Project: HiCAD Basics

Analytical or Polyhedral Model

When generating 3-D parts, you can model curved surfaces analytically or polyhedrally. HiCAD enables you to use two different methods for describing higher-degree surfaces, such as the lateral surfaces of cylinders or spheres:

• analytical and
• polyhedral structure-based.

The analytical model, which is the default setting in HiCAD, uses the cylinder equation to generate the surfaces, e.g. the lateral cylinder surface. These surfaces give rise to apparent edges, also called contour edges.

The polyhedral model bounds the body by means of flat surfaces. The edges on the lateral surface are genuine edges here.

The left figure shows the analytical model of a sphere and a cylinder. The red edges are apparent edges. The right figure shows the corresponding polyhedral model.

HiCAD allows you to convert analytical models into polyhedral models by means of approximation. To do this, you use the Approximation function, which you can access in the 3-D Part functions toolbar under Part Tools (3-D).

Polyhedral models, however, cannot be converted into analytical models!

2-D Drawing • 3-D Model Drawing