disable it.
 Click OK.

EDIT BOUNDARIES
12. Smooth / enhance boundary shapes on
a mesh.
 Click POLYGONS > Edit > Edit
Boundaries
 Toggle on the Don’t Quit Command
With OK button
 Select Fit radio button under Method
 Change Fitting Shape to Circle
 Select largest circular boundary.

13. Update boundary.

 Display shows fitted circle to selected
boundary.
 Click OK

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 55 Geomagic Design X™

 14. Smooth the perimeter of the mesh.
 Toggle off the Don’t Quit
Command With OK button.
 Click None button to clear selection
 Select outer boundary of mesh
 Click Smooth radio button under
Method
 Set Select N-Depth From
Boundary to 3. This determines how
many triangles from the boundary
will impacted.
 Click OK

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 56 Geomagic Design X™

ACTIVITY: MESH EDITING II
OBJECTIVE
Mirror half a scan to get a complete model. Then edit the mesh of a bottle scan to prepare it for either 3D printing
or modeling.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-10-MM.stl

IMPORT FILE
1. Create a new empty file.
 Click MENU > File > New

2. Import an STL file into the current open

file.
 Click HOME > File > Import.
 Navigate to file.
 Select TR-DX-10-MM.stl
 Click Import Only

CONSTRUCT REFERENCE GEOMETRY

3. Quickly construct plane from existing
Right plane.
 Hold down the Ctrl button and click-
drag the Right plane to the neck of
the bottle by 110mm

4. Show only necessary planes.

 Click Visibility icon next to the Top
Plane and Right Plane entities in
the Model Tree to hide them.
 Leaving on the Front Plane and
Plane1 visible.

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SPLIT THE MESH
5. Split the mesh at Plane1.
 Click POLYGONS > Edit > Split
 Set the Method to By Entity
 Select Plane1 as Tool Entity
 Under More Options, remove the
Cap Section Ends checkbox.
 Toggle off the Don’t Quit
Command With OK button if
toggled on.
 Click Next Stage button.

6. Select region to keep.

 Select the region to remain.
 Click the OK.
Confirm that the larger region of the bottle
is selected and de-select the smaller section
if necessary.

MIRROR MESH
7. Mirror mesh about a plane.
 Click MENU > Tools > Mesh Tools
> Mirror
 Select the Mesh as the Target
 Select Position input field
 Select Front plane in Model View


8. Combine the two meshes into one

mesh.
 Place a checkmark in the Trim And
Merge checkbox.
 Place a checkmark in the Remesh
Poly-Faces Around Mirror Plane
checkbox.
 Click OK

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 58 Geomagic Design X™

THICKEN MESH
9. Give the mesh a volume by thickening
the mesh.
 Click POLYGONS > Edit > Thicken
 Select the Surface radio button
under the Method
 Set Thickness as 2mm
 Change to Direction2, in this case it
will perform the offset inward.
 Click OK.

BEFORE AFTER

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 59 Geomagic Design X™

ACTIVITY: MESH EDITING III
OBJECTIVE
This activity will show how to optimize and enhance scan data.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-11-MM.stl

IMPORT FILE
1. Create a new empty file.
 Click MENU > File > New

2. Import an STL file into the current open

file.
 Click HOME > File > Import.
 Navigate to file.
 Select TR-DX-11MM.stl
 Click Import Only

HIDE REFERENCE GEOMETRY

3. Hide Reference Geometry as they are not needed.
 Either pressing Ctrl + 0 on the keyboard
 Or by clicking the visibility icon next to the Ref. Planes entity in the Model Tree.

CHANGE MESH COLOR

4. Change the color of the mesh object for
better visibility.
 Right Mouse Button (RMB) on the
Mesh entity in the Model Tree
 Click Properties from the pop-up
menu.
 The Properties dock will be
displayed on the right side of the
Model View.
 Click the color box next to the
Material option under Appearance.

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 5. Select new color from the Material
dialog.
 Click the three dots that appear.
 The Material Dialog will be
displayed.
 Select the new color, green.
 Click OK
Changing the color of the mesh is used to
help in recognizing the mesh in the
application. It does not change the color
information of the mesh file.

GLOBAL REMESH
6. Generate a new organized mesh.
 Click POLYGONS > Optimize >
Global Remesh
 Set Edge Length Multiplier to 1.
This will maintain the average edge
length of the mesh.
 Place a checkmark in the Make
Clean And Manifold Solid Mesh.
Tis will try to create a water tight
mesh.
BEFORE
 Click OK.

The mesh will now be globally remeshed by

regenerating mesh structures and removing
defects from the curvature flow of the
mesh.
All poly-faces will be remeshed to have the
same edge length, resulting in a more
uniform mesh.

AFTER

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REDUCE TRIANGLES
7. Turn on mesh edges to better
understand the current mesh structure.
 Place a checkmark in the Edge
checkbox under the Mesh/Point
Cloud section in the Display dock.
 Or press the F8 key on the keyboard.

8. Reduce the current number of triangles in the mesh.

 Click POLYGONS > Optimize > Decimate.
 Select the Poly-Face Count radio button for the Method.
 Set Reduction Ratio value to 70% under Options.
 Move High Curvature Area Resolution to one notch before Dense. This will
maintain more triangles in areas of high curvature
 Click OK

BEFORE AFTER

OPTIMZE MESH
9. Adjust the triangles so that they are uniform over the mesh, however areas of high
curvature will have more triangles.
 Click POLYGONS > Optimize > Optimize Mesh. NOTE: This command is under
the Global Remesh dropdown.
 Select the High Quality Mesh Conversion under Method.
 Set the Min Edge Length Multiplier to 0.5
 Set the Max Edge Length Multiplier to 8
 Click OK.

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 BEFORE AFTER

ENHANCE SHAPE
10. Modify the mesh so that areas of high curvature will become sharper than the original
shape. Apply this command again with the same options to emphasis sharper areas
even more.
 Click POLYGONS > Optimize > Enhance Shape
 Set Sharpness to Mid
 Set Overall Smoothness to Mid
 Set Enhance Level to Max
 Click Next Stage
 Click OK

SMOOTH
11. Reduce the roughness of the mesh.
 Click POLYGONS > Optimize > Smooth
 Set Smoothness Level to Max
 Click Next Stage
 Toggle on Enable Realtime Preview
 Move slider to towards Min to see impact on the mesh.
 Click OK.

BEFORE AFTER

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 63 Geomagic Design X™

MESH BUILDUP WIZARD
The Mesh Buildup Wizard (MBW) is a collection of tools to quickly create a single mesh. The scan data can be
aligned and cleaned up in the MBW.

ACTIVITY: MESH BUILDUP WIZARD

OBJECTIVE
Create a single mesh from multiple scans of points.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-12.xrl

FILE OPEN
1. Open existing file.
 Open TR-DX-12.xrl

MESH BUILDUP WIZARD

2. Use the Mesh Buildup Wizard to process the data.
 Click POINTS > Wizard > Mesh Buildup Wizard
 The Mesh Buildup Wizard is initially a 4 step process. The number of steps can
change depending on parameters selected. The first step is Data Preparation.
 If scan data has not been selected, then Select the data
 Select the Unknown radio button under Set Scanner Type.
 Remove the checkmark from the Is Pre-Aligned checkbox. Notice there are now 5
stages.
 Click Next Stage.

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 The Entity Thumbnails dock, below the
Model View, allows for an organized way
to view and select all the data available at
the current stage.
 Click the checkmark next to Setup1
in the Entity Thumbnails. The
visibility of Setup1 is now off.
 Replace the checkmark to turn the
visibility back on.
 Hover the mouse over the image of
Setup1 in the Entity Thumbnails. A
small, independent, window will pop
up. This view can be rotated
separately from the other scans to
view scan quality and completeness.

3. Use Stage 2/5 Data Editing – Remove any unwanted scan data.
 Set the Max. Poly-Vertices/Faces Count Per Noisy Cluster to 100.
 Click the Find Noisy Cluster button.
 Click the Trash Can button to delete selected data.
 Click Next Stage.

4. Use Stage 3/5 – Data Pre-Aligning -

To align the two or more scans.
 Select the Local Based on Picked
Point radio button under Method.
 With Reference input field
highlighted in yellow, select Setup1.
The scan is displayed in the top right
box labeled Reference.
 Select the Moving input field and
select Setup2.

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 5. Define three common points in
Reference and the same three points
in Moving.
 Orient each scan in the Reference
and Moving boxes to have
approximately the same positioning.
 Click on a point on the Reference
scan that also exists on the Moving
scan. A red point should appear.
 Click on the same point on the
Moving scan. The red points should
match.
 Repeat with at least two more points
on each scan.
 Click Apply button.
 Click Next Stage.

