Tangent Type

The Tangent Type drop­down list is used to display options that control the
tangency of the curvature. The options in this drop­down list are discussed
next.

None: The None option is used to apply zero curvature or no tangency

constraint to curves.

Direction Vector: The Direction Vector option is used to apply tangency

constraint to curves. When you select the Direction Vector option from the
Tangent Type drop­down list, the Alignment drop­down list and the
Direction Vector area will be displayed below the Tangent Type drop­
down list. Select the required alignment option from the Alignment drop­
down list and then select the direction based on the selected curves. You can
also specify the draft angle and tangent length for curves in the Draft angle
and Tangent Length spinners, respectively.

Default: The Default option will be available in the Tangent Type drop­
down list, only when at least three curves are selected in one direction.

Normal To Profile: The Normal To Profile option is used to apply the

tangency constraint normal to the selected curves. You can also set the draft
angle and tangent length for curves using this option.

Tangency To Face: This option will be available in the Tangent Type

drop­down list only when you select the edges of existing surfaces as
boundary curve. Select this option to make the surface tangent to the
existing surface at the selected boundary curve. Select the required
alignment option from the Alignment drop­down list available below the
Tangent Type drop­down list. The options in the Alignment drop­down list
control the flow of the boundary surface.

Curvature To Face: This option will be available in the Tangent Type

drop­down list only when you select the edges of existing surfaces as
boundary curve. This option makes the surface smoother and curvature
continuous to the existing surface at the selected boundary curve. Select the
required alignment option from the Alignment drop­down list available
 below the Tangent Type drop­down list. The options in the Alignment
drop­down list control the flow of the boundary surface.

Direction 2 Rollout
The options in the Direction 2 rollout are the same as those discussed in the
Direction 1 rollout.
Curve Influence Type
The Curve Influence Type drop­down list will be displayed in the Direction
1 and Direction 2 rollouts only when you select a curve for the second
direction. The options available in this drop­down list are discussed next.

Global: The Global option is selected by default in this drop­down list.

This option is used to extend the curve influence up to the entire boundary
feature.

To Next Curve: The To Next Curve option is used to extend the curve
influence up to the next curve only.

To Next Sharp: The To Next Sharp option is used to extend the curve
influence up to the next sharp only. Sharp is a hard corner of the sketch
entity. This option is applicable between two sketch entities that do not have
a tangency and curvature relation with each other.

To Next Edge: The To Next Edge option is used to extend the curve
influence up to the next edge only.

Linear: The Linear option is used to extend the curve influence linearly up
to the entire boundary feature.
Note
While selecting curves from the drawing area, select a point on the curve such
that it follows the required path of the boundary feature. The selected points on
the curves act as connectors of the boundary feature. You can also flip the
boundary feature connectors. To do so, right­click in the drawing area; a
shortcut menu will be displayed. Choose the Flip Connectors option from the
shortcut menu to flip the direction of connectors.
Options and Preview Rollout
You can merge the tangent faces of a boundary feature by selecting the Merge
tangent faces check box available in this rollout. To unmerge the tangent faces
of the boundary feature, you need to clear this check box. If you have selected
the curves that lie in two different directions, then you can trim the surfaces up
to the curve(s) by selecting the Trim by direction 1 and Trim by direction 2
check boxes. If you want the resulting surface to be a closed surface, select the
edge of the existing surface and then select the Close surface check box. To
view the preview of the boundary feature, select the Show preview check box
available in this rollout.
Curvature Display Rollout
The Curvature Display rollout is used to display the mesh preview, zebra
stripes, and curvature combs of the boundary feature. The Mesh preview and
Curvature combs check boxes are selected by default in the Curvature
Display rollout of the Boundary­Surface PropertyManager. The Mesh
preview check box allows you to toggle the mesh preview of the boundary
surface. You can increase or decrease the number of lines of the mesh by using
the Mesh density spinner available below the Mesh preview check box in this
rollout. By selecting the Zebra stripes check box, you can visually determine
the type of boundary existing between surfaces such as contact, tangency, and
curvature continuous. Using the Zebra stripes check box, you can also identify
wrinkles or defects in surfaces. On selecting the Curvature combs check box,
you can visualize the continuity of the curve and also get a better idea of the
quality of the surfaces that will be generated. It also helps you to magnify
discontinuities in a curve. The Direction 1 and Direction 2 check boxes,
available below the Curvature combs check box in this rollout, are used to
toggle the display of curvature combs along the direction 1 and direction 2. You
can also adjust the scale and density of curvature combs by using the Curvature
Combs Scale and Curvature Combs Density spinners, respectively.

