Smoothing Curves or Surfaces

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This task explains how to smooth curves and surfaces.
By smoothing a curve or surface, a more regular course of the curvature will be achieved.
Open the Smoothing.CATPart document.

  1. Click the Smoothing icon .
    The 'Smoothing' dialog box is displayed.
You can define the following options:
  • Type:
    • Smooth: For this option, only the Smooth tab is available.
      For the selected elements smoothing is computed according to the options set.
    • Reduction: For this option, only the Reduction tab is available.
      For the selected elements data reduction is computed according to the options set.
  • Element: Specifies the elements to be smoothed.
  'Smooth' tab
 
  • Approximation:
    • Type:
      • Equidistant: The computation is carried out assuming that the given points are distributed regularly according to the curve parameter.
      • Chordal: The computation is carried out assuming that the distances between the given points also determine their parametrization.
    • Priority:
      • Variation: The computation priority is given to equal control point distribution.
      • Shape: The computation priority is given to the shape of the input geometry. Less priority given to control point distribution, i. e. the deviation is kept as small as possible.
      • Arc Length: The computation priority tries to minimize the distances between the control points.
  • Options:
    • Along - Both - U - V: Smoothing can be computed both in U and V direction (Both) or in one direction only.
    • Factor: The approximation quality can be influenced by the smoothing factor controlling the length of the polygon lines between the control points.
    • Blend: With this slider you can arbitrarily blend between the old and new version of the element.
  'Reduction' tab
  The Reduction tab can be used to reduce the segment number of B-Spline curves, B-Spline surfaces and underlying surfaces of B-Spline faces within a tolerance. Unnecessarily inserted segments can be removed in this way.
  • Type:
    • Deviation: Control points will only be rearranged if the maximum deviation is smaller than the value specified here.
    • Angle: Control points will only be rearranged if the angle difference of the end tangents is smaller than the value specified here.
  • Options:
    • Keep Segmentation: The system tries to reduce the number of control points while keeping the segments.
  • Result: The number of control points and segments in U and V direction before and after the reduction will be displayed.
  Click 'More Info' to display deviations.
 
  • Display: The graphical display of the deviation values can be globally switched on and off.
  • Dynamic, Static, None: See Apply Modes
  • Deviation
    • Max: Display of the maximum deviation of the actual result from the calculated mathematical result.