6. Use Stage 4/5 – Best-Fit-Aligning –

Refine the alignment between the
scans.
 Use a Rectangular Selection Mode
to highlight both scans for the
Moving input field.
 Click the Estimate button for the
Sampling Ratio. This controls the
percentage of data being used in the
alignment.
 Click the Apply button.
 Click Next Stage

7. Use 5/5 – Data Merging - will

combine and triangulate the scan data.
 Select the Mesh Construction radio
button under Options.
 Move Geometry Capture Accuracy
slider to Tight.
 Place a Checkmark in the Reduce
Noise checkbox.
 Click the Apply button.
 Click OK.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 66 Geomagic Design X™

ACTIVITY: MESH EDITING - ROCK
OBJECTIVE
Create one clean, watertight, closed mesh using a variety of tools. After the Mesh Buildup Wizard, the resulting
mesh may have more polyfaces, or triangles, than needed. The Decimate command can intelligently remove and
merge polyfaces to have the lowest amount possible. This will allow for future processing times to be significantly
reduced. Saved file sizes will also be smaller.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-13.xrl

FILE OPEN
1. Open existing file.
 Open TR-DX-13.xrl

DECIMATE
2. Reduce the number of triangles in the
model.
 Click POLYGONS > Optimize >
Decimate
 Click the Allowable Deviation radio
button under Method.
 Set Deviation to 0.002 in. under
Options.
 Click OK.

FILL HOLES
3. Repair missing data.
 Click POLYGONS > Repair Holes/Boss > Fill Holes

4. Edit the boundary to make a cleaner perimeter.

 Click Fill Gulf button under Editing Tools.
 Left click on one area of the boundary.
 Left click again on the opposite side of the gap to immediately fill in a portion of the
hole.

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 BEFORE AFTER

5. Use Remove Peninsula to quickly delete data.

 Left click one time on the top, left corner of the area shown below.
 Left click again on the opposite end to instantly delete this portion of data.

BEFORE AFTER

6. Use Remove Island to delete floating areas of data.

 Left click on the boundaries of any islands to delete them.
Do not click on any boundary of the main mesh. The entire mesh will be deleted. Use Undo (CTRL+Z) any
Editing Tools.

BEFORE AFTER

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 7. Use Add Bridge to split the boundary
into smaller sections.
 Left click and hold the mouse button
down on one edge of the triangle.
 While holding the LMB, select a
triangle on the opposite side of the
boundary.
 The original selected boundary is now listed as two
boundaries.

8. Adjust parameters under Curvature of Filled Holes and More Options.

 There are three types of curvature; Curvature, Tangent, and Flat. Adjust the
curvature type based on the hole being filled.
 By placing a checkmark in the Smooth Boundary checkbox under More Options,
this will help clean the perimeter of a hole being filled.
 Click OK.

REWRAP
9. Re-triangulate the mesh in order to
reduce the number of holes.
 Click POLYGONS > Optimize >
Rewrap
 Move the Geometry Capture
Accuracy slider to Tight.
 Move the Overall Smoothness
slider to Min.
 Place a checkmark in the Extend
Boundaries checkbox. Set slider at
two notches from Curved.
 Click OK.

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ENHANCE MESH
10. Increase the detail of the mesh in high
curvature areas.
 Click POLYGONS > Optimize >
Enhance Shape
 Move the Sharpness slider to Max.
 Move the Overall Smoothness
slider to Min.
 Move the Enhance Level slider to
Min.
 Click Next Stage.

11. Adjust the Enhance Level to find optimal result.

 Toggle Enable Realtime Preview button.
 Increase the Enhance Level slider to Max.
 View the difference in the mesh.
 Adjust the slider to the Middle
 Click OK.

BEFORE AFTER

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 70 Geomagic Design X™

PARAMETRIC MODELING
The strength of Geomagic Design X is in its sketch-based modeling. Any model can be created regardless of the
scan quality. Geomagic Design X utilizes sketches and standard CAD operations, such as Extrude, Revolve, Sweep,
and Loft, to generate a parametric model.

ACTIVITY: INTRODUCTION TO SKETCHING

OBJECTIVE
Learn the basic principles of creating sketches, constraining entities, and dimensioning.

Sketch Entities
CREATE NEW FILE
1. Create a new file.
 Click MENU > File > New

CREATE A SKETCH
2. Create a new 2D sketch.
 Click SKETCH > Setup > Sketch
 Select the Base Plane for the sketch
 Click the Front plane.
 The sketch will start immediately after selecting the base plane. If a plane is already selected, choosing Sketch
would directly start a sketch on that plane. The Sketch button has now changed to Exit in order to complete
the sketch.

3. Create a Rectangle.
 Click SKETCH > Draw > Rectangle
 Left-click in the top-left corner of the
origin to begin the Rectangle.
 Left-click the bottom-right corner to
finish the Rectangle.
 Finish the Rectangle by right-clicking
in the Model View and selecting the
OK from the context menu.

4. Adjust the size of the rectangle.

 Drag a Line or a Point of the Rectangle to modify its size until it is roughly centered
at the Sketch Origin (red U and green V axis).
 By dragging a Line of the Rectangle you can alter one dimension (Length or Width of the Rectangle) at a time,
while dragging a Point would let you alter both dimensions at the same time.

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GEOMETRIC CONSTRAINTS
5. Double-click on the top-left Point of the Rectangle. The Constraint and information
for that single point is shown in the constraint manager.
 A Coincidence Constraint is applied on the end point of the two lines forming the corner.
 To see Constraints of another entity, only single left-click on the entity without leaving the Properties Dialog.

6. Show and add Common Constraints of multiple sketch entities.

 LMB Click on the bottom line of the rectangle to view the constraints.
 A Horizontal Constraint should be shown.
 Shift+LMB Click on the other horizontal line of the rectangle.
 Both lines will be selected to show the Common Constraint between all selected entities.
 Select the Horizontal constraint listed in the Independent Constraint list box.
 Click the trash can button to delete the constraint.
 Select the Parallel button under Common Constraint.

7. Repeat for the Vertical lines.

8. Apply a Perpendicular constraint to

the lower left corner of the rectangle.
 Click OK to close the Constraints
Dialog.
 LMB click anywhere in the Model
View background to deselect all
entities.
 After most operations, selections will persist after
the dialog is closed.

9. Create a pivot point for rotating the

sketch by constructing two intersecting
Centerlines.
10. Click SKETCH > Draw > Centerline
 The Line tool could have been used with the option
For Construction selected.
 Move the cursor over the middle of
the left line, and LMB click at the
Mid-Point constraint to start the
centerline.

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 11. After clicking to make the point, move
the cursor back over the left line to
activate the Parallel and
Perpendicular assist axes.
 LMB click to place the centerline
when the yellow Perpendicular
symbol is visible.
 RMB click to finish the line

12. Create a vertical centerline.

 Move the cursor over the middle of
the bottom line, and LMB click at the
Mid-Point constraint to start the
centerline.
 Finish the line at the end point of the
first centerline
 Click OK.

13. Move endpoint to Sketch U/V Axis.

 Click and hold LMB on the
intersection point of the two
centerlines.
 Drag it onto the intersection of the
red and green Sketch U/V-Axis to
place the Coincident Constraint.
 The center point should turn black signifying it is
fully defined.
 Click and drag a mid-point of the rectangle lines
and the rectangle will rotate and resize.

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DIMENSIONAL CONSTRAINTS
14. Select the Smart Dimension
command.
 Click SKETCH > Draw > Smart
Dimensions
 LMB click one line and then select the
parallel entity. LMB click in space to
set the linear dimension.
 Repeat for the other set of parallel
lines.
 Click OK.

15. Create a new centerline.

 Construct a new centerline from the
origin at an angle.
 Add an Angular dimension.
 Click OK.
 Sketch entities will turn black when they are fully
constrained by dimensions and constraints.

16. Set the Angular line with a horizontal

constraint.
 Select the angular centerline.
 RMB click, select the Horizontal
constraint.

17. Edit the Dimensions by double-clicking on each value.

 Set the two linear dimensions to size the box.
 Change the angular dimension to rotate the box to a specific angle from the horizon.

18. Finish editing the sketch.

 Click the Exit button to finish the sketch.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 74 Geomagic Design X™

DESIGN INTENT – SOLID MODELING
ACTIVITY: INTRODUCTION TO SOLID MODELING
OBJECTIVE
Learn the basics of sketching and modeling with solid bodies.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-14-MM.stl

IMPORT FILE
1. Create a new empty file.
 Click MENU > File > New

2. Import an STL file into the current open

file.
 Click HOME > File > Import.
 Navigate to file.
 Select TR-DX-14-MM.stl
 Click Import Only

GENERATE REGIONS
3. Create regions.
 Click REGION > Segment > Auto
Segment
 Set the Sensitivity to 50.
 Click OK.

