Surface Selection Menu

In Object snap mode, many modelling functions allow you to identify multiple surfaces and collect them in a list. This enables you to apply functions, such as transforming 3-D surfaces, to entire surface groups in one step.

The corresponding functions automatically display the Surface selection menu for selection of the surfaces to be transformed if the Always display window option was active when you last exited the menu. Once you have called the function, you can also use the right mouse button to activate the Surface selection menu.

Proceed as follows:

  1. Activate the Add surface mode.
  2. Select the surfaces to which you want to apply the original function. To do this, use the functions of the Surface selection menu. For example, click the Indiv. Surfaces button to select an individual surface.
  3. Remove any undesired surfaces from the list by choosing the Remove surfaces mode and selecting the surfaces that you want to be excluded from processing.
  4. If you have selected all the surfaces you want, click Next to apply the original function to these surfaces.

Functions of the Surface Selection menu

This function enables you to switch between the Add Surface and Remove Surface modes  .

Add surface
The surfaces are selected for processing (default setting). Selected surfaces are marked in colour, with common edges being highlighted.

Remove surface
The selected surfaces are excluded from processing, i.e. "removed" from the surface selection.

 

Selecting individual surfaces by identifying two edges.

Selection of surfaces adjoining an inner cycle. Inner cycles are formed by edges that bound a surface from inside, e.g. the edges of a hole.

Identify an inner edge. Starting with the corresponding inner cycle, HiCAD marks all adjoining surfaces.

Selection of all surfaces adjoining a start surface to be identified. For example, hollow spaces can be found in parts, outer surfaces, polyhedral surface groups that stem from a freeform surface etc.

Selects all surfaces lying within a selection rectangle.

Define the selection rectangle. You can specify up to 10 such rectangles. If all visible elements of a surface are located within the specified selection rectangles, the surface is selected. The edges and contour edges of analytical surfaces are regarded as visible elements.

Selects all surfaces of a part to be identified.

Selects the surfaces that were last selected within the Surface selection menu. 

This function enables you to revert to surfaces previously selected within the Surface selection menu.

The selected surfaces are automatically written to a so-called surface selection record when you exit the Surface selection menu. Up to 7 such surface selection records exist (number 1 to 7). Once selection record 7 has been created, numbering starts at 1 again, i.e. selection record 1 is overwritten. Enter the number of the selection record you want to load. If you enter a negative value (-1 to -7), the system counts back by the corresponding number, i.e. if you enter -1, the surface selection record that was last written is loaded.

Marks all previously selected surfaces (only for display: Glass Model or Hidden Line Dashed). The edges of the surfaces are marked, with common edges of surfaces being displayed in a different colour.

If the checkbox is active, HiCAD switches back to the Surface Selection menu once a surface has been identified. You can define more surfaces or choose Next to end the surface selection .

If the checkbox is active when you exit the menu, surface selection is, for example, automatically activated for the Transform surfaces ... functions.

 

Examples

Surface Functions (3-D)Model and Process Part (3-D)