Figure 16­30 shows three curves for creating a boundary surface in direction 1
and Figure 16­31 shows the resultant boundary surface. Figure 16­32 shows six
curves for creating a boundary surface in direction 1 and direction 2 and Figure
16­33 shows the resultant boundary surface.

Figure 16­34 shows the direction 2 curves extended beyond the direction 1
curves and Figure 16­35 shows the resultant preview of the boundary surface
without trimming the direction 2 curves. Figure 16­36 shows the resultant
preview of the boundary surface after trimming the direction 2 curves by
direction 1 curves.

Figure 16­37 shows two sketches for creating a boundary surface in direction 1
and Figure 16­38 shows the resultant boundary surface with merge tangent faces.
Figure 16­39 shows the resultant boundary surface without merge tangent faces.
Figure 16­30 Three curves for creating a boundary surface in direction 1

Figure 16­31 Resultant boundary surface

 Figure 16­32 Curves for creating a boundary surface in direction 1 and
direction 2

Figure 16­33 The resultant boundary surface

Figure 16­34 The direction 2 curves extended beyond the direction 1 curves

Figure 16­35 The preview of the boundary surface without trimming the
direction 2 curves
Figure 16­36 The preview of the boundary surface after trimming the direction 2
curves by direction 1 curves

Figure 16­37 The sketches for creating a boundary surface

Figure 16­38 The boundary surface with merge tangent faces

Figure 16­39 The boundary surface without merge tangent faces
Creating a Planar Surface
CommandManager: Surfaces > Planar Surface
SOLIDWORKS menus: Insert > Surface > Planar
Toolbar: Surfaces > Planar Surface
A planar surface is generally used to fill gaps between surfaces using a planar
patch. To create a planar surface, choose the Planar Surface button from
the Surfaces CommandManager or choose Insert > Surface > Planar from
the SOLIDWORKS menus; the Planar Surface PropertyManager will be
displayed, as shown in Figure 16­40, and you will be prompted to select
the bounding entities such as a sketch, an edge, or a curve.

Select the bounding entities; the names of the bounding entities will be displayed
in the Bounding Entities rollout. Next, choose the OK button from the Planar
Surface PropertyManager; a planar surface will be created using the selected
entities.

Figure 16­40 The Planar Surface PropertyManager

Figure 16­41 shows the bounding entities to be selected for creating a planar
surface and Figure 16­42 shows the resultant planar surface.
Figure 16­41 Bounding entities to be selected

Figure 16­42 The resultant planar surface

Creating a Fill Surface
CommandManager: Surfaces > Filled Surface
SOLIDWORKS menus: Insert > Surface > Fill
Toolbar: Surfaces > Filled Surface
The Filled Surface tool is used to create a surface patch along N number of
sides. The sides to be selected for creating a filled surface can be the edges of the
existing model, 2D or 3D sketch entities, or 2D or 3D curves. The difference
between a planar surface and a fill surface is that you cannot create a planar
surface using 3D curves or edges. For example, the 3D edge created in Figure
16­43 cannot be used to create a planar surface. But, you can fill this gap by
selecting the 3D edge and creating a fill surface.

Figure 16­43 Entity selected for creating a fill surface

To create a fill surface, choose the Filled Surface button from the Surfaces
CommandManager; the Fill Surface PropertyManager will be displayed, as
shown in Figure 16­44, and you will be prompted to select bounding entities and
set the required options. Select the entities that will define the boundary; the
selected entities will be displayed in different color, and callouts will be attached
to them. On selecting the last entity that will close the current selection chain,
the preview of the fill surface along with the mesh will be displayed in the
drawing area. Now, choose the OK button from the Fill
Surface PropertyManager. Figure 16­45 shows the preview of the fill surface
along with the mesh and Figure 16­46 shows the resultant fill surface.

Figure 16­44 The Fill Surface PropertyManager

Figure 16­45 Preview of the fill surface along with the mesh
Figure 16­46 Resultant fill surface
Note
The surface model used in this example is created by trimming a surface. You
will learn about trimming the surfaces later in this chapter.

The other options in the Fill Surface PropertyManager are discussed next.
Edge settings
The options in the Edge settings area are used to define various parameters to
specify references with respect to the selected edges, type of curvature, and so
on. These options are discussed next.
Alternate Face
The Alternate Face button in the Edge settings area is used to specify the
face reference to be included while creating a fill surface for controlling the
curvature of the fill surface. This option is only used when you are creating a
fill surface on a solid body.
Curvature Control
The Curvature Control drop­down list is used to define the type of curvature
that you need to apply on the fill surface. There are different types of
curvatures in this drop­down list that are discussed next.
Contact
The Contact option is selected by default and is used to create a patch using
the fill surface option within the selected patch boundary.