INTERACTIVE ALIGNMENT
4. Create a Plane through the middle of
the part to use for alignment.
 Click MODEL > Ref. Geometry >
Plane.
 Press and hold the CTRL key.
 Select the Mesh and the Right plane
in the Feature Tree.
 Set the Method to Mirror.
 Click OK.

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 5. Align data to the Global Coordinate
System.
 Click ALIGNMENT > Scan to Global
> Interactive Alignment.
 Click Next Stage
 Select the X-Y-Z radio button under
Moving.
 Select the Position input field.
 Select the bottom planar region
and the cylinder region of the hole.
 This will place the Origin at the
intersection of the cylinder axis and
plane.

6. Define the Z axis for the alignment.

 Select the Axis Z input field.
 Select same bottom planar region.
 Click the Flip button to change
direction of Z axis.

7. Define the X axis for the alignments

final constraint.
 Select the Axis X input field.
 Select the mirror plane, Plane1.
 Click OK.

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MAIN BODY - SKETCH
8. Create sketch of main body and
extrude.
 Click SKETCH > Setup > Mesh
Sketch
 Select the Front plane as the Base
Plane.
 Set the Offset Distance From Base
Plane to 0.25 in.

NOTE: The long blue vector in the

Model View can also be used to
adjust the offset distance.

 Click OK.

 The Offset Distance From Base Plane is only to set a

cross-section distance of the model to be projected
back to the originally selected Base Plane. All
sketches will still be created on the Base Plane,
regardless of the height of the Offset Distance.

9. Create line entities from the pink mesh

section.
 Use the Model Tree to Hide the
Mesh.
 Select Draw > Line.
 Double-Click on the top-most solid
pink line. A line will be best fit to the
entire segment.
 Click OK.

10. Create circles/arcs from the pink mesh

section.
 Select Draw > Centerpoint Arc.
 Double-Click on the left-most solid
pink line. An arc will be best fit to the
entire segment.
 Double-Click the right-most solid
pink line.

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 11. Create final circles/arcs from the pink
mesh section.
 Use the Centerpoint Arc to create
the lower, segmented arc.
 Single click on the initial segments,
then double-click on the last
segment to create one best fit arc
between the segments.
 Click OK.

12. Evaluate the sketch entities.

 Open the Accuracy Analyzer dock
on the right side of the Model View.
 Place a checkmark in the Disjoined
Ends checkbox.
 Disjoined Ends will display a green
end point to any point of opening in a
sketch chain.

13. Trim the entities to close the corners.

 Click Tools > Trim.
 Select the Corner Trim radio button.
 LMB click on first segment.
 LMB click on second segment.
 Repeat on the other corner.
 Click OK.

 NOTE: Corner Trim will keep the selected segments.

It will perform both a trim and extend. Power Trim
will delete the selected segments.

14. Create corner fillets for the top corners.

 Click Tools > Fillet to close the other two open points with smooth, tangent arcs.
 Remove checkmark from the Specify Value checkbox.
 Place a checkmark in the Add Dimension checkbox.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 78 Geomagic Design X™

  LMB click on one sketch segment near the missing arc segment.
 LMB click and HOLD on the second segment.
 While still holding the LMB, move the mouse around to adjust the size of the fillet.
 Release the mouse button when the arc is best fitting the pink polyline.
 Repeat to create the second arc.
 Click OK

15. Double click on a dimension to edit the

value.
 Using a design intent approach,
change each dimension to 3.4375
in.
 Press entry on keyboard.

16. Verify there are no openings in the sketch loop (green points), then exit the sketch.
 Click Exit button in the Ribbon or bottom right corner of the Model View.

MAIN BODY - EXTRUDE

17. Create solid body.
 Click MODEL > Create Solid >
Extrude
 Turn on the Mesh and Region
visibility by pressing Ctrl+2.
 The Base Sketch should
automatically be selected as Sketch1
(Mesh).

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 18. Define Extrude parameters.
 Change the Method to Up to
Region.
 The Sub Method should
automatically set to Trim with
Region Fit Surface.
 Select the top region, Freeform for
the Up To input field.
 Click OK

 The Up to Region > Trim with Region Fit Surface

method will automatically fit the extrusion to the
shape of the region.
 Press F1 to see all the different methods of
Extruding.

19. Check the accuracy of the solid body to

the mesh.
 Rotate the body to inspect the
accuracy of the model.
 Click the Deviation for Body icon on
the Upper-Side Toolbar.
 The Bottom View will display the
area of high deviation. This face
shows the solid body is both too
small in areas and too large.
 Click the Deviation for Body icon to
turn off the deviation display.

 NOTE: The deviation analysis can also be access via

the Accuracy Analyzer dock.

MAIN BODY – EDIT SKETCH

20. To fix the inaccuracies of the model, Edit the base sketch.
 RMB on Sketch1(Mesh) in the Feature Tree.
 Select Edit from the popup menu.

21. Click Normal To icon on the Upper-Side Toolbar, or Ctrl+Shift+A. This will align
the sketch back normal to the screen.

22. Select the lower sketch arc and press Delete.

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 23. Using the Draw>Line command,
reconnect the loop by clicking on one
endpoint and then the other.
 Click OK.

 A yellow and black concentric circle symbol will

appear when selected on the end point.
 Click and HOLD the LMB on the new
line and drag it below the pink
polyline

24. Exit the skecth when done editing.

 Click Exit.

25. Make sure the Regions are still visible, but HIDE the Solid Bodies using the Model
Tree, or by pressing Ctrl+5.

26. Create a surface along the back region

of the model.
 Click MODEL > Wizard >Mesh Fit
 Select the back region that
represents the inaccurate face.
 With the Resolution set to By
Allowable Deviation, limit the Max.
No. of Control Points to 20.
 Click OK

 A Mesh Fit surface will be created accurately to any

mesh surface. This surface is not directly editable
since it is not based off of a sketch. If changing the
Mesh Fit parameters does not create the desired
surface, the mesh itself can be optimized and
editing to make a better fitting surface.

27. Turn back on the Solid Body visibility.

 This surface will be used to cut off the excess solid body.

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 28. Cut a solid body using a surface body.
 Click MODEL > Edit > Cut
 Select the Mesh Fit1 surface as the
Tool Body.
 Select the Extrude1 solid as the
Target Body.
 Click on the Next Stage arrow.
Notice the OK check is not available
until the next stage is completed.
 For the Remaining Bodies, click on
the main portion of the Solid Body to
keep.
 Click OK.

29. Check deviation of model.

 Click the Deviation for Body icon on
the Upper-Side Toolbar.
 Review results.
 Click the Deviation for Body icon to
turn off the deviation display.

 It is recommended to turn the deviations back off

after viewing. This will speed up processing time
for all proceeding steps instead of making the
software rerun the analyzer.

MAIN BODY - EXTRUDE CUT

30. Turn on and off visbility of entities until only the Mesh and Regions are visible.

31. Right Click on the Plane region shown

below.
 Select the Mesh Sketch icon to
immediately enter the Mesh Sketch
Setup up with the region as the Base
Plane.

 Set the Offset Distance From Base Plane to 2 mm, or drag the thin, blue arrow up
until the outline of the cutout shown is visible.
 Place a Check next to Draft Angle.
 Select the Measure Angle button then click on the two planar regions.
 Set the Draft Angle to 1°.
 The total angle will be displayed. This will show if there is any draft from the base plane. The Mesh Sketch Setup
Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 82 Geomagic Design X™
 can compensate for the draft when projecting the poly-lines back to the base plane.
 Click the OK check to begin sketching.
 Hiding the Mesh can make it easier to see the underlying polylines.

32. Sketch the inner cutout using the Line and 3 Point Arc tools.
 RMB Click in the Model View. An array of common sketch tools will immediately
appear.
 Select the Line icon and sketch the two vertical lines by double clicking the LMB on
each polyline.
 Draw a Line between the bottom end points to close the loop.
 RMB Click and select the Check to accept the line command.
 RMB Click. Select the 3 Point Arc icon. Click on both end points and then the height
of the pink polyline radius.
 RMB Click and select the Check to finish the command.

33. Edit and adjust the sketch for a better overall model.
 Double Click on one of the vertical sketch lines.
 A dialog box will appear with the editing and constraint options. Select Vertical from
the Constraints box.
 Hold Shift and select the other vertical line. Select Parallel from the Common
Constraint options.
 Double Click on the arc. Hold Shift and select one of the vertical lines. Select
Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 83 Geomagic Design X™
 Tangent from the Common Constraint options. Repeat the process on the other line
to create tangency with the arc.
 Adjust the sketch entities until the sketch looks like Figure 148.
 RMB Click and select the Exit button.

