SpaceClaim Online Help

Fixing holes in faceted bodies

You can find and fix holes using the Holes tool. It works like other Find-and-Fix tools in the Repair tab.

To find and fix holes in faceted bodies:

1. Click the Holes tool to find and highlight holes
2. The tool highlights holes that can be filled
3. Set any of the Options described below as needed
4. Use the Select Problem tool guide to holes to fill
5. Click Complete to fill all holes or the selected holes

Tool guides

The following tool guides help step you through the process. Use the Tab key to cycle through them. As soon as the tool guide switches, the cursor may change to reflect the active guide.

	The Select Problem tool guide is active by default. This tool guide allows you to select and fix problem areas that are automatically found by the tool.
	The Select Geometry tool guide allows you to select geometry not highlighted by the tool
	The Exclude Problem tool guide allows you to exclude areas from selection and fixing.
	The Select Guide Curves tool guide allows you to select curves to influence the shape of the patch.
	The Exclude Regions allows you to exclude regions in multi-region patches.
	The Complete tool guide fixes all remaining problem areas.

Options

The following options are available to control how holes are filled:

Review the examples to see how the tool guides and options can be used.

Examples:

The following example shows the use of a few of the tool guides and the Cap option.

Click the Select Geometry tool guide and select the contour.
The preview shows that the default patch will not produce an angled face.
Click the Select Guide Curves tool guide and select the curves, or Alt-select them. notice that the preview now goes through the curves.   With the Select Guide Curves tool guide active, it is considered sticky (as if the Ctrl key were being held down) to allow multiple selection and selection toggling.
Clicking Complete shows that the face is not flat.
To make it flat, Undo the fill and use the Exclude Regions tool guide to exclude the angled face.   Notice that the excluded region is shown in a dim gray to indicate it will not be included.
In the Options panelArea of the user interface that enables you to modify functions specific to tools., set the Cap option. Then click the Select Problem tool guide and the select the remaining loop.
Click Complete.

 

The following examples show the use of the Together and Separately options.

Two loops on the outside of a sphere is a case that should be filled together, as they are both intended to be occupying the same physical space (i.e. the outside of the sphere).
The Together option ensures that the patch completes the shape.
If the Separately option is used, the gap is closed (one at a time) so a loop and a separate surface remains.
This shelled bowl is an example where the Separately option is more likely to be used.
The Separately option ensures that each patch completes the surrounding shape both outside and inside.
The Together option considers the surrounding shape of both holes at the same time and transitions between the two holes.