Filling Surfaces

This task explains how to create a surface between a closed loop of curves.
With this function can be created a filling surface without star point from 1 to 4 one or multi-segment edge curves to be specified. You can influence the transition quality by selecting adjacent geometry as projection base and/or by adjusting the normals at the transition edges.
Open the Fill.CATPart document.

  1. Click the Fill icon .
    The Fill dialog box appears.
 
 

  1. Select the edges in the loop of surfaces and press Apply.
    The surfaces to fill will be created automatically.
 

  1. Click OK to create the fill surface.
You can define the following options:
  • Fill Type
    • Auto: The filling surface is a single patch.
    • Reference: Selects a single patch to be projected onto the selected region.
      The reference defines order and segmentation of the result.
    • Multiple Surfaces: Several surfaces are created with a star point allowing to modify the result.
  • Curve: Selects curves or surface edges.
  Options tab
 
  • Single (Single patch solution): Only available for Fill Type Auto and Reference.
    • Reference: Selects an additional patch to be projected onto the boundaries already selected via Curve.
      • Trim: The created fill surface can be trimmed at the boundaries if the untrimmed result overlaps the input curves.
    • ProjBase: Selects the surfaces, curves, or edges adjacent to the filling surface as projection base. On the adjacent geometry are computed points to which the filling surface is approximated.
 
  • Multiple (Multiple patch solution): Only available for Fill Type Multiple Surfaces.
    • System: Adjusts the coordinate system for the movement direction of the star point:
      • View: Moving plane parallel to screen.
      • Model: Moving plane parallel to XY model plane.
      • Compass Plane: Moving plane parallel to XY compass plane.
      • Compass Normal: Moving in compass Z direction.
      • Surface Normal: Moving in filling surface normal direction.
    • Order: Defines the minimum order of the resulting multiple patch solution.
 
  • Edge Influence: Controls the influence of the cross edge tangents on the patches to be created. In case of a surface created in a round gap, an increased edge influence will keep the edge tangency to a larger extent.
 
  • Flatness: This option controls the influence of the tangent plane of the star point.
    High values create a large and very flat region around the star point, whereas small values create a peak.

  See Approximation tab
  See Output tab
  Click 'More Info' to display deviations and output results.
 
  • Display: Depending on the options selected, values are displayed in the graphics area.
  • U+V: Display of the UV vectors of curves and surfaces.
  • Dynamic, Static, None: See Apply Modes
  • Deviation:
    • G0, G1: Displays the maximum continuity deviation of the resulting filling surface measured against the projection base as a result of the approximation settings imposed.
  • Output Result: See Output Result