34. RMB Click in space on the Model View and

select Solid Extrude.
 Turn on the Mesh and Solid Body visibility.
 Check Sketch2 (Mesh) is selected as the
Base Sketch.
 Change the Method to Through All.
 Place a Check next to Draft and input the
1° measured earlier.
 Check the direction of the draft is correct. Use the Flip
Direction arrow next to the Draft input.
 Set the Result Operator options to Cut.
 Click the OK check to accept.
 The sketch must still be highlighted, and the RMB click must
not be on a plane to give the Extrude options.

35. Hide the Solid Bodies, then RMB Click on the

plane shown and start a Mesh Sketch.
 Set the Offset Distance From Base Plane
to 2 mm.
 Click the OK check to accept.

36. RMB Click on the Model View and select the Auto Sketch command.
 With the option set to Make Selected Only, select only the inner loop sketch.
 Click the OK check to accept.
 RMB Click and select the Exit button to finish the sketch.

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 37. RMB Click in space on the Model View
and select Solid Extrude.
 Turn on the Mesh and Solid Body
visibility.
 Check Sketch3(Mesh) is selected as
the Base Sketch.
 Change the Method to Through All.
 Set the Result Operator options to
Cut.
 Click the OK check to accept.

MAIN BODY – REVOLVE CUT

38. Create a Vector in the MODEL>Ref. Geometry group.
 Select the Right and the Top Planes.
 If not done automatically, set the Method to Intersect 2 Planes.
 Click the OK to finish.

39. Right-Click on the Right Plane and select the Mesh Sketch icon to start sketching.
 The sketch setup will already be located in the correct location. Click the OK to accept
and begin sketching.

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 40. Use the Model Tree to Hide the Mesh and Solid Bodies.
41. Select the Draw>Line tool.
 Use a box select method to create the 3 lines from the polylines.
 Draw a vertical line starting from the vector to create a complete sketch.
 Right-Click in space to select the Check and accept the command.
42. Right-Click on the Vector and select Convert Entities.
43. Select the Draw>Trim command.
 Check it is set to Corner Trim.
 Click on all of the lines surrounding each open connection to close.
 Right-Click in space to select the Check and accept the command.
44. Set constraints and dimensions then Right-Click in space and Exit the sketch.

 Only half of the figure needs to be sketched for the Revolve command.

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 45. Choose the MODEL>Create
Solid>Revolve command to cut out the
section.
 With the previous sketch populating
the Base Sketch and Profiles, chose
Axis and select Vector1.
 Under Result Operator, select Cut.
 Click the OK to cut out the area.

MAIN BODY - FILLETS

46. Choose the Fillet command in the
MODEL>Edit group.
 Create a Constant Fillet by selecting
the edge shown in Figure 159.
 The Tangent Propagation option will select all edges
of the solid tangent to the first choice, reducing the
need to manually select all edges.
 Next to the Radius box, press the
Estimate Radius From Mesh magic
wand button.
 Adjust the value to 1.5mm.
 Click the OK to finish.

47. Repeat the process on the fillet around

the outside of the mesh. Add all edges
belonging to the same size fillet.

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 48. Right-Click the solid edge of the other
cut out in Figure 125, and choose the
Fillet icon.
 Change the type to Variable Fillet.
 The Profile View will appear below the Model View.
This will be used to figure out the varying radius.
 Manually select all 3 edges used for
the variable fillet then click the
Estimate Radii From Mesh Button.
 Look at the predicted fillet radius
down in the Profile View.

49. Adjust the end points to match the pink polyline.

 Set the R(adius) value to 4mm at each end point.
 Click on the middle section to re-zoom around this segment. Click again to place a new
point in the approximate middle of the line.
 Drag this point up to tallest peak of the pink polyline.
 Click OK to finish.

50. Insert any additional fillets to the model.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 88 Geomagic Design X™

DESIGN INTENT - SURFACE MODELING
ACTIVITY: SURFACE MODELING
OBJECTIVE
Create a surface body using Modeling Wizard and Model Surface Features, and then combine the surfaces using
3D sketches and surface trimming tools. Analyze modeling result with Accuracy Analyzer™.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-15.xrl

FILE OPEN
1. Open training file TR-DX-15.xrl.
 Navigate to the file from the Open
Files dialog
 Click Open.

EXTRACT – UPPER SURFACES

2. Select the Mesh Fit button in the MODEL>Wizard group on the ribbon to create a
surface on the large, upper face.
 Select the large, upper target Region shown in Figure 167.
 Set the Resolution type to By Allowable Deviation, and the Allowable
Deviation to 0.1mm.
 Rotate the preview plane with a manipulator node until it is parallel to the x-axis.
 Click the OK to accept the command.
 The orientation of the preview plane will be the same as the finished surface. Having the surface more square
to the part will allow for higher quality surfaces in the end.

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 3. Hide only the Mesh Fit(1) surface body using the Model Tree.
4. Select the Mesh Fit button in the MODEL>Wizard group on the ribbon to create the
adjoining surface on the upper face.
 Select the target Region shown in Figure 169.
 Click the OK to accept the command using the previous options.

JOIN SURFACES
5. Click the 3D Sketch button in the 3D SKETCH > Setup group on the ribbon.
6. Select the Spline tool in the Draw group.
 Draw a Spline from edge to edge of the Mesh Fit(1) surface body, as shown in
Figure 171.
 Right-Click to end the first spline.
7. Repeat Step 2 for drawing a Spline on Mesh Fit(2) as close to parallel as possible to
the first spline, then Accept the Spline.

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 Mesh Fit(1) Mesh Fit(2)

8. Click the Split button in the 3D

SKETCH>Edit group on the ribbon.
 Split the first curve by clicking on
two points near the edges of the
Mesh Fit(2) surface.
 Accept the command.

9. Click the Exit button in the top left corner to finish the 3D Sketch.

10. Hide Meshes and Mesh Fit(2), and Show Mesh Fit (1).
11. Select the MODEL>Edit>Trim Surface command to trim the surfaces with the 3D
Splines.
 Select the first Spline in 3D Sketch(1) as the Tool Entities.
 Select Mesh Fit(1) as the Target Entities.
 Click the Next Stage button to continue.
 Chose the correct larger portion of the surface as the Remaining Bodies.
 Click the OK button to accept.

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 12. Repeat Step 7 using the second drawn
Spline as the Tool Entities, and the
Mesh Fit(2) as the Target Entities.

13. Turn on visibility for both Trim Surface(1) and Trim Surface(2), and turn off
visibility for 3D Sketch(1).
14. Select the MODEL>Create Surface>Loft command to join the surfaces.
 Double check the Surface Loft command has been selected.
 Select the Edge1 of Trim Surface1, and Edge2 of Trim Surface2 as the Profiles.
 Set the Start Constraint and End Constraint to Tangency To Face. This will
apply tangency to the lofted surface where it connects to the original surfaces.
 Click the OK button to create the lofted surface.

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 15. Finish joining all the surfaces into one
body with the Sew command, found in
the MODEL>Edit group.
 Select all three surfaces as the
Surface Bodies.
 Click the Next Stage button.
 Click the OK button to accept the
result.

 Alternatively, the Sew step can be skipped if the “Merge Tangent Faces” option is selected during the Loft
command.

Reasoning for splitting the spline

When trimming a surface by a curve, the split points on the curve will create a separate edge along the
surface. Therefore, the surface edge length can be adjusted for lofting by editing the split points. If the
edge lengths are of similar size when lofting, the resulting surface will be smoother and of higher
quality.

3D Sketch with Split 3D Sketch without Split

Loft with Split Loft without Split

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 Deviation with Split Deviations without Split

CREATE SIDE SURFACES

16. Hide Surface Loft1 to view the Mesh with Regions on.
17. Choose the Loft Wizard command in the MODEL>Wizard.
18. In the 1st stage of the Loft Wizard, set the location and orientation of the Loft.
 Choose the three regions, shown in Figure 190, as the Regions/Poly Faces.
 Change the Section option to By No. Of Sections, and set the value to 5.
 Check the options match Figure 191.

19. Rotate and adjust the

manipulator to stretch
the preview planes the
long way across side
body.

20. Click the Next Stage button to continue. A preview of the flow of the fitted surface
body will be displayed.

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 21. Turn on the Deviation for Body in the Accuracy Analyzer™, and use these
deviations to add and move sections for a higher quality surface.
 Sections can be moved by clicking and dragging. Sections can be added by holding Ctrl and clicking and
dragging the section planes.
 These sections cannot be easily added and moved once the Loft Wizard has be completed.

