Dimensioning Subdivisions

You can control the dimension and allow the sizing of a subdivision surface along an entire or an half axis.

This task shows you how to:

Before you begin: Create a 3D shape containing a subdivision surface.
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More about Dimensioning Subdivisions

Dimension Along an Entire Axis

You can siez the surface along an entire axis.

  1. Click Dimension .

  2. Select a surface.

    The dimensions of the entire meshed surface is displayed.

    The dimensions of the entire meshed surface is displayed.

    A Tools Palette is also displayed:

    The following icons let you:

    • define the type of dimensioning transformation. There is one button for all the three different states. A click on the deformation type icon modifies its state:
      • 1D transformation: the vertices move along the direction of the selected dimension.
      • 2D transformation: the vertices move along the two displayed directions.
      • 3D transformation: the vertices move along the three displayed directions.

    • automatically change the view point to the closest view plane of the axis system.

    • modifies the origin and orientation of the compass to define new axis system. The compass definition options (reset, translation, rotation, pick geometry, edition panel, attenuation, selection filters) which are available in the Tools Palette define the new position and orientation of the axis system. For more information, refer to Managing the Compass.

      Tip: You can also access this command by pressing ALT+SHIFT+T.

  3. Select 2D transformation.

  4. Click the dimension to modify it.

    The Dimension Definition dialog box is displayed.

  5. Enter the value or use the spinners to change the value. For instance, enter 15.

  6. Click OK.

    The vertices of the subdivision surface are modified depending on the type of transformation.



Dimension Along an Half Axis

You can siez the surface along an half axis.

The 3D shape must have at least three vertices on each axis, so that the axis can be divided into two. If there is of insufficient number of vertices, this capability does not work and dimensioning functions for the entire axis.

  1. Click Dimension .

  2. Select a surface.

    The dimensions of the entire meshed surface is displayed:

  3. Click 1D transformation and Half Axis Deformation Mode in the Tools Palette.

  4. Click the dimension to modify it. Here, we selected the 50mm dimension.

    The Dimension Definition dialog box is displayed.

  5. Enter the value or use the spinners to change the value. Here, we entered 100mm.

  6. Click OK.

    The vertices of the subdivision surface are modified along half the axis without moving or modifying dimension along other axis: