M O D U L E 1

Introduction to Surface
Modeling

Course Overview........................................................................................ 3
Introduction to Surface Modeling .............................................................. 4
Surface Modeling Overview....................................................................... 5
Surface Modeling Workflow ...................................................................... 9
Summary .................................................................................................. 25
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Course Overview
Course Description
This course addresses using Solid Edge modeling functions to build free
form surfaces. Free form surfaces are those that cannot be constructed using
standard solid modeling features. This includes creating bspline curves and
other developed curves, building surfaces through one or more sets of curves,
sweeping profiles along guides, and applying surface transitions between
faces.

Intended Audience
This course is intended for designers, engineers, manufacturing engineers,
application programmers, CAD/CAM managers, and system managers who
have the need to use Solid Edge surface modeling.

Prerequisites
This course is intended for people with experience using Solid Edge. You
should not take this course unless you have:

• Attended the Solid Edge Fundamentals course.

• Basic understanding of parametric modeling.

• Basic understanding of profile/sketch construction.

Objectives
After successfully completing this course, you should be able to perform the
following activities in Solid Edge:

! Create and edit bspline curves and developed curves.

! Create and edit surfaces using curves.

! Inspect surfaces and curves

! Create and edit transition surfaces

! Create a solid having one or more surface faces.

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Introduction to Surface Modeling

The Solid Edge product provides two distinct 3D modeling styles: solid
modeling and surface modeling.

The solid modeling style is characterized by 2D sketches/profiles, extrusions,

revolutions, and lofts of those 2D sketches to form solids, blends on the
edges of solids, and Boolean operations between solids. Solid Edge is an
industry leader of this modeling style and exhibits these additional
characteristics: the various modeling operations are identified as features, a
history tree of features is maintained, and any of the properties set when a
feature is created can be edited at any time.

The surface modeling style is characterized by control points used to define

2D and 3D curves by a variety of methods, and these curves can be used to
define surfaces, again by a variety of methods. Solid Edge extends this style
by making each point, curve, and surface an entity that knows how it was
created. Like the solid modeling features, any surface entity properties set
when an entity is created can be edited at any time.

What is surfacing, and why use it?

With solid-based features, faces drive the model. Holes are used for
alignment. Faces are used for mating and aligning. Edges are rounded for
safety and strength. Edges and faces are mainly analytic based. The solid
modeling approach is typically an addition or removal of material. The
product’s function is the primary concern. Aesthetics is a secondary
requirement.

With surface-based features, edges drive the model. Curves are a major part
of model definition. The highlight lines, silhouette edges and flow lines of a
model are important. Surface shape is still important. Edges and faces are
mainly bspline based. The designer typically starts with a wire frame and
then adds surfaces. Aesthetics is the primary concern and key element in
designing consumer products. The product’s function is secondary.

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Surface Modeling Overview

The backbone of surface modeling is made up of cross sections and guides.
Cross sections and guides can be of entity type analytic or bspline.

An analytic entity type consists of:

! 2D: Lines, arcs, circles, ellipse, parabola, hyperbola

! Intersection of plane and cone

! 3D: Cubes, spheres, cylinders, cones, torus

A bspline entity type consists of:

! 2D: constructed bspline curves, derived curves

! 3D: derived bspline curves

Note: Originally, a spline was a stylist's tool made from wood or thin metal
and used to draw a curve through points.

Shown below is a 2-D bspline.

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Shown below is a 3-D surface.

3D: bspline surfaces

Auxiliary parameter: u, v

A solid modeling method using revolved features results in no edge control

and difficult edits. Edge (A) is a result of the intersection of two revolved
surfaces. You get what you get.

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A surface modeling method results in exact edge control and edges are
through character curves. User has control over edges such as (A).

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Definition: Character Curves

Character curves generally have no structural value. The model contains

“Hard Edges”, which are actual edges used to help define the flow of a
surface. These edges are typically of importance for aesthetic definition.
The model contains “Soft Edges”, which are horizon edges, typically visible
from front, top, and end views. These edges are important in defining the
overall shape of the model. Modifying character curves (A) modifies the
shape of the model.

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Surface Modeling Workflow

Step 1: Create Control Drawings

! Draw or import 2D sketches on reference planes

! Draw 2D sketches in draft and copy/paste

! Insert graphic images and trace over

Step 2: Use 2D geometry to develop 3D curves

! Project curves to find their intersections

Step 3: Use 3D curves to develop surfaces

! Some additional 3D curves are obtained from surfaces

Step 4: Create a solid and add appropriate solid based features such as holes,
stiffening ribs, rounds, thin wall operations, etc.

Step 5: Tweak

! Analyze curvature and edge continuity

! Modify character curves, surface tangency, etc.

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Definition: Control Drawing

Control Drawings are 2D drawing views defining the top, side, and end
views. Typically one or two views dominate (define the majority of the
shape).

You can create control drawings directly in the Part environment by drawing
directly on reference planes. Pierce points help you in connecting curves.

You can create control drawings in the Draft environment. Copy and Paste
the geometry from Draft into Part. You can use Create 3D or import
sketches and use existing geometry.

Definition: Pierce Points

A pierce point is the point of intersection with profile element and active
sketch plane. Pierce points are extremely valuable in aligning curves.

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Surface Modeling Workflow Summary

Step 1: Control Drawings

! Use the Line Color command to help distinguish edges, construction

edges, etc. in the control drawing. Control drawings can end up with a
lot of elements, thus the line color command can help to eliminate
confusion of what each element is.

! Draw all character curves.

! Do not over draw. Do not model rounds, ribs, or features best created
with solid features.

! Capture design intent. Add dimensions and constraints.