22. Click the OK button to finish the lofted

surface.

23. Create the adjacent surface with a Mesh Fit surface. Select MODEL>Wizard>Mesh
Fit on the ribbon.
 Select the region shown in Figure 196 as the Target Regions/Poly-Faces.
 Click the OK button to accept the surface using the previous settings.

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JOIN SIDE SURFACES
24. As done previously, enter into a 3D Sketch to create clean trim lines for lofting
between surfaces.
25. Hide Surface Loft1 and Surface Loft2 to only show the new Mesh Fit surface.
26. Select the Spline tool in the 3D Sketch>Draw group.
 Draw a Spline on the Mesh Fit3 surface body (Figure 198).
 Hide the Mesh Fit3 surface and Show Surface Loft2.
 Draw a second spline on the Surface Loft2 body (Figure 199).

27. Select the Split button in the

3D SKETCH>Edit group on
the ribbon.
 Turn on visibility of the
Mesh Fit3 surface to see
where the split points
should be located.
 Click on two points on the
second spline to split the
line.
28. Click the Exit button in the top
left corner to finish.

29. Turn on the visibility for Mesh Fit3 and Surface Loft2.

30. Select the MODEL>Edit>Trim Surface command on the ribbon.

 Select the first spline in 3D Sketch3 as the Tool Entities, and Mesh Fit(3) as the
Target Entities.
 Click the Next Stage button to continue.
 Choose the correct Remaining Bodies.
 Click the OK button.

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 31. Repeat Step 7 using the second spline as the Tool Entity and Surface Loft2 as the
Target Entity to Trim the lofted surface.

32. Hide 3D Sketch3, and Show Trim Surface3 and Trim Surface4.

33. Create a Surface Loft with the MODEL>Create Surface>Loft command to join the
surfaces.
 Select the Edge1 of Trim Surface3, and Edge2 of Trim Surface4 as the Profiles.
 Set the Start Constraint and End Constraint to Tangency To Face. This will
apply tangency to the lofted surface where it connects to the original surfaces.
 Place a check next to Merge Tangent Faces in the Options rollup.
 Click the OK button to create the lofted surface.

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FINISH SIDE SURFACES
34. Create the next with a Mesh Fit surface. Select MODEL>Wizard>Mesh Fit on the
ribbon.
 Select the region shown in Figure 207 as the Target Regions/Poly-Faces.
 Click the OK button to accept the surface using the previous settings.

35. Enter into a 3D Sketch to create clean trim lines for lofting between surfaces.
36. Hide all surfaces except the new Mesh Fit surface.
37. Select the Spline tool in the 3D Sketch>Draw group.
 Draw a Spline on the Mesh Fit4 surface body (Figure 209).
 Hide the Mesh Fit4 surface and Show Trimmed Surface3.
 Draw a second spline on the Trimmed Surface3 body (Figure 210).

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 38. Select the Split button in the 3D
SKETCH>Edit group on the ribbon.
 Click on two points on the second
drawn, and longer, spline at
approximately the length of the first
spline.
 Click OK to accept the Split.

39. Exit 3D Sketch with the button in the top left corner.

40. Turn on the visibility for necessary surfaces.

41. Select the MODEL>Edit>Trim Surface

command on the ribbon.
 Select the split spline in 3D Sketch4 as
the Tool Entities, and Trim3 as the
Target Entities.
 Click the Next Stage button to
continue.
 Choose the correct Remaining Bodies.
 Click the OK button.

42. Select the MODEL>Edit>Trim Surface

command on the ribbon.
 Select the other spline in 3D Sketch4
as the Tool Entities, and Mesh Fit4 as
the Target Entities.
 Click the Next Stage button to
continue.
 Choose the correct Remaining Bodies.
 Click the OK button.

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 43. Hide 3D Sketch4 and show all the side surfaces.

44. Create a Surface Loft with the MODEL>Create Surface>Loft command to join the
surfaces.
 Select the Edge1 of Trim Surface5, and Edge2 of Trim Surface6 as the Profiles.
 Set the Start Constraint and End Constraint to Tangency To Face. This will
apply tangency to the lofted surface where it connects to the original surfaces.
 Place a check next to Merge Tangent Faces in the Options rollup.
 Click the OK button to create the lofted surface.

45. Click the Sew button in the MODEL >

Edit group on the ribbon.
 Select all the side surface bodies as
the target Surface Bodies.
 Click the Next Stage button to
continue.
 Check the previewed result and
then click the OK button.
 This step is only necessary if there are multiple side
surfaces.

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 46. Click the Environment Mapping
button in the Accuracy Analyzer™.
Check continuity of the surface bodies.

COMBINE UPPER AND SIDE SURFACES

47. Turn on the visibility of the upper and
side surfaces (Surface Loft1 and
Surface Loft4).
 Select the MODEL>Edit>Trim
Surface command on the ribbon.
 Select the Loft1 and Loft4 as the
Tool Entities.
 Deselect the Target checkbox.

 Click the Next Stage button to continue.

 Choose the correct Remaining Bodies, as shown in the image below.
 Click the OK button.

ADD FILLET
48. Add a rounded, fillet edge to the connection of the two surfaces. Click the Fillet
button in the MODEL > Edit group on the ribbon.
 Change the method to Variable Fillet.
 Select the edges between the two surfaces for the Entities, as shown in the image
below.

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  Set R to 10-11mm for each edge.
 These values can be directly edited by clicking them in the Profile view or in the graphic window.
 Click the OK button.

FINISHING FEATURES
49. Begin a 3D Sketch by Right-Clicking in space in the Model View, and select the 3D
Sketch icon.
50. Draw a spline along either side of the fillet with the Draw>Spline tool.
 Draw the first spline at the edge of the Fillet1 surface body to the first seam.
(Figure 230).
 Draw a second spline below the crooked fillet (Figure 231).

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 51. Click the Split button in the 3D
SKETCH > Edit group on the ribbon.
 Select a point on the top spline
near where the side surface ends.
 Click the OK button to accept the
command.

52. Right-Click and select the Exit button to finish the 3D Sketch.

53. Hide the Mesh. Show the Surface Body and 3D Sketch 5 only.

54. Click the Split Face button in the MODEL>Body/Face group on the ribbon.
 Select the split spline as the Tool Entities.
 Select the upper surface face as the Target Entities, as shown in the image
below.
 Click OK button to accept the command.
55. Repeat Step 6 using the lower spline and the side surface face. (Figure 234).

56. Remove the newly split area with the Delete Face command found in the
MODEL>Body/Face group on the ribbon.
 Select the Faces, as shown in Figure 235.

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  Click the OK button to remove the area between the splines. (Figure 236)

57. Hide 3D Sketch5.

58. Create a Surface Loft with the MODEL>Create Surface>Loft.
 Select Edge 1 and Edge 2 as the Profiles.
 Apply the Start and End Constraint as Tangency To Face.
 Select the small Edge 3 as the Guide Curve to create better connections with the
surrounding surfaces.
 Click the OK button and a lofted surface will be created.

59. Repeat all of the previous steps on the other side where the fillet becomes unsmooth.
 3D Sketch on either side of the fillet with a spline to connect
 Split Face of the surface using the 3D Sketch
 Delete Face
 Surface Loft

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 104 Geomagic Design X™

 3D Sketch 3 Splines with Split Point

Split Face Split Face

Delete Face Removed Face

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 Surface Loft Finished Surface

60. Sew the remaining surfaces together

with the MODEL>Edit>Sew
command.
 Select all the surface bodies as the
target Surface Bodies.
 Click the Next Stage button to
continue.
 Check the previewed result and
then click the OK button to accept.

61. Click the Deviation for Body and the Environment Mapping buttons in the
Accuracy Analyzer™.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 106 Geomagic Design X™

DESIGN INTENT MODELING
ACTIVITY: IMPELLER - SAMPLE
OBJECTIVE
Create an impeller using surfacing and solid tools.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-16-MM.stl

SCAN PREPARATION
1. Import training file TR-DX-16-MM.stl.
 Click the Import button or select
Import from MENU > Insert.
 Use the Import Dialog to navigate to
the training files folder. Choose TR-
DX-16-MM.stl from the Import
dialog.
 Click Import only. The file is loaded
and displayed in the Model View.

