© 2009 Autodesk 1

Creative Use of Trimming

To start creating more complex designs in Alias, you can start to combine simple
forms to create interesting constructed shapes.

Creating ‘Solid’ Forms

Alias is a surface modeler, but intersecting and trimming shapes can be used to
create solid-like forms with a closed external topology.

Because Alias is a surface modeler, the operation to intersect and trim surfaces will
be lengthy compared to a solid modeler, but the end results are the same.

© 2009 Autodesk 2
 Cutting Holes in NURBS Surfaces

You cannot successfully create a hole in a NURBS

surface by moving CVs and Hulls. One exception is
periodic surfaces such as partial spheres and
cylinders, which have a ‘hole’ that is actually the
edge of the surface.

Another—unnecessarily complex—method is to work

out a patch layout of 4-sided surfaces to create the
effect of a hole.

Trimming is a much easier method of modifying the

surface outline without using the CVs to modify the
shape.

© 2009 Autodesk 3
 Why Do I Need a Curve on Surface?
To cut a part off, you first need to know where you want to cut. In real life, you
would draw a line on the material to have some guide for using the scissors, knife,
or saw.

What is a Curve on Surface?

A Curve-on-Surface is like a line drawn on paper. It lies directly on the surface and
will stay with the surface as it is shaped or moved.

No CVs, Only Edit Points

A Curve-on-Surface only has Edit Points, and this makes it difficult to shape
directly.

© 2009 Autodesk 4
 Shrink Trim
There is a plug-in available that will shrink
a surface to the smallest 4-sided shape that
can support the trimmed shape.

Use the Utilities>Plug-in Manager to load

the shrinkToTrim tool. It will appear in
your palette alongside the trimming tools.

Beware: You cannot revert to your original

surface after using shrink.

© 2009 Autodesk 5
 Trim Divide: Creates Two Surfaces

When using the Divide option, a copy of the surface is made for each region that is
divided. Each surface is then trimmed back to the required region.

Be careful when un-trimming a divided surface as you will end up with multiple
surfaces. Delete the extra surfaces and start again with a single surface.

Revert

Immediately after trimming, a ‘Revert’ button appears. Clicking on this button undoes
the trim if there has been a mistake.

UnTrim
If you want to undo the trim at a later time, use Surface Edit>UnTrim.
Use Pick>Curve-on-Surface to delete the old C-o-S if necessary.

© 2009 Autodesk 6
 Curves>New Curve-on-Surface
In practice you don’t use this tool to create complex shapes, as it is too difficult to
control. However, it is useful to bridge a gap. For example, you can do this by just
snapping a new C-o-S between the ends of two existing C-o-S.

Surface Edit>Project
It is much easier to draw a normal curve and to project it onto the surface.
Construction History will be created between the curve and the C-o-S so you can
modify the curve using the normal tools to get the shape you need.

Surface Edit>Intersect
This is the tool you will use most for creating Curves-on-Surface and so it will be the
first tool you use in the following exercises.

Surface Edit>Project Normal

This is a way to create a C-o-S from a curve independent of the view. The projection
direction is determined by the ‘normal’ direction of the surfaces.

Surface Edit>Geometry Project

This uses a technique similar to texture mapping to create C-o-S from curves. It is
often used for ‘wrapping’ text or patterns around a surface.

© 2009 Autodesk 7
© 2009 Autodesk 8
 Round Options

The Round tool was improved in version 2008 to include options for different corner
surfaces. Double-click on the Round icon to open the option window and explore
the options.

© 2009 Autodesk 9
 Tips for Using Round

To modify a round value, click on the locator. When it is white, you can type in a
different value. (Or click and drag to modify by eye.)

To remove a round on an edge, hold down the Shift key and click on the locator.

To create a variable round, click again on an edge to create a second locator. Type
in a different radius value. Click and drag on the triangle to move the radius
position.

© 2009 Autodesk 10
 Surface Fillet ‘Versus’ Round

The Round tool can create corner surfaces the Surface Fillet tool doesn’t.

The Surface Fillet tool has more extensive Construction History than the Round
tool.

The Surface Fillet Tool does not require the surfaces to be trimmed to a common
edge. They can be overlapping or not touching (as long as the fillet is big enough
to cross the gap).

© 2009 Autodesk 11
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