! Create simple bsplines with few Edit Points.

! Make sure view sketches register.

! Build edge continuity into your sketches.

Definition: Register
Ensuring respective curves from different views are connected or
geometrically aligned.

It is critically important that 3D curves are connected to ensure an accurate

design.

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You can also insert an image as an alternate control drawing process. This
process would be used for reverse engineering. The inserted image is traced
over to create the control drawing elements.

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Step 2: Creating 3D Curves

! Project curves from control drawings.

! You may need some construction surfaces to generate 3D curves. This is

very important in reducing modeling steps.

! 3D curves give simplified control over edges.

! Capture your design intent by using control drawings.

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! Without 3D curves, character edges may not be captured.

! Lack of 3D edges eliminates design intent and adds more modeling.

! With 3D Curves, design intent is preserved and modeling is reduced.

! You can easily change the shape by altering the character curves for the
respective view.

! Creating 3D edges guarantees an accurate design and reduces modeling

steps.

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! Making changes to the 3D curve is simple. Edit the character curve in

the control drawing.

Project Curve Method

o Create a surface using character curves from one view.

o Use the Project Curve command to project the appropriate
curves from another view.
o Hide auxiliary surface (these rarely are the actual surface).
Intersection Curve Method

o Create surfaces from two views.

o Use the Intersect Curve command to generate the intersection
curve.
o Hide auxiliary surface (these rarely are the actual surface).
Cross Curve Method

o Select curves from two different views to create the projected

curve.
o Simple and fast!
Sketch Tear Off

o Fast way of replicating sketches.

o New sketch can be parallel, along curves, perpendicular, angular.
o Options - associative, copy, or a move.

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! Repeat the process until all 3D curves are created

o A “wire” representation of the model should result.

o All 3D curves should be touching.

Step 3: Surface Creation

! BlueSurf

o Inputs are guides and sections.

# 1 section, 1 guide.
# 2 sections n guides.
o Guides and sections can be automatically generated from the
surface.
o Automatic creation of BlueDots.
o Section and guide tangency control.
o Replaces the Loft command.
o Edges without guide definition are interpolated from section
ends.
o Single face is created.
o Option for vertex mapping.

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! Swept Surface

o Inputs are guides and sections.

# 1 section / 1 guide (typical use).
# 3 guide maximum.
o Edges without guide definition use input guide for shape.

! Surface By Boundary (Bounded Surface)

o N-sided patch.
# 3 or more sides.
o Tangency control between selected adjacent faces.
o Fast easy way to patch holes in models.
o Can be used for legacy data.

Definition: Vertex Mapping

Mapping technique that helps create flow control between section vertices.

If there is a vertex count mismatch between sections, equally spaced vertices

are used on each section.

(A) Default vertex map.

(B) User defined vertex maps. Improved flow control.

! Difference in results from BlueSurf and Swept Surface

o For undefined Edges, BlueSurf edges are interpolated.

o For undefined Edges, sweep uses input guide(s).
o BlueSurf allows periodics.

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The BlueSurf command can add BlueDots automatically. You must set the
Curve Connectivity to the Use BlueDots option. The Use Pierce Points
option is the default setting.

BlueSurf Options

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Definition: Periodic
Closed surface or curve

Definition: BlueDot
o Highly editable point where two curves are connected.
o Each curve has control option for edit type (shape, local or
rigid).
o Connectivity of curves is order independent.
o Edit of curves is order independent.
o History-free curve editing.
o You can see changes in real-time.

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Step 4: Create A Solid

! Stitch

! Add solid-based features

o Thinwall
o Stiffening ribs
o Holes
o Rounds
o Web network
o Lip / Groove

Step 5: Tweak

! Analyze edge continuity

o Curvature Comb
o Zebra Stripes

! Edit character curves

! Edit tangent vectors

! Edit vertex mapping

Definition: Tangent Vectors

Drag handles that let you change shape of curve or surface at the point of
tangency with adjacent curves or surfaces.

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! Curvature Comb

o Quick visual indication of sketch continuity.

o Numerical reporting on radius of curvature.
o Adjustable magnitude and density.
o Illustrates points of inflection.
o Determined by magnitude = scale x 1/radius.
o Lines have infinite radius so magnitude = 0.

Definition: Points of Inflection

Point where slope of curve changes in sign (positive to negative).

(A) Inflection points

! Zebra Stripes

Striping gives quick indication of continuous edges between faces.

! Edit curves

o Edit Points
o Edit through BlueDots
o Control Vertices
o Change Curve type
o Analytics to bsplines
o Shape Edit/Local Edit/Rigid

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TIP: Surfaces are only as good as the underlying curves

Definition: Edit Point, Control Vertex

(A) edit points lie on the curve

(B) control vertex points lie on the control polygon

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! Curve Edit Control Options

Shape Edit: a method of preserving curve shape.

Local Edit: modifies a local portion of the curve.
Rigid: Transformation of the curve (move).

(A) Shape Edit

(B) Local Edit

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! Convert analytics to bsplines

o easy initial approach with analytics.

o add cool curvature later.
o dimensions and constraints preserved.
o history tree recomputes after you convert.

(A) Simple initial analytic arc can be converted to a bspline for

improved shape control.

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Summary
You should know the differences in solid modeling and surface modeling.
You should also have a clear understanding of when to use a surface
modeling approach and when to use a solid modeling approach.

In surface modeling, curves control the model. In solid modeling, faces

control the model.

Understanding the surface modeling workflow is important for success in

creating and editing surfaces.

Step 1: Create Control Drawings

Step 2: Develop 3D curves
Step 3: Develop surfaces
Step 4: Create a solid and add appropriate solid based feature
Step 5: Tweak

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