2. In the POLYGON tab, use the Fill Holes and Smart Brush command to clean and
smooth a single vane of the impeller.
 Assuming all blades are the same, only one will need to be edited for the modeling. The single modeled vane
can be patterned.
 With the Repair Holes/Boss>Fill Holes command, select all the holes on one vane
to fill in with Curvature.
 Use the Wizard>Smart Brush command and the Smooth option to paint the
specific areas that are rough.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 107 Geomagic Design X™

 3. In the Tree dock, change the tab to
Viewpoint.
 Orient the part to focus on the edited vane.
 Select the Add Viewpoint button to save
the view.
 Toggle back to the Tree dock.
 The Viewpoint can be saved for later use to be able to
quickly move back to the edited vane.

4. After editing the mesh, use the Optimize > Decimate command to reduce the
triangle count.
 Select the Allowable Deviation method with a value of 0.01 mm in the Options.
 Accept the command to see the new triangle count.

5. Select the Auto Segment command

located in REGION tab.
 Set the Sensitivity to 5 then accept.
6. Use the Edit > Merge command to
merge the the regions on either side of
the cleaned vane.
 Hold Shift and select the multiple
regions on a single face.
 The Merge button is now active.
Select.
 Repeat process on other side face of
vane.

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ALIGN TO COORDINATE SYSTEM
7. Create Ref. Geometry > Vector to
more accurately align the scan.
 Select the Revolving Axis method.
 Select all regions where the central
axis would be the same as the center
of the impeller.
 Preview and then Accept the Vector.

8. Align the scan to the coordinate system using ALIGNMENT > Scan to Global >
Interactive Alignment.
 Verify the mesh is selected then go to the Next Stage.
 Change the Method to XYZ.
 For Position, select the Vector1 and a Plane Region on the bottom of the scan.
 Set Axis Z to Vector1. If needed, Flip Direction of the positive axis.
 Use the Blue Circle of the Manipulator to clock the part about the Z Axis. Rotate
until the X Axis (Right Plane) is passing through the edited vane.
 Check the alignment is in position on the right half of the screen then Accept.

MAIN BODY
9. Create a Mesh Sketch on the Right Plane.
 Change the method to Rotational Method.
 Use the Offset Angle From Base Plane or the Green Circle to rotate the base
plane to find the best sketch angle for the main body of the impeller.
 Accept the sketch setup.

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 10. Sketch the inner profile as shown.
 Use Arc and Line tools to create a sketch of the inside profile of the impeller.
 Exit the sketch when finished.
 The bottom post is not rotational and does not need to be sketched.

11. Create the body with Create Solid>Revolve.

 Set the previous sketch as the Base Sketch and Profile.
 Select the Centerline of the Sketch as the Axis.
 Accept the command.

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VANE
12. Create a surface on either side of the cleaned vane with a Loft Wizard or Mesh Fit
command.

Option 1
 RMB on the region of one side of the cleaned vane scan and choose the Loft Wizard
icon.
 In Section, select By No. Of Sections, then set the No. Of Sections to 7, and
increase the smoothness.
 In Profile Types, select Ref. Planes and Mesh Sketches.
 Adjust the size of the bounding box of the surface with the red, green, and blue dots
to be much larger than the mesh, then go to the Next Stage.
 Turn on the Deviation From Body.
 LMB and hold on the planes to readjust the position of the planes.
 Ctrl+LMB on a plane will add a new plane. Readjust the planes to reach the desired
accuracy then accept the command.

Option 2
 RMB on the region of one side of the cleaned vane scan and choose the Mesh Fit
icon.

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  Make any desired adjustments to the settings, or press the OK button to accept the
command.

13. Repeat either option on the other side of the vane.

14. Edit any sketches created by the Loft Wizard to smooth and better the surface.
 RMB on Sketch 5(Mesh), or any other sketch created by the loft wizard, and
choose Edit.
 Select the generated spline.
 In the Rebuild Spline > No. Of Interp. Pts box, enter 20 then press Enter.
 Look at the spline, then edit the value again but to 10.

 Exit the sketch to see how much smoother the surface is in one spot.
15. Repeat Step 3 on the other sketches as desired.
 Reducing the spline points is one way to edit the loft wizard to change the resulting surface.
 Other ways could be to completely remove the spline and remake the sketch using lines and arcs.

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 Original Surface Edited Surface

16. Create a Mesh Sketch on the Right Plane to capture the outer profile of the vane.
 Change the option to Rotational Method for the sketch setup.
 Pull the Green Arrow or change the Silhouette Range to encompass the entire
cleaned vane, then accept the command.
 The Rotational Silhouette Range will create a wedge to contain the desired area, and then project by rotating
about an axis.
 The Offset Angle can also be adjusted for a better cross section.
 Create the sketch of the outside vane profile using Line and Arc tools.
 Use Figure 323 to create the sketch then Exit.
 An open profile sketch can be used only for surfaces. Close the sketch to create a solid revolve.

17. Use the Create Surface > Revolve to revolve the surface the necessary amout to
enclose the surfaced vane.

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  The Sihlouette command will place
the sketch near the vane or on the
opposite side of the impeller.
 A small rotation in both directions
could be needed, or a large rotation
to encompass the entire vane.

18. Create an Edit > Surface Offset of the original rotated body to completely enclose an
impeller vane.
 Select all faces along the top of the solid.
 Change the Offset Distance to 0 mm then accept.
 An offset at 0 is duplicating and creating a surface on the solid face to use in more commands.

Enclosed Vane

19. Select MENU > Insert > Surface > Solidify to create a solid from the selected
surfaces.
 Select the four surface bodies needed to enclose a vane and accept the command.
 If an error occurs or a surface does not extend fully through the other surfaces, use the Extend Surface tool to
lengthen the surface before repeating the Solidify command.
 Check the Visibility of the Solid Bodies is on to view the main body and single vane.

20. Use the MODEL > Edit > Fillet command to place a small fillet on the top edges of
the vane.

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 21. Select Pattern > Circular Pattern to
create the remaining vanes.
 Choose the Vane as the Bodies.
 Select Vector1 as the Rotation Axis.
 Set the No. Of Instances to 16.

EDITS AND SHAFT

22. Merge all solid bodies to one body with the Edit > Boolean command.
 Set the Operation Method to Merge.
 Select all 17 solid bodies as the Tool Bodies then accept to have a single solid body
remaining.

23. Create the lower shaft using a Mesh Sketch on the Front Plane or any plane normal
to the shaft.
 Offset the Offset Distance From Base Plane to cross through the triangular shaft
and accept the set up.
 Use Arc and Fillet tools to create the sketch then Exit when completed.

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 24. Create Solid > Extrude the
sketch to create and merge the
shaft.
 Use the Up to Region
method with the Max
Position sub method.
 Select the lower region of the
scan shaft.
 Check the Merge option is
selected under Result
Operator, then Accept.

25. Create a Mesh Sketch on the top face of the shaft to cut out the top hole.
 Select the top solid face as the Base Plane.
 Offset the sketch profile down slightly to see the inside circle then accept the Mesh
Sketch Setup.
 Sketch the inside Circle then Exit the sketch to cut out the hole.

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 26. Cut out the hole with the Create Solid
> Extrude command.
 Set the Method to Blind and cut
down about 25 mm in to the mesh.
 Set the Result Operator to Cut.
 Accept the command.

27. Repeat process for lower hole in shaft.

28. Add Fillets where needed on the

model.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 117 Geomagic Design X™

EXACT SURFACING
Exact Surfacing is a workflow designated to create a very accurate surface on a complex scan.

Step 1: Extract Contour Curves

Detect and automatically extract 3D

contour curves for the area of high
curvature on a mesh.
These curves can be edited and adjusted
manually to create a better Patch
Layout.

Step 2: Construct Patch Network

Automatically construct the patch

network within the patch layout.

Step 3: Shuffle Patch Groups

Reorient the patches within the panels

in a 3D patch network for better
continuity.

Step 4: Fit Surface Patches

Create NURBS surfaces inside each patch

of the 3D patch network. An accurate
freeform surface body will be created.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 118 Geomagic Design X™

EXACT SURFACING – AUTO SURFACE
A quick, easy, non-parametric way to generate an IGES or STEP file from a cleaned mesh is the Auto Surface. The
mesh is analyzed and surface contours are automatically generated to create extremely accurate surfaces to the
scan.

ACTIVITY: AUTO SURFACE

OBJECTIVE
Create an accurate CAD body to the scan data. The resulting body can be exported as a STP, IGS, x_t file, or other
generic file types.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-17.xrl

OPEN FILE
1. Open training file TR-DX-17.xrl
 Click the Open or select Open from
MENU > File > Open.
 Use the Open Dialog to navigate to
the training files folder. Choose TR-
DX-17.xrl from the Open dialog.
 Click Open.

