SpaceClaim Online Help

Tweaking a face

You can edit any face or surface with Tweak FaceSide or other surface of a solid. Some examples are the inside surface of a hole or the six sides of a rectangular solid. See Surface. to change its surface geometry. This tool is available in 3D mode and in drawings.

The degree (or complexity) of a primitive face is automatically increased when you edit it with the Tweak Faces tool. This makes the editing process smooth and seamless, so curves are smooth when you add them.

Surfaces are checked for self-intersection when you modify the surface using its control points. You will receive an error message if a change would create a self-intersecting surface.

If you save a selection in the Selection panel and it includes control points, the FaceSide or other surface of a solid. Some examples are the inside surface of a hole or the six sides of a rectangular solid. See Surface. Edit tab will automatically open when you load that selection.

To tweak a face

1. Click Tweak FaceSide or other surface of a solid. Some examples are the inside surface of a hole or the six sides of a rectangular solid. See Surface. in the Edit group on the Design2D or 3D model that contains at least one top-level component. tab.

   The FaceSide or other surface of a solid. Some examples are the inside surface of a hole or the six sides of a rectangular solid. See Surface. Edit tab appears in the ribbon bar.

2. Select an editing method:

   • Control Points to expose the control points for the face or surface so you can move them.

   • Control Curves to expose the control curves for the face or surface so you can move them.

   • BlendSmooth and tangent transition between faces or edges; created using the Pull tool. Curves to edit faces or surfaces that can be recreated as a blend.

   • SweepPull a surface or face along a line or edge using the Pull tool. You can sweep faces and edges, and select straight or curved lines or edges along which to sweep. Sweeping along a spline is a pulling technique for creating a smooth, swoopy shape. See Trajectory. Curves to edit faces or surfaces created with sweep.

3. Select a control point or curve on the face.

   Hold Ctrl or draw a box to select multiple points or curves.

4. (Optional) Use the controls in the Select group to expand or contract your selection:

   The U direction is indicated by blue lines in the Design windowArea in the user interface that displays your model or assembly. Also known as Workspace., and the V direction is indicated by red lines.

   • Click or to expand the selection so it includes all points in the U (blue) or V (red) direction.

   • Click or to expand the selection so it includes the next point in the U (blue) or V (red) direction.

   • Click or to reduce the selection by one point in the U (blue) or V (red) direction.

5. Select a tool to edit the face or surface:

   • Add Control Curve

   • Move

   • Scale

   • Or any other tool on the Design2D or 3D model that contains at least one top-level component. tab.

6. (Optional) Select Tweak face display options.

7. Click Close SurfaceTwo dimensional object that has no thickness (as opposed to a face, which is part of a three-dimensional object). A surface has area but no volume. See Face. Tools to close the tab and end your editing session.

To modify a control curve by creating a group

You can modify a control curve by creating a group. The group you create will display a ruler dimension that you can edit to modify your curve.