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Adjusting facets

The Adjust group contains tools for smoothing facets, reducing the number of facets, and making facets more uniform (Regularize).

The Organize group has the following tools for organizing faceted bodies and regions.

Smooth Tool:

The Smooth tool is typically used on imported faceted bodies.

To Smooth facets:

1. Click the Smooth tool
2. Change the Smooth Options if desired
3. Select facets or a faceted body.
4. Click Complete to smooth the selection.
5. You can continue to click Complete to further smooth the facets.

You can also select facets or a faceted body and then enter the Smooth tool.

Options

The following options are available for smoothing facets:

Angle threshold	Determines if an angle stays sharp or gets smoothed
Smooth type	Determines which of the following algorithms is used for smoothing
Approximate	The Approximate option can produce results that are very noticeable. VertexPointSingle location in the sketch grid. 2-D object that has no height, width, or length. The origin, an axis, and a vertex are examples of points. Use the Point tool to sketch a point on the sketch grid. Points are useful as a dimensional reference, for splitting, and for creating a point on a line or curve through which you want to draw a three-point circle. that terminates a line; point at which two or more lines or edges intersect. Vertices can be selected for sketching, dimensioning, and other operations. positions are allowed to move. Because of this movement, generally smoother results are acheived.
Local	Local smoothing works on slightly rough areas. Topology is maintained and local spikes are reduced.

Angle threshold

This option determines if an angle stays sharp or gets smoothed. Vertices on edges with faces coming together at angles above the Angle Threshold will not be moved or changed. The example below shows a block that has all 90° edges except for two which are 45°. With an angle tolerance of 60°, only the two 45° edges get smoothed and the 90° edges are left alone.

Smooth type

Determines which of the following algorithms is used to do the smoothing.

• Approximate:
  • The original vertex positions and the new vertex positions are allowed to move.
  • The amount of movement depends on how smooth the surroundings are.
  • In sharp areas, the amount of movement will be large.
  • In smoother areas, the amount of movement may be barely noticeable.
  • Because of the movement, the Approximate option will, in general, produce smoother results.
  • The Approximate option can produce results that are very noticeable as shown in the example below. The final result is achieved with several smoothing passes.

    

• Local:

  • Local does not change topology.

  • It mostly knocks down spikes.
  • The example below shows how Local smoothing works on slightly rough areas. The rough facets are selected and then the Smooth tool is applied several times using the Local option. The number of facets remains the same. The spiked areas are brought down closer to the surroundings.

    

Reduce Tool:

This tool reduces the number of facets, which influences 3D printing time. You control the amount of reduction through the Reduce Options.

To Reduce the number of facets:

1. Click the Reduce tool
2. Change the Reduce Options if desired
3. Select a faceted body or box-select facets.
4. Click Complete.
5. The model or selection is re-faceted with fewer triangles.
6. You can continue to click Complete to reduce further.

You can also make your selection and then enter the tool.

Options

The following options are available for reducing the number of facets:

Triangle reduction is the percentage reduction you want to achieve. The default is 20%.

Maximum deviation controls the distance between triangle edges and the actual edges of the part. It influences the number of triangles used to approximate curved edges. See the images below.

Regularize Tool:

This tool improves the quality of selected facets by making their aspect ratios more consistent. You control the process with the Regularize Options.

A selection of facets is regularized.

To Regularize selected facets:

1. Click the Regularize tool
2. Change the Regularize Options if desired
3. Select a faceted body or box-select facets.
4. Click Complete.
5. The model or selection is re-triangulated.
6. You can continue to click Complete to regularize further.

You can also make your selection and then enter the tool.

Options

The following options are available for regularizing facets:

The Angle threshold option sets the facet-to-facet angle limit when regularizing the selected facets. Vertices on edges with faces coming together at angles above the Angle Threshold will not be moved or changed.