AUTO SURFACE
2. Automatically generate NURBS surface
on the mesh object.
 Click EXACT SURFACING > Auto
Surfacing > Auto Surface.
 Click Organic radio button.
 Click Auto Estimate radio button
under Patch Network Option.
 Click Constant radio button.
 Click Next Stage.

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 3. The second stage allows for editing of the generated patch network.
 Zoom into an area on the model.
 Click Deform radio button.
 Click and drag the center node of multiple patches to manipulate the form of all 5
quadrilaterals.

 If a patch is not in a clear enough four-sided shape, the software might not fit a surface. Occasionally patches
need to be edited and reshaped in order to build a better surface body.

4. Edit the form of a single edge of a

patch with the Deform option.
 Click and drag a node on a single
spline to adjust the edge of a patch.
 Notice the Cyan circle, this controls
the area of influence. The size can be
adjusted with ALT+LMB, just like
Paint Brush Selection Mode.

 Straightening out a patch edge can help create

better quality connections between the patches.

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 5. Accept the patch layout and generate
the NURBS surfaces.
 Click OK.

 If the resulting body is a manifold network of

surface patches, the body will become a Solid.
 Editing the network is generally only needed in the
Organic method when patches fail. The Auto
Surface can be edited after completion to go
correct any failed patches

INSPECT ACCURACY
6. Check the accuracy of the fitted NURBS
surfaces to the mesh.
 Click the Deviation for Body icon on
the Upper-Side Toolbar.
 Change the tolerance on the color
bar to 0.05mm. The default
tolerance is set to 0.1mm.
 On the color bar, double click on the
green 0.1.
 Set the value to 0.05.
 Review results. Hover the mouse
over various areas of the mesh to see
the deviations.
 Click the Deviation for Body icon to
turn off the deviation display.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 121 Geomagic Design X™

EXACT SURFACE – CREATE PATCH NETWORK

ACTIVITY: MANUAL NETWORK

OBJECTIVE
This activity converts a polygon object to an NURBS surface object. This workflow generates surfaces that matches
the polygon object as it is constructed.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-18.xrl

OPEN FILE
1. Open training file TR-DX-18.xrl
 Click the Open or select Open from MENU > File > Open.
 Use the Open Dialog to navigate to the training files folder. Choose TR-DX-18.xrl
from the Open dialog.
 Click Open. The file is loaded and displayed in the Model View.

EXTRACT CONTOUR NETWORK

2. Go to the EXACT SURFACING tab to begin the Exact Surfacing workflow.
 Click Create Patch Network
 Click Extract Contour Curves
 Set the Curvature Sensitivity to 60
 Click to Next Stage button
 The Extract Contour Curves command automatically places red separators between regions of relative
flatness. The Next Stage allows adjustment of those region separators and then places 3D contour lines inside
the regions.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 122 Geomagic Design X™

 3. In the Next Stage, click the Enable Real Time Preview option to have live feedback
of the editing of the separators.
 Use the Paint Brush Selection Mode to add, remove, and clean regions.
 Edit the Contour Curves regions as shown below.
 Click OK when done.
 Best practice will be to extend all separator regions to a scan boundary.
 Hold Ctrl when selecting to remove separator regions.
 Other selection modes, such as the Line, Rectangle, and Circle can be used to edit separators.

BEFORE - Editing AFTER - Editing

EDITED – Separators and Contours

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 123 Geomagic Design X™

EDIT CONTOUR CURVES
4. The generated contour curves are now a 3D Sketch.
 Click 3D SKETCH tab to edit.
 Select all of the Contour Curves by pressing Ctrl+A
 In the Rebuild group, change the value of No. of Interp. Pts to 10
 Click the OK. Each curve will now have 10 control points; therefore, the contour
curves are more easily controlled.

5. Select a junction point on the contour curves and swing the point back and forth so
that the connected curves are smoothed.

6. Adjust all contour curves to be continuous and four sided. The 3D SKETCH > Edit >
Trim tool can remove extra segments.

Before Editing After Editing

7. Select all of the Contour Curves and Rebuild them again.

 Change the value of No. of Interp. Pts to 20
 Click the OK.
 Each of these four sided figures is a panel. The panels will dictate the layout of the patch network.

8. Verify all lines are straight and the patches seem continous

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 124 Geomagic Design X™

CONSTRUCT A PATCH NETWORK
9. Allow the software to automatically construct a patch network from the panels defined.
 Click Construct Patch Network in the Create/Edit Patch Network group.
 Select Auto Estimate radio button.
 Click Ok.

EDIT PATCH NETWORK

10. Adjust layout of patches within each panel.
 Click Shuffle Patch Groups in the Create/Edit Patch Network group.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 125 Geomagic Design X™

 11. Select panel to adjust.
 Click on a panel as shown.
 Select Add/Del 2 Paths radio
button under Action.
 Select Grid radio button under Type.

12. Create balance on each side of the

panel.
 Select a point along the lower side of
the panel to increase the number of
paths along the edge until the edges
match.

To decrease the number of paths in a

panel, hold Ctrl when clicking on the
panel edge.
 Click Apply to update panel layout.

13. Click the Deselect Current Planel button under Action to clear the previous
selection and make choose a new panel to edit.
 Under More Option, click the Next arrow to navigate through patch panels and find
the ones needing rearranging.

14. Continue shuffling panels, once done accept and exit the 3D SKETCH.
 Select a panel that needs to be shuffled and repeat previous steps until all panels
have equal patch sides.
 Click OK to accept all edits.
 Click EXIT to close the 3D SKETCH.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 126 Geomagic Design X™

FIT NURBS SURFACES
15. Fit a NURBS Surface in each patch.
 Click EXACT SURFACING.
 Click Fit Surface Patches under the Fit Surface group.


16. Select patch layout and specify surface fitting.

 Select the 3D Sketch1(Mesh) as the Mesh Curves base.
 Select the Constant under Fitting Method.
 Adjust the slider of the Geometry Capture Accuracy option to one notch away
from Max to improve the accuracy of the fitting surface patches.
 Click OK.

END OF ACTIVITY

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 127 Geomagic Design X™

HYBRID MODELING
ACTIVITY: HYBRID MODELING
OBJECTIVE
Create a model with a combination of Exact Surfacing and Design Intent. Hybrid modeling allows for quickly
creating a model which has accuracy and parametric features.

TRAINING FILE
TR-DX-19-MM.stl

IMPORT FILE
1. Import training file TR-DX-19-MM.stl.
 Click the Import button or select Import from Menu>Insert.
 Use the Import Dialog to navigate to the training files folder. Choose TR-DX-19-
MM.stl from the Import dialog.
 Click Import only.

2. Select the Auto Segment command

located in REGION tab.
 Set the Sensitivity to 10.
 Click OK button.
The Auto Segment command can be
activated by RMB context menu after
selecting the mesh with a double click.

3. Click the Knuckle from Feature Tree and select Copy from MENU>Edit (Ctrl+C).
 Click the OK button to copy the selected mesh data.
 After editing a mesh to create a better Auto Surface, the original mesh will still be needed to show where cuts
and features belong.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 128 Geomagic Design X™

  Select Paste from MENU > Edit (Ctrl+V) and paste the Copied Mesh in Feature
Tree.

OPTIMIZE MESH
4. Select Knuckle in Feature Tree to edit.
 For a higher quality Auto Surface, details can be removed from the mesh and smoothed over. The Copied
Mesh can still be used to track these features and shapes to use for sketch based modeling.
 When there are multiple meshes, a mesh needs to be selected before editing with the POLYGONS tab.

5. Select Offset command located in POLYGONS>Edit group on the ribbon.

 Create thickness beforehand to cut to plane.
 Select ~8 regions while holding the Shift key.

 Change the Distance to 1mm.

 Click OK.

6. Select Global Remesh command located in POLYGONS tab.

 Recalculate the entire mesh to make watertight, and improve the mesh quality.
 Verify the mesh is still selected in the Tree if the command is not available.
 Change the Target Average Edge Length to 0.5mm.
 Place a check next to Make Clean And Manifold Solid Mesh.
 Press the OK check button and finish Global Remesh.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 129 Geomagic Design X™

  It is easier to see the mesh quality without Regions. Ctrl+2 will toggle Regions on and off.
 Select Shaded With Edges (F8) from MENU>View>Mesh Display Mode to show the mesh edges.

7. Select Enhance Shape command in POLYGONS>Optimize group on the ribbon.

 Improve the quality of the mesh by sharpening corners and smoothing flat or rounded areas.
 Set Sharpness to Max.
 Set Overall Smoothness to Mid
 Set Enhance Level to Min
 Click OK.

8. Select Optimize Mesh command located

in POLYGONS>Optimize>Global
Remesh dropdown.
 Change the Method to High Quality
Mesh Conversion.
 Click OK.
 Optimizes a mesh based on its feature shapes and
improves the quality of the mesh. This command
also offers advanced options to control the size of
poly-faces and the effects of smoothing a model.

AUTOSURFACE
9. Auto surface the model.
 Click EXACT SURFACING > Auto
Surface > Auto Surface.
 Select the Mesh.
 Click Organic radio button.
 Click OK.

CUTTING PLANES
Create reference planes which are used as base sketch. These planes should be located at original mesh not on
offset mesh.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 130 Geomagic Design X™

 10. Click Copied Mesh in Feature Tree.

11. Select the Auto Segment command located in REGION tab.

 Click OK.

12. Select the Plane command located in MODEL>Ref. Geometry tab and group.
 Select the Don’t Quit Command With OK Lock button to remain in the command
after accepting.
 Select both the regions like the figure below.
 Verify the Method is set to Average.
 Click OK.

13. Immediately create a new Plane.

 Select the region.
 Click OK.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 131 Geomagic Design X™

 14. Select the region.
 Click OK.

15. Select the region.

 Click OK.

16. Select the region.

 Click OK.

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 17. Select the region
 Click OK.

REGION SELECTED PLANE CREATED

 Press the Cancel button and finish the Plane command.

2D SKETCHES
18. Create sketches to cut off redundant parts from solid model for machining.
 Click Mesh in Feature Tree.

19. Select Mesh Sketch command in

Setup group located in SKETCH tab.
 Select Plane1 for Base Plane and
press the OK check button.
 Draw a sketch.
 Click EXIT to complete the sketch.

20. Click Knuckle in Feature Tree and select

Mesh Sketch in the SKETCH>Setup
tab.
 Select Plane2 for Base Plane and
press the OK check button.
 Draw circular sketch.
 Click Exit to complete the sketch.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 133 Geomagic Design X™

 21. Click Knuckle in the Feature Tree then
select Mesh Sketch command in
SKETCH>Setup group.
 Select Plane3 for Base Plane and
press the OK check button.
 Draw sketch similar to as shown
 Click EXIT to complete the sketch.

22. Click Knuckle in the Feature Tree then

select Mesh Sketch command in
SKETCH>Setup group.
 Select Plane4 for Base Plane and
press the OK check button.
 Draw sketch line like the figure.
 Click EXIT to complete the sketch.

23. Click Knuckle in the Feature Tree then

select Mesh Sketch command in
SKETCH>Setup group.
 Select Plane5 for Base Plane and
press the OK check button.
 Draw sketch line like the figure.
 Click EXIT to complete the sketch.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 134 Geomagic Design X™

 24. Click Knuckle in the Feature Tree then
select Mesh Sketch command in
SKETCH>Setup group.
 Select Plane6 for Base Plane and
press the OK check button.
 Draw sketch line like the figure.
 Click EXIT to complete the sketch.

25. Show only Solid Bodies and Sketches in

the Model View.

CUT SOLID BODY - EXTRUDING SKETCHES

26. Extrude each sketch with the MODEL>Create Solid>Extrude command to cut the
Solid Body.
 Select Sketch1 (Mesh) for Base Sketch.
 Set the Method to Blind with a Length of 20 mm.
 Place a check in the Cut box in Result Operator.
 Click OK.

BEFORE AFTER
 Repeat operation to cut the body.
27. Select the Extrude command.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 135 Geomagic Design X™

  Use Ctrl+Space bar to execute previous command.
 Select Sketch2 (Mesh) for Base Sketch.
 Place a check in the Cut box in Result Operator.
 Press the OK check button.

BEFORE AFTER

28. Select the Extrude command.

 Select Sketch3 (Mesh) for Base Sketch.
 Place a check in the Cut box in Result Operator.
 Press the OK check button.

BEFORE AFTER

29. Select Sketch4 (Mesh) in the Feature Tree, then Right-Click in space and select the
Extrude (Solid) icon.
 Place a check in the Cut box in Result Operator.
 Press the OK check button.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 136 Geomagic Design X™

 BEFORE AFTER

30. Select the Extrude command with any method.

 Select Sketch5 (Mesh) for Base Sketch.
 Place a check in the Cut box in Result Operator.
 Press the OK check button.

BEFORE AFTER

31. Select the Extrude command with any method.

 Select Sketch6 (Mesh) for Base Sketch.
 Place a check in the Cut box in Result Operator.
 Press the OK check button.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 137 Geomagic Design X™

 BEFORE AFTER

HOLE FOR ASSEMBLY

32. Select the Vector command located in MODEL>Ref. Geometry tab.
 Create the axis of the Cylinder.
 Select Top plane and Right plane for Entities and create a vector which will
intersect both Planes.
 Press the OK check button and finish Vector

33. Click Copied Mesh in Feature Tree.

 Right-Click in space, then select the
Mesh Sketch icon.
 Select Right plane for Base Plane.
 Click the Apply check button.
 Draw sketch line
 Click EXIT button.

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 138 Geomagic Design X™

 34. Select the Revolve command from Create Solid group located in MODEL tab.
 Select Sketch7 (Mesh) for Base Sketch,
 Select Vector1 for Axis.
 Select the Cut check box in Result Operator.
 Click OK.

END OF ACTIVITY

USER DRIVEN ACTIVITIES

OVERVIEW
Additional files for workflow processing.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION
TR-DX-UDA-01-IN.stl

TR-DX-UDA-02-IN.stl

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 139 Geomagic Design X™

 TR-DX-UDA-03-MM.stl

TR-DX-UDA-04-MM.stl

TR-DX-UDA-05-MM.stl

TR-DX-UDA-06.xrl

TR-DX-UDA-07.xrl

TR-DX-UDA-08.xrl

TR-DX-UDA-09.xrl

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 140 Geomagic Design X™

APPENDIX – MOUSE AND KEYBOARD CONTROLS
MOUSE CONTROL
The default Right-Hand Mouse is shown.
 Selection Button
o Change tabs in ribbon
o Activate commands
LMB o Select and activate entities
o Make individual or box selections

 Scroll Wheel
o Zoom in and out of center of screen. Roll
the mouse up and away to increase
magnification; roll the mouse down to
MMB decrease magnification.
 Toggle Button
o Activate second level of mouse buttons.
Most buttons will rotate the part.

 Rotate Button
o Hold to rotate the view of the part about the
center of the screen.

RMB  Context Menu

o Activate common commands based on the
entity selected.
o Accept and Exit Commands

 Pan
o Move the part laterally on the screen.

LMB and RMB

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 141 Geomagic Design X™

SHORTCUT KEYS
Listed in the table are the default Shortcut Keys. These shortcut keys will allow you to access certain commands
quickly without selecting the command from the Ribbon or a Tool Bar.

CTRL+N New File ALT+1 View>Viewpoint>Front

CTRL+O Open File ALT+2 View>Viewpoint>Back
CTRL+S Save File ALT+3 View>Viewpoint>Left
SHIFT+A, CTRL+A Select All ALT+4 View>Viewpoint>Right
SHIFT+N, CTRL+D Select None ALT+5 View>Viewpoint>Top
SHIFT+I, CTRL+I Select Inverse ALT+6 View>Viewpoint>Bottom
CTRL+Z Undo ALT+7 View>Viewpoint>Isometric
CTRL+Y Redo CTRL+SHIFT+A View>Viewpoint>Normal To
CTRL+SPACE Repeat Last Command CTRL+1 View>Visibility>Meshes
CTRL+X Cut CTRL+2 View>Visibility> Regions
CTRL+C Copy CTRL+3 View>Visibility>Point Cloud
CTRL+V Paste CTRL+4 View>Visibility>Surface Bodies
DELETE Delete CTRL+5 View>Visibility>Solid Bodies
SHIFT+Z Zoom Area CTRL+6 View>Visibility>Sketches
SHIFT+X Zoom Previous Area CTRL+7 View>Visibility>3D Sketches
CTRL+F Zoom Fit CTRL+8 View>Visibility>Ref. Points
CTRL+W Zoom PIP CTRL+9 View>Visibility>Ref. Vectors
CTRL+0 View>Visibility>Ref. Planes
F1 Help ALT+SPACE View > Visibility > Smart Visibility
F12 Auto Hide Docking Bar
ESC Break Command F5 View>Mesh Display Mode>Point Set
RETURN Apply Command F6 View>Mesh Display Mode>Wireframe
‘ (single quote) Shrink Dialog Tree F7 View>Mesh Display Mode>Shaded
View>Mesh Display Mode>Shaded With
F8
Edges
F9 View > Mesh Display Mode > Region

Copyright © 2019 3D Systems 142 Geomagic Design X™